scholarly journals Palliative Care Practice During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Descriptive Qualitative Study of Palliative Care Clinicians

Author(s):  
Joanna G. Rowe ◽  
Maryellen Potts ◽  
Ronan McGhie ◽  
Annie Dinh ◽  
Ilana Engel ◽  
...  
2019 ◽  
Vol 27 ◽  
pp. e45135
Author(s):  
Antonio Ribeiro Silva ◽  
Thereza Maria Magalhães ◽  
Raquel Sampaio Florencio ◽  
Lorena Campos Souza ◽  
Amanda Caboclo Flor ◽  
...  

Objetivo: analisar a percepção dos profissionais da equipe multidisciplinar acerca da assistência em cuidados paliativos. Método: estudo descritivo, qualitativo, desenvolvido em outubro de 2017, em hospital especializado em doenças cardiopulmonares situado em uma capital do nordeste brasileiro. O projeto do estudo foi aprovado por Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa. A amostra contou com 15 participantes da equipe multidisciplinar. Os dados foram coletados mediante entrevista semiestruturada e submetidos à análise temática. Resultados: da análise, emergiram duas categorias: conhecimento da equipe multidisciplinar sobre cuidados paliativos e a percepção da prática dos cuidados paliativos. Os profissionais possuem um conhecimento ainda incipiente sobre cuidados paliativos e suas prerrogativas, além da necessidade de um comprometimento efetivo para a qualidade desse cuidado. Conclusão: apesar de os profissionais reconhecerem a necessidade de oferecer conforto nos momentos finais da vida, o conhecimento acerca do cuidado paliativo é limitado e, por isso, eles vivenciam dilemas ao lidar com equipes, pacientes e familiares.ABSTRACTObjective: to analyze the perception of professionals of the multidisciplinary team about assistance in palliative care. Method: descriptive, qualitative study, developed in October 2017 in a hospital unit specialized in cardiopulmonary diseases located in a capital of Northeastern Brazil. The sample included 15 participants from the multidisciplinary team. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and submitted to thematic analysis. Results: from the analysis, two categories emerged: knowledge of the multidisciplinary team on palliative care and the perception of palliative care practice. The professionals have a still incipient knowledge about what palliative care is and its prerogatives, in addition to the need for an effective commitment to the quality of this care. Conclusion: Although professionals recognize the need to offer comfort in the final moments of life, knowledge about palliative care is limited and, therefore, professionals perceive dilemmas when dealing with staff, patient and family.RESUMENObjetivo: analizar la percepción de los profesionales del equipo multidisciplinario sobre la asistencia en cuidados paliativos. Método: estudio descriptivo, cualitativo, desarrollado en octubre de 2017 en una unidad hospitalaria especializada en enfermedades cardiopulmonares ubicada en una capital del noreste de Brasil. La muestra incluyó a 15 participantes del equipo multidisciplinario. Los datos fueron recolectados a través de entrevistas semiestructuradas y sometidos a análisis temático. Resultados: del análisis surgieron dos categorías: conocimiento del equipo multidisciplinario sobre cuidados paliativos y la percepción de la práctica de cuidados paliativos. Los profesionales tienen un conocimiento aún incipiente sobre qué son los cuidados paliativos y sus prerrogativas, además de la necesidad de un compromiso efectivo con la calidad de esta atención. Conclusión: aunque los profesionales reconocen la necesidad de ofrecer comodidad en los momentos finales de la vida, el conocimiento sobre los cuidados paliativos es limitado y, por lo tanto, los profesionales perciben dilemas al tratar con el personal, el paciente y la familia.


2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 2435-2445
Author(s):  
Julia Hackett ◽  
Matthew J Allsop ◽  
Sally Taylor ◽  
Michael I Bennett ◽  
Bridgette M Bewick

In cancer care, there are emerging information and communication technology systems being developed, enabling real-time information sharing between patients and health professionals. This study explored health professionals’ and patients’ perceptions of their engagement with an information and communication technology system for pain management to understand the mechanisms that could support implementation into routine palliative care practice. This was a qualitative study, embedded within a randomised control trial, using semi-structured face-to-face interviews. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. The role of health professionals was a key component to patient engagement with the information and communication technology system. Where patients engaged with the information and communication technology system, both patients and health professionals reported benefits to system use in addition to usual care. Implementation issues were identified that can be used to guide future system development to support pain management in the context of routine clinical care in palliative care services. Where interventions are dependent on multiple providers, collaborative working and consideration of the context within which they are set are needed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carol-Anne Boudy ◽  
Tiphanie Bouchez ◽  
Didier Caprini ◽  
Isabelle Pourrat ◽  
Stéphane Munck ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Most French people (71%) would like to die at home, but only one out of four actually do. While the difficulties inherent in the practice of home-based palliative care are well described, few studies highlight the resources currently used by general practitioners (GPs) in real life. We have therefore sought to highlight the resources actually used by GPs providing home-based palliative care. Methods Twenty-one GPs of different ages and practice patterns agreed to participate to this qualitative study based upon semi-structured interviews. They were recruited according to a purposive sampling. Transcripts analysis was based upon General Inductive Analysis. Results The resources highlighted have been classified into two main categories according to whether they were internal or external to the GPs. The internal resources raised included the doctor’s practical experience and continuous medical education, personal history, work time organization and a tacit moral contract related to the referring GP’s position. External resources included resource personnel, regional assistance platforms and health facilities, legislation. Conclusion This study provides a simple list that is easy to share and pragmatic solutions for GPs and policymakers. Home-based palliative care practice can simultaneously be burdensome and yet a fulfilling, meaningful activity, depending on self-efficacy and professional exhaustion (burnout), perhaps to a greater extent than on medical knowledge. Home-based palliative care promotion is a matter of social responsibility. The availability of multidisciplinary teams such as regional assistance platforms and Hospitalization at Home is particularly important for the management of palliative care. Policymakers should consolidate these specific resources out of hospitals, in community settings where the patients wish to end their life.


2021 ◽  
pp. 082585972110264
Author(s):  
Sadhana Subramanian ◽  
Sonali Sarkar ◽  
Mathavaswami Vijayageetha ◽  
S Adhinarayanan

Context: Increasing burden of non-communicable diseases and ageing population has parallely increased the need for Palliative care. Unavailable, inaccessible, and inadequate palliative care services in our setting increased the need for volunteers. In Puducherry, palliative care programme was implemented through trained volunteers in 2015. Aims: To explore the experiences of volunteers who provide palliative care and also to get feedback on volunteering from the patients who received care. Settings and Design: A descriptive qualitative study was carried out at two Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) working for palliative care in and around Puducherry. Methods and Material: Participants were selected purposively to include seven volunteers and eight patients to attain information saturation. The time period of this study was between September and October 2018. Analysis Used: Manual thematic analysis was done to identify codes, which were grouped to form categories and themes. Results: Factors that facilitated participants to take up the role of volunteers were witnessing the death of family members with unmet palliative care when required and experiences in organizations working for elderly and disabled children. Improvement in patients’ condition and patient satisfaction motivated them to continue, despite lack of resources and social support. Their perception was of having become bolder and empathetic by working as palliative care volunteers. Patients reported satisfaction with the provision of drugs and other materialistic support like clothes and sweets during festivals; however, their basic and financial needs remained unmet. Conclusion: The palliative care programme or the National programme for elderly should focus on components that would improve the quality of palliative care by reducing patients’ dissatisfaction. Support in terms of provision of drugs, financial help and nutrition is necessary to improve both the patients’ and volunteers’ satisfaction in palliative care services.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinxin Zhang ◽  
Yingjuan Cao ◽  
Mingzhu Su ◽  
Joyce Cheng ◽  
Nengliang Yao

Abstract Background: Hospital facilities in China are experiencing increased strain on existing systems and medical resources, which necessitates the use of home-based hospice and palliative care (HBHPC). HBHPC primarily relies on community nurses and related medical personnel. Understanding the challenges that community nurses face when providing this form of care is urgently needed to optimize the design and delivery of HBHPC. Our study aimed to gain insight into community nurses’ challenges when providing HBHPC for patients.Methods: We performed a descriptive qualitative study with a phenomenology approach. Purposive sampling was used to recruit 13 nurses from two community health service centers in Jinan, Shandong Province, China. A thematic analysis was applied to identify themes from the transcribed data.Results: Three major themes emerged: 1) Community nurses’ inadequate self-preparation for providing HBHPC; 2) Patients and their families’ non-collaboration in HBHPC; 3) Community health service career disadvantages. Conclusion: Community nurses faced multifaceted challenges in home care settings. This study could provide a framework for guiding the improvement of interventional variables in the provision of HBHPC. Future research should involve developing effective methods of improving community nurses’ job motivation and community health service institutions’ incentive systems, as well as increasing advocacy around HBHPC.


2009 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 734-752 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrée Sévigny ◽  
Serge Dumont ◽  
S. Robin Cohen ◽  
Annie Frappier

Volunteers traditionally play an essential role in palliative care. Without them, many community and institutional programs would not survive. Despite the significant number of volunteers involved in palliative care, the nature and scope of their actions remain ambiguous. The blurred boundaries of their contribution create tensions between professionals, families, and volunteers with regards to patient care and sharing of responsibilities. This article reports on a comprehensive and descriptive qualitative study aimed at understanding volunteer practices in home palliative care in Canada through analysis of volunteers’ discourse. The conceptual framework not only allows for a description of volunteer practices but also for an understanding of those practices in terms of the meaning volunteers ascribe to their actions and interactions. The information gathered provides a better understanding of the place of volunteers within the palliative care system, thereby allowing communities to optimize their contribution to the palliative care mission.


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