Article
Surgery
Max R. Coffey, Katelynn C. Bachman, Stephanie G. Worrell, Luis M. Argote-Greene, Philip A. Linden, Christopher W. Towe
Summary: This study aimed to describe the outcomes of palliative surgery in patients with esophageal cancer. Although median overall survival was shorter in palliative surgery patients compared to those receiving non-surgical palliation, there was no significant difference in survival between the two groups after adjusting for various factors. Palliative surgery for advanced esophageal cancer is associated with poor overall survival but is similar to other palliative modalities.
JOURNAL OF SURGICAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Wagahta Semere, Andrew D. Althouse, Robert Arnold, Douglas White, Thomas J. Smith, Edward Chu, Margaret Q. Rosenzweig, Yael Schenker
Summary: This study found that a palliative care intervention did not improve burden or mood among caregivers of patients with advanced cancer, but they reported higher self-efficacy compared to caregivers receiving standard care. It highlights the need for strategies to optimize caregiver outcomes in palliative care interventions.
JOURNAL OF PAIN AND SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Wilfred Ngwa, Beatrice W. Addai, Isaac Adewole, Victoria Ainsworth, James Alaro, Olusegun Alatise, Zipporah Ali, Benjamin O. Anderson, Rose Anorlu, Stephen Avery, Prebo Barango, Noella Bih, Christopher M. Booth, Otis W. Brawley, Jean-Marie Dangou, Lynette Denny, Jennifer Dent, Shekinah N. C. Elmore, Ahmed Elzawawy, Diane Gashumba, Jennifer Geel, Katy Graef, Sumit Gupta, Serigne-Magueye Gueye, Nazik Hammad, Laila Hessissen, Andre M. Ilbawi, Joyce Kambugu, Zisis Kozlakidis, Simon Manga, Lize Maree, Sulma Mohammed, Susan Msadabwe, Miriam Mutebi, Annet Nakaganda, Ntokozo Ndlovu, Kingsley Ndoh, Jerry Ndumbalo, Mamsau Ngoma, Twalib Ngoma, Christian Ntizimira, Timothy R. Rebbeck, Lorna Renner, Anya Romanoff, Fidel Rubagumya, Shahin Sayed, Shivani Sud, Hannah Simonds, Richard Sullivan, William Swanson, Verna Vanderpuye, Boateng Wiafe, David Kerr
Summary: Urgent action is needed to address the growing crisis of cancer in sub-Saharan Africa. Recommended actions include developing or updating national cancer control plans, improving access to medication and psychosocial support, investing in cancer registries and diagnostics, and learning from approaches used during the COVID-19 pandemic to increase access to cancer care.
Article
Surgery
Ambika Nohria, Sarah R. Kaslow, Leena Hani, Yanjie He, Greg D. Sacks, Russell S. Berman, Ann Y. Lee, Camilo Correa-Gallego
Summary: Surgery for symptom palliation in metastatic gastric cancer patients is declining, with more patients opting for nonsurgical palliation. Patients undergoing surgical palliation have lower survival rates and require careful selection for appropriate treatment.
JOURNAL OF SURGICAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Dena Schulman-Green, Sarah Linsky, Sangchoon Jeon, Margaret L. Holland, Jennifer Kapo, Leslie Blatt, Catherine Adams, Anees B. Chagpar
Summary: This study aimed to test the intervention of Managing Cancer Care: A Personal Guide (MCC-PT) in improving palliative care literacy and cancer self-management. The results showed that MCC-PT had a significant effect in late-stage cancer patients, and further research is needed to explore the relationship between cancer stage, race/ethnicity, and self-management outcomes.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Enrico Ruggeri, Rita Ostan, Silvia Varani, Raffaella Pannuti, Guido Biasco
Summary: This study investigates the impact of home artificial nutrition on the nutritional and performance status of cancer patients. The results indicate that home artificial nutrition can improve energy balance, body weight, and performance status in eligible patients.
Article
Surgery
Marissa Guo, Thomas Leuschner, Alexandra Lopez-Aguiar, Mary Dillhoff, Aslam Ejaz, Timothy M. Pawlik, Jordan M. Cloyd
Summary: Aborted cancer surgery was associated with poor outcomes, particularly in patients with aggressive cancer types and those who did not receive further cancer-directed therapy. Palliative care consultation may improve patient-centered outcomes.
Article
Surgery
Shusuke Yagi, Satoshi Ida, Ken Namikawa, Masaru Hayami, Rie Makuuchi, Koshi Kumagai, Manabu Ohashi, Takeshi Sano, Souya Nunobe
Summary: This study evaluated the clinical outcomes and prognostic factors after palliative treatment for gastric bleeding from incurable gastric cancer. It found that palliative radiotherapy was more commonly used than palliative surgery for patients with moderate to severe disease and those who received chemotherapy. Introducing chemotherapy after palliative treatment can extend the survival time of patients.
Review
Oncology
Natasha Ansari, Christina M. Wilson, Mallorie B. Heneghan, Kathie Supiano, Kathi Mooney
Summary: The aim of this literature review was to explore the role of technology-based communication strategies in health outcomes of patients with advanced cancer. Using Epstein and Street's framework, 39 articles were identified and categorized into different areas of communication. The majority of the articles focused on the feasibility and efficacy of technology-based information exchange between patients and providers. It was found that there is a need for more research in the areas of healing relationships and decision-making in cancer care.
SUPPORTIVE CARE IN CANCER
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Anette Stolberg Kargo, Pernille Tine Jensen, Kristina Lindemann, Niels Henrik Hjollund, Gabor Istvan Liposits, Nicoline Raaschou-Jensen, Bettina Molri Knudsen, Soren Moller, Dorte Gilsa Hansen, Karina Dahl Steffensen
Summary: This study aimed to explore the diagnostic accuracy of repeated measurement of patient-reported outcomes and quality-of-life scores in relation to ovarian cancer recurrence. Results showed that despite the worsening of symptoms prior to recurrence, the patient-reported outcomes did not provide adequate diagnostic accuracy. Future efforts should focus on improving the administration of patient-reported outcomes and exploring their potential clinical relevance.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GYNECOLOGICAL CANCER
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Hsien Seow, Rinku Sutradhar, Fred Burge, Kimberlyn McGrail, Dawn M. Guthrie, Beverley Lawson, Urun Erbas Oz, Kelvin Chan, Stuart Peacock, Lisa Barbera
Summary: Cancer decedents who received palliative care earlier than 6 months before death had a lower risk of receiving hospital care and dying in hospital, but a higher risk of receiving supportive home care in the last month of life compared to those who did not receive early palliative care.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Daryl C. C. McHugh, Anna Gershteyn, Christine Boerman, Robert G. G. Holloway, Debra E. E. Roberts, Benjamin P. P. George
Summary: This study investigated the outcomes of patients with severe intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to a pre-pandemic period. The study found that more ICH patients were discharged to hospice during the pandemic and among survivors, more patients were discharged home instead of healthcare facility discharge during the pandemic.
Article
Oncology
Jae Hyun Lee, Jin Lim, Seung Jun Han, Sung do Moon, Hongran Moon, Seo-Young Lee, Hyeanji Kim, Hee-Won Jung
Summary: Although the association between anticholinergic burden and adverse outcomes in older adults is known, its clinical importance in patients with advanced cancer is less studied. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical impacts of using anticholinergic medications in older patients with cancer. The results showed that increased anticholinergic burden during hospitalization is a predictor of worsening clinical features and higher mortality in older patients with cancer. Further studies investigating the causal relationship between increased anticholinergic burden and poor prognosis are warranted.
SUPPORTIVE CARE IN CANCER
(2021)
Review
Oncology
Ainhoa Madariaga, Rodrigo Sanchez-Bayona, Fernanda G. Herrera, Pedro T. Ramirez, Antonio Gonzalez Martin
Summary: Drug development plays a crucial role in improving outcomes for patients with gynecologic cancers. Clinical trials should measure whether new interventions result in clinically relevant improvements compared to standard care, using reproducible and appropriate endpoints. Overall survival and quality of life are the gold standards for measuring the benefits of new therapeutic strategies. Alternative endpoints, such as progression-free survival, provide early insights into the effects of new drugs but their correlation with overall survival or quality of life in gynecologic malignancies is unclear. Additionally, time-to-event endpoints like progression-free survival two and time to second subsequent treatment are valuable for assessing disease control in the longer term.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GYNECOLOGICAL CANCER
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Maryam Qureshi, Maggie C. Robinson, Aynharan Sinnarajah, Srini Chary, Janet M. de Groot, Andrea Feldstain
Summary: Studies have found integrated interdisciplinary care to be a key aspect of effective palliative care. Clinicians emphasized the benefits of formalized relationships and collaboration pathways with other services, as well as the need for better training of residents and primary care physicians in the community.
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Margaret H. Sandham, Emma A. Hedgecock, Richard J. Siegert, Ajit Narayanan, Mevhibe B. Hocaoglu, Irene J. Higginson
Summary: This study investigates whether machine learning and network analysis can identify different phases of patient palliative status based on symptoms reported on the Integrated Palliative Care Outcome Scale (IPOS). The results show significant variation in symptoms among different phases and clear associations between specific symptoms. Machine learning techniques are also utilized to predict the possible transition between phases. These findings, coupled with advancements in mobile apps and wearable technology, suggest the potential for increased use of digital therapeutics in continuous palliative care monitoring.
JOURNAL OF PAIN AND SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Katherine E. Sleeman, Rachel L. Cripps, Fliss E. M. Murtagh, Adejoke O. Oluyase, Mevhibe B. Hocaoglu, Matthew Maddocks, Catherine Walshe, Nancy Preston, Lesley Dunleavy, Andy Bradshaw, Sabrina Bajwah, Irene J. Higginson, Lorna K. Fraser
Summary: The study identified factors associated with increased busyness in palliative care services during the Covid-19 pandemic. Providing community care and publicly managed services were better able to respond to escalating needs. Staff shortages, homecare services, nursing care at home, Covid-19 cases, and publicly managed services were all associated with increased busyness in the services.
JOURNAL OF PALLIATIVE MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Andy Bradshaw, Lesley Dunleavy, Ian Garner, Nancy Preston, Sabrina Bajwah, Rachel Cripps, Lorna K. Fraser, Matthew Maddocks, Mevhibe Hocaoglu, Fliss E. M. Murtagh, Adejoke O. Oluyase, Katherine E. Sleeman, Irene J. Higginson, Catherine Walshe
Summary: This study explores the experiences and impact of palliative care staff working during the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings reveal that infection control constraints hindered the ability of staff to provide care aligned with their core values, resulting in moral distress. Despite organizational and team support, the prolonged management of these constraints led to cumulative impacts of moral distress and sometimes burnout. Solidarity with colleagues and making valued contributions provided some moral comfort.
JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Joanne Bayly, Andy Bradshaw, Lucy Fettes, Muhammed Omarjee, Helena Talbot-Rice, Catherine Walshe, Katherine E. Sleeman, Sabrina Bajwah, Lesley Dunleavy, Mevhibe Hocaoglu, Adejoke Oluyase, Ian Garner, Rachel L. Cripps, Nancy Preston, Lorna K. Fraser, Fliss E. M. Murtagh, Irene J. Higginson, Matthew Maddocks
Summary: This study found that rehabilitation services in palliative care during the Covid-19 pandemic mostly shifted to remote provision, with many team members being on sick leave, redeployed, or furloughed. Free text responses were categorized into four themes showing how rehabilitation services adapted and reconfigured to the challenges posed by Covid-19, affecting both clinicians' and patients' capacity to participate in rehabilitation programs.
PALLIATIVE MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Respiratory System
Malgorzata Krajnik, Nilay Hepgul, Andrew Wilcock, Ewa Jassem, Tomasz Bandurski, Silvia Tanzi, Steffen T. Simon, Irene J. Higginson, Caroline J. Jolley
Summary: Respiratory medicine and palliative care physicians have different approaches in managing chronic breathlessness, with PC physicians more likely to use opioids and benzodiazepines, while RM physicians focus more on exercise training. Physicians who have read non-cancer palliative care guidelines tend to adopt certain treatment methods more frequently.
BMC PULMONARY MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Primary Health Care
Javiera Leniz, Martin Gulliford, Irene J. Higginson, Sabrina Bajwah, Deokhee Yi, Wei Gao, Katherine E. Sleeman
Summary: This study aimed to explore factors associated with hospital admissions among people dying with dementia. The study found that patients with more GP contacts had a higher risk of multiple hospital admissions, while higher continuity of care and identification of palliative care needs were associated with a lower frequency of these admissions.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF GENERAL PRACTICE
(2022)
Editorial Material
Critical Care Medicine
J. Randall Curtis, Irene J. Higginson, Douglas B. White
INTENSIVE CARE MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Bridget M. Johnston, Barbara Daveson, Charles Normand, Karen Ryan, Melinda Smith, Regina McQuillan, Irene Higginson, Lucy Selman, Katy Tobin
Summary: This study evaluated the preferences of older patients for elements of palliative care services and found that they prioritize minimizing the burden on unpaid caregivers, easy access to services, and high quality of life. This provides evidence for prioritizing and evaluating service elements in palliative care delivery models.
JOURNAL OF PAIN AND SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Eve Namisango, Katherine Bristowe, Fliss E. M. Murtagh, Julia Downing, Richard A. Powell, Mackuline Atieno, Melanie Abas, Zipporah Ali, Emmanuel B. K. Luyirika, Michelle Meiring, Faith N. Mwangi-Powell, Irene J. Higginson, Richard Harding
Summary: This study evaluates the face and content validity, comprehensiveness, comprehensibility, acceptability, and feasibility of the Children's Palliative Care Outcome Scale (C-POS). The results show that C-POS captures the core symptoms and concerns that matter to children and their families. It is considered feasible, comprehensible, and acceptable for use in clinical settings. However, further development and improvement are needed.
PALLIATIVE MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Respiratory System
Deokhee Yi, Charles C. Reilly, Gao Wei, Irene J. Higginson
Summary: This study found that breathlessness services were cost-effective compared to usual care, resulting in cost savings and improved quality of life. Additionally, tailoring service attributes to individual preferences increased the uptake of these services.
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Tushti Bhardwaj, Rachel L. Chambers, Harry Watson, Irene J. Srividya, Irene J. Higginson, Mevhibe B. Hocaoglu
Summary: This study aimed to translate and culturally adapt the Integrated Palliative Care Outcome Scale (IPOS) into Hindi. Through a standardized methodology, the Hindi IPOS was developed and found to have face and content validity for clinical practice and research. The availability of the Hindi IPOS has implications beyond Indian palliative care settings, as it provides millions of Hindi speakers with a tool to communicate their palliative care needs in their mother tongue.
PALLIATIVE MEDICINE
(2023)
Letter
Respiratory System
Natasha Lovell, Simon N. Etkind, Joanna M. Davies, Wendy Prentice, Irene J. Higginson, Katherine E. Sleeman
EUROPEAN RESPIRATORY JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Javiera Leniz, Joanna M. Davies, Anna E. Bone, Mevhibe Hocaoglu, Julia Verne, Stephen Barclay, Fliss E. M. Murtagh, Lorna K. Fraser, Irene J. Higginson, Katherine E. Sleeman
Summary: The number and proportion of home deaths in the UK increased during the Covid-19 pandemic, with evidence of socioeconomic inequality. The increase in home deaths was lowest for people living in the most deprived areas, showing a deprivation gradient. Further research is needed to understand the reasons for this change and if the inequality has been sustained. Overall rating: 7 points.
PALLIATIVE MEDICINE
(2023)
Review
Respiratory System
Claire M. Nolan, Lisa Jane Brighton, Yihan Mo, Joanne Bayly, Irene J. Higginson, William D. -C. Man, Matthew Maddocks
Summary: This systematic review examined the effect of meditative movement on breathlessness, quality of life, exercise capacity, functional performance, and psychological symptoms in advanced disease. The results showed that meditative movement did not improve breathlessness, quality of life, or exercise capacity in people with advanced COPD or cancer.
EUROPEAN RESPIRATORY REVIEW
(2023)
Article
Respiratory System
Charles C. Reilly, Matthew Maddocks, Trudie Chalder, Katherine Bristowe, Irene J. Higginson
Summary: SELF-BREATHE is a digital breathlessness intervention that aims to improve the lives of people with chronic breathlessness. This study found that SELF-BREATHE was feasible to deliver and acceptable to patients, with users reporting improved breathlessness during daily life.