Journal of palliative medicine
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Review
Evidence-based palliative care in the intensive care unit: a systematic review of interventions.
Over the last 20 years, multiple interventions to better integrate palliative care and intensive care unit (ICU) care have been evaluated. This systematic review summarizes these studies and their outcomes. ⋯ Heterogeneity of interventions made comparison of ICU-based palliative care interventions difficult. However, existing evidence suggests proactive palliative care in the ICU, using either consultative or integrative palliative care interventions, decrease hospital and ICU LOS, do not affect satisfaction, and either decrease or do not affect mortality.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
A qualitative exploration of the experiences of people living alone and receiving community-based palliative care.
It is projected that in Australia there will be between 28% and 48% of palliative care patients living alone by the year 2031. As such, it will become increasingly important to provide appropriate home-based care in order to support these patients to be cared for and die at home. ⋯ The practice implications for working with people close to death who are living alone are that supports and assistance may be needed to maintain social networks and also a sense of independence.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Feasibility and acceptability of a collaborative care intervention to improve symptoms and quality of life in chronic heart failure: mixed methods pilot trial.
People with chronic heart failure (HF) suffer from numerous symptoms that worsen quality of life. The CASA (Collaborative Care to Alleviate Symptoms and Adjust to Illness) intervention was designed to improve symptoms and quality of life by integrating palliative and psychosocial care into chronic care. ⋯ The CASA intervention was feasible based on participant enrollment, cohort retention, implementation of medical recommendations, minimal missing data, and acceptability. Several intervention changes were made based on participant feedback.
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Pediatric medical experiences are potentially traumatic but may lead to psychological growth. ⋯ SPI-PTG is an important but understudied and inadequately understood phenomenon affecting children with SPI and their family members. Research should focus on clarifying SPI-PTG domains, creating measurement instruments, assessing SPI-PTG across the pediatric age range and among family members, and improving our understanding of and ability to positively intervene regarding the cognitive processes of rumination, sense making, and benefit finding.