Journal of palliative medicine
-
Although family caregivers provide a significant portion of health and support services to adults with serious illness, they are often marginalized by existing healthcare systems and procedures. ⋯ Fundamental changes are needed in the way we identify, assess, and support caregivers. Educational and workforce development reforms are needed to enhance the competencies of healthcare and long-term service providers to effectively engage caregivers.
-
Longitudinal assessment of patient-caregiver relationships will determine whether caregiver self-esteem determines patient relationship satisfaction at end of life. ⋯ High self-esteem may allow caregivers to overcome feelings of burden and maladaptive anticipatory grief to remain satisfied in their relationship with the patient. Caregiver self-esteem appears to play a role in fostering patient relationship satisfaction at the end of life.
-
While early involvement and integration of palliative care with oncology can positively impact quality of life and survival of patients with advanced cancer, there is a dearth of information regarding this integration in sub-Saharan Africa. ⋯ Despite recognized benefits of palliative collaboration, doctors at the UCI seldom refer patients to palliative care specialists due to limited staffing, cultural barriers, and difficult interservice communication.
-
Actions in preparation for death and talks about death between advanced cancer patients and their families are considered essential to achieve a good death. However, little is known about the prevalence of such actions compared with talks and their association with bereaved families' psychological morbidity. ⋯ Most families acted in preparation for death, and those who acted were less likely to suffer depression and CG. Clinicians may minimize families' later psychological morbidity by helping patients and families act in preparation for death.
-
Heart failure is a disease with high morbidity, mortality, and physical and psychological burden. More knowledge about the care provided for patients with heart failure close to death is needed. ⋯ The results indicate inadequate palliative care for patients with heart failure during their last week of life.