Annals of palliative medicine
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More than 70% of patients with advanced cancer experience dyspnea. Dyspnea is predictive of shorter survival and interferes with quality of life (QOL). The present study aimed to identify predictors of the presence and severity of dyspnea in advanced cancer patients. ⋯ Liver, lung and lymph node metastases, a history of respiratory conditions, pulse oximetry <90 and PRFS ≥3 were predictive of the severity of dyspnea and moderate/severe dyspnea. Physicians should be aware of predictive factors that could lead to dyspnea to promote early intervention for improved patient care and the creation of screening tools for clinical practice.
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Pain and symptom control challenges are common in palliative care, and the search for other therapeutic strategies is ongoing. Unfortunately, patients and their caregivers are receiving little information or support from healthcare providers regarding the increasingly popular cannabinoid-based medicines (CBM). Clinicians, meanwhile, feel understandably perplexed by the discrepancy between the available evidence and the rapid interest in which patients and their families have demonstrated for CBM. ⋯ The authors will also make suggestions regarding patient expectations in order to define clear objectives, review the necessary precautions prior to initiating treatment, aid in selecting the appropriate strain and route of administration as well as establishing proper titration and monitoring protocols. The authors will also discuss the lesser known but potentially therapeutic psychoactive effects of cannabis. As this class of therapeutic agents are likely to play a major role in palliative medicine in the near future, clinicians would benefit from familiarizing themselves with CBM and we can expect that patients and their caregivers will appreciate receiving support in their search for safe and effective therapeutic alternatives.
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Communication of prognosis and goals of care between oncologists, community health care providers (HCPs) and patients treated for advanced cancer facilitates optimal care planning. We aimed to review the frequency, content and timing of documented prognosis in written correspondence during the last year of life of advanced cancer patients. ⋯ Documentation of qualitative and quantitative prognosis is infrequent despite multiple clinical encounters prior to patient death. This infers inadequate communication between oncologists and other HCPs which reduces insight into patient clinical trajectory and could result in differing care between providers.
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Renal Supportive/Palliative Care is gaining gradual recognition as a patient-centered care approach that should be integrated to the traditional disease-centered model of care, mainly in elder patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD). The objective of this study was to assess knowledge, perceptions, attitude, experience and interest in palliative care among renal care providers. ⋯ Brazilian nephrologists are often unaware of patient autonomy, more prone to withholding than withdrawing dialysis and deem wishes of the family quasi as important as patient preferences in the shared decision making process. Most Participants answered to evaluate pain and quality of life related to health (HRQoL) routinely and have great interest to learn about renal palliative care.
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In the recent years, there has been an increase in awareness with regards to the role of palliative care (PC) in management of neurologic diseases. In 1996, the need to incorporate PC in the care for patients with neurologic conditions was recognized by the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Ethics and Humanities Subcommittee. ⋯ The complexity of managing neurologic patients brings about challenges and ethical issues in this setting. The aim of this review is to discuss and summarize the challenges and ethical issues in the context of PC management of patients with advanced acute, rapidly progressive, slowly-progressive or degenerative neurological conditions that are commonly encountered in practice.