Effects of VA Facility Dog on Hospitalized Veterans Seen by a Palliative Care Psychologist: An Innovative Approach to Impacting Stress Indicators

2016 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheryl A. Krause-Parello ◽  
Cari Levy ◽  
Elizabeth Holman ◽  
John E. Kolassa
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Care Service ◽  
Palliative Care Service ◽  
The United States ◽  
Clinical Psychologist ◽  
Stress Indicators ◽  
Therapy Dog ◽  
Time Period ◽  
And Control ◽  
Animal Assisted Intervention

The United States is home to 23 million veterans. In many instances, veterans with serious illness who seek healthcare at the VA receive care from a palliative care service. Animal-assisted intervention (AAI) is gaining attention as a therapeutic stress reducing modality; however, its effects have not been well studied in veterans receiving palliative care in an acute care setting. A crossover repeated-measures study was conducted to examine the effects of an animal-assisted intervention (AAI) in the form of a therapy dog on stress indicators in 25 veterans on the palliative care service at the VA Eastern Colorado Healthcare System in Denver, CO. Veterans had a visit from a therapy dog and the dog’s handler, a clinical psychologist (experimental condition) and an unstructured visit with the clinical psychologist alone (control condition). Blood pressure, heart rate, and the salivary biomarkers cortisol, alpha-amylase, and immunoglobulin A were collected before, after, and 30-minutes after both the experimental and control conditions. Significant decreases in cortisol were found when the before time period was compared to the 30-minutes after time period for both the experimental ( p = 0.007) and control condition ( p = 0.036). A significant decrease in HR was also found when the before time period was compared to the 30-minutes after time period for both the experimental ( p = 0.0046) and control ( p = 0.0119) condition. Results of this study supported that a VA facility dog paired with a palliative care psychologist had a measurable impact on salivary cortisol levels and HR in veterans.

scholarly journals Evidence-Based Practice: Community-Based Palliative Cancer Care

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jajang Ganjar Waluya ◽  
Nur Maziyya ◽  
Eva Nurlaela ◽  
Ita Vusfita ◽  
Ihda Al Adawiyah Mz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Cancer Care ◽  
Evidence Based Practice ◽  
Care Service ◽  
Palliative Care Service ◽  
The United States ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Middle East Countries

Prevalence of  cancer is estimated will increase in the next two decades. Therefore, there is a challenge for health provider to encounter treatment and caring for the patients. Especially, the cancer patients face several problems not only physical but also psychological, emotional, spiritual and social cultural aspects.This study explored the evidence-based practice on community-based palliative cancer care. Literature study is done by making a summary of published articles related to the question. The searching method used several electronic databases such as Google Scholar, Proquest, and PubMed. Articles under the keywords of “Palliative Cancer Care”, “Community”, and “Nursing” reach as much as 1.804. The inclusion criteria for this literature review were articles that have been peer-reviewed, are in full-text, in either English or Indonesian, and publication year from 2008 to 2018. Meanwhile, the exclusion criteria include those that do not follow a standardized structure of an article (consisting of Abstract, Introduction, Method, Result, Discussion, Implication, and Reference), are in the form of a review, and whose content does not answer research questions.Results: The United States of America is on the highest place regarding palliative care service, following by community-based palliative cancer implementation in Europe. Asian countries had been applying palliative care service, integrated with national health care system. In the Middle East countries, palliative care program ranks the lowest, but in implementation, they have discreetly performed community-based palliative care. In Africa, it is not the main focus in the field of health. Palliative care for cancer patients that is potential for development in Indonesia is that of family-based.Conclusion: Community-based palliative care is a variant of palliative treatment long applied and being developed in many countries in the world. In continents such as America and Europe, the implementation of palliative care ranks the highest place. In Indonesia, it is done partially and only available in hospitals or non-governmental organization. In the level of community, family-based palliative care can be developed by involving trained family members.

Palliative care and palliative radiotherapy education in radiation oncology: A survey of US radiation oncology program directors.

2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (26_suppl) ◽  
pp. 178-178
Author(s):  
Randy Wei ◽  
Lauren Colbert ◽  
Joshua Adam Jones ◽  
Gabrielle Kane ◽  
Margarita Racsa-Alamgir ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Radiation Oncology ◽  
Care Service ◽  
Palliative Care Service ◽  
Program Directors ◽  
The United States ◽  
Residency Programs ◽  
Care Education ◽  
Palliative Care Education ◽  
Residency Program Directors

178 Background: To assess the state of palliative care education curricula in radiation oncology residency programs in the United States. Methods: We surveyed 90 program directors of radiation oncology residency programs in the United States from September 2015 to November 2015. An electronic survey on palliative care education during residency was sent to all program directors. The survey consisted of questions on perceived relevance of palliative care in radiation oncology residency, formal didactics on domains of palliative care, effective teaching formats for palliative care education, and perceived barriers for integrating palliative care into the residency curriculum. Results: Sixty-three percent (57/90) residency program directors completed the survey. Most (93%) program directors agree or strongly agree that palliative care is an important competency for radiation oncologists. A vast majority (90%) of programs have dedicated palliative care services; however, only 57% of programs offer residents an opportunity to spend elective time on a palliative care service. Of these programs, only 30% reported residents rotating on a palliative care service in the past two years. Furthermore, 67% of residency programs have formal educational activities in principles and practice of palliative care. The palliative care curriculum included faculty-led lectures (73%), resident-led lectures (42%), and seminars (22%). Most programs have one or more hours of formal didactics on management of pain (66%), management of neuropathic pain (64%), and management of nausea and vomiting (64%). 35%, 46%, and 48% programs had one or more hours of management of non-physical symptoms including fatigue, anorexia, and anxiety, respectively. Conclusions: Residency program directors believe that palliative care is an important competency for their trainees. The survey revealed that many programs have structured curricula on PSC and palliative radiation education, but that there are still areas for improvement.

scholarly journals Telehealth: rapid adoption in community palliative care due to COVID-19: patient and professional evaluation

2021 ◽  
pp. bmjspcare-2021-002987
Author(s):  
Peter Eastman ◽  
Anna Dowd ◽  
Jacqui White ◽  
Jill Carter ◽  
Matthew Ely
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Care Service ◽  
Sudden Change ◽  
Palliative Care Service ◽  
Model Of Care ◽  
Service Model ◽  
Face Model ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Professional Evaluation

Background/objectiveThe COVID-19 pandemic has brought the use of telehealth to the fore, as many people have been unable to interact directly with healthcare professionals (HCP). For community palliative care (CPC) services, this has meant a sudden change from a predominantly face-to-face model of care to one that incorporates telehealth. Understanding patient and HCP experiences with telehealth and how telehealth compares to ‘usual’ care will be crucial in planning future CPC services.MethodologyAll patients of the Barwon Health CPC service between 1 April and 31 May 2020 were invited to complete a questionnaire evaluating their interactions with the palliative care service and specifically their involvement with telehealth consultations. Palliative care HCP who provided clinical services during the same time period were also surveyed.Results/conclusionSeventy-four patients (response rate 36%) and 22 HCP returned surveys. Both groups felt comfortable using telehealth, however, also encountered a range of issues when undertaking telehealth consultations. Despite reporting issues, the preference of both groups was for a CPC service model, which combined face-to-face and telehealth consultations. This study is one of the first to directly ask this question and as such provides useful guidance for health services when planning future CPC service models.

scholarly journals Delivering Pediatric Palliative Care: From Denial, Palliphobia, Pallilalia to Palliactive

Children ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (9) ◽  
pp. 120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Friedrichsdorf ◽  
Eduardo Bruera
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Care Service ◽  
Symptom Control ◽  
Palliative Care Service ◽  
The United States ◽  
Pediatric Palliative Care ◽  
Emotional Impact ◽  
Optimal Care ◽  
Comfort Care ◽  
Serious Illness

Among the over 21 million children with life-limiting conditions worldwide that would benefit annually from a pediatric palliative care (PPC) approach, more than eight million would need specialized PPC services. In the United States alone, more than 42,000 children die every year, half of them infants younger than one year. Advanced interdisciplinary pediatric palliative care for children with serious illnesses is now an expected standard of pediatric medicine. Unfortunately, in many institutions there remain significant barriers to achieving optimal care related to lack of formal education, reimbursement issues, the emotional impact of caring for a dying child, and most importantly, the lack of interdisciplinary PPC teams with sufficient staffing and funding. Data reveals the majority of distressing symptoms in children with serious illness (such as pain, dyspnea and nausea/vomiting) were not addressed during their end-of-life period, and when treated, therapy was commonly ineffective. Whenever possible, treatment should focus on continued efforts to control the underlying illness. At the same time, children and their families should have access to interdisciplinary care aimed at promoting optimal physical, psychological and spiritual wellbeing. Persistent myths and misconceptions have led to inadequate symptom control in children with life-limiting diseases. Pediatric Palliative Care advocates the provision of comfort care, pain, and symptom management concurrently with disease-directed treatments. Families no longer have to opt for one over the other. They can pursue both, and include integrative care to maximize the child’s quality of life. Since most of the sickest children with serious illness are being taken care of in a hospital, every children’s hospital is now expected to offer an interdisciplinary palliative care service as the standard of care. This article addresses common myths and misconceptions which may pose clinical obstacles to effective PPC delivery and discusses the four typical stages of pediatric palliative care program implementation.

scholarly journals 77 National Audit of Care At the End of Life (NACEL)—Round Two Findings

2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. i12-i42
Author(s):  
D Hibbert
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
End Of Life ◽  
Care Service ◽  
Palliative Care Service ◽  
Care Plan ◽  
Specialist Palliative Care ◽  
Experience Of Care ◽  
Outcomes Of Care ◽  
Specialist Palliative Care Service ◽  
The Right

Abstract   NACEL is a national comparative audit of the quality and outcomes of care experienced by the dying person and those important to them during the final admission in acute and community hospitals in England and Wales. Mental health inpatient providers participated in the first round but excluded from the second round. NACEL round two, undertaken during 2019/20, comprised: Data was collected between June and October 2019. 175 trusts in England and 8 Welsh organisations took part in at least one element of NACEL (97% of eligible organisations). Key findings include Recognising the possibility of imminent death: The possibility that the patient may die was documented in 88% of cases. The median time from recognition of dying to death was 41 hours (36 hours in the first round). Individual plan of care: 71% of patients, where it had been recognised that the patient was dying (Category 1 deaths), had an individualised end of life care plan. Of the patients who did not have an individualised plan of care, in 45% of these cases, the time from recognition of dying to death was more than 24 hours. Families’ and others’ experience of care: 80% of Quality Survey respondents rated the quality of care delivered to the patient as outstanding/excellent/good and 75% rated the care provided to families/others as outstanding/excellent/good. However, one-fifth of responses reported that the families’/others’ needs were not asked about. Individual plan of care: 80% of Quality Survey respondents believed that hospital was the “right” place to die; however, 20% reported there was a lack of peace and privacy. Workforce Most hospitals (99%) have access to a specialist palliative care service. 36% of hospitals have a face-to-face specialist palliative care service (doctor and/or nurse) available 8 hours a day, 7 days a week. NACEL round three will start in 2021.

scholarly journals The association between ethnicity, socioeconomic deprivation and receipt of hospital-based palliative care for people with Covid-19: A dual centre service evaluation

2021 ◽  
pp. 026921632110229
Author(s):  
Sabrina Bajwah ◽  
Polly Edmonds ◽  
Emel Yorganci ◽  
Rosemary Chester ◽  
Kirsty Russell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Ethnic Minority ◽  
Primary Outcome ◽  
Minority Groups ◽  
Care Service ◽  
Palliative Care Service ◽  
Service Evaluation ◽  
Socioeconomic Deprivation ◽  
Black British ◽  
Multivariable Regression

Background: People from ethnic minority groups and deprived socioeconomic backgrounds have worse outcomes from COVID-19. Aim: To examine associations between ethnicity and deprivation with timing of palliative care referral for inpatients with COVID-19. Design: Service evaluation of consecutive patients with COVID-19 referred to palliative care. Sociodemographic (including age, sex, Index of Multiple Deprivation, ethnicity coded as White/non-White) and clinical variables were described. The primary outcome was timing of referral to palliative care. Associations between ethnicity and socioeconomic deprivation with the primary outcome were explored using multivariable regression. Setting/participants: Patients with COVID-19 referred to a hospital palliative care service across two London hospitals February–May 2020. Results: A total of 334 patients were included. 119 (36%) were from a non-White ethnic group; most commonly Black British (77, 23%) and Asian British (26, 8%). A longer time between admission and palliative care referral was associated with male gender (IRR 1.23, 95% CI 1.14–1.34) and lower levels of socioeconomic deprivation (IRR 1.61, 95% CI 1.36–1.90) but not ethnicity (IRR = 0.96, 95% CI 0.87–1.06). Conclusions: This large service evaluation showed no evidence that patients from ethnic minority or more deprived socioeconomic groups had longer time to palliative care referral. Ongoing data monitoring is essential for equitable service delivery.

scholarly journals Use of Alfentanil in Palliative Care

Pharmacy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 240
Author(s):  
José António Ferraz Gonçalves ◽  
Filipa Sousa ◽  
Lucy Alves ◽  
Patrícia Liu ◽  
Sara Coelho
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Palliative Care ◽  
Retrospective Study ◽  
Pain Relief ◽  
Renal Impairment ◽  
Care Service ◽  
Palliative Care Service ◽  
Median Number ◽  
Second Line ◽  
Induction Of Tolerance

Alfentanil is used for chronic pain relief in palliative care. However, there is a dearth of data on its use. For this reason, a decision was made to review the use of alfentanil in palliative care. Retrospective study was carried out in a palliative care service. The files of patients who received alfentanil as an intravenous or subcutaneous continuous infusion for pain relief, between January 2018 and April 2019. In total, 111 patients received alfentanil out of 113 admissions. Of them, 56 were male, and the median age was 70 years. The median number of days on alfentanil was 6 (range 1 to 129). The most frequent primary reasons for switching to alfentanil was uncontrolled pain in 52 (46%) patients and renal impairment in 24 (21%) patients. The median 24-h initial dose of alfentanil was 4 mg (1–20), and the median final 24-h dose of alfentanil was 5 mg (1–60), (p < 0.001). The initial 24-h median number of rescue doses was 2 (0–8), and the final median number of rescue doses was 1 (0 to 8), (p = 0.025). In 56 patients who were on alfentanil for at least 7 days, the dose decreased in 3 (5%), remained stable in 10 (18%) and increased in 43 (77%). The patient on alfentanil for 129 days maintained the same dose throughout that period. Alfentanil can be a useful second-line opioid. The induction of tolerance does not seem to be particularly rapid with alfentanil.

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