Journal of palliative medicine
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Short-Term Effects of 10% Lidocaine Ointment on Allodynia in Cancer Pain: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study.
Background: There is currently no established therapy for allodynia, which is a type of neuropathic pain. However, high concentrations of topical anesthetics can anesthetize the skin and increase the sensory threshold to tactile stimulation. Objective: We aimed to evaluate the short-term effects and safety of 10% lidocaine ointment for treating allodynia in cancer pain. Design: This was a randomized double-blind crossover study comparing the efficacies of 10% lidocaine ointment and placebo ointment for the treatment of static allodynia and spontaneous pain within 24 hours after ointment application, using a numerical rating scale (NRS). Setting/Subjects: The subjects were 25 cancer patients with current pain rating of ≥4 on NRS of static allodynia in cancer pain. Results: The NRS scores for static allodynia were significantly lower in the lidocaine group than in the placebo group at two to eight hours after initial ointment application. ⋯ There was no interaction between time and group in terms of NRS values for spontaneous pain (p = 0.835), but a significant main effect of group was found, with NRS scores being significantly lower in the lidocaine group than in the placebo group (p = 0.027). There were no adverse events associated with lidocaine use. Conclusions: Lidocaine ointment 10% can alleviate allodynia for two to eight hours after application.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Can Persons with Dementia Meaningfully Participate in Advance Care Planning Discussions? A Mixed-Methods Study of SPIRIT.
Background: Despite the importance of persons with dementia (PWDs) engaging in advance care planning (ACP) at a time when they are still competent to appoint a surrogate decision maker and meaningfully participate in ACP discussions, studies of ACP in PWDs are rare. Objective: We conducted an intervention development study to adapt an efficacious ACP intervention, SPIRIT (sharing patient's illness representations to increase trust), for PWDs in early stages (recent Montreal Cognitive Assessment [MoCA] score ≥13) and their surrogates and assess whether SPIRIT could help PWDs engage in ACP. Design: A formative expert panel review of the adapted SPIRIT, followed by a randomized trial with qualitative interviews, was conducted. Patient-surrogate dyads were randomized to SPIRIT in person (in a private room in a memory clinic) or SPIRIT remote (via videoconferencing from home). Setting/Subjects: Twenty-three dyads of PWDs and their surrogates were recruited from an outpatient brain health center. ⋯ While decision-making capacity was higher in PWDs who articulated their wishes very coherently, MoCA scores did not differ by articulation levels. PWDs and surrogates perceived SPIRIT as beneficial, but the preparedness outcomes did not change pre-post. Conclusions: SPIRIT engaged PWDs and surrogates in meaningful ACP discussions, but requires testing of efficacy and long-term outcomes.
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Background: Delivery of health services in the province of Ontario is organized into 14 Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs), and further into 76 LHIN subregions, making these a natural unit of comparing the regional differences in palliative care receipt among decedents who were identified as having palliative care needs. Objective: To assess the presence and magnitude of the remaining regional variation in palliative care receipt in Ontario after accounting for demographic and socioeconomic differences between the LHIN subregions, and therefore to assess whether the standardized proportion of palliative care receipt as a performance indicator can capture potential performance-related issues. Design: A retrospective cohort study based on Ontario administrative data sources. Setting/Subjects: Ontario residents who died between April 1, 2015 and March 31, 2016 and were identified as having palliative care needs. Measurements: Date of death, diagnostic codes used for determining palliative care needs, and services receipt in last year of life were identified from multiple administrative databases. Demographic and socioeconomic information were derived from linking decedents' postal codes to Statistics Canada Census data and Ontario Marginalization Index. Results: Statistically significant variation ranging from 63% to 75% in palliative care receipt exists between Ontario subregions even after accounting for demographic and socioeconomic differences, including age, sex, rurality, income quintile, and the four dimensions of the Ontario Marginalization Index. Conclusions: Annual directly standardized proportion of palliative care receipt can be used as a performance indicator to detect regional differences in service receipt while adjusting for regional differences in the characteristics of the decedent populations. The factors to be adjusted for can be chosen based on the comparison of interest.
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Background: With an aging population, and most deaths due to a nonmalignant cause, there is urgency to review the nature of end-of-life care (EoLC) to minimize gaps in service provision. Early introduction of EoLC benefits patient and carers, so identification of those at risk of dying 6 to 12 months before death is highly desirable. Objective: To identify the most predictive patient characteristics of a risk of death within 6 to 12 months as a precursor to developing a user-friendly primary care screening tool. Design: Retrospective case-control study. Setting/Subjects: Australian general practice. Cases were patients aged ≥70 years who died in the previous 5 years. ⋯ Exclusion criteria were: no available practice records for the 18 months before death (cases) and data collection (controls); no corroborated evidence of death. Measurements: Supportive and Palliative Care Indicators Tool (SPICT) indicators of deterioration in medical records. Results: There were 215 deaths and 267 controls. The most predictive patient characteristics of a risk of death within 6 to 12 months are: deteriorating performance status, weight loss, persistent symptoms, request for palliative care or treatment withdrawal, impaired activities of daily living, falls ± fractured hip, neurological deterioration, advanced lung disease, and estimated glomerular filtration rate <30 mL/min/1.73 m2 with deteriorating health. Our predictive model has a sensitivity and specificity of 67% and 87%, respectively, with a predictive accuracy of 78%. Conclusions: This model predicts risk of death within 6 to 12 months with acceptable reliability in a general practice setting and has the potential to be incorporated into clinical practice and electronic records.
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Palliative care is an evolving field with extensive studies demonstrating its benefits to patients, families, and the health care system. Many health systems have developed or are developing palliative care programs. The Canadian Society of Palliative Care Physicians (CSPCP) is often asked to recommend how many palliative care specialists are needed to implement and support an integrated palliative care program. ⋯ In 2017, the CSPCP commissioned a working group to develop a staffing model for specialist palliative care teams based on the interdependence of three key professional roles, an extensive literature search, key stakeholder interviews, and expert opinions. This article is the Canadian Society of Palliative Care's recommended starting point that will be further evaluated as it is utilized across Canada. For more information and to see sample calculations go to the Canadian Society of Palliative Care Physicians Staffing Model for Palliative Care Programs (https://www.cspcp.ca).