J Palliat Care
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The aim of this study was to describe the changes in quality of life and in levels of anxiety and depression experienced by caregivers of patients with brain tumour 18 months after their bereavement. ⋯ Our study underscores the necessity of supporting caregivers and monitoring their suffering levels; such suffering can compromise their social and work lives, not only during the disease trajectory but also in bereavement. Providing psychological and emotional support for caregivers of patients with brain tumour during both periods could lessen the suffering and unhappiness of these caregivers.
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A wealth of literature and economic analyses has shown that palliative care is associated with significant cost reductions compared to nonpalliative care. However, no one has assessed the impact of an inpatient palliative care consultation service on costs at the very end of life (48 to 72 hours before death). ⋯ Our study shows that patients who receive palliative care consultations are associated with significantly lower costs in the final 48 to 72 hours of life than their nonpalliative counterparts. Another significant finding was that the degree of cost reduction at the very end of life appears to be relative to how soon after the patient's admission the palliative care consultation was initiated.
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Given our ageing population and the increase in chronic disease, palliative care will become an increasingly important part of doctors' workloads, with implications for palliative care education. This study used a mixed methods strategy to evaluate second-year medical students' learning outcomes and experiences within a palliative care education program. ⋯ Students also reported divergent reactions to death and dying and noted that palliative care was different from other areas of clinical medicine. This study revealed that palliative care teaching results in improved attitudes toward palliative care, reflecting the holistic and patient-focused nature of the palliative care curriculum.
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Refractory breathlessness is a common and distressing symptom among patients receiving palliative care. Improvements in the assessment and management of refractory breathlessness are dependent on further research. In this article, we have outlined research topics on which to base future work.