Patient-Clinician Communication Issues in Palliative Care for Patients With Advanced Cancer

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (9) ◽  
pp. 866-876 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony L. Back
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
Advanced Cancer ◽  
Symptom Control ◽  
Patient Trust ◽  
Patient Centered ◽  
Current State ◽  
Quality Of Medical Care ◽  
Clinician Communication

The delivery of palliative care to patients with advanced cancer and their families, whether done by oncology clinicians or palliative care clinicians, requires patient-centered communication. Excellent communication can introduce patients and families to palliative care in a nonthreatening way, build patient trust, enable symptom control, strengthen coping, and guide decision making. This review covers deficiencies in the current state of communication, patient preferences for communication about palliative care topics, best practices for communication, and the roles of education and system intervention. Communication is a two-way, relational process that is influenced by context, culture, words, and gestures, and it is one of the most important ways that clinicians influence the quality of medical care that patients and their families receive.

scholarly journals Evaluation of the Quality of Dying and Death Questionnaire in Kenya

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Kenneth Mah ◽  
Richard A. Powell ◽  
Carmine Malfitano ◽  
Nancy Gikaara ◽  
Lesley Chalklin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Advanced Cancer ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Treatment Preferences ◽  
Culturally Appropriate ◽  
Patient Centered ◽  
P Values ◽  
Quality Of Dying ◽  
Cancer Sample

PURPOSE A culturally appropriate, patient-centered measure of the quality of dying and death is needed to advance palliative care in Africa. We therefore evaluated the Quality of Dying and Death Questionnaire (QODD) in a Kenyan hospice sample and compared item ratings with those from a Canadian advanced-cancer sample. METHODS Caregivers of deceased patients from three Kenyan hospices completed the QODD. Their QODD item ratings were compared with those from 602 caregivers of deceased patients with advanced cancer in Ontario, Canada, and were correlated with overall quality of dying and death ratings. RESULTS Compared with the Ontario sample, outcomes in the Kenyan sample (N = 127; mean age, 48.21 years; standard deviation, 13.57 years) were worse on 14 QODD concerns and on overall quality of dying and death ( P values ≤ .001) but better on five concerns, including interpersonal and religious/spiritual concerns ( P values ≤ .005). Overall quality of dying was associated with better patient experiences with Symptoms and Personal Care, interpersonal, and religious/spiritual concerns ( P values < .01). Preparation for Death, Treatment Preferences, and Moment of Death items showed the most omitted ratings. CONCLUSION The quality of dying and death in Kenya is worse than in a setting with greater PC access, except in interpersonal and religious/spiritual domains. Cultural differences in perceptions of a good death and the acceptability of death-related discussions may affect ratings on the QODD. This measure requires revision and validation for use in African settings, but evidence from such patient-centered assessment tools can advance palliative care in this region.

scholarly journals Clinical research in cancer palliative care: a metaresearch analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 249-258
Author(s):  
Marie Vinches ◽  
Anouk Neven ◽  
Laurène Fenwarth ◽  
Mitsumi Terada ◽  
Giovanna Rossi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Palliative Care ◽  
Clinical Research ◽  
Advanced Cancer ◽  
Cancer Care ◽  
Symptom Control ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
Heterogeneous Landscape ◽  
Research Domains

ObjectiveThis metaresearch of the clinicaltrials.gov database aims to evaluate how clinical research on palliative care is conducted within the setting of advanced cancer.MethodsClinicaltrials.gov was searched to identify registered studies recruiting patients with cancer, and investigating issues relevant to palliative care. The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C15-PAL (Quality of Life in palliative cancer care patients) questionnaire was taken into account to define the research domains of interest. Studies investigating cancer-directed therapy, management of cancer treatment-related adverse events and diagnostic tests were excluded. Publication status was crosschecked using PubMed.ResultsOf 3950 identified studies, 514 were included. The most frequent reason for exclusion was cancer-directed therapy (2491). In 2007–2012, 161 studies were registered versus 245 in 2013–2018. Included studies were interventional (84%) or observational (16%). Most studies were monocentric (60%), sponsored by academia (79%), and conducted in North America (57%) or Europe (25%). Seventy-nine per cent of studies evaluated a heterogeneous population (>1 tumour type). Interventional studies most frequently investigated systemic drugs (34%), behavioural interventions (29%) and procedures for pain (24%). Pain, quality of life and physical function were the most frequently studied research domains (188, 95 and 52 studies, respectively). The most applied primary outcome measures were efficacy/symptom control (61%), quality of life (14%) and feasibility (12%). Only 16% of the closed studies had published results in PubMed.ConclusionsOur study describes the heterogeneous landscape of studies conducted to address the issues of patients with advanced cancer in palliative care. Albeit the observed increase in the number of studies over the last decade, the generalisation of the results brought by the existing trials is limited due to methodological issues and lack of reporting. A greater effort is needed to improve clinical research that supports evidence-based palliative cancer care.

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING OF ELECTRONICS ENGINEERS: APPLYING US EXPERICENCE TO UKRAINAN HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

2020 ◽  
pp. 80-85
Author(s):  
Olha Pavlenko
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Education Research ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
Cost Reduction ◽  
Professional Training ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Research And Innovation ◽  
Current State

The article discusses the current state of professional training of engineers, in particular, electronics engineers in Ukrainian higher education institutions (HEIs) and explores best practices from US HEIs. The research outlines the features of professional training of electronics engineers and recent changes in Ukrainian HEIs. Such challenges for Ukrainian HEIs as lack of collaboration between higher education and science with industry, R&D cost reduction for HEIs, and downsizing the research and academic staff, the disparity between the available quality of human capital training and the demanded are addressed. The study attempts to identify successful practices of US HEIs professional training of engineers in order to suggest potential improvements in education, research, and innovation for training electronics engineers in Ukraine.

Palliative care referral practices and perceptions: The divide between metropolitan and non-metropolitan general practitioners

2011 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 181-189 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire E. Johnson ◽  
Afaf Girgis ◽  
Christine L. Paul ◽  
David C. Currow
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
General Practitioners ◽  
Advanced Cancer ◽  
Terminal Illness ◽  
Symptom Control ◽  
Physical Symptoms ◽  
Care Physician ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Psychosocial Needs ◽  
Consultative Service

AbstractObjective:Late or non-referral of patients to specialist palliative care (SPC) services may affect patients' and their carers' quality of care. General practitioners (GPs) are key professionals in linking people with SPC. The aim of this article is to assess GPs' perceptions and SPC referrals for their patients with advanced cancer and differences between metropolitan (M GPs) and non-metropolitan GPs (NM GPs).Method:Self-report survey mailed to a stratified random sample of 1,680 Australian GPs was used.Results:Thirty-one percent (469) of eligible GPs returned surveys. More M GPs than NM GPs reported referring >60% of their patients for SPC (p = 0.014); and that a more comprehensive range of SPC services was available. The most frequently reported referral prompts were: presence of terminal illness (M GPs, 71%, NM GPs, 66%, ns (not significant)); future need for symptom control (69% vs. 59%, ns) and uncontrolled physical symptoms (63% vs. 54%, ns). Reasons for not referring were: doctor's ability to manage symptoms (62% vs. 68%, ns) and the absence of symptoms (29% vs. 18%, p = 0.025). Higher referral was associated with: having a palliative care physician or consultative service available; agreeing that all patients with advanced cancer should be referred, and agreeing that with SPC, the needs of the family are better met.Significance of results:Referrals for SPC were primarily disease-related rather than for psychological and emotional concerns. Measures are needed to encourage referrals based upon psychosocial needs as well as for physical concerns, and to support GPs caring for people with advanced cancer in areas with fewer comprehensive SPC services.

scholarly journals Healing at the End of Life: The Voice of the Patient

2014 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cory Ingram
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Palliative Care ◽  
Lived Experience ◽  
End Of Life ◽  
Life Story ◽  
Patient Centered ◽  
Whole Person ◽  
Centered Care ◽  
The Impact

In palliative care we have the privilege to care for seriously ill people and their families. Some people value capturing their life story or illness journey on film. I have been fortunate to have been invited into the lives of many people close the end of life for a heartfelt conversation.On an interactive iPad incorporated in the poster, the recorded narrative of patients and one bereft spouse the poster audience will experience the lived experience of people close to the end of life as they reflect on their lives. The narratives will demonstrate how each lived with a new found improved quality of life in the face of increasing symptoms, declining functioning and the approaching end of life; otherwise known as healing. Topics of healing and quality of life, patient-centered care, dignity, human development, spirituality and love will be the focus of their stories. The stories lay bare the very practical, emotional, existential, and personal experience central to our provision of whole person care through palliative care. The poster audience will experience a renewed sense of the impact of a dedicated approach to whole person care as experienced through those on the receiving end.

scholarly journals Shifting Palliative Care Paradigm in Primary Care From Better Death to Better End-of-Life : A Swiss Pilot Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johanna Sommer ◽  
Christopher Chung ◽  
Dagmar M. Haller ◽  
Sophie Pautex
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Palliative Care ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
End Of Life ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Advanced Cancer ◽  
Communication Skills ◽  
Advanced Cancer Patients

Abstract Background: Patients suffering from advanced cancer often loose contact with their primary care physician (PCP) during oncologic treatment and palliative care is introduced very late.The aim of this pilot study was to test the feasibility and procedures for a randomized trial of an intervention to teach PCPs a palliative care approach and communication skills to improve advanced cancer patients’ quality of life. Methods: Observational pilot study in 5 steps. 1) Recruitment of PCPs. 2) Intervention: training on palliative care competencies and communication skills addressing end-of-life issues.3) Recruitment of advanced cancer patients by PCPs. 4) Patients follow-up by PCPs, and assessment of their quality of life by a research assistant 5) Feedback from PCPs using a semi-structured focus group and three individual interviews with qualitative deductive theme analysis.Results: 8 PCPs were trained. PCPs failed to recruit patients for fear of imposing additional loads on their patients. PCPs changed their approach of advanced cancer patients. They became more conscious of their role and responsibility during oncologic treatments and felt empowered to take a more active role picking up patient’s cues and addressing advance directives. They developed interprofessional collaborations for advance care planning. Overall, they discovered the role to help patients to make decisions for a better end-of-life.Conclusions: PCPs failed to recruit advanced cancer patients, but reported a change in paradigm about palliative care. They moved from a focus on helping patients to die better, to a new role helping patients to define the conditions for a better end-of-life.Trial registration : The ethics committee of the canton of Geneva approved the study (2018-00077 Pilot Study) in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki

Implementing a patient-centred outcome measure in daily routine in a specialist palliative care inpatient hospital unit: An observational study

2016 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 275-282 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alze Pereira dos Santos Tavares ◽  
Carolina Paparelli ◽  
Carolina Sassaki Kishimoto ◽  
Silvia Avo Cortizo ◽  
Karen Ebina ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Quality Of Care ◽  
Missing Data ◽  
Outcome Measure ◽  
Symptom Control ◽  
Daily Practice ◽  
Daily Routine ◽  
Palliative Care Outcome Scale ◽  
Care Outcome

Background: Gathering clinical evidence data on patients’ palliative care needs is paramount to identify changes in outcomes over time and maintaining on-going quality improvement. Implementation of patient-centred outcome measures has been widely recommended. The routine use of these instruments in daily practice is challenging and not widespread. Aim: To implement a patient-centred outcome measure in daily practice and fulfil one quality indicator: improve pain during the 72 h after admission, in at least 75% of patients. Design: An observational prospective study. The Palliative care Outcome Scale was used at admission (T0), third day (T1) and weekly. Setting/participants: Hospital palliative care unit with 17 individual rooms. All patients admitted to the unit were included in the study. Results: Preliminary results ( N = 84) revealed inconsistent and missing data (14%). Symptoms were sub-optimally controlled by T1. Processes changed, and only a team member could apply Palliative care Outcome Scale. Doctors were encouraged to grasp the meaning of Palliative care Outcome Scale results for each patient. The post-pilot included 317 patients. No missing data occurred. There was an improvement in most items between T0 and T1: ‘pain’ and ‘other symptoms’ presented statistical significant differences ( p < 0.05). Conclusion: Implementing a patient-centred outcome measure in a hospital palliative care service is feasible and improves quality of care. Controlling high pain at T0 improved (>80%) by T1. Results became more consistent and symptom control was improved overall. Patients are evaluated based on holistic domains by an interdisciplinary team and we have added a much needed measure to help guide improvement of the quality of care provided.

Financial Hardship and Quality of Life Among Patients With Advanced Cancer Receiving Outpatient Palliative Care

2021 ◽  
Vol Publish Ahead of Print ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah M. Belcher ◽  
Haerim Lee ◽  
Janet Nguyen ◽  
Kimberly Curseen ◽  
Ashima Lal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Palliative Care ◽  
Advanced Cancer ◽  
Financial Hardship

Active Medical Management Without Dialysis for Patients With Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease

2020 ◽  
pp. 136-147
Author(s):  
Kelly Li ◽  
Mark Brown
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Kidney Disease ◽  
Kidney Disease ◽  
Medical Management ◽  
Symptom Management ◽  
Symptom Control ◽  
Shared Decision ◽  
Patient Centered ◽  
Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease ◽  
Centered Care

This chapter outlines the management of patients with advanced chronic kidney disease for whom dialysis may not be beneficial or desired. Active medical management without dialysis should be offered to patients through a shared-decision making process as a viable alternative to dialysis. This is important as patients and families wish to consider not only survival, but also symptom control and QoL in their decision to pursue a dialysis or nondialysis pathway. A multidisciplinary team delivering good quality, active, and patient-centered care that combines chronic kidney disease management with the principles of palliative care can help patients achieve good symptom management and quality of life. Active and early planning for the end-of-life phase facilitates appropriate care for patients in acute and/or unexpected deterioration and helps achieve patient and family goals.

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