Family Conference in Palliative Care

Author(s):  
Margaret L. Isaac ◽  
J. Randall Curtis

Patients receiving palliative care often experience severe psychosocial distress, which may due to the perception of the situation, the community resources and support, educational level, comorbidities, coping skills, and socioeconomic status. However, the distress can be reduced by communication between patients, caregivers, and health care providers. Studies have shown that family conferences can be a safe and well-accepted means for communication between patients, caregivers, and health care providers in the palliative care setting. This chapter highlights key topics regarding the family conference and facilitation of patient–clinician communication in palliative care. The topics covered in this chapter include (a) key components of a family conference (e.g., the importance of listening, therapeutic communication, and missed opportunities), (b) proactive communication strategies in the intensive care unit, (c) use of patient navigators and communication facilitators to reduce family distress, and (d) the impact of advance care planning on end-of-life decision-making regarding resuscitation.

Author(s):  
Kimberly S. Johnson ◽  
Ramona L. Rhodes

This chapter examines how race or ethnicity affects access to, and the quality of, palliative care by focusing on the experience of African Americans and Hispanics. More specifically, it considers how cultural beliefs, values, and preferences may influence care. It begins by looking at racial and ethnic disparities that exist throughout the health-care continuum, from disease prevention, early diagnosis, and curative treatment, to communication and pain management, lower rates of advance care planning, and lower utilization of hospice and palliative care services. It then explores the preferences of African Americans and Hispanics when it comes to end-of-life care, as well as the role of spirituality and faith in how they cope with illness. The chapter concludes by suggesting strategies and future directions for health-care providers, organizations, policymakers, and researchers on how to improve care for patients of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds.


2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (10) ◽  
pp. 531-538 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vinita Singh ◽  
Ali J. Zarrabi ◽  
Kimberly A. Curseen ◽  
Roman Sniecinski ◽  
Justine W. Welsh ◽  
...  

PURPOSE: Several states, particularly in the Southeast, have restrictive medical marijuana laws that permit qualified patients to use specific cannabis products. The majority of these states, however, do not provide avenues for accessing cannabis products such as in-state dispensaries. METHODS: We conducted a survey of patients registered for medical marijuana (low tetrahydrocannabinol [THC] oil cards) in an ambulatory palliative care practice in Georgia (one of the states with restrictive medical marijuana laws). RESULTS: We had a total of 101 responses. Among our sample of patients who use cannabis as part of a state-approved low THC oil program, 56% were male and 64% were older than age 50 years. Advanced cancer was the most common reason (76%) for granting the patients access to a low THC oil card. Although patients reported cannabis products as being extremely helpful for reducing pain, they expressed considerable concerns about the legality issues (64%) and ability to obtain THC (68%). Several respondents were using unapproved formulations of cannabis products. For 48% of the patients, their physician was the source of information regarding marijuana-related products. Furthermore, they believed that their health care providers and family members were supportive of their use of cannabis (62% and 79%, respectively). CONCLUSION: Patients on Georgia’s medical marijuana program are most concerned about the legality of the product and their ability to obtain marijuana-related products. Therefore, we recommend that states with medical marijuana laws should provide safe and reliable access to cannabis products for qualifying patients.


2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 62-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erin Relyea ◽  
Brooke MacDonald ◽  
Christina Cattaruzza ◽  
Denise Marshall

Schizophrenia is a serious chronic mental illness that results in marginalization and stigma for sufferers. It is the seventh leading cause for disability worldwide. The symptoms of the illness, including hallucinations, delusions, and extremely disordered thinking and behavior, may also introduce barriers to accessing treatment, education, housing, and employment. Little is known about end-of-life care for individuals with schizophrenia. To address this gap, a scoping review was conducted to enhance understanding of hospice and palliative care for patients with schizophrenia. From this scoping review, 342 unique titles and abstracts were identified through a search of 20 databases, including 11 social science databases, 6 medical databases, and 3 gray literature databases. A total of 32 articles met the inclusion criteria and the following 4 themes were identified: Stigma affecting quality of care and access to care; Issues related to consent and capacity for the patient’s end-of-life care decisions and to appoint substitute decision makers; Best practices for psychosocial interventions, pharmacology, family and health-care collaborations, goals of care, setting, and smoking; and Barriers to care, including setting, communication, provider education, and access to care. The review suggests the importance of mandatory interdisciplinary training practices and policy standards outlining cooperative communication across health-care providers. It highlights gaps in evidence-based research on psychosocial interventions and collaborative frameworks to enable the provision of quality end-of-life care for individuals with schizophrenia.


2018 ◽  
Vol 35 (12) ◽  
pp. 1565-1571
Author(s):  
Marjorie Bowman ◽  
Sarah St. Cyr ◽  
Adrienne Stolf i

Objective: To understand how health-care providers’ (HCPs) religious preferences influence their willingness to undertake advance care planning (ACP) with patients and their acceptance of other HCP’s involvement. Methods: Online anonymous survey distributed to HCPs in hospital, ambulatory offices, and hospice settings in Dayton, Ohio. We evaluated the associations of HCP religion with their personal ACP, willingness to facilitate ACP, and acceptance of other HCPs’ ACP participation. Results: 704 respondents: nurses (66.2%), physicians (18.8%), other HCPs (15.0%), white (88.9%), and primarily Catholic (23.3%) or Protestant (32.0%). “No religion” was marked by 13.9%. Respondents were favorable to ACP with patients. Religious respondents were more likely to have a living will ( P = .035) and health-care power of attorney ( P = .007) and more accepting of clergy as ACP decision coaches ( P = .030). HCP’s religion was not associated with willingness to facilitate ACP discussions. There were minor differences between Catholics and Protestants. Conclusions: Personal religious preference is associated with HCP’s own ACP but had little relationship with their willingness to facilitate ACP conversations with patients or acceptance of other professional types of HCPs involvement in ACP conversations. Regardless of religious affiliation, HCPs have interest in undertaking ACP and endorse other HCPs ACP involvement. As results of this study suggest that personal religious affiliation is not a barrier for HCPs engaging in ACP with patients, attempts to overcome barriers to increasing ACP should be directed to other factors.


Author(s):  
Megan B. Sands ◽  
Dianne L. O’Connell ◽  
Michael Piza ◽  
Jane M. Ingham

Despite the advances of modern medicine, many illnesses continue to evade cure. Chronic, progressive, incurable illness is a major cause of disability, distress, suffering, and, ultimately, death. This is true for many causes of cancer, progressive neurological disorders, AIDS, and other disorders of vital organs. Progressive chronic diseases of this ilk are most common in late adulthood and old age, but they occur in all ages. When cure is not possible, as often it is not, the relief of suffering is the cardinal goal of medicine. The clinical imperative to relive suffering requires a nuanced understanding of the factors that contribute to suffering and the interaction between the distress of the patient, family members, and health-care providers. This chapter reviews those concepts and offers an approach to the evaluation of suffering for patients requiring palliative care.


1997 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 13-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Patterson ◽  
William Molloy ◽  
Rosalie Jubelius ◽  
G.H. Guyatt ◽  
M. Bédard

Health care providers in three nursing homes in Ontario were surveyed to determine educational needs, barriers to meeting these needs, and the preferred format for education. Of the 415 health care providers asked to participate, 225 completed the questionnaire. Need was expressed for the majority of the 35 educational topics identified, including the role of the palliative care team, management of physical symptoms, pharmacological and non-pharmacological management of pain, stress management, spiritual needs, culture and death, and counseling. Group discussions and seminars were favored over traditional lectures. The primary factors influencing attendance at a palliative care workshop were loss of pay and time and location of the workshop.


2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 124-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tracey Wilson ◽  
Cathy Haut ◽  
Bimbola Akintade

Critical care providers are responsible for many aspects of patient care, primarily focusing on preserving life. However, nearly 40% of patients who are admitted to an adult critical care unit will not survive. Initiating a conversation about end-of-life decision-making is a daunting task. Often, health care providers are not trained, experienced, or comfortable facilitating these conversations. This article describes a quality improvement project that identified current views on end-of-life communication in the intensive care unit and potential barriers that obstruct open discussion, and offering strategies for improvement.


2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 584-591 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoshiko Yamashita Colclough

This study was conducted to highlight Native American (NA) perspectives on death taboo in order to examine the cultural appropriateness of hospice services for NA patients, if any. Searching literature that addressed taboo and death from historical, psychological, sociological, and anthropological aspects, a comparison of death perspectives was made between NAs and European Americans. A culturally sensitive transition from palliative care to hospice care was suggested for NA patients and their family.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document