Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Fiona Runacres, Peter Poon, Scott King, Julie Lustig, Anna Ugalde
Summary: Geriatricians generally believe that providing palliative care is important for patients, but there is potential for improved collaboration with specialist palliative care services. An evidence base is needed to determine which geriatric patients benefit most from specialist palliative care services, in order to improve resource allocation and collaborative practice in palliative care delivery.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Kaori Kojima, Masashige Saito, Yasuhiro Miyaguni, Eisaku Okada, Toshiyuki Ojima
Summary: This study evaluated the relationship between status of oral function and related long-term care service costs.
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Phi-Yen Nguyen, Cassandra Caddy, Alyce N. Wilson, Kara Blackburn, Matthew J. Page, A. Metin Gulmezoglu, Manjulaa Narasimhan, Mercedes Bonet, Oezge Tuncalp, Joshua P. Vogel
Summary: A scoping review identified current and emerging self-care interventions to improve maternity healthcare. The interventions included various categories such as diet and nutrition, physical activity, psychosocial strategies, and lifestyle adjustments. Further research and evidence synthesis are needed for some interventions.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Sampurna Kundu, Subhojit Shaw, Junaid Khan, Aparajita Chattopadhyay, Emerson Augusto Baptista, Balram Paswan
Summary: This study explores the influence of demographic and socio-economic characteristics on awareness and use of e-cigarettes in 14 selected GATS countries. The awareness and usage of e-cigarettes were found to be highest in Greece and lowest in India. Females were less aware of e-cigarettes across different age groups. Younger individuals, males, urban residents, and current tobacco smokers were more likely to use e-cigarettes.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Isabelle Budin-Ljosne, Athanasia Monika Mowinckel, Barbara Bodorkos Friedman, Klaus P. Ebmeier, Christian A. Drevon, Rebecca Bruu Carver, Eniko Zsoldos, Nanna Alida Grit Fredheim, Oystein Sorensen, William Frans Christiaan Baare, Kathrine Skak Madsen, Anders M. Fjell, Rogier A. Kievit, Paolo Ghisletta, David Bartres-Faz, Laura Nawijn, Cristina Sole-Padulles, Kristine B. Walhovd, Sandra Duezel, Larisa Zasyekina, Maria Florencia Iulita, Maria Teresa Ferretti
Summary: The survey revealed that respondents recognized the impact of lifestyle factors on brain health but had less awareness of the role of socioeconomic factors. Most participants rated all life periods as important for brain health, with the prenatal period receiving a lower ranking. Women and highly educated respondents were more likely to consider factors and life periods important for brain health.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Fiona Grimm, Dan Lewer, John Craig, Rafi Rogans-Watson, Jenny Shand
Summary: This study explores the relationship between hospital admissions and the initiation of domiciliary care packages. It finds that hospitals are a major referral route for domiciliary care, with many care packages being initiated during or after a hospital stay. Hip fracture, pneumonia, and stroke were the primary admission reasons associated with the largest number of domiciliary care packages.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Hsiao-Ting Chang, Ming-Hwai Lin, Wen-Hua Kuo, Chun-Ku Chen, Tzeng-Ji Chen, Shinn-Jang Hwang
Summary: About half of the primary care staff surveyed were willing to participate in compassionate community education and network and palliative care education, but only 19.5% were willing to provide palliative care. Primary care nurses showed significantly more willingness than other staff to participate in education and care provision, while physicians were significantly less willing to participate. The main barriers identified were capability, administrative and manpower concerns, time, age, and motivation.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Li nan Cheng, Li Zhao, Xiao feng Xie, Liang Wang, Xiu ying Hu, Xiao yang Dong, Feng ying Zhang
Summary: This study examined the care willingness and demand of residents under 60 years of age after retirement, revealing the preferences for different types of care and the factors influencing care willingness and demand. The findings provide significant insights for the development of care willingness mode and policymaking.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Kirstine Dahmke, Elisabeth Nielsen-Hannerup, Ida Sondergaard Madsen, Sofie Rerup, Emilie Ramberg, Maurice A. Lembeck, Hanne Pedersen, Ellen Astrid Holm
Summary: Geriatric patients have varied attitudes towards advance care planning (ACP), with some expressing concerns about discussing end-of-life decisions and the capacity of the healthcare system to conduct ACP. The timing of ACP discussions is related to the perception of health situation rather than specific age. The involvement of well-trained and trustworthy healthcare professionals, as well as the participation of family members, are important factors. Themes mentioned by participants regarding content include quality of life, fear of losing their spouse, previous experiences with death, and practical concerns about funerals and wills.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Crystal Ying Chan, Patsy Y. K. Chau, Eng-Kiong Yeoh, Eliza L. Y. Wong
Summary: This study evaluates the impact of providing additional dementia caregiver support services on caregiver burden. The findings suggest that strengthening caregiver services provision can reduce distress rates among caregivers. Expanding community services for caregivers may be a solution to the increasing burden of informal care for people with dementia.
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Mathilde Barbier, Caroline Schulte, Anna Kornadt, Carine Federspiel, Jean-Paul Steinmetz, Claus Vogele
Summary: This scoping review aims to identify social marketing strategies used to promote health behavior and advance research in using these strategies to promote cognitive health. The study will use a five-stage methodological framework to analyze articles published in English since 2010, focusing on program design, implementation, outcomes, and evaluation related to health promotion and cognitive health. The results will be used to develop interventions and will be disseminated to key stakeholders in the field.
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Adesola Oluwafunmilola Olumide, Amir Shmueli, Olayemi O. Omotade, Emmanuel S. Adebayo, Temitope O. Alonge, Gabriel O. Ogun
Summary: The study estimated the economic cost of treating selected NCDs in Nigeria, showing high direct costs for each disease. The findings underscore the necessity for advocating primary prevention, improving early diagnosis, and providing affordable treatment, given that the average monthly minimum wage in Nigeria is less than US$85.00 and treatment costs are mainly paid out-of-pocket by the population.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Makoto Kaneko, Satoru Shinoda, Sayuri Shimizu, Makoto Kuroki, Sachiko Nakagami, Taiga Chiba, Atsushi Goto
Summary: This study describes the care fragmentation among older adults in an ageing city in Japan. The results show that over 80% of the participants visited two or more medical facilities, indicating a common phenomenon of care fragmentation. The Fragmentation of Care Index (FCI) could be an important indicator for assessing the quality of primary care.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Chalapati Rao, Aashish Gupta, Mamta Gupta, Ajit Kumar Yadav
Summary: This study aimed to estimate premature adult mortality in India between 30 and 70 years old in 2017 using various data sources. Significant variations in mortality estimates were found among different sources for each state, with Bihar, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal accounting for half of the total deaths. The findings suggest the need for more reliable empirical data to address UNSDGs and improve mortality statistics programs in India.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Jenny T. van der Steen, Sten Heck, Carla C. M. Juffermans, Mirjam Marjolein Garvelink, Wilco P. Achterberg, Josephine Clayton, Genevieve Thompson, Raymond T. C. M. Koopmans, Yvette M. van der Linden
Summary: This study evaluated the acceptability and potential use of a QPL about palliative and end-of-life care in dementia among practitioners. The results showed that the QPL was generally acceptable, but some found it too long and expressed a need for training to answer the questions. Confidence in addressing questions about end-of-life care is crucial for successful implementation in practice.
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)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Anne M. Finucane, Nicholas J. Hulbert-Williams, Brooke Swash, Juliet A. Spiller, Brigid Wright, Libby Milton, David Gillanders
Summary: This study aimed to develop and test an online Acceptance and Commitment Therapy intervention to improve the wellbeing of palliative care staff. A sample of 25 staff participated in the intervention, with most reporting satisfaction and positive effects on psychological flexibility and mental wellbeing. However, minimal changes were observed in perceived stress, burnout, and compassion satisfaction. The study concluded that incorporating strategies for long-term behavior changes and optimizing data collection at follow-up are important for future intervention refinement and evaluation.
PALLIATIVE MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Lesley E. Williamson, Javiera Leniz, Emeka Chukwusa, Catherine J. Evans, Katherine E. Sleeman
Summary: This study examined the individual- and service-level factors associated with emergency department (ED) visits by people with dementia in the last year of life in England. The findings showed that South Asian ethnicity, chronic respiratory disease, and urban residence were associated with more ED visits, while higher socioeconomic position and higher numbers of nursing home beds were associated with fewer ED visits.
Letter
Respiratory System
Natasha Lovell, Simon N. Etkind, Joanna M. Davies, Wendy Prentice, Irene J. Higginson, Katherine E. Sleeman
EUROPEAN RESPIRATORY JOURNAL
(2023)
Review
Health Care Sciences & Services
Alice M. Firth, Cheng-Pei Lin, Deok Hee Yi, Joanna Goodrich, Inez Gaczkowska, Frances Waite, Richard Harding, Fliss E. M. Murtagh, Catherine J. Evans
Summary: This study systematically reviewed the components, outcomes, and economic evaluation of community-based 'out-of-hours' care for patients near the end of life and their families. The importance of being known to a service and high-quality coordination of care were identified as key themes. The study calls for further research on the impact and cost effectiveness of different models of out-of-hours care.
PALLIATIVE MEDICINE
(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
Health Care Sciences & Services
Ben Bowers, Barbara Costa Pereira Antunes, Simon Etkind, Sarah A. Hopkins, Isaac Winterburn, Isla Kuhn, Kristian Pollock, Stephen Barclay
Summary: This study reviews the evidence published since 2017 on anticipatory prescribing of injectable medications for adults at the end-of-life in the community. It found that standardized prescribing of four medications for anticipated symptoms is common in the UK, but there is limited evidence on practices in other countries. Despite inadequate explanations, prescriptions are accepted by family caregivers who appreciate having access to medications. However, robust evidence on the clinical and cost-effectiveness of anticipatory prescribing is still lacking.
BMJ SUPPORTIVE & PALLIATIVE CARE
(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
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Andy Bradshaw, Sophia Ostler, Claire Goodman, Izabele Batkovskyte, Clare Ellis-Smith, India Tunnard, Anna E. Bone, Stephen Barclay, Martin Vernon, Irene J. Higginson, Catherine J. Evans, Katherine E. Sleeman
Summary: This study investigated the impact of COVID-19 on the provision of palliative and end-of-life care in UK care homes. The results emphasize the importance of relationship-centered care and highlight the need for policy priorities such as integration, digital inclusivity, workforce development, and support for care home managers. These findings contribute to the broader discussions and initiatives on improving palliative care globally.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(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.
Review
Health Care Sciences & Services
Tilly Gibson Watt, David Gillanders, Juliet A. Spiller, Anne M. Finucane
Summary: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is acceptable and feasible in palliative care, and may improve anxiety, depression, and distress. Further evaluation studies are needed to demonstrate its effectiveness and cost-effectiveness, while development and feasibility studies are warranted to explore its value for bereaved carers and staff.
PALLIATIVE MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Sarah Stanley, Karen Higginbotham, Anne Finucane, Amara Callistus Nwosu
Summary: The study identified four categories revolving around the impact of digital legacy on palliative care professionals, including accessing digital legacy, becoming part of advance care planning, impacting grief and bereavement, and raising awareness of digital legacy.
PALLIATIVE MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Erna Haraldsdottir, Anna Lloyd, Martyn Bijak, Libby Milton, Anne M. Finucane
Summary: This study aimed to understand the reasons for admission and outcomes at the end of stay for patients admitted to two hospice inpatient units. The results showed that the majority of patients were White British or Scottish and most had a cancer diagnosis. Admission from the community was more common than admission from hospital and worry and anxiety were frequently reported as reasons for admission. The study highlights the need for further research on the role of hospice inpatient units and the population that would benefit most from their support.
PALLIATIVE CARE & SOCIAL PRACTICE
(2023)