Anneke Ullrich, Corinna Bergelt, Gabriella Marx, Anne Daubmann, Gesine Benze, Julia Heine, Lisa-Marie Dickel, Feline Wowretzko, Youyou Zhang, Carsten Bokemeyer, Friedemann Nauck, Karin Oechsle
{"title":"The CAREPAL-8: a short screening tool for multidimensional family caregiver burden in palliative care.","authors":"Anneke Ullrich, Corinna Bergelt, Gabriella Marx, Anne Daubmann, Gesine Benze, Julia Heine, Lisa-Marie Dickel, Feline Wowretzko, Youyou Zhang, Carsten Bokemeyer, Friedemann Nauck, Karin Oechsle","doi":"10.1186/s12904-024-01480-w","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12904-024-01480-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Family caregivers of terminally ill and dying people do not only experience varying levels but also different dimensions of caregiver-related strain and burden. The aim of the study was to develop a short multidimensional screening tool for the detection of burden in family caregivers in palliative care.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Family caregivers of cancer patients newly admitted to specialist inpatient palliative care (N = 232) completed questionnaires on psychological burden, quality of life, social support and need fulfillment. A latent class mixture model was used to identify discrete classes of family caregivers related to their multidimensional caregiver burden. Multinomial logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the most predictive items from a set of established questionnaires.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Four latent classes of family caregivers were identified: Currently stable caregivers (37%), Caregivers with unmet needs (20%), Psychologically burdened caregivers (30%), and High-risk caregivers (13%). Each of these classes describes a different risk profile of multidimensional family caregiver burden, although family caregivers exhibit high levels of distress across all classes. From a set of 48 items, we identified eight items that predicted the class membership best. These items represent the items of the novel multidimensional screening tool: The 8-item Screening Tool for Family Caregiver Burden in Palliative Care (CAREPAL-8). Except for social support, the items maintained fidelity to the conceptualization of multidimensional caregiver burden used in this study. A preliminary classification system was developed, which has yet to be validated.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study represents the first step in the establishment of a practical, self-administered screening tool that might help healthcare providers to tailor caregiver care according to their burden in daily practice. Brevity of the 8-item tool might facilitate its use in routine clinical care.</p>","PeriodicalId":48945,"journal":{"name":"BMC Palliative Care","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-08-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11295689/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141879717","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tracey McConnell, Cindy V Mendieta, Esther de Vries, Jose A Calvache, Gillian Prue, Sam Ahmedzai, Joanne Reid
{"title":"Developing research priorities for palliative care in Colombia: a priority setting partnership approach.","authors":"Tracey McConnell, Cindy V Mendieta, Esther de Vries, Jose A Calvache, Gillian Prue, Sam Ahmedzai, Joanne Reid","doi":"10.1186/s12904-024-01534-z","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12904-024-01534-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>A recent Lancet commission called for more research on palliative care in low- and middle-income (LMIC) countries such as Colombia. A research priority setting approach has been recommended by The Global Forum for Health Research to address the huge gap in research output between LMIC and high-income countries, with influential health service bodies recommending the active involvement of non-research expert stakeholders in establishing research priorities to address service user needs.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Priority setting partnership (PSP) following the four stages of the James Lind Alliance methodology; establishing the partnership, identifying evidence uncertainties, refining questions and uncertainties, and prioritization. Data from MS forms were analysed using descriptive statistics.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 33 stakeholders attended an online PSP workshop and completed the Mentimeter exercise in Microsoft Teams. A total of 48 attended the subsequent in person prioritisation exercise in urban Bogota (n = 22) and rural Popayan (n = 25). The stakeholders were a diverse group of health professionals (physicians, medical students, nurses, dentists, physiotherapists, nutritionist, occupational and speech therapists), financial and administrative staff and patients with life-limiting illness and caregivers. Top research priorities included patient and caregiver needs, service provider education and training, and better integration of palliative care with cancer and non-cancer services. The key challenges included a lack of interest in palliative care research, along with funding, time and resource constraints. Key solutions included collaboration across disciplines and settings, highlighting benefits of palliative research to help secure adequate resources, and multicentre, mixed method research, with patient involvement from the research development stage.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The findings of this PSP should be disseminated among palliative care associations worldwide to inform international multicentre studies, and among governmental and nongovernmental organisations that promote research in Colombia. A focus on patient and family caregiver palliative care needs in Colombia should be prioritised.</p>","PeriodicalId":48945,"journal":{"name":"BMC Palliative Care","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11295305/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141876448","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nancy Lau, Angela Steineck, Casey Walsh, Kaitlyn M Fladeboe, Joyce P Yi-Frazier, Abby R Rosenberg, Krysta Barton
{"title":"Social support resources in adolescents and young adults with advanced cancer: a qualitative analysis.","authors":"Nancy Lau, Angela Steineck, Casey Walsh, Kaitlyn M Fladeboe, Joyce P Yi-Frazier, Abby R Rosenberg, Krysta Barton","doi":"10.1186/s12904-024-01527-y","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12904-024-01527-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Adolescents and Young Adults (AYAs) with cancer are an at-risk group with unique palliative and supportive care needs. Social support in AYAs with cancer is associated with better coping, quality of life, and psychosocial well-being. Here, we extend existing research to examine the sources and types of support received by AYAs with advanced cancer.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>AYAs participated in a semi-structured, 1:1 interview on communication and psychosocial support needs. The present analysis focused on social support experiences for AYAs with advanced cancer. Directed content analysis was used to develop the codebook. Established social support constructs provided a coding framework. We presented our qualitative findings as a code frequency report with quantified frequency counts of all \"source of support\" and \"type of support\" codes. We assigned a global \"sufficiency of support code\" to each AYA.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We interviewed 32 AYAs with advanced cancer (Mage = 18, SDage = 3.2, 41% female). Most AYAs identified family (namely, caregivers) as their primary source of support and stated that family universally provided all types of support: emotional, informational, instrumental, and social companionship. They received informational and emotional support from clinicians, and received emotional support and social companionship from healthy peers, cancer peers, and their existing community. One-third of participants were coded as having \"mixed support\" and described a lack of support in some domains.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>AYAs with advanced cancer described caregivers as their universal source of support, and that other support sources provided support for specific needs. Future research should continue to evaluate social support needs and family-based palliative and supportive care interventions to bolster social support resources in this high-risk group.</p>","PeriodicalId":48945,"journal":{"name":"BMC Palliative Care","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-07-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11290203/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141861356","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Maria Friedrichsen, Caroline Lythell, Micha Milovanovic, Nana Waldréus, Hans Thulesius, Tiny Jaarsma, Pier Jaarsma, Christel Hedman, Anne Söderlund Schaller
{"title":"Nurses' experiences of ethical challenges concerning thirst in dying patients in specialist palliative care: a qualitative study.","authors":"Maria Friedrichsen, Caroline Lythell, Micha Milovanovic, Nana Waldréus, Hans Thulesius, Tiny Jaarsma, Pier Jaarsma, Christel Hedman, Anne Söderlund Schaller","doi":"10.1186/s12904-024-01519-y","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12904-024-01519-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>To describe nurses' experiences of ethical challenges in relation to thirst in terminally ill patients in specialist palliative care units.</p><p><strong>Research design: </strong>A qualitative, reflexive thematic design with an inductive analysis was used.</p><p><strong>Participants and research context: </strong>Eighteen qualitative interviews with nurses working in six different specialist palliative care units in different hospitals in Sweden were conducted. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed with a reflexive thematic analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>This study identified four themes that reflect ethical challenges experienced by nurses in the palliative care regarding thirst: Harmful infusions interfere with peaceful dying; conflict between tradition and personal experience; What is the right intervention to quench thirst? and; Lack of standard procedures, competence and interest among team members.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Palliative care nurses experience a number ethical challenges in relation to thirst in dying patients. The main challenge is the provision of fluids to dying patients via artificial infusions, which nurses struggle with, as they do not want to interfere with a peaceful dying process.</p>","PeriodicalId":48945,"journal":{"name":"BMC Palliative Care","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-07-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11290186/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141856905","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Anne Lisa Mangal, Martin Mücke, Roman Rolke, Iris Appelmann
{"title":"Advance directives in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis - a systematic review and meta-analysis.","authors":"Anne Lisa Mangal, Martin Mücke, Roman Rolke, Iris Appelmann","doi":"10.1186/s12904-024-01524-1","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12904-024-01524-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease of the upper and lower motoneuron. It is associated with a life expectancy of 2-4 years after diagnosis. Individuals experience paralysis, dysphagia, respiratory failure and loss of communicative function, rendering advance care planning (ACP) critically important. This systematic review primarily aimed to internationally compare the application of advance directives (AD) and ACP in ALS. Its secondary aim was to identify ACP preferences, identify fields for future research and to generate recommendations for improving patient care through ACP.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a systematic literature review and meta-analysis. Five electronic databases (Embase, Medline, Scopus, PsycInfo and CENTRAL) were searched for qualitative and quantitative primary literature from 1999 to 2024. Cross-references were used to identify additional publications. Study selection was performed based on inclusion criteria. Number and content of AD were extracted systematically. After statistical analysis consecutive meta-analysis was performed for international differences and changes over time. Quality assessment of studies was performed using the MMAT (Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool). PROSPERO Registration (June 07, 2021) : CRD42021248040.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 998 records was screened of which 26 were included in the synthesis. An increase in publication numbers of 88.9% was observed from 1999 to 2024. Results regarding use and content of AD were heterogeneous and international differences were detected. AD were signed in 60.4% of records (1,629 / 2,696 patients). The number of AD decreased over time when separating the review period in two decades (1st 1999-2011: 78% vs. 2nd 2012-2024: 42%). Study quality was superior in qualitative and mixed method designs compared to quantitative studies.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Further prospective studies should include detailed analyses on preferences regarding ventilation and artificial nutrition in ALS and should encompass countries of the global south. Despite the complexity of ACP with regard to individual patient needs, ACP should be part of each individual support plan for ALS patients and should specifically comprise a discussion on the preferred place of death. The available disease-specific AD documents should be preferred.</p>","PeriodicalId":48945,"journal":{"name":"BMC Palliative Care","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-07-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11285133/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141793849","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Claudia Schmalz, Anne S Oberguggenberger, Eva Nagele, Brigitte Bliem, Anne Lanceley, Andy Nordin, Karin Kuljanic, Pernille T Jensen, Vesna Bjelic-Radisic, Alexander Fabian, Juan I Arraras, Chie Wei-Chu, Carien L Creutzberg, Razvan Galalae, Hilde Toelen, Kristin Zimmermann, Anna Costantini, Thierry Almont, Samantha Serpentini, Ligita Paskeviciute Frøding, Ingvild Vistad, Krzysztof A Tomaszewski, Elisabeth Inwald, Elfriede Greimel
{"title":"Sexual health-a topic for cancer patients receiving oncological treatment with palliative intent.","authors":"Claudia Schmalz, Anne S Oberguggenberger, Eva Nagele, Brigitte Bliem, Anne Lanceley, Andy Nordin, Karin Kuljanic, Pernille T Jensen, Vesna Bjelic-Radisic, Alexander Fabian, Juan I Arraras, Chie Wei-Chu, Carien L Creutzberg, Razvan Galalae, Hilde Toelen, Kristin Zimmermann, Anna Costantini, Thierry Almont, Samantha Serpentini, Ligita Paskeviciute Frøding, Ingvild Vistad, Krzysztof A Tomaszewski, Elisabeth Inwald, Elfriede Greimel","doi":"10.1186/s12904-024-01513-4","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12904-024-01513-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Sexuality is an important dimension of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in cancer patients. Studies evidence that most patients report impairments of their sexual health related to their disease or its treatment. The Quality of Life Group of the European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) developed a patient reported outcome measure assessing multidimensional aspects of sexual health. The validation study for this instrument revealed heterogenous results for patients in palliative oncological treatment. The aim of this secondary analyses is to examine differences in patient related sexual health outcomes between palliative patients with good performance status (GPS) and those with poor performance status (PPS).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this observational cohort study, self-reported sexual health issue scores were compared between the two groups of patients in palliative oncological treatment with GPS vs PPS status.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Patients with GPS experienced significantly more sexual satisfaction than patients with PPS (p = 0.015). They reported significantly more treatment effects on their sexual activity (p = 0.005) and suffer more from decreased libido (p = 0.008). Patients with PPS reported significantly more fatigue (p = 0.03) and regarded preservation of sexual activity of higher importance than did patients with GPS (p = 0.049).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our study demonstrates the importance of sexuality for patients in palliative oncological treatment, especially for those with limited performance status. Considering the patients´ perspective, sexual health reaches beyond physical functioning. Patients in a palliative phase of disease report high levels of psychosexual problems while sexual performance deteriorates. Sexuality is an important aspect of HRQOL for these patients, needs to be addressed by health care providers and sensitively integrated into palliative care plans.</p>","PeriodicalId":48945,"journal":{"name":"BMC Palliative Care","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-07-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11285330/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141793871","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ximena Garcia-Quintero, Eddy Carolina Pedraza, María Isabel Cuervo-Suarez, Isabel Correa, Justin N Baker, Michael J McNeil
{"title":"Implementation of a hospital-based end-of-life and bereavement care program in a latin American middle-income country. A source of light and compassion in the midst of cloudy times.","authors":"Ximena Garcia-Quintero, Eddy Carolina Pedraza, María Isabel Cuervo-Suarez, Isabel Correa, Justin N Baker, Michael J McNeil","doi":"10.1186/s12904-024-01522-3","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12904-024-01522-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The death of a child is one of the most devastating events a family can face, resulting in significant physical and psychosocial morbidity. Bereavement support programs have been developed in high-income contexts to address this need. However, little is known about implementing bereavement programs in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs). Here, we describe the implementation of a bereavement program for parents whose children died due to cancer or other catastrophic illnesses.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a retrospective analysis to describe the implementation of a hospital-based End of Life (EoL) care and bereavement program. This program was developed in several stages, including an assessment of bereaved families, development program guidelines, staff training, piloting of the program, refinement, and standardization. The program was developed between 2019 and 2021 in a nonprofit, teaching hospital and referral center for southwestern Colombia.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Several tools were developed as key components of the bereavement program: a virtual bereavement course; guidance for EoL and bereavement communication and care, memory making, and follow-up calls; a condolence letter template, and group support workshops. A total of 956 healthcare professionals were trained, 258 follow-up calls to bereaved parents were made, 150 individual psychological follow-ups to parents with complicated grief occurred, 79 condolence letters were sent, and 10 support group workshops were carried out. Challenges were identified and overcome, such as limited resources and staff, and cultural perceptions of death. In 2021, this program received an award by the hospital as the Best Strategy to Humanize Healthcare.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study highlights the feasibility of developing and implementing EoL and bereavement care programs for parents and families within hospitals in LMICs. Lack of resources, staff, and training are some of the identified challenges to implementation. Utilizing methodological tools allows us to identify facilitator factors and deliverable outcomes of our EoL and bereavement program. This model provides a valuable framework for resource-limited settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":48945,"journal":{"name":"BMC Palliative Care","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-07-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11285602/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141793870","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Bereaved family members' perspectives on quality of death in deceased acute cardiovascular disease patients compared with cancer patients - a comparison of the J-HOPE3 study and the quality of palliative care in heart disease (Q-PACH) study.","authors":"Takahiro Suzuki, Mitsunori Miyashita, Takashi Kohno, Jeffrey Rewley, Naoko Igarashi, Maho Aoyama, Michiaki Higashitani, Naoto Kawamatsu, Takeshi Kitai, Tatsuhiro Shibata, Makoto Takei, Kotaro Nochioka, Gaku Nakazawa, Hiroki Shiomi, Shigeru Tateno, Toshihisa Anzai, Atsushi Mizuno","doi":"10.1186/s12904-024-01521-4","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12904-024-01521-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Outcome measures during acute cardiovascular disease (CVD) phases, such as quality of death, have not been thoroughly evaluated. This is the first study that compared the family members' perceptions of quality of death in deceased CVD patients and in deceased cancer patients using a bereaved family survey.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Retrospectively sent questionnaire to consecutive family members of deceased patients with CVD from ten tertiary hospitals from October 2017 to August 2018. We used the short version of the Good Death Inventory (GDI) and assessed overall care satisfaction. Referencing the GDI, the quality of death was compared between CVD patients admitted to a non-palliative care unit (non-PCU) and cancer patients in palliative care units (PCU) and non-PCUs in the Japan Hospice and Palliative Care Evaluation Study (J-HOPE Study). Additionally, in the adjusted analysis, multivariable linear regression was performed for total GDI score adjusted by the patient and participant characteristics to estimate the difference between CVD and other patients.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 243 bereaved family responses in agreement (response rate: 58.7%) for CVD patients, deceased patients comprised 133 (54.7%) men who were 80.2 ± 12.2 years old on admission. The GDI score among CVD patients (75.0 ± 15.7) was lower (worse) than that of cancer patients in the PCUs (80.2 ± 14.3), but higher than in non-PCUs (74.4 ± 15.2). After adjustment, the total GDI score for CVD patients was 7.10 points lower [95% CI: 5.22-8.97] than for cancer patients in PCUs and showed no significant differences compared with those in non-PCUs (estimates, 1.62; 95% CI [-0.46 to 5.22]).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The quality of death perceived by bereaved family members among deceased acute CVD patients did not differ significantly from that of deceased cancer patients in general wards, however, was significantly lower than that of deceased cancer patients admitted in PCUs.</p>","PeriodicalId":48945,"journal":{"name":"BMC Palliative Care","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-07-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11282702/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141767789","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Masha S Zee, H Roeline Pasman, Erica Witkamp, Anne Goossensen, Ida J Korfage, Yvonne N Becqué, Corine Nierop-van Baalen, Agnes van der Heide, Bregje D Onwuteaka-Philipsen
{"title":"How end-of-life care was limited during the first 18 months of the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal survey study among healthcare providers (the CO-LIVE study).","authors":"Masha S Zee, H Roeline Pasman, Erica Witkamp, Anne Goossensen, Ida J Korfage, Yvonne N Becqué, Corine Nierop-van Baalen, Agnes van der Heide, Bregje D Onwuteaka-Philipsen","doi":"10.1186/s12904-024-01514-3","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12904-024-01514-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>During the COVID-19 pandemic, the way in which end-of-life care was provided, underwent a lot of changes and therefor different domains of end-of-life care were impacted. The aim of this study is to describe whether health care providers considered end-of-life care (in medical, nursing, psychosocial and spiritual care) limited by the pandemic through the first 18 months of the COVID-19 pandemic, and examine associations with COVID-19 related circumstances of care (e.g. visit restrictions) and health care providers' characteristics.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A longitudinal survey study among healthcare providers from different healthcare settings who provided end-of-life care during the pandemic's first 18 months. Data of four time periods were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Generalized Estimating Equation.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the respondents (n = 302) the majority had a nursing background (71.8%) and most worked in a hospital (30.3%). Especially in the first wave end-of-life care in all aspects was limited according to a substantial part of health care providers (between 29.7 and 57.7%). Psychosocial and spiritual care were more limited than medical and nursing care during all time periods. Care being limited according to health care providers was associated with visit restrictions, shortness of personal protective equipment or restrictions in caring for the deceased and decreased over time.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The COVID-19 pandemic impacted different aspects of end-of-life care throughout the pandemic's first 18 months. Over the course of the pandemic health care providers seemed to have invented ways to adjust their work in order to minimize the effect of limiting measures. More involvement of health care providers in decision-making may improve the prioritization of measures to deal with crisis situations in care. These reflections highlight priorities during crises and the role healthcare providers could play in maintaining good end-of-life care. This remains relevant in new health crises, where care may differ from what is considered good quality of care.</p>","PeriodicalId":48945,"journal":{"name":"BMC Palliative Care","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-07-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11282725/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141767790","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
María Argüello-Marina, Marta Callejas-Charavía, Beatriz Merchán-Muñoz, Daniel Gainza-Miranda, Agustina Rico-Zampetti, Raquel Pérez-Maganto, Gustavo Ruiz-Ares, Patricia García-Ramírez, Dunia de Miguel-Llorente, Julio García-Suárez
{"title":"Impact of early palliative care intervention in autologous bone marrow transplantation: feasibility of a multicentric study.","authors":"María Argüello-Marina, Marta Callejas-Charavía, Beatriz Merchán-Muñoz, Daniel Gainza-Miranda, Agustina Rico-Zampetti, Raquel Pérez-Maganto, Gustavo Ruiz-Ares, Patricia García-Ramírez, Dunia de Miguel-Llorente, Julio García-Suárez","doi":"10.1186/s12904-024-01499-z","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12904-024-01499-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>This prospective multicentre study evaluates the impact of Palliative Care Unit (PCU) intervention (Experimental Group, EG), during autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) on quality of life (QoL), symptom control and healthcare resource use compared to standard practice (Control Group, CG). We used validated scales on Days 0 (stem cell infusion), + 7 (bone marrow aplasia, acute symptoms) and + 21 (aplasia recovery).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In 40 patients (20 EG/ 20 CG: 45%/25% female, median age 57.5/59), QoL differed significantly at Day + 7 (EG: median 0.50; CG: -63.00; p < 0.001) and Day + 21 (EG: -2.00; CG: -129.00; p < 0.001). On Day 0, mean FACT-BMT scores were CG/EG: 131/ 89.35, reflecting the pre-transplant intervention of the PCU in EG patients. For pain (EG median 0.00, CG median 2.50; p = 0.01), 45% EG patients used opioids on day 0 (mean 38.5 mg morphine/day/patient). Reduced pain control impacted nutritional support (parenteral nutrition 45% CG, 5% EG; p = 0.08). Hospitalisation duration was longer in CG (median 18.5; EG median 13.00; p < 0.001). Despite the short follow-up and small sample size, PCU and HD collaboration improves QoL and symptom management during acute AHSCT, evident through pain control, analgesia management, reduced parenteral nutrition need and shorter hospital stays.</p>","PeriodicalId":48945,"journal":{"name":"BMC Palliative Care","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-07-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11270845/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141761941","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}