Journal of palliative medicine
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Communication about religious and spiritual issues is fundamental to palliative care, yet little empirical data exist to guide curricula in this area. The goal of this study was to develop an improved understanding of physicians' perspectives on their communication competence about religious and spiritual issues. ⋯ This study suggests that discussion of religious and spiritual issues is a communication skill that trainees consider more advanced than other commonly taught communication skills, such as discussing DNR orders.
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Heart failure (HF) in its chronic form is an irreversible and progressive disease. Palliative care (PC) interventions have traditionally been focused on patients with advanced cancer. We performed a pilot study to assess the feasibility of implementing the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) guidelines for early PC intervention in patients with advanced HF who were seeking or received potentially curative therapies. ⋯ PC consultation appears to be beneficial in the treatment and quality of life of advanced HF patients, independent of their prognosis. This pilot study demonstrated feasibility and sufficient evidence of clinical benefit to warrant a larger randomized clinical trial assessing the benefit of standard involvement by PC in patients with advanced HF, independent of the patient's prognosis or treatment goals.
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The aim of this study was to investigate the opinions of nurses, assistant nurses, and doctors about whether the patient's loved ones understand that the patient has a life-limiting disease, and if they talk about these matters with the patient or staff. The study was quantitative in design with data collected by means of a semi-structured questionnaire. ⋯ Professional caregivers perceived an association between the loved ones' understanding of the fatal disease and their ability to cope with the situation. In addition, the study found that follow-up activities after the patient's death are mostly lacking.
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There are limited studies characterizing cancer-related symptoms in outpatient advanced prostate cancer patients. The aim of this retrospective study was to describe the impact of an outpatient palliative care (PC) consultation on symptoms in patients with advanced prostate cancer. ⋯ Based on our preliminary data, we conclude that patients with advanced prostate cancer referred to PC experience severe and clinically significant symptoms. An outpatient PCconsultation is associated with significant symptom improvement in this subset of a distressed population. Future prospective studies are warranted to further describe symptom burden and the role for outpatient PC for advanced prostate cancer patients.
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Hospital-based palliative care is becoming increasingly prevalent. There is growing evidence that it is having a positive impact on patients and their loved ones. In 2008, national data indicated that 58.5% of hospitals with 50 or more beds had a palliative care program. ⋯ Further, the steady increase in the number of new programs has created opportunities for those who are more experienced to serve as mentors for peers who are navigating the challenges of growing and sustaining a clinical service. The authors encourage both mentors and mentees to seek support from or provide support to others in the field. Leveraging the collective expertise and experiences in our field can ensure that palliative care continues to thrive and grow.