Articles: palliative-care.
-
J Pain Symptom Manage · Dec 2020
Preparedness of African palliative care services to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic: A rapid assessment.
Palliative care is an essential component of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic response but is overlooked in national and international preparedness plans. The preparedness and capacity of African palliative care services to respond to COVID-19 is unknown. ⋯ Our survey suggests that African palliative care services could support the wider health system's response to the COVID-19 pandemic with greater resources such as basic infection control materials. It identified specific and systemic weaknesses impeding their preparedness to respond to outbreaks. The findings call for urgent measures to ensure staff and patient safety.
-
J Pain Symptom Manage · Dec 2020
ReviewPreferences and experiences of Muslim patients and their families in Muslim-majority countries for end-of-life care: a systematic review and thematic analysis.
Care for people with progressive illness should be person centered and account for their cultural values and spiritual beliefs. There are an estimated 1.7 billion Muslims worldwide, largely living in low-income and middle-income countries. ⋯ Despite the scarce evidence of relatively low quality, the analysis revealed core themes. To achieve palliative care for all in line with the total pain model, beliefs must be identified and understood in relation to decision-making processes and practices.
-
To describe individual views, wishes, and preferences for end of life care and to report UK anaesthetists' personal perspectives. ⋯ This study provides the first systematic description of UK doctors', specifically anaesthetists', personal preferences for end of life care. Broad trends were identified: to be well informed; to avoid high-intensity medical treatments if terminally unwell; to spend remaining time with family and friends; and to be symptom-free and well cared for. However, a substantial minority expressed different, indeed opposite, opinions. This variation highlights that good quality end of life care must be driven by discussion of an individual's values, wishes, and preferences.
-
With perpetual research, management refinement, and increasing survivorship, cancer care is steadily evolving into a chronic disease model. Rehabilitation physicians are quite accustomed to managing chronic conditions, yet, cancer rehabilitation remains unexplored. ⋯ This, together with palliative care's expertise in managing the panoply of troubling symptoms that beset patients with malignancy, makes them natural allies in the comprehensive management of this patient group from the moment of diagnosis. This article will explore the under-recognized and underused parallels and synergies between the two specialties as well as identifying potential challenges and areas for future growth.
-
Critical care nurse · Dec 2020
Increasing Critical Care Nurse Engagement of Palliative Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has led to escalating infection rates and associated deaths worldwide. Amid this public health emergency, the urgent need for palliative care integration throughout critical care settings has never been more crucial. ⋯ Nurses should focus on a strategic integration of palliative care, critical care, and ethically based care during times of normalcy and of crisis. Primary palliative care should be provided for each patient and family, and specialist services sought, as appropriate. Nurse educators are encouraged to use these recommendations and resources in their curricula and training. Palliative care is critical care. Critical care nurses are the frontline responders capable of translating this holistic, person-centered approach into pragmatic services and relationships throughout the critical care continuum.