The American journal of hospice & palliative care
-
Am J Hosp Palliat Care · Mar 2013
Factors and structural model related to end-of-life nursing care in general ward in Japan.
This study aimed to determine the factors related to the implementation of end-of-life nursing care in general wards and to examine the adequacy of the hypothetical care implementation model. A cross-sectional survey was conducted. ⋯ The hypothetical model was constructed using these factors, and the adequacy of this model was confirmed by a structural equation modeling. These factors and the model would give suggestions of educational content and its method, which should be provided to general ward nurses.
-
Am J Hosp Palliat Care · Mar 2013
Mortality of patients with cancer admitted to intensive care unit.
Outcomes of critically ill cancer patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) had improved; it could be associated with medical advances in critical care, introduction of new anticancer treatments, and better supportive care. Recent reports have described ICU mortality for critically ill cancer patients ranged from 15.9% to 32%. During the period 2007 to 2011, a total of 1418 critically ill cancer patients were admitted to our ICU with a mortality rate lower (17.5%) than that reported by other centers. The ICUs around the world should consider the improvement in the prognosis of critically ill cancer patients who require critical care and they should not be denied ICU admission only on the basis of a patient having cancer.
-
All individuals deserve to have access to quality end-of-life care. In rural communities within the United States, significant barriers limit access to hospice and palliative care. ⋯ Strategies are proposed to strengthen hospice and palliative care delivery models to enhance earlier referrals and provide better facilitation and transition to hospice and palliative care. Future research should look at patient utilization questions specific to rural communities.
-
Am J Hosp Palliat Care · Mar 2013
Review Case ReportsChronic pain in the outpatient palliative care clinic.
Chronic pain is common. Many patients with cancer and other life-limiting illnesses have chronic pain that is related to their disease, and some have comorbid chronic nonmalignant chronic pain. ⋯ To successfully care for these patients, palliative care providers will need to learn new clinical competencies. This article will review chronic pain management core competencies for palliative care providers.
-
Am J Hosp Palliat Care · Mar 2013
Why do cancer patients die in the emergency department?: an analysis of 283 deaths in NC EDs.
Emergency department (ED) visits are made by cancer patients for symptom management, treatment effects, oncologic emergencies, or end of life care. While most patients prefer to die at home, many die in health care institutions. ⋯ For lung cancer patients, 104 died in the ED with 70.9% dying on their first ED visit. Research on factors precipitating ED visits by cancer patients is needed to address end of life care needs.