Journal of palliative medicine
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Clinical guidelines are systematically developed statements that influence medical practice, education, and funding. Guidelines represent the consensus of leaders, often based on systematic reviews of the literature, regarding the "state of the art." ⋯ Current national guidelines on nine chronic, life-limiting illnesses offer little guidance in end-of-life care issues despite a recent increase in attention to this aspect of medical care.
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Comparative Study
Terminal care for persons with advanced dementia in the nursing home and home care settings.
Many older persons with advanced dementia receive terminal care in nursing homes, others remain in the community with home care services. ⋯ Persons dying with advanced dementia admitted to nursing homes have different characteristics compared to those admitted to home care services. Their end-of-life experiences also differ in these two sites of care. However, palliative care was not optimal in either setting.
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Clinical Trial
Combined modality treatment of aromatherapy, footsoak, and reflexology relieves fatigue in patients with cancer.
Fatigue is one of the most distressful symptoms experienced by patients with advanced cancer. Aromatherapy, footsoak, and reflexology are popular health care modality treatments in Japan, however, the effectiveness of each treatment for cancer-related fatigue has not been fully established. ⋯ Combined modality treatment consisting of aromatherapy, footsoak, and reflexology appears to be effective for alleviating fatigue in terminally ill cancer patients. To confirm safety and effectiveness of this combined modality treatment, further investigation including randomized treatment assignment is warranted.