Articles: palliative-care.
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Tohoku J. Exp. Med. · Jun 2020
Impressions of Interfaith Chaplain's Activities among Patients in a Palliative Care Unit: A Semi-Structured Interview-Based Qualitative Study.
Providing spiritual care in light of a patient's religious and/or spiritual background can help improve the quality of end-of-life care. Rinsho-shukyo-shi is a Japanese interfaith chaplain who provides religious and spiritual care to patients. In this study, we qualitatively explore the impressions of patients in a palliative care unit of the activities of an interfaith chaplain in a hospital in Japan. ⋯ Opinions about the interfaith chaplain also varied, with 10 patients claiming that his role was necessary for end-of-life care and beneficial for the chaplain himself. Finally, the patients' religious beliefs varied widely. In conclusion, the interfaith chaplain is deemed helpful by the interviewed patients in relieving their anxieties.
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At a population level, conversations between clinicians and seriously ill patients exploring patients' goals and values can drive high-value healthcare, improving patient outcomes and reducing spending. ⋯ Prospectively designed trial, non-randomized sample, analysis of secondary outcomes.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Jun 2020
ReviewIdiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: A review of disease, pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies with a focus on symptoms, function, and health-related quality of life.
Despite several advances in treatment, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) remains a progressive, symptomatic, and terminal disease in patients not suitable for lung transplantation. With disease progression, IPF often leads to a constellation of symptoms, including dyspnea, cough, anxiety, and depression. Palliative care is appropriate to support these patients. ⋯ This review focuses on IPF management strategies and their effects on symptoms, exercise tolerance, HRQL, and survival. Pharmacological interactions and considerations related to commonly used palliative care medications are also reviewed. This review highlights the needs of patients with IPF and caregivers, psychosocial function, patient-reported assessment tools, and topics related to advance care planning.
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Review
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): strengthening our resolve to achieve universal palliative care.
In this paper, we strongly advocate for universal palliative care access during the COVID-19 pandemic. The delivery of universal palliative care services has been called for by leading global health organizations and experts. Nurses are critical to realizing this goal. ⋯ It is very clear that investment in nurses is needed to ensure appropriate palliative care services now and into the future. Avoiding futile interventions and alleviating suffering is an ethical imperative for nurses regardless of the setting. Multi-level practices and policies to foster the delivery of safe, high-quality palliative care for all are urgently needed.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Effect of Combined Immune Checkpoint Inhibition vs Best Supportive Care Alone in Patients With Advanced Colorectal Cancer: The Canadian Cancer Trials Group CO.26 Study.
Single-agent immune checkpoint inhibition has not shown activities in advanced refractory colorectal cancer (CRC), other than in those patients who are microsatellite-instability high (MSI-H). ⋯ This phase 2 study suggests that combined immune checkpoint inhibition with durvalumab plus tremelimumab may be associated with prolonged OS in patients with advanced refractory CRC. Elevated plasma TMB may select patients most likely to benefit from durvalumab and tremelimumab. Further confirmation studies are warranted.