J Palliat Care
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Neuroleptics are frequently used by palliative care specialists to treat delirium. In this study, we determined the median daily neuroleptic dose and prescription pattern in a cohort of unselected advanced cancer in-patients with delirium. ⋯ HEDD was lower than doses reported in previous studies involving cancer patients and was adjusted sparingly. Prospective clinical trials are necessary to identify the optimal neuroleptic dose for delirium.
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Patients with ESRD have extensive and unique end-of-life care considerations and needs. Despite substantial advancements in renal palliative care over the past decade, much research is still required. Identifying CKD patients whose illness trajectory has shifted and would likely benefit from a palliative approach to care should be a priority of all nephrology programs. Further research on symptom management, the effectiveness of ACP, the life expectancy of conservatively managed and incident dialysis patients, anticipated changes in functional status and HRQL with the initiation of dialysis (especially among the frail elderly), and the best way to deliver renal palliative care is required to maximize the integration and effectiveness of renal palliative care services.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Quality of life in terminally ill cancer patients: contributors and content validity of instruments.
Over the last few decades, improvement in the quality of life (QOL) of cancer patients has received a lot of attention in oncology. This study aims to further explore what factors terminally ill cancer patients report as influencing their QOL. ⋯ The results support previous work identifying domains important to the QOL of terminally ill patients with cancer, but they also identify "finances" as a new domain. Based on these findings, we suggest including "finances" in QOL instruments for the terminally ill as an experimental domain.