The American journal of hospice & palliative care
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Am J Hosp Palliat Care · Dec 2016
Fatigue in Patients With Advanced Terminal Cancer Correlates With Inflammation, Poor Quality of Life and Sleep, and Anxiety/Depression.
To assess which laboratory and clinical factors are associated with fatigue in patients with terminal cancer. ⋯ In patients with advanced cancer, fatigue is a common symptom associated with the presence of inflammation, poor quality of sleep, depression/anxiety, and poor quality of life.
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Am J Hosp Palliat Care · Dec 2016
Climbing Back Up the Mountain: Reflections From an Exploration of End-of-Life Needs of Persons Living With HIV/AIDS in Appalachian Tennessee.
Little is known about the health access and end-of-life (EOL) concerns of persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in Appalachia, where religious and cultural values are largely traditional. A qualitative, descriptive study with 9 participants was undertaken to assess EOL care needs among those from South Central Appalachian PLWHA. The focus of the study was to examine subjective data regarding EOL needs assessment related to advanced care planning. ⋯ Strong spiritual images were contrasted with a common avoidance and disdain of organized religion. Findings were used in refining plans for a larger study of EOL care needs and concerns on the population of PLWHA in 2 Southern Appalachian states. Comparison with other research and insights for providers is included.
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Am J Hosp Palliat Care · Dec 2016
ReviewCommunication Within Hospice Interdisciplinary Teams: A Narrative Review.
Hospice care is coordinated through an interdisciplinary team (IDT), which assures that a holistic care plan based on the patient's wishes is implemented. The extent to which an IDT provides quality care may be associated with how effectively they communicate within the team as well as with patients, caregivers, and families. ⋯ Although the existing literature sheds some light on communication within hospice IDTs, further research is needed. Inquiry into the communicative process of IDTs in settings other than team meetings, such as during patient visits or informal settings, would provide a more comprehensive representation of how communication influences IDT dynamics and overall team functioning.
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Am J Hosp Palliat Care · Dec 2016
Physician Communication in Pediatric End-of-Life Care: A Simulation Study.
The objective of this exploratory study is to describe communication between physicians and the actor parent of a standardized 8-year-old patient in respiratory distress who was nearing the end of life. ⋯ The findings in this study, particularly that physician-parent end-of-life communication is often unclear and that alternatives to life-sustaining technology are often not offered, suggest that physicians need more training in both communication and end-of-life care.
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Am J Hosp Palliat Care · Nov 2016
ReviewA Thematic Literature Review: The Importance of Providing Spiritual Care for End-of-Life Patients Who Have Experienced Transcendence Phenomena.
The purpose of this review was to investigate within the literature the link between transcendent phenomena and peaceful death. The objectives were firstly to acknowledge the importance of such experiences and secondly to provide supportive spiritual care to dying patients. Information surrounding the aforementioned concepts is underreported in the literature. ⋯ Nevertheless, health care professionals were found to struggle with providing spiritual care to patients who have experienced them. Such phenomena are not uncommon and frequently result in peaceful death. Additionally, transcendence experiences of dying patients often provide comfort to the bereaved, assisting them in the grieving process.