8 How do hospices facilitate social support?

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 362.3-363
Author(s):  
Natasha Bradley ◽  
Mari Lloyd-Williams ◽  
Chris Dowrick
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Palliative Care ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Hospice Care ◽  
List Type ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Diverse Range ◽  
Service Models

IntroductionSocial isolation is increasing with negative consequences for both physical and mental health. People with life-limiting illness and their carers are at risk of inadequate social support and loneliness.Hospices support social wellbeing with services including traditional day care support groups befriending multi-component interventions and community activities. Existing research suggests that access to social support is highly valued. However models of support used in practice are poorly documented and outcomes difficult to ascertain. The significance of social support in palliative care is under-researched.AimTo establish an overview of hospice service models that facilitate social support for adults living in the community with life-limiting illness.MethodAn online survey was developed piloted and disseminated to adult hospices in the UK and ROI. Questions include hospice characteristics provision of services facilitating social support access issues use of patient outcomes and availability of cost data.Results107 hospices responded to the survey (>50% of eligible hospices). A diverse range of service models were identified. Preliminary results presented include: descriptive statistics of the sample categories and aims of services and salient access issues. Implications of findings for research and economic evaluation are discussed.ConclusionThis survey demonstrates hospices to be interested and active in facilitating social support. It is possible that increasingly diverse approaches used in practice may improve issues regarding access to and awareness of hospice care. More work is needed to share best practice document outcomes and consider cost-effectiveness.Reference. Bradley N, Lloyd-Williams M, Dowrick C. Effectiveness of palliative care interventions offering social support to people with life-limiting illness – A systematic review. Eur J Cancer Care2018. doi:10.1111/ecc.12837

27 Understanding public attitudes: a crucial component for developing palliative care services

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 370.1-370 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ishrat Islam ◽  
Anthony Byrne ◽  
Annmarie Nelson
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
End Of Life ◽  
Social Services ◽  
End Of Life Care ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Public Attitudes ◽  
List Type ◽  
Life Care ◽  
Services Research ◽  
Survey Tool

IntroductionA major challenge in developing new models of palliative care is to identify the current needs of the public patients and carer (Dixon 2015). There is a lack of evidence on people’s attitudes towards end of life care (EoLC) in Wales.AimTo increase understanding of people’s feelings views knowledge and preferences around EoLC.MethodAn online survey was conducted using an electronic survey tool. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis were used to perform data analysis.Results2210 people (Age: Mean +SD; 55+14 years) participated in the survey 43% of those were members of the general public 29% were patients/carers and 23% were health professionals. 49% of respondents thought that available palliative care was inadequate and 92% believed that end of life care for dying people should have equal priority for the NHS. 95% of respondents thought that expressing preferences around EoLC in advance was important but only 13% had done this in practice and 60% did not know how to plan their EoLC. However the top three needs in EoLC were identified as having a trained carer (84%) access to other professionals (59%) and emergency care (44%). The top three preferences for EoLC were being surrounded by loved ones (62%) maintaining dignity (55%) and a feeling of peace (40%). Just 24% respondents would chose to be at home while receiving EoLC.ConclusionsUnderstanding public attitudes is essential to understanding changing contexts of care. Developing a need-based palliative care model enhances an effective service delivery.Reference. Dixon J, et al. Equity in the provision of palliative care in the UK: Review of evidence2015;pg. 1–145. London: Personal Social Services Research Unit. Available at: https://www.mariecurie.org.uk/globalassets/media/documents/policy/campaigns/equity-palliative-care-uk-report-full-lse.pdf

scholarly journals Needs of Patients in the Triage Category “Expectant” in Prehospital Disaster Settings: A Survey Among German Medical Incident Commanders and Palliative Care Physicians

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (s1) ◽  
pp. s151-s152
Author(s):  
Gerald Ripberger ◽  
Michael Oppert ◽  
Jens Werner Bickelmayer
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Disaster Medicine ◽  
Care Physician ◽  
List Type ◽  
Bill Of Rights ◽  
Human Right ◽  
Dying Patients ◽  
Triage Category ◽  
Life Saving

Introduction:The treatment of patients in the triage category “expectant” is not in the focus of the prehospital disaster medicine. The aim is to save as many lives as possible in situations with very limited resources. It is necessary to allocate the life-saving interventions to those who have the chance to survive, but there is a human right of best assistance even for those who are expected to die.Aim:In Germany, it is possible to use the triage category “expectant” in overwhelming disasters, so there should be preparedness for those patients, who receive this categorization. A survey was conducted to find out what the needs are of those patients.Methods:An online-survey was submitted to German medical incident commanders and palliative care physician in function of expert groups via their national associations.Results:219 physicians participated. The majority confirmed a necessity to treat those patients and to be prepared. Currently, in most of the areas, there is no preparation. The main needs are the treatment of pain, dyspnoea, fear, and loneliness. Following the “Dying person’s bill of rights” (1), the most relevant rights are: To be treated as living human being until I dieTo be free from painTo express the feelings and emotionsTo die in peace and dignityDiscussion:Palliative care should be part of disaster medicine planning. It is not too difficult to prepare a special group of helper for the care of dying patients. Medical incident commanders and palliative care physicians agree in the majority about the necessity, so SOPs can be implemented to teach non-medics. The medics will be needed for the first aim of disaster medicine.

How do hand therapists conservatively manage acute, closed mallet finger? A survey of members of the British Association of Hand Therapists

Hand Therapy ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samantha Cook ◽  
Nikki Daniels ◽  
Sarah Woodbridge
Keyword(s):  
Best Practice ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Response Rate ◽  
Clinical Skills ◽  
Current Treatment ◽  
Therapeutic Management ◽  
British Association ◽  
Mallet Finger ◽  
Clinical Practices ◽  
Diverse Range

Introduction Previous research concerning the conservative management of mallet finger has focused on splint application, with limited representation of supplementary rehabilitation and best practice. This research sought to investigate the practice and opinions of members of the British Association of Hand Therapists regarding their current treatment and to determine whether any specific exercise prescription or rehabilitation protocols are followed. Methods British Association of Hand Therapists members were contacted via e-mail and requested to complete an online survey. Thirty-five responses (5.7% response rate), 30 (4.8% response rate) of which were fully completed were obtained over the eight-week data collection period. The questionnaire consisted of 30 questions (20 quantitative and 10 qualitative) concerning therapists’ roles and condition management. Responses were analysed in terms of response frequencies, percentages and thematic text analysis. Results The results demonstrated current clinical practices in line with available best-evidenced practice. Conservative therapeutic management is diverse and varied. Therapists believe their role to be significant in optimising outcome success. Discussion Exercises and other interventions supplementary to splinting are commonly utilised in the therapeutic management of acute, closed mallet finger. This research found hand therapists implement a diverse range of clinical skills in order to optimise outcome success. Recommendations for best practice and further research are presented.

21 Identification and management of delirium in the palliative inpatient unit

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 367.3-367
Author(s):  
Andrew Gill ◽  
Clare Rayment ◽  
Chris Kane
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Management Plan ◽  
List Type ◽  
Acute Confusional State ◽  
Pharmacological Management ◽  
Assessment And Treatment ◽  
Inpatient Settings ◽  
Palliative Care Units ◽  
A Prospective Study

IntroductionDelirium is an acute confusional state. The incidence of delirium in palliative care units is estimated between 13% and 42% (Hosie 2014). Delirium is associated with an increase in mortality and length of hospice stay yet it is poorly identified. Up to 50% of cases of delirium are reversible (Lawlor 2000) as such early identification and impeccable assessment and treatment could relieve the suffering.AimTo assess identification and management of delirium in two hospices.MethodsRetrospective notes analysis to identify patients with delirium whether they were coded with a delirium diagnosis and whether the management of delirium followed best practice.Results77 inpatients across two hospices were assessed in one month in 2018. There were 37 episodes of possible delirium only five were coded as delirium none had assessment with a recognised delirium tool. Reversibility was considered for 48 episodes; it was not clear from the documentation that this was all possible reversible causes. Family were kept informed 94% of the time. A management plan was documented for five patients.ConclusionDelirium was being considered but not documented a common problem in medical notes. Documentation of a management plan was poor but when there was a plan best practice was followed with non-pharmacological management then low dose antipsychotic with stronger sedation reserved for terminal agitation. An education feedback loop formal training on delirium and design of an electronic medical record template to prompt the management of delirium is ongoing. Practice will be reassessed three months after this intervention.References. Hosie A, Davidson P, Agar M, et al. Delirium prevalence incidence and implications for screening in specialist palliative care inpatient settings: A systematic review. Palliative Medicine2013;27(6):486–498.. Lawlor P, Gagnon B, Mancini I, et al. Occurrence causes and outcome of delirium in patients with advanced cancer: A prospective study. Archives of Internal Medicine2000;160(6):786–794.

scholarly journals Psychological impact of COVID-19 on doctors and medical undergraduate students in a government medical college in Uttar Pradesh, India

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (12) ◽  
pp. 4781
Author(s):  
Kunwar Vaibhav ◽  
Adity Priya ◽  
Pratibha Gupta
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Psychological Impact ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Medical Undergraduate

Background: COVID-19 wrath has influenced the socio economic, physical and mental health well-being of all the citizens. Doctors being at the frontline has been affected substantially by it. The paucity of literature on mental health impact of medical health professionals directed the present study to explore the Psychological Impact of COVID-19 on doctors and medical undergraduates.Methods: A cross section online survey was used for data collection. Socio demographic, COVID 19 related preventive practice, Oslo social support scale-3 (OSSS-3) for social support and impact of events scale-revised (IES-R) scale for assessment of psychological Impact was used. Data was analyzed using SPSS 23.Results: Overall 56 (36.36%) of the participants reported having psychological Impact of whom 25 (43.86%) doctors and 31 (31.96%) students were affected. The predictor variables as derived by the regression model were presence of comorbidity, poor social support and postings in isolation wards.Conclusions: Large scale longitudinal multicentric studies can provide a better picture of the actual magnitude of the mental health impact. The predictive factors should be taken into account for policy making decisions. Coping skills and mental health preparedness for the frontline warriors can be lifesaving and will uplift their morale for better delivery of healthcare services in a resource constrained setting.

scholarly journals Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Outbreak on Physical and Mental Health, Psychological Distress, and Suicidal Ideation, and the Mediating Role of Stressors

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Keita Kiuchi ◽  
◽  
Katsumasa Kishi ◽  
Kanto Araki
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Suicidal Ideation ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Mediating Role

This study investigated the physical and psychological impacts of elements related to coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and demographic data in Japan both directly and as mediated by stressors, immediately following the rescinding of the state of emergency declaration accompanying the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 outbreak. An online survey was administered to 1,500 Japanese registered with an online outsourcing service. Data were analyzed with structural equation modeling using Mplus. Relatively large total effects were observed for “insufficient exercise” on physical health (β = –0.24, SE = 0.03), “mental health issues related to COVID-19” on mental health (β= –0.25, SE = 0.03) and psychological distress (β= 0.24, SE = 0.03), neuroticism on mental health (β= –0.30, SE = 0.02) and psychological distress (β= 0.36, SE = 0.02), and social support on suicidal ideation (β= –0.32, SE = 0.03). Thus, mitigating the harm resulting from the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 infection outbreak by raising awareness of risk factors and promoting social support is feasible.

scholarly journals Improving the quality of life of people with advanced respiratory disease and severe breathlessness

Breathe ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 198-215 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Booth ◽  
Miriam J. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Palliative Care ◽  
Respiratory Disease ◽  
Symptom Management ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Symptom Burden ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
List Type ◽  
The Impact

Advanced respiratory disease imposes a greater symptom burden than many cancers but not does have comparable recognition of the need for supportive and palliative care or the infrastructure for its systematic delivery. Consequently, many people with advanced respiratory disease (and those closest to them) have a poor quality of life, disabled by chronic breathlessness, fatigue and other symptoms. They are socially isolated by the consequences of long-term illness and are often financially impoverished. The past decade has seen an increasing realisation that care for this group must improve and that symptom management must be prioritised. Clinical guidelines recommend person-centred care, including access to supportive and palliative care as needed, as part of standard medical practice. Advanced lung disease clinics and specialist breathlessness services (pioneered within palliative care) are developing within respiratory medicine services but are provided inconsistently.This review covers the comprehensive assessment of the patient with advanced respiratory disease, the importance of supporting carers and the current best practice in the management of breathlessness, fatigue and cough. It also suggests ways to incorporate person-centred care into the general respiratory clinic, assisted by better liaison with specialist palliative and primary care. Emerging evidence shows that excellent symptom management leads to better clinical outcomes and reduces inappropriate use of emergency medical services.Key pointsPeople living with advanced respiratory disease and severe chronic breathlessness (and those closest to them) have a poor quality of life.Chronic breathlessness is a disabling symptom, and acute-on-chronic/episodic breathlessness is frightening to experience and observe.Chronic breathlessness imposes profound physical limitations and psychosocial burdens on those suffering from it or living with someone experiencing it.Fatigue and cough are two other cardinal symptoms of advanced respiratory disease, with very detrimental effects on quality of life.The impact of all these symptoms can be alleviated to a variable extent by a predominantly non-drug complex intervention.Many of the interventions are delivered primarily by allied health or nursing professionals.Doctors, nurses and other health professionals also need to play an active part in promoting quality of life as part of excellent medical care.A person-centred, psychologically informed approach is needed by all clinicians treating patients with advanced respiratory disease.Educational aimsTo give specialist respiratory clinicians practical clinical tools to help improve the quality of life of their patients with advanced respiratory disease and chronic breathlessness.To outline the evidence base for these interventions with reference to definitive sources.To highlight the importance of person-centred care in people with respiratory disease at all stages of illness.

scholarly journals The Influence of Social Support and Characteristics of the Stigmatisers on Stigmatising Attitudes Towards People With Mental Illness

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 66-96
Author(s):  
Michélle Möhring ◽  
Natascha Katharina Krick ◽  
Anika Ditze
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Relationship Status ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Interaction Patterns ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
People With Mental Illness ◽  
Main Effects

The stigmatisation of people with mental illness has severe negative consequences for affected individuals. As research in the context of exemplification theory (Zillmann & Brosius, 2000) shows, single-case descriptions of affected individuals (i.e., exemplars) have the potential to either strengthen or reduce stigmatising attitudes towards people with mental illness, in general. We examine the role of depicting social support for exemplars with mental illness (i.e., depression), exemplars’ age and sex as well as characteristics of the potential stigmatisers (e.g., sex, relationship status) in generalised stigma-related attitudes towards people with mental illness. A 2 × 2 × 2 online survey experiment with 854 participants was conducted. Univariate ANOVAs yielded main effects and complex interaction patterns of participants’ sex and relationship status, as well as combinations of exemplar characteristics. Overall, our results confirm the influence that single-case descriptions can have upon generalised stigma-related attitudes towards people with mental illness. They underline the potential of depicting social support for exemplars with mental illness as well as the consideration of potential stigmatisers’ sex and relationship status for (de-)stigmatisation and give starting points for future research in the field of health and anti-stigma-communication.

scholarly journals Too Much of a Good Thing? Exercise Dependence in Endurance Athletes: Relationships with Personal and Social Resources

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 2966
Author(s):  
Zsuzsanna Zimanyi ◽  
Wanja Wolff ◽  
Julia Schüler
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Large Body ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Personal Resources ◽  
Exercise Dependence ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Personal Traits ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Support Resources

(1) Background: A large body of research has examined the positive effects of physical activity on physical and mental health. However, for some, excessive exercise can develop into an addiction that is detrimental to their health. In the present study, we examine potential personal (self-control, self-concordance) and social (social support) resources that we assume to be related to exercise dependence. (2) Methods: One hundred and forty athletes from different endurance sports participated in an online survey. Exercise dependence, self-control, self-concordance, and social support were assessed using questionnaires that are well-established in health and sport psychology. Additionally, further sport-relevant and demographic variables were assessed. (3) Results: Correlational analyses supported our hypotheses that exercise dependence is negatively correlated with the personal resources trait, state self-control, and self-concordance. Social support, however, was not significantly correlated with exercise dependence. Furthermore, the results of a mediation analysis revealed that the relationship between both personal traits (self-control, self-concordance) and exercise dependence was mediated by state self-control. (4) Conclusions: Our results indicate that trait self-control and self-concordance might be important personal resources that protect against exercise dependence by making state self-control available.

54 Interventions and support for people bereaved through advanced progressive illness: a mixed-methods systematic review

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 380.2-381 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fiona Morgan ◽  
Hannah Scott ◽  
Mirella Longo ◽  
Anthony Byrne ◽  
Jim Fitzgibbon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Palliative Care ◽  
Evaluation Studies ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
List Type ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Qualitative Evidence ◽  
Randomised Controlled ◽  
Bereavement Care

BackgroundPalliative care has an important role to play in addressing the bereavement needs of families. A small number of systematic reviews of bereavement interventions are available1 2 but these have typically been restricted to evidence from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and provide little information on support specifically provided in palliative care settings.AimThis mixed method review identifies interventions and services providing bereavement support for adults bereaved through advanced progressive illness and looks at both the quantitative and qualitative evidence for their effectiveness and utility.MethodsKey databases were searched for papers published between 1990 and 2016. Supplementary searches were also conducted. The review includes studies conducted in the UK or comparable countries reporting evaluations of interventions or services delivered to adults bereaved through advanced progressive illness. Study quality was assessed using appropriate checklists.ResultsThirty-nine studies met the inclusion criteria for the review including seven RCTs. Evidence from the trials reported improvements in a range of physical and mental health outcomes. However the studies were generally of poor quality with heterogenous populations and outcomes. Evidence from qualitative studies identified a number of positive impacts for service users including facilitating loss and grief resolution restoration and moving on acquisition of coping strategies and social support.ConclusionsWhilst the qualitative evidence suggests important benefits of bereavement care for service users this is not matched by strong trial-based evidence. Conclusions that may be drawn on effectiveness are therefore limited by lack of rigorous evaluation studies conducted in this area.References. Forte AL, Hill M, Pazder R, Feudtner C. Bereavement care interventions: A systematic review. BMC Palliative Care2004;3(1).. Currier J, Neimeyer R, Berman J. The effectiveness of psychotherapeutic interventions for bereaved persons: A comprehensive quantitative review. Psychological Bulletin2008;134(5):648–661.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document