Articles: palliative-care.
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Am J Hosp Palliat Care · May 2021
Safety and Utility of Chloroquine/ Hydroxychloroquine in Palliative Care Patients.
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic represents a significant healthcare challenge for the world. Many drugs have therapeutic potential. The aminoquinolones, hydroxychloroquine, and chloroquine are undergoing evaluation as a potential therapy against COVID -19. ⋯ As palliative care specialists encounter more COVID positive patients, palliative care specialists need to know how these drugs work, and importantly how they interact with palliative care drugs used for symptom control. At the same time, there is a need to reduce polypharmacy in any seriously ill patient population. The goals of this paper are to identify whether or not hydroxychloroquine/chloroquine improves symptoms in palliative care patients and whether or not these drugs are safe to use in the advanced illness population who have COVID.
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Internal medicine journal · May 2021
Examining antidepressant use in palliative care patients by risk of antidepressant discontinuation syndrome.
Antidepressant drugs, which are widely used in palliative care patients for both management of psychiatric disorders and non-psychiatric symptoms, may cause a cluster of distressing symptoms on discontinuation. In dying patients, cessation of oral intake may occur either temporarily or permanently for reasons related to disease or its treatment, as well as in the days before death. We examined antidepressant use in palliative care patients by risk of antidepressant discontinuation syndrome (ADDS). Strategies for reducing the risk of ADDS, and for managing it that should occur, are discussed.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · May 2021
ReviewDo the clinical management guidelines for Covid-19 in African Countries reflect the African quality palliative care standards? A review of current guidelines.
Palliative care should be a component of COVID-19 management to relieve suffering, improve patient outcomes and save cost. ⋯ Comprehensive palliative care which addresses physical, psychological, social and spiritual concerns must be prioritized within case management guidelines in African countries.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · May 2021
Inpatient Specialty-Level Palliative Care is Delivered Late in the Course of Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Associated with Lower Hazard of Hospital Readmission.
Little is known about receipt of specialty-level palliative care by people with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or its impact on health care utilization. ⋯ Inpatient palliative care consultation was received by individuals with more advanced disease and associated with lower readmission hazard. These findings support further research and the development of HCC-specific programs that increase access to specialty-level palliative care.