Journeys to the centre of empathy

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renee Lim ◽  
Stewart Dunn
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Professional Communication ◽  
Professional Burnout ◽  
Patient Complaints ◽  
Effective Training ◽  
Empathic Communication ◽  
Training Programmes

As a species, we appear to be programmed to respond to the situations and emotions of others. However, there is wide variation in the ways doctors and other health professionals experience and express this capacity, and there is a need for effective training to enhance these skills. Unfortunately, systematic reviews suggest that many of our current training programmes do not improve the quality of communication in cancer and palliative care so as to limit the burden of professional burnout, and to improve patients’ mental or physical health and satisfaction. Our attempts to produce a generation of empathic clinical communicators are inconsistent and reviews of patient complaints reveal an increasing discontent with professional communication. So what is missing? How do we develop, sustain, and teach empathic communication? The answer, according to Lim and Dunn, is to shift the focus from empathy to authenticity.

scholarly journals A scoping review of palliative care outcome measures in interstitial lung disease

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (161) ◽  
pp. 210080
Author(s):  
Rebecca A. Gersten ◽  
Amanda C. Moale ◽  
Bhavna Seth ◽  
Judith B. Vick ◽  
Hannah Brown ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Palliative Care ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Outcome Measures ◽  
Secondary Analysis ◽  
Social Health ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Care Outcome

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) confers a high mortality and symptom burden, substantially impacting quality of life. Studies evaluating palliative care in ILD are rapidly expanding. Uniform outcome measures are crucial to assessing the impact of palliative care in ILD. This scoping review evaluates existing outcome measures in general health-related quality of life (HRQoL), physical health, mental health, social health and advance care planning (ACP) domains in patients with ILD. Articles in English with quantitative assessment of at least one measure of general HRQoL, physical health, mental health, social health or ACP in patients with ILD were included. Searches across three databases yielded 3488 non-duplicate articles. 23 met eligibility criteria and included three randomised controlled trials (RCTs) or secondary analysis of an RCT (13%), three cross-sectional studies or secondary analysis of cross-sectional study (13%), one prospective study (4%) and 16 retrospective studies (70%). Among eligible articles, 25 distinct instruments were identified. Six studies assessed general HRQoL (26%), 16 assessed physical health (70%), 11 assessed mental health (48%), six assessed social health (26%) and 16 assessed ACP (70%). The ability to compare results across studies remains challenging given the heterogeneity in outcome measures. Future work is needed to develop core palliative care outcome measures in ILD.

scholarly journals Newspaper depiction of mental and physical health in Qatar

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Khalid Elzamzamy ◽  
Abdulkarim Alsiddiqi ◽  
Ali Khalil ◽  
Hassan Elamin ◽  
Mustafa Abdul Karim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Substance Use ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
General Information ◽  
Quality Of Reporting ◽  
Daily Newspapers ◽  
News Reports ◽  
Mental And Physical Health

This study provides an overview of the extent, nature and quality of reporting on mental health compared with physical health in Qatari newspapers. We analysed 1274 news reports from daily newspapers in Qatar. The majority of the articles provided general information and were either positive or neutral in tone, reporting purely on physical health matters. A small proportion made associations with violence or reported on suicide or substance use. Our results highlight the underrepresentation of mental health in Qatari newspapers. A collaboration between media and health professionals is recommended to improve reporting on mental health.

Evaluation of an Interdisciplinary Training Program in Palliative Care: Addressing the Needs of Rural and Northern Communities

1997 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 5-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda Kristjanson ◽  
Deborah Dudgeon ◽  
Fred Nelson ◽  
Paul Henteleff ◽  
Lynda Balneaves
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Training Program ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Family Care ◽  
Interdisciplinary Training ◽  
Repeated Measures Design ◽  
Care Training ◽  
Care Of The Dying

Our study was a pilot test of an interdisciplinary training program in palliative care to improve the quality of care to terminally ill cancer and AIDS patients in rural and northern communities in Manitoba. The program involved two weeks of intense palliative care training for nurses, social workers, physicians, and volunteers. Four teams were trained during a six-month period. A repeated measures design was used to assess the effectiveness of the program. Results indicated that health professionals’ knowledge about care of the dying, care of individuals with HIV/AIDS, and attitudes toward care of the dying improved upon completion of the training program and remained improved three months following the program. Improvements in use of medications, increased attention to family care, increased discussion of DNR orders, and increased consultation related to symptom management were evident following the training program. The parallel training program for volunteers was also judged to be effective.

scholarly journals Addressing healthcare for migrants and ethnic minorities in Europe: A review of training programmes

2018 ◽  
Vol 78 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Chiarenza ◽  
Lidia Horvat ◽  
Katja Lanting ◽  
Anna Ciannameo ◽  
Jeanine Suurmond
Keyword(s):  
Ethnic Minorities ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Policy Support ◽  
Training Design ◽  
Conceptual Approach ◽  
Effective Response ◽  
Access And Quality ◽  
Training Programmes

Background: The global phenomenon of migration has dramatically changed the social context in which healthcare professionals operate. European states are facing a growing need to effectively train healthcare professionals to understand and respond appropriately to the diverse needs of migrants and ethnic minorities. While many European Union (EU) countries have adopted specific initiatives, there is considerable variation in these activities and few examples of evaluation of the quality of these training courses. Aims: This article describes findings from a review conducted as a part of the ‘Training packages for health professionals to improve access and quality of health services for migrants and ethnic minorities, including the Roma (MEM-TP)’ project, which sought to identify and assess training programmes for health professionals delivered in Europe between 2004 and 2013. Methods: The review and analysis of training materials comprised three components: (1) a review of the published and unpublished literature, (2) a survey addressing national contact persons, and representatives of international organisations and non-governmental organisations and (3) an assessment of the quality of the training programmes identified. Results: The review showed that training programmes tend to be characterised by low levels of participant involvement in training development, delivery and evaluation. Training programmes often lacked an explicit pedagogical approach, did not systematically focus on outcomes in training design, implementation and evaluation, and were poorly linked to key organisational and policy support. Finally, while cultural competence continues to be the broad conceptual approach used in training programmes, alternate approaches such as intersectionality, equity and person-centred care are emergent. Conclusion: Training programmes in Europe can be further improved in order to ensure an effective response to the diverse needs of patients, carers, health professionals and the community.

Human relationship: The forgotten dynamic in palliative care

2003 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 261-265 ◽  
Author(s):  
DENISE L. HAWTHORNE ◽  
NANCY J. YURKOVICH
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
World View ◽  
Human Relationship ◽  
Scientific Process ◽  
Incurable Disease ◽  
Shared Humanity ◽  
Dynamics Of Science ◽  
Current Emphasis

Objective: Palliative care is a philosophy of care for individuals experiencing progressive, incurable disease. It encompasses two dynamics, science-based practice and relationship between patient, family, and health professional. Each dynamic is essential for quality palliative care, yet the requisites for each are different.Methods: The scientific process of observation and measurement requires differentiation, distance, and detachment to fulfill its demands for objectivity, whereas relationship, unobservable and immeasurable, requires sameness, closeness, and connection of a shared humanity. It is science, however, the prevailing world-view, that shapes our thinking and consequently, influences the education and practice of health professionals.Results: We explore the dynamics of science and relationship and the incongruities between them. We examine the prominence of science in palliative care and its impact on relationship.Significance of results: We contend that questioning the current emphasis of science in palliative care and discovering the joy and rewards of shared human experience will enrich the quality of life for patients, families, and health professionals.

scholarly journals Perception of health professionals about neonatal palliative care

2019 ◽  
Vol 72 (6) ◽  
pp. 1707-1714
Author(s):  
Ernestina Maria Batoca Silva ◽  
Maria José Machado Silva ◽  
Daniel Marques Silva
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Neonatal Intensive Care ◽  
Ethical Decisions ◽  
Palliative Care Teams ◽  
Pain And Suffering ◽  
Probabilistic Sample ◽  
Perception Of Health ◽  
Relational Difficulties

ABSTRACT Objective: To identify the perception of health professionals about neonatal palliative care. Method: A phenomenological qualitative study, a non-probabilistic sample, of 15 health professionals from a neonatal intensive care unit in northern Portugal. Content analysis was performed. Results: Despite their lack of training in palliative care, the health professionals showed concern for the dignity, quality of life and comfort of the newborn and family. They expressed emotional and relational difficulties in following the trajectories of serious illness and death and in the ethical decisions regarding the end-of-life. Conclusion: It is emphasized that professionals are sensitive to pain and suffering and reveal dedicated and committed in the care of the newborn and family. They are available to train and embrace the current challenges posed by the constitution of pediatric palliative care teams and to help achieve an organizational culture that advances in such care.

Informatics and Literature Search

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer J. Tieman ◽  
David C. Currow
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Domain Knowledge ◽  
Literature Search ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Practice Research ◽  
Clinical Knowledge ◽  
Research And Education ◽  
The Individual

Health information technology is changing how health professionals engage with and use knowledge and how health systems organize care. Tools and resources can facilitate access to evidence and enable its application in practice improving outcomes for the individual patient and for the health-care system. However, the quality of these applications relies on the quality and currency of the domain knowledge that is embedded within them and distributed through them. Therefore being able to identify and retrieve palliative care’s evidence base is more critical than ever. Given the complexity of timely, efficient, and effective retrieval of needed knowledge, new approaches are needed to manage the expanding and diffuse knowledge base for palliative care. Such strategies include developing online repositories of clinical knowledge to ensure immediate access and creating search solutions that shortcut access to literature and evidence to support practice, research, and education.

A psychosocial and pshycoeducational intervention for cancer patients integrated into routine care: A study from India.

2012 ◽  
Vol 30 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e19518-e19518 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anita Chandra
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Palliative Care ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Psychosocial Intervention ◽  
Psychological Intervention ◽  
Symptom Control ◽  
Psychosocial Care ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
Oncology Care

e19518 Background: Patients with cancer experience significant distress and access to effective psychosocial care is limited by lack of systematic approach. This paper presents results of a study to evaluate the effectiveness of a brief tailored psychosocial intervention delivered by health professionals in cancer care in developing countries. Methods: Health professionals deliver the multicomponent, psychoeducational and psychosocial intervention focusing on core concepts of quality of life, supportive-expressive, cognitive, social functioning, symptom scale and dignity-conserving care. A total of 100 patients recruited across all tumour sites, from July 2011 to December 2011, in a University Hospital in India. Eligible patients received 2 sessions, each for 30 minutes in length, delivered face-to-face at baseline and 12 week follow-up. Results: Quality of life was measured by using the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ-C30 questionnaire .In this study the functional scales were high, whereas in the symptom scales fatigue (48.9%) and financial difficulties (45.53%) were noted. Percentages of families who evaluated by the palliative care team voted as useful or very useful were: 80% (symptom control), 85% (emotional support), 86% (family support), and 87% (care coordination). Compared with participants receiving usual oncology care, those receiving a palliative care-focused intervention addressing psychosocial care provided concurrently with oncology care had higher scores for quality of life and mood. Conclusions: This study will provide important information about the effectiveness of a brief tailored psychological intervention for patients with cancer in a developing country. This model of care should be a systematic implementation in routine clinical practice cancer settings in resource restraints countries. [Table: see text]

scholarly journals Quality of care and health professional burnout: narrative literature review

2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 293-307 ◽  
Author(s):  
Niamh Humphries ◽  
Karen Morgan ◽  
Mary Catherine Conry ◽  
Yvonne McGowan ◽  
Anthony Montgomery ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Care ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Health Professional ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Professional Burnout ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Staffing Levels ◽  
Narrative Literature ◽  
Narrative Literature Review

Purpose – Quality of care and health professional burnout are important issues in their own right, however, relatively few studies have examined both. The purpose of this paper is to explore quality of care and health professional burnout in hospital settings. Design/methodology/approach – The paper is a narrative literature review of quality of care and health professional burnout in hospital settings published in peer-reviewed journals between January 2000 and March 2013. Papers were identified via a search of PsychInfo, PubMed, Embase and CINNAHL electronic databases. In total, 30 papers which measured and/or discussed both quality of care and health professional burnout were identified. Findings – The paper provides insight into the key health workforce-planning issues, specifically staffing levels and workloads, which impact upon health professional burnout and quality of care. The evidence from the review literature suggests that health professionals face heavier and increasingly complex workloads, even when staffing levels and/or patient-staff ratios remain unchanged. Originality/value – The narrative literature review suggests that weak retention rates, high turnover, heavy workloads, low staffing levels and/or staffing shortages conspire to create a difficult working environment for health professionals, one in which they may struggle to provide high-quality care and which may also contribute to health professional burnout. The review demonstrates that health workforce planning concerns, such as these, impact on health professional burnout and on the ability of health professionals to deliver quality care. The review also demonstrates that most of the published papers published between 2000 and 2013 addressing health professional burnout and quality of care were nursing focused.

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