scholarly journals Self-perceived burden to family in terminally ill cancer patients at palliative care unit in Japan: perspectives of patients

2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 102-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Kishino ◽  
M. Miyashita
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Terminally Ill ◽  
Palliative Care Unit ◽  
Terminally Ill Cancer Patients ◽  
Perceived Burden

Association between the emotional status of family caregivers and length of stay in a palliative care unit: A retrospective study

2015 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 1695-1700 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seon Hee Kim ◽  
In Cheol Hwang ◽  
Ki Dong Ko ◽  
Young Eun Kwon ◽  
Hong Yup Ahn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Length Of Stay ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Family Caregivers ◽  
Terminally Ill ◽  
Palliative Care Unit ◽  
Cancer Type ◽  
Semistructured Interview ◽  
Emotional Status ◽  
Terminally Ill Cancer Patients

ABSTRACTObjective:Several factors associated with referral time to hospice and/or palliative care services have been identified, but there is no literature on the association between these services and the emotional status of the family caregivers (FCs). This article is intended to address that issue.Method:A semistructured interview was employed to collect data for a retrospective cohort study. The primary FCs of terminally ill cancer patients were interviewed at the time of the patient's referral to the palliative care unit. Interview data were combined with patients' medical record data for our analysis. The emotional status of the FCs was categorized into one of three groups according to their responses to the anticipated death of their family member: acceptance, anxious/depressed, and denial/angry. A Cox proportional hazard model was used to examine and identify the factors related to the length of stay (LOS) in the palliative care unit.Results:A total of 198 patient–FC pairs were identified. The median LOS was 18 days. A multivariate analysis with adjustment for potential variables revealed significant differences in LOS according to cancer type and time since cancer diagnosis. The denial/angry FC category was independently associated with a shorter LOS (vs. acceptance, adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 2.11; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.11–4.03).Significance of Results:We found that terminally ill cancer patients who were referred late had FCs who were in denial or were angry about the anticipated death of their loved one. The emotional status of FCs should be considered when patients with terminal cancer are referred to palliative care.

scholarly journals Support for leaving the palliative care unit temporarily in end-stage terminally ill cancer patients

2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 301-307 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomomi Kobayashi ◽  
Maki Murakami ◽  
Naoki Yamamoto ◽  
Hironobu Sato
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Terminally Ill ◽  
Palliative Care Unit ◽  
Terminally Ill Cancer Patients ◽  
End Stage

Evaluation of Staff Support System in a Palliative Care Unit

1982 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 355-358 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yves Quenneville ◽  
Maurice Falardeau ◽  
Denis Rochette
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Support System ◽  
Terminally Ill ◽  
Palliative Care Unit ◽  
Staff Support ◽  
Terminally Ill Cancer Patients ◽  
The People ◽  
Psychological Impairment ◽  
One Year

Very little has been written on the stress of the people working in a palliative care unit for terminally-ill cancer patients. Here are the results of a prospective research conducted at the Notre-Dame Hospital Palliative Care Unit in Montreal, using a self-rated measure of psychological impairment (Langner's scale). This test was applied as soon as the Unit received its first patients. After one year, we found no increase of reported symptoms and we believe these results are attributable to a good preliminary selection and an effective staff support system.

Incidence and Outcome of Venous Thromboembolism In Terminally Ill Cancer Patients In Palliative Care unit

Blood ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 116 (21) ◽  
pp. 4390-4390
Author(s):  
Na-Ri Lee ◽  
Ho-Young Yhim ◽  
Eun-Kee Song ◽  
Chang-Yeol Yim ◽  
Jae-Yong Kwak
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Risk Factor ◽  
Venous Thromboembolism ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Median Survival ◽  
Terminally Ill ◽  
Lower Extremities ◽  
Palliative Care Unit ◽  
Terminally Ill Cancer Patients ◽  
Clinical Records

Abstract Abstract 4390 Background: The relation between venous thromboembolism (VTE) and cancer is well recognized, and risk of VTE increases with disease progression. However, the information available about VTE in terminally ill cancer patients in palliative care unit (PCU) is limited. We evaluated the incidence, risk factor and outcome of VTE in terminally ill cancer patients in PCU. Methods: The clinical records of Chonbuk National University Hospital were searched for all patients with acute, symptomatic deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) in PCU from April 2008 through July 2010. Results: A total of 220 patients were included in the study and the median survival after palliative care was 16 days. Ten patients (4.5%) were newly diagnosed with VTE in PCU and nine patients (4%) had a history of VTE. All ten patients presented with DVT and the sites included lower extremities (eight) and upper extremities (two). All patients had more than one risk factor: immobilizations in 6 patients (54%), tumor compression in 3 patients (27%), and central venous catheter in 2 patients (18%). After diagnosis, 7 patients received treatment with low-molecular weight heparin (LMWH) and 4 of them switched to warfarin. The median duration of anticoagulation was 26 days. Major bleeding was noted 2 patients but VTE-related death did not occur. The median survival after diagnosis of VTE was 28 days. Conclusion: The incidence of VTE in PCU was relatively low. All patients had one or more risk factors and DVT of lower extremities was most frequent. Although anticoagulation was acceptable treatment except bleeding risk, the risks vs benefits need to be counterbalanced. Further large scale studies are needed to address many of these issues. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Spouse caregivers of terminally-ill cancer patients as cancer patients: A pilot study in a palliative care unit

2005 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 83-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
HIDEKI ONISHI ◽  
MASANARI ONOSE ◽  
SHIGEKO OKUNO ◽  
SUZU YAE ◽  
YASUHIRO MIZUNO ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Cancer Patient ◽  
Medical History ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Terminally Ill ◽  
Physical Symptoms ◽  
Palliative Care Unit ◽  
Past Medical History ◽  
Terminally Ill Cancer Patients ◽  
History Of

Objective: It is known that families of terminally-ill cancer patients show levels of emotional and functional disruption and are called “second order patients,” however, little is actually known about the health problems of family members, especially in terms of cancer.Methods: This study reviewed the family histories of terminally-ill cancer patients in a palliative care unit and investigated cancer related health problems of the spouses of terminally-ill cancer patients.Results: We investigated the past medical history of 125 spouses of terminally-ill cancer patients and found that five spouses had a past medical history of cancer. In these five spouses, the duration of illness, present status of treatment and physical condition were reviewed from the database. Of these five spouses, three patients continued to attend an outpatient clinic regularly for checkup and one patient was hospitalized for nephrectomy. Two spouses did not have physical symptoms that made them unable to provide direct care for the terminally-ill spouses, while three could not provide care because of their own physical symptoms derived from cancer.Significance of results: Our findings indicated that some of the spouses of terminally-ill cancer patients are not only “second order patients” but also “cancer patients.” Our findings also suggest that some spouses of terminally-ill cancer patients might experience distress both as a cancer patient and as a spouse and may need care both as a cancer patient and as a spouse.

Verbalized desire for death or euthanasia in advanced cancer patients receiving palliative care

2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 295-303 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ernest Güell ◽  
Adelaida Ramos ◽  
Tania Zertuche ◽  
Antonio Pascual
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Terminally Ill ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Semistructured Interview ◽  
Advanced Cancer Patients ◽  
Terminally Ill Cancer Patients ◽  
Symptom Intensity ◽  
Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale ◽  
Desire To Die

AbstractObjective:We aimed to address the prevalence of desire-to-die statements (DDSs) among terminally ill cancer patients in an acute palliative care unit. We also intended to compare the underlying differences between those patients who make desire-to-die comments (DDCs) and those who make desire-for-euthanasia comments (EUCs).Method:We conducted a one-year cross-sectional prospective study in all patients receiving palliative care who had made a DDC or EUC. At inclusion, we evaluated symptom intensity, anxiety and depression, and conducted a semistructured interview regarding the reasons for these comments.Results:Of the 701 patients attended to during the study period, 69 (9.8%; IC95% 7.7–12.3) made a DDS: 51 (7.3%) a DDC, and 18 (2.5%) an EUC. Using Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) DDC group showed higher percentage of moderate-severe symptoms (ESAS > 4) for well-being (91 vs. 25%; p = 0.001), depression (67 vs. 25%; p = 0.055), and anxiety (52 vs. 13%; p = 0.060) than EUC group. EUC patients also considered themselves less spiritual (44 vs. 84%; p = 0.034). The single most common reason for a DDS was pain or physical suffering, though most of the reasons given were nonphysical.Significance of results:Almost 10% of the population receiving specific oncological palliative care made a DDC (7.3%) or EUC (2.5%). The worst well-being score was lower in the EUC group. The reasons for both a DDC and EUC were mainly nonphysical. We find that emotional and spiritual issues should be identified and effectively addressed when responding to a DDS in terminally ill cancer patients.

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