Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Jojo Yan Yan Kwok, Tsai-Wei Huang, Jarugool Tretriluxana, Man Auyeung, Pui Hing Chau, Chia-Chin Lin, Helen Yue Lai Chan
Summary: This study assessed the symptom burden and unmet support care needs in patients with Parkinson's disease, finding that there is a moderate level of unmet support needs among patients. Patients' prioritized support needs varied across different cultural backgrounds, highlighting the importance of providing culturally-sensitive care.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION
(2021)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
F. Strangl, E. Ischanow, A. Ullrich, K. Oechsle, N. Fluschnik, C. Magnussen, D. Knappe, H. Grahn, S. Blankenberg, C. Bokemeyer, P. Kirchhof, M. Rybczynski
Summary: This study assessed symptom burden, psychosocial distress, and potential palliative care needs in patients with advanced stages of heart failure. The results showed that despite a good prognosis, there were multiple undetected and unaddressed needs in this group of patients.
CLINICAL RESEARCH IN CARDIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Respiratory System
Leanne M. Poulos, Rosario D. Ampon, David C. Currow, Guy B. Marks, Brett G. Toelle, Helen K. Reddel
Summary: Chronic respiratory symptoms such as breathlessness and cough can lead to significant distress and may indicate underlying health issues. A survey in Australia found that a high percentage of adults experience breathlessness, with many suffering from health burdens even without a diagnosed respiratory or heart condition. The extent of underdiagnosis of these conditions or alternative causes of breathlessness warrants further investigation.
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Tolcha Kebebew, Azwihangwisi Helen Mavhandu-Mudzusi, Annah Mosalo
Summary: This study assessed the burden of symptoms and problems among patients with advanced cervical cancer, finding that patients commonly experience pain, weakness, poor appetite, and emotional symptoms. The research recommends early initiation of palliative care to alleviate symptoms and improve patients' quality of life.
BMC PALLIATIVE CARE
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Kai-nan Zhou, Yan Wang, Yi Xie, Shu-han Yang, Su-ying Liu, Yu-hang Fang, Ying Zhang
Summary: The purpose of this study is to determine the incidence and severity of symptoms in patients with cervical cancer within 6 months after radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The study identified nine symptom clusters and highlighted the three most serious symptom clusters. This research provides important insights for improving symptom management in cervical cancer patients after radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
SUPPORTIVE CARE IN CANCER
(2023)
Article
Respiratory System
Mary Roberts, Tracy Smith, John Wheatley, Jin -Gun Cho
Summary: This study assessed the overall symptom burden in patients with moderate-to-severe COPD and identified independent predictors of this burden. The results showed that patients with severe COPD experience high levels of physical and psychological symptoms, with anxiety, depression, and female sex being independently associated with increased symptom burden.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Jeannette Vogt, Franziska Beyer, Jochen Sistermanns, Jonas Kuon, Christoph Kahl, Bernd Alt-Epping, Susanne Stevens, Miriam Ahlborn, Christian George, Andrea Heider, Maria Tienken, Carmen Loquai, Kerstin Stahlhut, Anne Ruellan, Thomas Kubin, Andreas Dietz, Karin Oechsle, Anja Mehnert-Theuerkauf, Birgitt van Oorschot, Michael Thomas, Olaf Ortmann, Christoph Engel, Florian Lordick
Summary: The study revealed that patients diagnosed with incurable cancer experience high levels of distress, symptom burden, and supportive care needs, which vary over time. Early screening using standardized tools and early palliative care are crucial in improving the quality of palliative care services for these patients.
Article
Nursing
Omar Melhem, Eileen Savage, Elaine Lehane
Summary: The study reveals that COPD patients experience a high number of various symptoms, with shortness of breath, lack of energy, and difficulty sleeping being the most burdensome. Patients with 'very severe' COPD carry the heaviest symptom burden.
APPLIED NURSING RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Omar Shamieh, Ghadeer Alarjeh, Houshen Li, Mahmoud Abu Naser, Fadi Abu Farsakh, Rashid Abdel-Razeq, Adib Edilbi, Ruba Al-Ani, Richard Harding, Ping Guo
Summary: Breast cancer patients in Jordan, regardless of curative or palliative intent, experience high symptom burden. Palliative care intent patients are more likely to have anxiety, lack of appetite, poor well-being, and sleep disorders. The study highlights unmet needs in breast cancer patients and the importance of integrated palliative care for all patients.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Review
Biology
Stephanie Difiglia, Lara Dhingra, Anna M. Georgiopoulos, Katherine Papia, Erin Sullivan, Amy Plachta, Courtney Boccio, Russell Portenoy, Melissa Basile
Summary: Among people with cystic fibrosis (CF), illness burden is multifaceted, and symptoms may fluctuate in intensity across a lifespan. Caregivers of people with CF may also experience distressing symptoms. Recent developments in CF care, including the availability of highly effective modulator therapies (HEMTs) and new palliative care guidelines promoting palliative care screening may help alleviate symptoms.
Article
Oncology
Mary-Joanne Verhoef, Boudewijn Sweep, Ellen J. M. de Nijs, Anne C. Valkenburg, Nanda Horeweg, Arwen H. Pieterse, Jenny T. van der Steen, Yvette M. van der Linden
Summary: The objective of this study is to explore the relationship between patient-reported symptom burden and information needs in hospital-based palliative care, as well as the differences in patient-reported needs during the disease trajectory. The results show that symptom burden and information needs are related, and patients often want information about non-prioritized symptoms and other palliative care domains. Tailored information provision is crucial in addressing patient needs.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CANCER CARE
(2022)
Article
Nursing
Yuan Li, Na Ni, Zijun Zhou, Jianyu Dong, Ying Fu, Jiaxin Li, Ze Luan, Xin Peng
Summary: The study aimed to explore the level of hope and symptom burden among breast cancer women undergoing chemotherapy. Factors such as age, religious beliefs, and symptom burden were found to be predictive of hope levels. Efforts to improve hope levels and decrease symptom burden can have a positive impact on patients' well-being.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sky Chew, Deb Colville, Anastasia Hutchinson, Piers Canty, Lauren Hodgson, Judy Savige
Summary: This study examined the presence of hypertensive microvascular disease in individuals with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) compared to those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and hospital controls. The results showed that individuals with OSA had higher mean arterial pressure, more microvascular retinopathy, and narrower retinal arterioles compared to other patients. These findings suggest that OSA is associated with a higher risk of microvascular disease.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Nursing
Omar Melhem, Eileen Savage, Nathira Al Hmaimat, Elaine Lehane, Hadya Abdel Fattah
Summary: The study found that patients with COPD experience significant physical and psychological symptom burden, which is negatively correlated with functional performance. Assessment and management of these symptoms are essential for improving functional performance in COPD patients.
APPLIED NURSING RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Lucy Fettes, Anna E. Bone, Simon N. Etkind, Stephen Ashford, Irene J. Higginson, Matthew Maddocks
Summary: The study indicates that disability in activities of daily living is common in patients with advanced cancer or COPD, associated with increased symptom burden, and may be attenuated with the use of assistive devices. Disability generally increases with wide interindividual variation over time. Services should include rehabilitative interventions guided by individual disability in activities of daily living.
JOURNAL OF PAIN AND SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Oncology
T. Biersching, A. Schweda, K. Oechsle, F. Nauck, J. Rosenbruch, U. Schuler, J. Hense, M. Neukirchen, M. Weber, C. Junghanss, T. Kramer, C. Ostgathe, P. Thuss-Patience, B. Van Oorschot, M. Teufel, M. Schuler, C. Bausewein, M. Tewes
Summary: An educational rotation of at least six months in a specialized palliative care unit significantly improves palliative care knowledge and self-efficacy expectations of physicians from various medical backgrounds.
JOURNAL OF CANCER RESEARCH AND CLINICAL ONCOLOGY
(2023)
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
Isabel Burner-Fritsch, Anna Bolzani, Katerina Hriskova, Stefanie Kolmhuber, Claudia Bausewein, Farina Hodiamont
Summary: The Palli-MONITOR study aimed to develop and test electronic patient-reported outcome measures in specialized palliative home care. Challenges identified include potential problems for patients with deteriorating health, the burden of reflecting on their palliative situation, and concerns about the future implementation of electronic measurement tools in clinical care routine. Organizational and structural challenges include the potential undermining of the established emergency call system and issues related to patient use.
PALLIATIVE MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Respiratory System
Sarah L. Finnegan, Olivia K. Harrison, Sara Booth, Andrea Dennis, Martyn Ezra, Catherine J. Harmer, Mari Herigstad, Bryan Guillaume, Thomas E. Nichols, Najib M. Rahman, Andrea Reinecke, Olivier Renaud, Kyle T. S. Pattinson
Summary: The study found that D-cycloserine did not improve the efficacy of pulmonary rehabilitation in treating chronic breathlessness. However, it did interact with breathlessness anxiety. Therefore, a phase 3 clinical trial of D-cycloserine may not be worthwhile.
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)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Guido Michels, Stefan John, Uwe Janssens, Philip Raake, Katharina Andrea Schuett, Johann Bauersachs, Thomas Barchfeld, Bernd Schucher, Sandra Delis, Rüdiger Karpf-Wissel, Matthias Kochanek, Simone von Bonin, Christiane M. Erley, Susanne D. Kuhlmann, Wolfgang Muellges, Georg Gahn, Hans Jürgen Heppner, Christoph H. R. Wiese, Stefan Kluge, Hans-Jörg Busch, Claudia Bausewein, Manuela Schallenburger, Martin Pin, Martin Neukirchen
Summary: This article emphasizes the importance of integrating palliative medicine into the treatment of advanced diseases. While there is already a German S3 guideline for palliative care in incurable cancer patients, there is a lack of recommendations for non-oncological patients and palliative patients in the emergency department or intensive care unit.
MEDIZINISCHE KLINIK-INTENSIVMEDIZIN UND NOTFALLMEDIZIN
(2023)
Correction
Health Care Sciences & Services
Farina Hodiamont, Caroline Schatz, Eva Schildmann, Zulfiya Syunyaeva, Katerina Hriskova, Constanze Remi, Reiner Leidl, Susanne Taenzler, Claudia Bausewein
BMC PALLIATIVE CARE
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Farina Hodiamont, Caroline Schatz, Eva Schildmann, Zulfiya Syunyaeva, Katerina Hriskova, Constanze Remi, Reiner Leidl, Susanne Taenzler, Claudia Bausewein
Summary: This study aims to describe the differences in patient characteristics, care processes, and resource use in specialist palliative care during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results show that the pandemic partially impacted daily work routines, especially the time spent with relatives and palliative care problem assessments. However, the direct costs per patient/day remained relatively stable regardless of the pandemic.
BMC 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
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.
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Christoph Ostgathe, Claudia Bausewein, Eva Schildmann, Jeremias Bazata, Violet Handtke, Maria Heckel, Carsten Klein, Alexander Kremling, Sandra Kurkowski, Sophie Meesters, Andreas Seifert, Jorge Luis Torres Cavazos, Kerstin Ziegler, Christian Jaeger, Jan Schildmann
Summary: The SedPall project aimed to develop best practice recommendations on the use of sedative drugs and intentional sedation in specialist palliative care, obtaining feedback from experts and patients, and to contribute to international discussion on the topic.
BMC PALLIATIVE CARE
(2023)
Article
Respiratory System
Guido Michels, Stefan John, Uwe Janssens, Philip Raake, Katharina Andrea Schuett, Johann Bauersachs, Thomas Barchfeld, Bernd Schucher, Sandra Delis, Ruediger Karpf-Wissel, Matthias Kochanek, Simone von Bonin, Christiane M. Erley, Susanne D. Kuhlmann, Wolfgang Muellges, Georg Gahn, Hans Juergen Heppner, Christoph H. R. Wiese, Stefan Kluge, Hans-Joerg Busch, Claudia Bausewein, Manuela Schallenburger, Martin Pin, Martin Neukirchen
Summary: The timely integration of palliative medicine is crucial in treating advanced diseases. While there is a German S-3 guideline for palliative medicine in incurable cancer patients, there is currently a lack of recommendations for non-oncological patients and for palliative patients receiving treatment in the emergency department or intensive care unit. This consensus paper addresses the palliative care aspects in various medical disciplines, aiming to improve the quality of life and symptom control in acute and emergency medicine as well as intensive care.
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Guido Michels, Stefan John, Uwe Janssens, Philip Raake, Katharina Andrea Schuett, Johann Bauersachs, Thomas Barchfeld, Bernd Schucher, Sandra Delis, Ruediger Karpf-Wissel, Matthias Kochanek, Simone von Bonin, Christiane M. Erley, Susanne D. Kuhlmann, Wolfgang Muellges, Georg Gahn, Hans Juergen Heppner, Christoph H. R. Wiese, Stefan Kluge, Hans-Joerg Busch, Claudia Bausewein, Manuela Schallenburger, Martin Pin, Martin Neukirchen
Summary: The timely integration of palliative medicine is essential in the treatment of advanced diseases, but there is currently a lack of recommendations for non-oncological patients and those being treated in emergency departments or intensive care units. This consensus paper addresses the palliative care aspects of different medical disciplines and aims to improve quality of life and symptom control in acute and emergency medicine as well as intensive care.
ZEITSCHRIFT FUR PALLIATIVMEDIZIN
(2023)
Article
Anesthesiology
Guido Michels, Stefan John, Uwe Janssens, Philip Raake, Katharina Andrea Schuett, Johann Bauersachs, Thomas Barchfeld, Bernd Schucher, Sandra Delis, Ruediger Karpf-Wissel, Matthias Kochanek, Simone von Bonin, Christiane M. Erley, Susanne D. Kuhlmann, Wolfgang Muellges, Georg Gahn, Hans Juergen Heppner, Christoph H. R. Wiese, Stefan Kluge, Hans-Joerg Busch, Claudia Bausewein, Manuela Schallenburger, Martin Pin, Martin Neukirchen
Summary: The integration of palliative medicine is crucial in treating advanced diseases, but there is currently a lack of guidelines for non-oncological and palliative patients in the emergency department or intensive care unit. This consensus paper addresses the palliative care aspects across medical disciplines and emphasizes the importance of timely integration to improve quality of life and symptom control in acute and emergency medicine as well as intensive care.
