‘Who would even want to talk about death?’ A qualitative study on nursing students' experiences of talking about death with terminally ill patients with cancer

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yeter Sinem Üzar‐Özçetin ◽  
Duygu Hiçdurmaz ◽  
Sinem Öcalan
Keyword(s):  
Nursing Students ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Terminally Ill ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
Terminally Ill Patients

scholarly journals The role of EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL scores and inflammatory biomarkers in predicting survival in terminally ill patients with cancer

BMC Cancer ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nanako Koyama ◽  
Chikako Matsumura ◽  
Yoshihiro Shitashimizu ◽  
Morito Sako ◽  
Hideo Kurosawa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Patient Reported Outcomes ◽  
Cox Regression ◽  
Terminally Ill ◽  
Inflammatory Biomarkers ◽  
Survival Curves ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
Terminally Ill Patients ◽  
Patient Reported ◽  
Eortc Qlq

Abstract Background The clinical use of patient-reported outcomes as compared to inflammatory biomarkers for predicting cancer survival remains a challenge in palliative care settings. We evaluated the role of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 15 Palliative scores (EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL) and the inflammatory biomarkers C-reactive protein (CRP), albumin (Alb), and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) for survival prediction in patients with advanced cancer. Methods This was an observational study in terminally ill patients with cancer hospitalized in a palliative care unit between June 2018 and December 2019. Patients’ data collected at the time of hospitalization were analyzed. Cox regression was performed to examine significant factors influencing survival. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to estimate cut-off values for predicting survival within 3 weeks, and a log-rank test was performed to compare survival curves between groups divided by the cut-off values. Results Totally, 130 patients participated in the study. Cox regression suggested that the QLQ-C15-PAL dyspnea and fatigue scores and levels of CRP, Alb, and NLR were significantly associated with survival time, and cut-off values were 66.67, 66.67, 3.0 mg/dL, 2.5 g/dL, and 8.2, respectively. The areas under ROC curves of these variables were 0.6–0.7. There were statistically significant differences in the survival curves between groups categorized using each of these cut-off values (p < .05 for all cases). Conclusion Our findings suggest that the assessment of not only objective indicators for the systemic inflammatory response but also patient-reported outcomes using EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL is beneficial for the prediction of short-term survival in terminally ill patients with cancer.

scholarly journals Symptom clusters and their influence on prognosis using EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL scores in terminally ill patients with cancer

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nanako Koyama ◽  
Chikako Matsumura ◽  
Yuuna Tahara ◽  
Morito Sako ◽  
Hideo Kurosawa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Terminally Ill ◽  
Symptom Clusters ◽  
Rank Test ◽  
Appetite Loss ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
Terminally Ill Patients ◽  
Log Rank Test ◽  
Eortc Qlq ◽  
Cluster 2

Abstract Purpose The aims of the present study were to investigate the symptom clusters in terminally ill patients with cancer using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 15 Palliative Care (EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL), and to examine whether these symptom clusters influenced prognosis. Methods We analyzed data from 130 cancer patients hospitalized in the palliative care unit from June 2018 to December 2019 in an observational study. Principal component analysis was used to detect symptom clusters using the scored date of 14 items in the QLQ-C15-PAL, except for overall QOL, at the time of hospitalization. The influence of the existence of these symptom clusters and Palliative Performance Scale (PPS) on survival was analyzed by Cox proportional hazards regression analysis, and survival curves were compared between the groups with or without existing corresponding symptom clusters using the log-rank test. Results The following symptom clusters were identified: cluster 1 (pain, insomnia, emotional functioning), cluster 2 (dyspnea, appetite loss, fatigue, and nausea), and cluster 3 (physical functioning). Cronbach’s alpha values for the symptom clusters ranged from 0.72 to 0.82. An increased risk of death was significantly associated with the existence of cluster 2 and poor PPS (log-rank test, p = 0.016 and p < 0.001, respectively). Conclusion In terminally ill patients with cancer, three symptom clusters were detected based on QLQ-C15-PAL scores. Poor PPS and the presence of symptom cluster that includes dyspnea, appetite loss, fatigue, and nausea indicated poor prognosis.

Religious Care Required for Japanese Terminally Ill Patients With Cancer From the Perspective of Bereaved Family Members

2009 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takuya Okamoto ◽  
Michiyo Ando ◽  
Tatsuya Morita ◽  
Kei Hirai ◽  
Ryo Kawamura ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Family Members ◽  
Terminally Ill ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
Terminally Ill Patients ◽  
Bereaved Family

Family Experience Caring for Terminally Ill Patients With Cancer in Hong Kong

2003 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 267-275 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esther Mok ◽  
Faye Chan ◽  
Vivian Chan ◽  
Ellen Yeung
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Terminally Ill ◽  
Family Experience ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
Terminally Ill Patients

Sleep Pattern and Predictors of Sleep Disturbance Among Family Caregivers of Terminal Ill Patients With Cancer in Taiwan: A Longitudinal Study

2018 ◽  
Vol 35 (8) ◽  
pp. 1109-1117 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kwo-Chen Lee ◽  
Ya-Ling Hsieh ◽  
Pi-Chu Lin ◽  
Yun-Ping Lin
Keyword(s):  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Sleep Disturbance ◽  
Family Caregivers ◽  
Terminally Ill ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
Terminally Ill Patients ◽  
Prospective Longitudinal

Background: Sleep disturbance commonly has a negative impact on the well-being of family caregivers (FCs) of terminally ill patients with cancer. The effect of sleep disturbance on FCs has not been explored through long-term follow-up studies in Taiwan. Objective: The purposes of this study were to (1) identify the trajectory of sleep quality of FCs of terminally ill patients with cancer in Taiwan and (2) examine the determinants of sleep disturbance through a longitudinal follow-up until patient death. Methods: A prospective, longitudinal study was conducted among 95 FCs of terminally ill patients with cancer. The FCs’ sleep quality was measured subjectively by using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and objectively by wearing a wrist actigraphy for 48 hours each month during the 6-month follow-up assessments. The trajectory and determinants of sleep quality were identified using a generalized estimation equation approach. Results: The FCs’ sleep quality significantly decreased as the patient’s death approached. Family caregivers who were women or older, had a relative with a longer survival period after diagnosis, reported higher levels of depression and fatigue, and provided lower levels of assistance to their relatives experienced more sleep disturbance. Conclusion: The sleep quality of Taiwanese FCs significantly deteriorated as the death of the terminally ill patients with cancer approached. Early detection of the FCs’ sleep disturbance, increasing their self-awareness of sleep problems, and providing nonpharmacological interventions and psychosocial support may be helpful for FCs to improve their quantity and quality of sleep.

Definition of a Good Death, Attitudes Toward Death, and Feelings of Interconnectedness Among People Taking Care of Terminally ill Patients With Cancer: An Exploratory Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (5) ◽  
pp. 343-349 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Bovero ◽  
Francesco Gottardo ◽  
Rossana Botto ◽  
Chiara Tosi ◽  
Marta Selvatico ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Terminally Ill ◽  
Good Death ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Death Attitudes ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
Terminally Ill Patients ◽  
Attitudes Toward Death ◽  
Open Questions ◽  
Dying Patients

The concept of a good death is crucial in palliative care, but its relationship with attitudes toward death and feelings of interconnectedness needs to be further deepened. The first aim of this study was to explore the concept of good death, attitudes toward death, and feelings of interconnectedness among family caregivers (FCs) and health-care providers (HCPs) of terminally ill patients with cancer. The second aim was to analyze associations of good death concept with attitudes toward death and feelings of interconnectedness. Participants were asked to assess the importance of features that characterize a good death. To explore each person’s attitude toward death and feelings of interconnectedness, 3 open questions were used. The sample consisted of 49 participants: 24 (48.98%) FCs and 25 (51.02%) HCPs. Nine good death features were considered essential by more than 70% of participants. These referred to the physical (eg, symptoms control), social (eg, loved ones’ presence), emotional (eg, sharing emotions), and spiritual (eg, inner peace) dimensions. Importance attributed to components of a good death such as patient’s awareness and acceptance of death, meaning, respect for the patient’s wishes, and inner peace were found to be associated with lack of avoidance and acceptance toward death and feelings of interconnectedness. Given the importance of FCs and HCPs in providing care and their impact on the patients’ dying process, it is necessary to reflect upon how their personal attitudes and previous experiences influence the care of dying patients.

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