Journal of palliative medicine
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Many health care organizations are interested in instituting a palliative care clinic. However, there are insufficient published data regarding existing practices to inform the development of new programs. ⋯ Once established, outpatient palliative care practices anticipate rapid growth. In this context, outpatient practices must plan for increased staffing and develop a sustainable financial model.
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The effect of caring for a dying cancer patient on caregiving burden has been explored primarily in Western-based studies with small samples or in studies that did not follow up until the patient's death, but has not yet been investigated in Taiwan. ⋯ Taiwanese family caregivers' carry moderate caregiving burden which did not change significantly as the patients' death approached. The effects of caregiving burden while providing EOL care to terminally ill cancer patients may be tempered substantially by enhancing family caregivers caregiving confidence, social support, and psychological resources.
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With the continuing growth of pediatric palliative care, there is an increasing need to develop effective training for health care professionals. Bereaved parents have participated in the training of health care professionals utilizing curriculum from the Initiative for Pediatric Palliative Care (IPPC), but the experience of bereaved parents as educators has not been studied. ⋯ More benefits than burdens were experienced by both parents and health care professionals from the participation of bereaved parents in the palliative care trainings.
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Palliative care physicians are increasingly being asked to provide end-of-life (EOL) care for children. Yet very little is known about physicians' level of comfort and willingness to do so. ⋯ Palliative physicians tend to be willing to care for children, but perceive their level of training to be insufficient. Although additional training is endorsed, physicians favored real-time support and mentorship from a pediatric expert.
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Anatomopathological studies that described the immediate causes of death of patients with advanced cancer were first published approximately 20 years ago. ⋯ The results of this retrospective study demonstrate that causes of death did not change with the modification of our practice. The high rate of pulmonary infection and embolism in this population, including in patients who received broad spectrum and prophylactic anticoagulation should encourage us to pursue other prospective studies to actually demonstrate the benefit of these treatments in this population.