Journal of palliative medicine
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Palliative care was officially recognized by the World Health Organization in 1990 as a distinct specialty dedicated to relieving suffering and improving quality of life for patients with serious illnesses. Journal of Palliative Medicine (JPM) was founded in 1997 in response to the need for a scientifically rigorous peer-reviewed journal to advance the field. In our first quarter of the century, JPM has become a leading global peer-reviewed scientific journal. ⋯ Although implementation science is of paramount importance, the barriers to implementation of this growing body of specialized knowledge lie not just with the need for more science. Some of the barriers lie within our field. The way forward requires confidence in what we know and the establishment of new collaborations outside of our field, including with people outside of traditional health care.
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Various assertions have been made regarding why eligibility for medical assistance in dying (MAiD) should be expanded. Examining these and the studies used to support them should clear the way for thoughtful data monitoring and research into why some patients make death hastening requests. This will not only improve MAiD practices in Canada, but will lead to better more effective palliative care for patients whose suffering leads them to covet death.
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Background: While associations between socioeconomic position, that is, income and education and admittance to specialized palliative care (SPC) have been investigated previously, no prior national studies have examined admittance to all types of SPC, that is, hospital-based palliative care team/units and hospice. Aim: To investigate whether cancer patients' education and income were associated with admittance to SPC (hospital-based palliative care team/unit, hospice). Design: Data sources were several nationwide registers. ⋯ Conclusion: This nationwide study indicates that admittance to SPC was clearly associated with education and income. We believe that the associations indicate inequity. Initiatives to improve access for patients with low education or income should be established.
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Background: Individuals caring for patients with malignant gliomas experience high rates of anxiety; however, an in-depth understanding of their distress and evidence-based interventions to target their needs are lacking. Objective: We conducted semistructured interviews with caregivers with elevated anxiety to characterize their drivers of anxiety, identify modifiable intervention targets, and capture their preferences for a psychosocial intervention. Design: From 9/2017 to 3/2019, we conducted semistructured interviews with 21 caregivers of patients with malignant gliomas, at time points following the patient's diagnosis or within one to three months after the patient's death. ⋯ Caregivers were interested in an intervention soon after the patient's diagnosis, yet expressed concern about finding the time to participate. Conclusions: Emergent themes characterized the distress experienced by caregivers of patients with malignant gliomas and provided insight into their psychosocial intervention preferences. We identified evidence-based intervention components based on the modifiable factors arising from these themes.