Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Vicent Blanes-Selva, Sabina Asensio-Cuesta, Ascension Donate-Martinez, Felipe Pereira Mesquita, Juan M. Garcia-Gomez
Summary: The objective of this study was to design and validate The Aleph palliative care CDSS using a user-centered method. The results showed that the machine learning predictive models performed better than the participants in the predictive tasks. The system had good usability and user experience ratings.
Article
Oncology
Jordan D. Hildenbrand, Hee S. Park, David J. Casarett, Cheyenne Corbett, Alicia M. Ellis, Kris W. Herring, Arif H. Kamal, Steve Power, Jesse D. Troy, Steven Wolf, Syed Y. Zafar, Thomas W. Leblanc
Summary: This study examined the association between moderate/severe distress and healthcare utilization in non-small cell lung cancer and non-colorectal gastrointestinal cancer patients. Patients with actionable distress reported physical symptoms (pain, fatigue) and emotional issues (worry, fears, sadness, nervousness) more frequently, and had higher odds of hospitalization or visiting the emergency department within 3 to 6 months. This suggests that distress scores can be valuable indicators for identifying patients in need of intervention such as palliative care and cancer support services.
SUPPORTIVE CARE IN CANCER
(2022)
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Yu Fu, Anne Mason, Alison C. Boland, Gordon Linklater, Vania Dimitrova, Ascension Donate-Martinez, Michael Bennett
Summary: A multicentre qualitative study in the UK found that patients with severe COPD and their caregivers commonly experienced uncertainty and fear, requiring reassurance, rapid medical access, home care, and finance advice. Health professionals stressed the importance of timely palliative care, but identified variations in the integration of palliative care services across regions.
Article
Nursing
Anu Soikkeli-Jalonen, Kaisa Mishina, Heli Virtanen, Andreas Charalambous, Elina Haavisto
Summary: This study aimed to describe the psychosocial support healthcare professionals provide to family members of palliative care patients in specialist palliative inpatient units. Data were collected through focus group interviews and analyzed using inductive content analysis. The results showed that information sharing was recognized as an essential element of support. Methods to improve support included resource allocation, systematic support, and enhancing healthcare professionals' competence in family care.
Article
Oncology
Margarita Viladot, Jose-Luis Gallardo-Martinez, Fany Hernandez-Rodriguez, Jessica Izcara-Cobo, Josep Majo-LLopart, Marta Peguera-Carre, Giselle Russinyol-Fonte, Katia Saavedra-Cruz, Carmen Barrera, Manoli Chicote, Tanny-Daniela Barreto, Gemma Carrera, Jackeline Cimerman, Elena Font, Ignacio Grafia, Lucia Llavata, Javier Marco-Hernandez, Joan Padrosa, Anais Pascual, Dolors Quera, Carles Zamora-Martinez, Ana-Maria Bozzone, Carme Font, Albert Tuca
Summary: The aim of this study was to validate the PALCOM scale, which is a tool used to assess the complexity of palliative care needs in cancer patients. The results showed a high correlation and accuracy between the PALCOM scale and expert empirical assessment, indicating that the scale is a high precision tool for determining the level of complexity of palliative care needs.
Article
Nursing
Anne Kuusisto, Jenni Santavirta, Kaija Saranto, Elina Haavisto
Summary: The study aimed to explore healthcare professionals' perceptions of advance care planning (ACP) in a palliative care unit. Findings showed that the information content of ACP, coordination of care activities through ACP, and support for patients' and family members' coping were key themes. ACP was seen as a proactive tool for integrating patient-centric information and services, as well as supporting coping mechanisms.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING
(2021)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Paolo Cotogni, Anna De Luca
Summary: The prevalence of end-stage diseases or advanced cancer is increasing due to an aging population and advancements in medicine and public healthcare. The burden of symptoms experienced by these patients often leads them to seek help in emergency departments. However, acute care hospitals are not well-equipped to handle the needs of patients with serious chronic diseases. This poses challenges to healthcare professionals who care for these palliative care patients in hospital settings. The authors have formulated four key questions to address in order to identify the best model of care for these patients.
Review
Oncology
Leonardo Potenza, Eleonora Borelli, Sarah Bigi, Davide Giusti, Giuseppe Longo, Oreofe Odejide, Carlo Adolfo Porro, Camilla Zimmermann, Fabio Efficace, Eduardo Bruera, Mario Luppi, Elena Bandieri
Summary: New targeted drugs have been developed for AML treatment, but their potential efficacy needs to be balanced with the possibility of poor outcomes. Early integration of PC has shown benefits for solid tumor patients, but is underutilized in patients with hematologic malignancies.
Review
Health Care Sciences & Services
Stephanie M. C. Ament, Inge M. E. Couwenberg, Josiane J. J. Boyne, Jos Kleijnen, Henri E. J. H. Stoffers, Marieke H. J. van den Beuken, Yvonne Engels, Louise Bellersen, Daisy J. A. Janssen
Summary: This study identified seven tools with varying levels of validity in the context of palliative care and chronic heart failure. Different healthcare professionals used these tools in different settings and at different stages of the care process. While guidance on tool application was considered relevant, it may not be sufficient for widespread adoption. Assessing spiritual care needs was seen as challenging.
PALLIATIVE MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Anne-Roos Frissen, Sjaak Burgers, Jan Maarten van der Zwan, Natasja Raijmakers, Anne Arber, Peter Kunst, Joachim Aerts, Saskia F. A. Duijts
Summary: Through interviews with healthcare professionals and other relevant stakeholders, it was found that there is room for improvement in psychosocial support and palliative care for mesothelioma patients. It is advised to achieve a smoother transition between primary and secondary cancer care and to integrate psychosocial support and palliative care early. Furthermore, more attention is needed for psychosocial and palliative care in the basic medical training of healthcare professionals.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CANCER CARE
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Gulcan Bagcivan, Memnun Seven, Seyma Inciser Pasalak, Ezgi Bilmic, Yasemin Aydin, Gozde Oz, Fatih Selcukbiricik
Summary: The study highlights the importance of providing supportive and palliative care for cancer patients, along with medical treatment for cancer-related physical and psychological symptoms. Unmet needs include issues with concentration, worrying, difficulties with sex life, limitations in work and daily activities, and depression.
SUPPORTIVE CARE IN CANCER
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Alfred Jatho, Noleb M. Mugisha, James Kafeero, George Holoya, Fred Okuku, Nixon Niyonzima, Jackson Orem
Summary: By conducting meetings and training sessions for primary healthcare teams in Uganda, providing cancer information materials, and follow-up activities, the unmet needs for cancer prevention and early detection services can be reduced in the country.
Article
Oncology
Sara Taub, Robert Macauley
Summary: Pediatric palliative care differs from adult palliative care due to the higher likelihood of aggressive treatment and better survival rates for children with serious illness. Despite the benefits of early integration of palliative care for seriously ill patients, there are barriers that need to be addressed, including misconceptions and concerns about role confusion.
CURRENT PROBLEMS IN CANCER
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Anne-Floor Q. Dijxhoorn, Linda Brom, Yvette M. van der Linden, Carlo Leget, Natasja J. H. Raijmakers
Summary: The study found that symptoms of burnout are quite prevalent among healthcare professionals providing palliative care in the Netherlands, with nearly two-thirds experiencing a median level of burnout and some having a (very) high level. Healthcare professionals expressed a need for team and organization approaches to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
JOURNAL OF PAIN AND SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Guido Michels, Manuela Schallenburger, Martin Neukirchen, ICU Palliative Study Grp
Summary: A consensus process is underway in Germany to develop recommendations on palliative care in intensive care for non-oncological patients, aiming to address the needs of patients with advanced diseases.