Journal of palliative medicine
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The availability of smartphone applications has increased rapidly including applications related to palliative care. The scope of these available apps has not been synthesized. ⋯ The number of palliative care apps targeting clinicians has increased dramatically for the past five years. However, many apps did not report adequate information to judge the evidence upon which the apps were based.
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Comparative Study
Training Pediatric Fellows in Palliative Care: A Pilot Comparison of Simulation Training and Didactic Education.
Pediatric fellows receive little palliative care (PC) education and have few opportunities to practice communication skills. ⋯ This simulation-based curriculum is an effective method for improving PC comfort, education, and consults. More frequent practice is likely needed to lead to sustained improvements in communication competence.
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Red Blood Cell (RBC) transfusions are commonly used in palliative care. RBCs are a finite resource, transfusions carry risks, and the net effect (benefits and harms) is poorly defined for people with life-limiting illnesses. ⋯ In the largest prospective consecutive case series to date, clinicians generally reported benefit, with minimal harms. Ongoing work is required to define the optimal patient- and clinician-reported hematological and functional outcome measures to optimize the use of donor blood and to minimize transfusion-associated risk.
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Comparative Study
Factors Associated with the Efficacy of Trigger Point Injection in Advanced Cancer Patients.
Few studies have reported the efficacy of trigger point injection (TPI) to myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) in advanced cancer patients. Factors that are associated with TPI efficacy have not yet been elucidated. ⋯ The TPI efficacy is likely high when advanced cancer patients have fewer MTrPs together with cancer pain at areas other than the lower back or hip. MTrPs in advanced cancer patients are more commonly observed together with cancer pain rather than independently. Healthcare providers should recognize the relationship between MTrP and cancer pain and proactively perform physical examinations to detect MTrPs for potential TPI.