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BMC Palliative Care Jan 2024Advance directives (ADs) has recently been considered as an important component of palliative care for patients with advanced cancer and is a legally binding directive...
INTRODUCTION
Advance directives (ADs) has recently been considered as an important component of palliative care for patients with advanced cancer and is a legally binding directive regarding a person's future medical care. It is used when a person is unable to participate in the decision-making process about their own care. Therefore, the present systematic review investigated the factors related to ADs from the perspective of cancer patients.
METHODS
A systematic review study was searched in four scientific databases: PubMed, Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, and ProQuest using with related keywords and without date restrictions. The quality of the studies was assessed using the Hawker criterion. The research papers were analyzed as directed content analysis based on the theory of planned behavior.
RESULTS
Out of 5900 research papers found, 22 were included in the study. The perspectives of 9061 cancer patients were investigated, of whom 4347 were men and 4714 were women. The mean ± SD of the patients' age was 62.04 ± 6.44. According to TPB, factors affecting ADs were categorized into four categories, including attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, and external factors affecting the model. The attitude category includes two subcategories: "Lack of knowledge of the ADs concept" and "Previous experience of the disease", the subjective norm category includes three subcategories: "Social support and interaction with family", "Respecting the patient's wishes" and "EOL care choices". Also, the category of perceived control behavior was categorized into two sub-categories: "Decision-making" and "Access to the healthcare system", as well as external factors affecting the model, including "socio-demographic characteristics".
CONCLUSION
The studies indicate that attention to EOL care and the wishes of patients regarding receiving medical care and preservation of human dignity, the importance of facilitating open communication between patients and their families, and different perspectives on providing information, communicating bad news and making decisions require culturally sensitive approaches. Finally, the training of cancer care professionals in the palliative care practice, promoting the participation of health care professionals in ADs activities and creating an AD-positive attitude should be strongly encouraged.
Topics: Male; Humans; Female; Advance Directives; Palliative Care; Health Personnel; Attitude; Hospice and Palliative Care Nursing; Neoplasms
PubMed: 38166983
DOI: 10.1186/s12904-023-01327-w -
Nursing Open Jan 2024The aim of this research is to identify the main approaches and domains of palliative care quality assessment through three questionnaires used for this purpose. (Review)
Review
AIM
The aim of this research is to identify the main approaches and domains of palliative care quality assessment through three questionnaires used for this purpose.
DESIGN
Systematic review.
METHODS
The proposed analysis process consists of three stages from 2000 to 2020: (i) massive literature search, (ii) text mining and (iii) systematic reviews carried out on the QLQ C30, Zarit Burden Interview and FAMCARE questionnaires. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews (PRISMA-P) have guided our research.
RESULTS
Sixteen papers were included in our study. The main findings have been summarised using a descriptive narrative synthesis approach. Systematic reviews evidenced that such tools present variable factor structures or latent domains. The results obtained are generally representative of the evidence supporting the factor structure of the QLQ-C30 in the general cancer population. The factor structure of the Zarit Burden Interview remains ambiguous, although the idea of a unifactorial structure predominates. In the case of FAMCARE, most of the factor structures differ from the initial proposal of Kristjanson. The categorisation of the main subjective assessment approaches could be useful for the construction of a coherent system of indicators to be used in nursing practice. For its part, the variability in the latent dimensionality of the questionnaires analysed could be due to: (i) the characteristics of the sample, (ii) the population studied, (iii) cross-cultural variability, (iv) the design of the questionnaire and (v) the analysis techniques employed.
Topics: Humans; Caregiver Burden; Palliative Care; Personal Satisfaction; Quality of Life
PubMed: 38268259
DOI: 10.1002/nop2.2067 -
Frontiers in Public Health 2024Many of the essential practices in palliative care (PC) had to be adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic. This global spread of the infectious respiratory disease, caused by...
INTRODUCTION
Many of the essential practices in palliative care (PC) had to be adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic. This global spread of the infectious respiratory disease, caused by SARS-CoV-2, created unprecedented obstacles. The aim of this research was to comprehensively assess the experiences and perceptions of healthcare professionals, individuals, and families in palliative and end-of-life situations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
METHODS
A scoping review was conducted using the databases CINAHL Complete, MEDLINE, Scopus, SciELO, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, MEDIClatina, and Portugal's Open Access Scientific Repository. The review followed the JBI methodological approach for scoping reviews.
RESULTS
Out of the initially identified 999 articles, 22 studies were included for analysis. The deprivation of relationships due to the safety protocols required to control the spread of COVID-19 was a universally perceived experience by healthcare professionals, individuals in PC, and their families. Social isolation, with significant psychological impact, including depersonalization and despair, was among the most frequently reported experiences by individuals in palliative situation. Despite healthcare professionals' efforts to mitigate the lack of relationships, the families of these individuals emphasized the irreplaceability of in-person bedside contact.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
https://osf.io/xmpf2/.
Topics: Humans; Palliative Care; COVID-19; Pandemics; SARS-CoV-2; Health Personnel
PubMed: 38596518
DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1330370 -
BMC Palliative Care Mar 2024Palliative care significantly improves the distressing symptoms of patients, especially those with cancer, heart disease, renal disease, and liver disease. The need for... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
INTRODUCTION
Palliative care significantly improves the distressing symptoms of patients, especially those with cancer, heart disease, renal disease, and liver disease. The need for palliative care is increasing worldwide due to the growing burden of chronic disease. Nurses with an unfavorable attitude towards palliative care cannot skillfully assess the patient's needs, do not communicate effectively, and do not address the patient's problems adequately. Therefore, this study was aimed to assess the nurse's level of attitude towards palliative care in Ethiopia.
METHODS
Several databases were searched to find available articles. Microsoft Excel was used to extract and sort the data before it was exported to STATA/MP 17.0 for analysis. A weighted inverse variance random-effects model with a 95% confidence interval was employed to pool the data. Egger's test and Cochrane I statistics were used to assess heterogeneity and publication bias, respectively. Subgroup analysis was carried out to identify the source of heterogeneity. A log-odds ratio was employed to show the relationship between nurses' level of attitude towards palliative care and its related factors. P-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
RESULT
In Ethiopia, the pooled prevalence of favorable attitudes of nurses towards palliative care was 66.13% (95% CI: 54.00-78.27). The highest percentage of favorable attitudes towards palliative care among nurses was found in research studies done in Addis Ababa (80.31%; 95% CI: 72.00-88.63). Training on palliative care was significantly associated with the level of a nurse's attitude towards palliative care. Therefore, nurses who received palliative care training had a 2.5 times higher chance of having a favorable attitude towards palliative care than nurses who did not receive training on palliative care (AOR = 2.55; 95% CI: 2.28-2.82).
CONCLUSION
One-third of nurses had unfavorable attitude towards palliative care. Nurses who took palliative care training had a more favorable attitude than nurses who did not take palliative care training. Routine palliative care training is needed for nurses to improve their level of attitude towards palliative care.
Topics: Humans; Ethiopia; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Palliative Care; Surveys and Questionnaires; Attitude of Health Personnel; Nurses
PubMed: 38454390
DOI: 10.1186/s12904-024-01402-w -
BMC Palliative Care Oct 2023Although oncological palliative care is increasingly being offered by multidisciplinary teams, there is still a lack of data about some symptoms handled by these teams,...
BACKGROUND
Although oncological palliative care is increasingly being offered by multidisciplinary teams, there is still a lack of data about some symptoms handled by these teams, such as dysphagia, in patients with advanced cancer outside swallow regions. This study aimed to estimate the occurrence of dysphagia in prognosis studies of adults with advanced cancer outside the head, neck, and upper gastrointestinal tract, and to determine if there is an association with mortality.
METHODS
A systematic review of studies that evaluated dysphagia and mortality was conducted (PROSPERO: CRD42021257172).
DATA SOURCES
BVS, PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Scopus. Data between 2011 and 2023 were selected.
RESULTS
Among the 608 articles screened, only 14 were included, which covered different types of cancer, primarily Lung, and Genitourinary, Skin, Hematological, and Central Nervous System as well. Dysphagia demonstrated a variable frequency, and almost half of the studies found a percentage of dysphagia above 60%, appearing most as a symptom that affects health-related quality of life and prove to be a toxicity of treatment. The association between dysphagia and mortality was only evaluated in three articles that studied advanced lung cancer, in which, after controlling for covariates, swallowing disorders were associated with worse survival, with prevalences of dysphagia and hazard ratios of 78.5% (1.12 [1.04-1.20]), 4% (1.34 [1.28-1.35]), and 3% (1.40 [1.07-1.81]), respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
The occurrence of dysphagia in advanced cancer outside the head, neck, and upper GI tract is common, and there seems to be an association with significantly decreased survival in patients with advanced lung cancer.
Topics: Humans; Adult; Deglutition Disorders; Deglutition; Head and Neck Neoplasms; Quality of Life; Lung Neoplasms; Upper Gastrointestinal Tract
PubMed: 37798715
DOI: 10.1186/s12904-023-01268-4 -
Journal of Palliative Care Apr 2024The Serious Illness Care Program was developed to support goals and values discussions between seriously ill patients and their clinicians. The , that is, the essential... (Review)
Review
The Serious Illness Care Program was developed to support goals and values discussions between seriously ill patients and their clinicians. The , that is, the essential clinical conversation skills that are described as requisite for effective serious illness conversations (SICs) in practice, have not yet been explicated. This integrative systematic review aimed to identify core competencies for SICs in the context of the Serious Illness Care Program. Articles published between January 2014 and March 2023 were identified in MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and PubMed databases. In total, 313 records underwent title and abstract screening, and 96 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility. The articles were critically appraised using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Guidelines, and data were analyzed using thematic synthesis. In total, 53 articles were included. Clinicians' core competencies for SICs were described in 3 themes: conversation resources, intrapersonal capabilities, and interpersonal capabilities. Conversation resources included using the conversation guide as a tool, together with applying appropriate communication skills to support better communication. Intrapersonal capabilities included calibrating one's own attitudes and mindset as well as confidence and self-assurance to engage in SICs. Interpersonal capabilities focused on the clinician's ability to interact with patients and family members to foster a mutually trusting relationship, including empathetic communication with attention and adherence to patient and family members views, goals, needs, and preferences. Clinicians need to efficiently combine conversation resources with intrapersonal and interpersonal skills to successfully conduct and interact in SICs.
PubMed: 38557369
DOI: 10.1177/08258597241245022 -
Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics Sep 2024The grief, loss and bereavement needs of the families of those living and dying in residential aged care setting is not very well understood. This systematic review... (Review)
Review
The grief, loss and bereavement needs of the families of those living and dying in residential aged care setting is not very well understood. This systematic review examines grief, loss, and bereavement experience of, and interventions relating to, family caregivers of those entering, living and dying in residential aged care. Out of 2023 papers that were identified, 35 met the inclusion criteria which included (n=28) qualitative and (n=7) quantitative intervention studies. The qualitative findings indicated quality of care provided to the resident at the end of their life, and after death care influenced family caregivers' grief reactions. The intervention studies revealed that educational interventions have the potential to lead to some benefits in the context of grief loss and bereavement outcomes. Recognizing the emotional experiences and support needs of families and carers may enhance the understanding of the ageing, caring, dying, grieving pathway for older people and their families.
Topics: Humans; Grief; Aged; Caregivers; Bereavement; Homes for the Aged; Family; Terminal Care
PubMed: 38728822
DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2024.105473 -
Palliative Medicine Sep 2023Acculturation is the process of two different cultures coming into contact. It is unclear how acculturation influences Chinese immigrants' engagement in advance care... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Acculturation is the process of two different cultures coming into contact. It is unclear how acculturation influences Chinese immigrants' engagement in advance care planning due to the complexity and multifaceted nature of both acculturation and advance care planning.
AIMS
To synthesize evidence regarding the role of Chinese immigrants' acculturation in their engagement in advance care planning.
DESIGN
Systematic mixed-method review, registered in PROSPERO (CRD42021231822).
DATA SOURCES
EMBASE, MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were searched for publications until January 21, 2021.
RESULTS
Twenty-one out of 1112 identified articles were included in the analysis. Of those 21 articles, 17 had a qualitative design and 13 originated from the United States. Three of four quantitative studies reported that higher acculturation levels were associated with better knowledge or higher rate of engagement in advance care planning. Analysis of qualitative studies showed that Chinese immigrants' engagement in advance care planning was associated with their: (1) self-perceived cultural identity (native or non-native); (2) interpretation of filial piety (traditional or modern); and (3) interpretation of autonomy (individual or familial). To facilitate their engagement, Chinese immigrants prefer an implicit approach, non-family-related initiators, contextualization advance care planning in Chinese culture and using Chinese language.
CONCLUSION
Chinese immigrants' willingness to engage in advance care planning varied with their acculturation level. To engage them in advance care planning, we recommend adapting the introduction of advance care planning to address people's perceptions of their cultural identity, filial piety, and autonomy, as well as their preference for certain approach, initiator, context, and language.
Topics: Humans; Acculturation; Advance Care Planning; East Asian People; Emigrants and Immigrants; Language
PubMed: 37309994
DOI: 10.1177/02692163231179255 -
Cancers Sep 2023(1) Background: Central venous access devices (CVADs) have been commonly employed during various courses of anticancer treatment. Currently, there are a few types of...
(1) Background: Central venous access devices (CVADs) have been commonly employed during various courses of anticancer treatment. Currently, there are a few types of clinically available CVADs, which are associated with short-term and long-term complications. However, little is known about the complication rates when CVADs are used only in palliative care settings. We therefore performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of all the published literature to evaluate the complication rates of CVADs in this clinical setting. (2) Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to identify publications from PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase (Ovid), Scopus, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Google Scholar, and trial registries. Publications reporting the complication rates of PICCs, central lines, and PORTs in palliative settings for terminally ill cancer patients were included, while those on the use of systemic anticancer therapy and peripheral venous catheters were excluded. The outcome measures included overall complication rate, rate of catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI), and rate of thromboembolism (TE). This systematic review was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42023404489). (3) Results: Five publications with 327 patients were analyzed, including four studies on PICCs and one study on central lines. No studies on PORTs were eligible for analysis. The overall complication rate for PICCs (pooled estimate 7.02%, 95% CI 0.27-19.10) was higher than that for central lines (1.44%, 95% CI 0.30-4.14, = 0.002). The risk of CRBSI with PICCs (2.03%, 95% CI 0.00-9.62) was also higher than that with central lines (0.96%, 95% CI 0.12-3.41, = 0.046). PICCs also had a trend of a higher risk of TE (2.10%, 95% CI 0.00-12.22) compared to central lines (0.48%, 95% CI 0.01-2.64, = 0.061). (4) Conclusions: PICCs for palliative cancer care were found to have greater complications than central lines. This might aid in the formulation of future recommendation guidelines on the choice of CVAD in this setting.
PubMed: 37835406
DOI: 10.3390/cancers15194712 -
Palliative Care and Social Practice 2024The need for palliative care is rising globally with 76% of those who are in need living in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Digital health interventions (DHIs)... (Review)
Review
A mixed-methods systematic review investigating the use of digital health interventions to provide palliative and end-of-life care for patients in low- and middle-income countries.
BACKGROUND
The need for palliative care is rising globally with 76% of those who are in need living in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Digital health interventions (DHIs) have been identified as a means of making palliative care more widely accessible. This review summarizes the range and characteristics of DHIs used to deliver palliative care in LMICs and sought to identify factors that influence their implementation and utilization.
OBJECTIVES
This review aims to summarize the range and characteristics of DHIs used to deliver palliative care in LMICs and identify factors that influence their implementation and utilization.
DESIGN
Mixed-method systematic review incorporating both quantitative and qualitative data.
DATA SOURCES AND METHODS
All studies focusing on DHIs for patients who need palliative care (adults/children) and their caregivers (patient and caregiver centred) in LMICs and published in English were identified through a systematic search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO and CINAHL databases. Data synthesis and analysis were carried out following the convergent integrated approach based on the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology for mixed-methods systematic reviews.
RESULTS
Fifteen studies were included (three qualitative, four mixed-methods and eight quantitative studies). Telemedicine/mHealth was the most reported DHI utilized in LMICs in delivering palliative care. Patients and caregivers benefited from using DHIs in many ways including increased access to care with reduced discomfort, travel time and risk of health care-associated infections. Health care providers also reported that using DHI such as telemedicine enables them to provide care in a more effective and efficient way. Four factors were identified as the main barriers to implementation: resource constraints; literacy, training and skills; governance, operational and communication issues and technical issues.
CONCLUSION
DHIs, such as telemedicine, have the potential to enhance accessibility to palliative care in LMICs, particularly in rural areas. Comprehensive strategies for their use are required to address the identified barriers.
PubMed: 38617095
DOI: 10.1177/26323524241236965