Articles: palliative-care.
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Asia Pac J Oncol Nurs · Jul 2020
Reliability and Validity Testing of the FAMCARE-2 Scale: Thai Translation.
Measuring the satisfaction of family caregivers regarding the palliative care provided to their family members is very important for quality improvement in the palliative care system. The aim of this study was to test the psychometric properties (i.e., reliability and validity) of the FAMCARE-2 Scale: Thai Translation for measuring family caregiver satisfaction. ⋯ The FAMCARE-2 Scale: Thai Translation was found to be a valid psychometric tool for measuring family caregiver satisfaction within the Thai context of palliative care.
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This article deals with the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (stage IV). The treatment goals and approaches are determined by the resectability status of the metastases: resectable liver and lung metastases are primarily resected and perioperative chemotherapy appears to be dispensable. In potentially resectable metastases, a conversion therapy is attempted to enable a potentially curative resection. ⋯ For some patients with stage IV, molecular targeted therapies are available. The study situation and approval status are dealt with in detail. With improved molecular characterization of tumors the treatment can be further individualized.
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Relational autonomy in end-of-life care ethics: a contextualized approach to real-life complexities.
Respect for autonomy is a paramount principle in end-of-life ethics. Nevertheless, empirical studies show that decision-making, exclusively focused on the individual exercise of autonomy fails to align well with patients' preferences at the end of life. The need for a more contextualized approach that meets real-life complexities experienced in end-of-life practices has been repeatedly advocated. In this regard, the notion of 'relational autonomy' may be a suitable alternative approach. Relational autonomy has even been advanced as a foundational notion of palliative care, shared decision-making, and advance-care planning. However, relational autonomy in end-of-life care is far from being clearly conceptualized or practically operationalized. ⋯ This article develops a relational account of autonomy, which responds to major shortcomings uncovered in the mainstream interpretation of this principle and which can be applied to end-of-life care practices.