International journal of palliative nursing
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The aim of this study was to explore the reasons why patients and families are referred to specialist palliative care. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with patients and professionals from primary care and specialist palliative care services in the north of England. A content analysis of the transcripts was undertaken, key issues were identified and common themes grouped. ⋯ Further training and education may improve the knowledge of professionals who refer patients to specialist palliative care. There are currently no standardized criteria in the UK to determine when a referral should be triggered. The development of a set of standardized referral criteria may be useful in aiding a referral decision.
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Successful symptom management in the palliative and terminal care of patients frequently involves the use of syringe drivers. A wealth of literature exists to support their use in the care of adult patients both within specialist palliative care inpatient units and in the community setting. However, little has been written regarding their use in the paediatric population. The purpose of this article is to examine specific issues concerning the use of syringe drivers when caring for children and young people in the terminal phase of illness.
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Comparative Study
A small observational study of the longevity of syringe driver sites in palliative care.
Although the use of portable syringe drivers is common in palliative care, problems do occur. A small observational study of local practice was undertaken to establish the rate of syringe driver reactions and duration of sites; to determine whether a predictable relationship existed between the number of days on a syringe driver and the number of sites used consecutively; and to discover whether the location of a syringe driver site influenced the site longevity. Eighty-six syringe driver sites were established in 27 patients during the 3-month study period. ⋯ In view of the unpredictability of site reactions, it is concluded that sites must be assessed regularly and changed as soon as problems develop. As this was a small study in one unit without standardization of site reaction assessment, the results should be interpreted with caution. However, given the lack of published work in this area, this study contributes to the evidence base and raises important questions for both clinical practice and future research.