Articles: palliative-care.
-
Most patients living with serious illness value spending time at home. Emerging data suggest that days alive and at home (DAH) may be a useful metric, however more research is needed. We aimed to assess the concurrent validity of DAH with respect to clinically significant changes in patient- and caregiver-reported outcomes (PROs). ⋯ DAH measures are associated, albeit weakly, with clinically important improvement or maintenance of patient symptom burden in a diverse, seriously ill population.
-
Background and objectives: Ambulatory (outpatient) healthcare organizations continue to respond to the COVID-19 global pandemic using an array of initiatives to sustain a continuity of palliative care. Continuance of palliative care during major crises has been previously accomplished; however, the global pandemic presents new challenges to the US healthcare industry. ⋯ Researchers also identified two primary barriers in the outpatient setting impacting the continuance of palliative care: lack of resources and accessibility to care. Conclusions: This systematic review identified facilitators and barriers for palliative care initiatives in the United States that can further assist future outpatient (ambulatory care) providers at a global level as the pandemic and associated public health initiatives continue.
-
Negative beliefs and a lack of clarity surrounding the meaning of palliative care have been widely reported as obstacles to its uptake. Information available to the public possibly contributes to this. A descriptive and discourse-theoretical analysis was conducted of information spread online by palliative care policy, advocacy, and practice organizations. ⋯ Tensions arose around the concepts of autonomy, a natural death, and an emphasis on the quality of life away from death and dying. Overall, this study showed that the online information of palliative care is a potential source of confusion and might even contribute to its stigmatization. Insights are provided that may help improve clarity toward the public.