Journal of palliative medicine
-
Background: Telenovelas show significant promise as a mode of education that could potentially enhance hospice family caregivers' (HFCG) ability to manage distress or pain for themselves and the care recipient. Objectives: We sought to understand HFCGs' perceived benefits and challenges of NOVELA using the Levels of Kirkpatrick as a conceptual framework. Setting/Subjects: HFCGs from two hospices in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. ⋯ Three unique themes were identified: acceptability of NOVELA, usability and relevance of NOVELA, and the effect of NOVELA. According to our conceptual model, the intervention positively affects all three adult learning categories: reaction, learning, and behavior. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that HFCGs support the proposed NOVELA intervention and it appears to be an acceptable educational tool during hospice care (NCT04533594).
-
Cutaneous T cell lymphoma and its subtypes, mycosis fungoides (MF) and Sézary syndrome (SS), comprise a spectrum of chronic lymphoproliferative disorders in which neoplastic T cells accumulate within the skin and visceral organs. This process is frequently characterized by severe pain, nonpain symptoms, and physical disfigurement. ⋯ Patients suffering from these diseases, though not commonly encountered, can benefit greatly from palliative care support. In this article, a team of palliative care clinicians, critical care physicians, and an oncologist specializing in lymphoma offer 10 tips to help palliative care teams to support these vulnerable and often-distressed patients and their caregivers.
-
Background: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common and debilitating side effect of cancer treatment with no effective preventative strategy or definitive treatment. Purpose: To synthesize empiric literature from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of pharmacological and nonpharmacological management of CIPN. Data Sources: Articles published between January 1, 2010, and February 28, 2021, were identified using keywords searching Medline, PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Embase. ⋯ Conclusion: This scoping review summarized the current body of high-quality RCTs investigating treatment for CIPN. The majority of studies in this review reports benefits of pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic interventions, although management may require a multipronged approach and should be tailored to the individual. Clinical implications are proposed and suggestions made for future research include implementation of standardized intervention protocols, use of outcome measures representative of the spectrum of CIPN symptoms, and stratification by the chemotherapeutic agent.
-
Background: Surrogate decision makers are required to make difficult end-of-life decisions with little preparation. Little is known about what surrogates may need to adequately prepare for their role, and few resources exist to prepare them. Objective: To explore experiences and advice from surrogates about how best to prepare for the surrogate role. ⋯ Five themes and advice were identified: (1) lack of, but needing, surrogates' own preparation and guidance (2) initiate ACP conversations, (3) learn patient's values and preferences, (4) communicate with clinicians and advocate for patients, and (5) make informed surrogate decisions. Conclusion: Experienced surrogate decision makers emphasized the importance of ACP and advised that surrogates need their own preparation to initiate ACP conversations, learn patients' values, advocate for patients, and make informed surrogate decisions. Future interventions should address these preparation topics to ease surrogate burden and decrease disparities in surrogate decision making.