scholarly journals Assessment of Palliative Care Needs in Hospital Settings in Rwanda

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement 2) ◽  
pp. 111s-111s
Author(s):  
D. Mukasahaha ◽  
F. Uwinkindi ◽  
L. Grant ◽  
J. Downing ◽  
J. Turyahikayo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Performance Status ◽  
Unmet Need ◽  
Public Hospitals ◽  
Training Methods ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Hiv Symptoms ◽  
And Training

Background: Rwanda is among the first African countries with a palliative care (PC) policy and implementation plan. A partnership with the Ministry of Health (MoH) through the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) and the University of Edinburgh has supported an integrated approach including expanding the evidence base. Aim: To assessing the need for (PC) to inform policy, service delivery and training. Methods: A point prevalence PC needs assessment was conducted in nine public hospitals (referral, provincial and district). A records census identified those with life-limiting illness (LLI) who were then invited to participate by interview. The assessment tool included the APCA African POS, POS S, WHO performance status and demographic information. Results: 608 case notes were reviewed, 152 eligible and 124 completed assessment. 25% of all patients admitted had LLI, of which 99.2% had evidence of unmet need determined by at least one score on the APCA POS ≥ 3. Diagnoses 29% cancer, 29% cardiovascular disease, 16.9% end-stage organ failure and 13.7% HIV. Symptoms with greatest impact; nausea and vomiting (34.7%) and pain (32.3%). 63.7% with WHO performance status 4 or 5. 8.1% seen by existing PC services. Conclusion: Although the MoH and RBC are making bold steps toward developing PC in Rwanda, there remains a significant amount of unmet PC needs. Meeting this need requires recognition of the scope of PC needs beyond cancer, feedback to the hospitals and health care workers, thinking strategically how to further strengthen the health system and further capacity building and training.

scholarly journals Disparities in access to palliative care facilities for patients with and without cancer: A retrospective review

2021 ◽  
pp. 026921632110073
Author(s):  
Christine Lau ◽  
Christopher Meaney ◽  
Matthew Morgan ◽  
Rose Cook ◽  
Camilla Zimmermann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
End Of Life ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Performance Status ◽  
Retrospective Chart Review ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Care Facilities ◽  
Palliative Care Services ◽  
Low Performance ◽  
Electronic Referral

Background: To date, little is known about the characteristics of patients who are admitted to a palliative care bed for end-of-life care. Previous data suggest that there are disparities in access to palliative care services based on age, sex, diagnosis, and socioeconomic status, but it is unclear whether these differences impact access to a palliative care bed. Aim: To better identify patient factors associated with the likelihood/rate of admission to a palliative care bed. Design: A retrospective chart review of all initiated palliative care bed applications through an electronic referral program was conducted over a 24-month period. Setting/participants: Patients who apply and are admitted to a palliative care bed in a Canadian metropolitan city. Results: A total of 2743 patients made a total of 5202 bed applications to 9 hospice/palliative care units in 2015–2016. Referred and admitted cancer patients were younger, male, and more functional than compared to non-cancer patients (all p < 0.001). Referred and admitted patients without cancer were more advanced in their illness trajectory, with an anticipated prognosis <1 month and Palliative Performance Status of 10%–20% (all p < 0.001). On multivariate analysis, a diagnosis of cancer and a prognosis of <3 months were associated with increased likelihood and/or rate of admission to a bed, whereas the presence of care needs, a longer prognosis and a PPS of 30%–40% were associated with decreased rates and/or likelihood of admission. Conclusion: Patients without cancer have reduced access to palliative care facilities at end-of-life compared to patients with cancer; at the time of their application and admission, they are “sicker” with very low performance status and poorer prognoses. Further studies investigating disease-specific clinical variables and support requirements may provide more insights into these observed disparities.

Current Research Status of Palliative Care in Mainland China

2018 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 215-241 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tao Wang ◽  
Alex Molassiotis ◽  
Betty Pui Man Chung ◽  
Jing-Yu Tan
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Palliative Care ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Mainland China ◽  
Education And Training ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Research Status ◽  
Palliative Care Services ◽  
And Training

Objectives: This study aimed to obtain an overview of the current research status of palliative care in Mainland China and identify research directions for future studies by characterizing palliative care studies conducted among patients with any life-limiting illness in Mainland China and published in a peer-reviewed journal before November 2016. Methods: A review guide with 7 categories was initially developed based on existing international palliative care definitions and guidelines through content analysis. Ten databases were used to identify relevant studies from the inception of online cataloging to November 2016. Studies conducted in Mainland China and their research topic that fell within one of the categories of the review guide were included for further analysis. Descriptive analysis was adopted to summarize the relevant findings. Results: 54 studies found to be relevant were included for the analysis. Three studies on “palliative care education and training” (category 1) asserted that education and training programs were scant in Mainland China and that only 1 program had been devised within the health-care context of Shanghai. Five studies on “palliative care screening and timely identification” (category 2) highlighted the absence of early screening criteria or checklists and referral procedures for palliative care. Thirty-one studies on “palliative care needs assessment (n = 12/31) and implementation (n = 19/31)” (category 3) were identified, and various methodological flaws were observed in most of these included studies. Twelve studies on “advanced decision-making” (category 4) were identified, all of which focused on investigating the attitudes of patients with cancer, their families, and/or health-care professionals toward advanced decision-making only. The percentage of patients, family members, and health-care professionals who held positive attitudes toward advanced decision-making were varied and suboptimal, particularly for family members (51.4%-58.0%). Five studies on “caring for patients at the end of life” (category 5) were identified, and the experience of health-care professionals in caring for those patients was explored. No studies relating to “death and bereavement care” (Category 6) and “psychological support for palliative care providers” (Category 7) were identified. Conclusion: The current research status of palliative care in Mainland China remains at an early stage with minimal palliative care services used. Although several knowledge gaps were identified, the first step, which should be addressed, is assessing the palliative care needs. An appropriate and ongoing needs assessment could provide important information for constructing comprehensive education and training programs of palliative care, identifying prognostic factors of timely palliative care referral, and developing evidence-based and tailored palliative care services.

scholarly journals Screening Patients With Cancer Admitted to Hanoi Medical University Hospital for Palliative Care Needs

2020 ◽  
pp. 1321-1327
Author(s):  
Quang V. Le ◽  
Huy L. Trinh ◽  
Kim Ngan T. Mai ◽  
Manh D. Pham ◽  
Paul A. Glare
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Screening Tool ◽  
Performance Status ◽  
Locally Advanced ◽  
Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Medical University

PURPOSE To evaluate a screening tool for identifying which patients admitted to the oncology ward of a Vietnamese hospital should be referred to specialist palliative care (PC). METHODS We performed a cross-sectional survey of consecutive patients hospitalized in the Department of Oncology and Palliative Care at Hanoi Medical University Hospital between June 2019 and September 2019. We translated a validated 11-item screening tool into Vietnamese and used a total score of ≥ 5 as a positive screen. RESULTS One hundred participants were recruited. Forty-four patients (44%) screened positive. Of these, 37 (84%) had locally advanced or metastatic disease, 31 (70%) had uncontrolled symptoms, and 43 (98%) requested a PC consultation. A score ≥ 5 was significantly more common in patients with stage IV disease versus earlier stage, performance status of Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) 2 versus ECOG 0, and when life-limiting complications of cancer were present. Screening identified four patients overlooked by oncologists as needing referral, and 34% of patients requesting a referral had scores < 5. CONCLUSION This screening tool provided oncologists with easy-to-use criteria for referring patients for PC. At the same time, it relieved the work load for under-resourced PC physicians by screening out requests with low-level need. This tool should be part of routine assessment on admission in all oncology units in Vietnam.

Using a supportive care framework to understand and improve palliative care among cancer patients in Africa

2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 284-301 ◽  
Author(s):  
David S. Busolo ◽  
Roberta L. Woodgate
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Supportive Care ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Research Education ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Incidence And Mortality ◽  
Palliative Care Services

ABSTRACTObjective:Cancer incidence and mortality are increasing in Africa, which is leading to greater demands for palliative care. There has been little progress in terms of research, pain management, and policies related to palliative care. Palliative care in Africa is scarce and scattered, with most African nations lacking the basic services. To address these needs, a guiding framework that identifies care needs and directs palliative care services could be utilized. Therefore, using the supportive care framework developed by Fitch (Fitch, 2009), we here review the literature on palliative care for patients diagnosed with cancer in Africa and make recommendations for improvement.Method:The PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, Web of Science, Embase, PsycINFO, Social Sciences Citation Index, and Medline databases were searched. Some 25 English articles on research from African countries published between 2004 and 2014 were selected and reviewed. The reviewed literature was analyzed and presented using the domains of the supportive care framework.Results:Palliative care patients with cancer in Africa, their families, and caregivers experience increasing psychological, physical, social, spiritual, emotional, informational, and practical needs. Care needs are often inadequately addressed because of a lack of awareness as well as deficient and scattered palliative care services and resources. In addition, there is sparse research, education, and policies that address the dire situation in palliative care.Significance of Results:Our review findings add to the existing body of knowledge demonstrating that palliative care patients with cancer in Africa experience disturbing care needs in all domains of the supportive care framework. To better assess and address these needs, holistic palliative care that is multidomain and multi-professional could be utilized. This approach needs to be individualized and to offer better access to services and information. In addition, research, education, and policies around palliative care for cancer patients in Africa could be more comprehensive if they were based on the domains of the supportive care framework.

scholarly journals Validation of a palliative care outcome measurement tool supplemented by neurological symptoms (HOPE+): Identification of palliative concerns of neurological patients

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (9) ◽  
pp. 1221-1231
Author(s):  
Kim Dillen ◽  
Markus Ebke ◽  
Andreas Koch ◽  
Ingrid Becker ◽  
Christoph Ostgathe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Diagnostic Accuracy ◽  
Discriminant Validity ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Outcome Measurement ◽  
Performance Status ◽  
Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group ◽  
Measurement Tool ◽  
Operating Characteristics ◽  
Neurological Patients

Background: There is growing interest to integrate palliative care and its structures into the care of neurological patients. However, in Germany there is no comprehensive assessment tool capturing the symptoms of patients with advanced neurological diseases. Aim: To validate a newly developed palliative care measurement tool based on an extension of the validated core documentation system Hospice and Palliative Care Evaluation considering additional neurological issues (HOPE+). Design: Prospective, observational study using HOPE+ and as external criteria, the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status and the 12 months “surprise” question (12-SQ) in a neurological population, and assessment for its construct validity and diagnostic accuracy. Setting/participants: All newly admitted patients to the Department of Neurorehabilitation, Dr. Becker Rhein-Sieg-Clinic aged 18–100 years (#DRKS00010947). Results: Data from 263 patients (63 ± 14 years of age) were analyzed. HOPE+ revealed a moderately correlated six-factor structure ( r = –0.543–0.525). Correlation analysis to evaluate discriminant validity using ECOG as external criterion was high ( rs(261) = 0.724, p < 0.001) and confirmed for severely affected patients by adding the 12-SQ (“No”-group: 48.00 ± 14.92 vs “Yes”-group: 18.67 ± 7.57, p < 0.009). Operating characteristics show satisfactory diagnostic accuracy (area under the curve: 0.746 ± 0.049, 95% confidence interval = 0.650–0.842). Conclusion: HOPE+ demonstrates promising psychometric properties. It helps to assess palliative care issues of patients in neurological settings and, in combination with the 12-SQ, conceivably conditions when to initiate the palliative care approach in a population underrepresented in palliative care structures so far.

Palliative care from cancer diagnosis for all: Memorial Sloan Kettering’s “One-Two-Three” program.

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (31_suppl) ◽  
pp. 111-111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew S. Epstein ◽  
Virginia M. Klimek ◽  
Kimberly Chow ◽  
Anjali V. Desai ◽  
Peter Justin Wan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Unmet Need ◽  
High Volume ◽  
Core Values ◽  
Oncology Nurses ◽  
Health Care Proxy ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Information Preferences ◽  
Communication Needs ◽  
Hospice Use

111 Background: Early, universal palliative care is an unmet need for cancer patients. Our new program aims to provide palliative care, by primary oncology teams with support from palliative care specialists, from diagnosis as an institutional standard. Methods: One-Two-Three is a structured program of assessment and response addressing palliative care needs regardless of cancer stage or prognosis starting with the first 3 visits after diagnosis. Assessments include patient physical/emotional/spiritual symptoms (10 symptoms, self-reported 0-10), communication needs (information preferences, illness understanding), and proactive care planning through exploration of core values. As first responders, oncology nurses are guided by “ready responses” in an empathic framework and coaching or direct patient consultation by palliative care specialists. Feasibility, acceptability, and impact on patient, caregiver, and utilization outcomes are evaluated quantitatively and qualitatively. Results: Assessments were piloted with 25 consecutive, newly-diagnosed patients in blood cancer and solid tumor clinics. Symptom and communication assessments each took < 5 minutes and showed high prevalence of moderate/severe distress ( > 50% for 8/10 symptoms, 144 assessments), variation in information preferences (76% wanting detail, 24% broad overview only), and unmet communication needs. All but 1 patient without a health care proxy chose one. Oncology nurses engaged patients in structured discussions ( < 15 minutes) of core values. Clinic workflow was maintained. Patients, families, and oncology clinicians endorsed the initiative. As palliative care skills of oncology teams improved, specialists focused on more complex issues. Conclusions: Routine interprofessional primary palliative care with specialist support from diagnosis is feasible and acceptable in our center’s high-volume outpatient oncology clinics. Ongoing evaluations will assess other outcomes (e.g., quality of life); impact on clinicians/ processes; and utilization (e.g., ED/hospital visits, hospice use).

Using a patient-reported outcomes tool as a gateway to identifying patients who would benefit from palliative care.

2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (30_suppl) ◽  
pp. 306-306
Author(s):  
Kathleen Dunn ◽  
Morgan Hannaford ◽  
Scott Hartman ◽  
Diane Denny, DBA
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Supportive Care ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Disease Stage ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
National Network ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Patient Reported ◽  
Self Assessments

306 Background: Palliative care provides a wide range of supportive care services that aim to enhance the patient’s quality of life, reduce complications, address supportive care needs earlier, and avoid unnecessary resource consumption. A national network of five hospitals providing comprehensive cancer care noted barriers in identification of patients that may benefit from these services. Technology and objective criteria can circumvent human barriers such as, prognostic uncertainty and psychology of decision making. Referred to as the SIT (symptom inventory tool) process, an externally validated assessment tool that captures patients’ perceived symptom burden from baseline and every 21 days was used as means of identifying patients who might benefit from referral. Methods: A three-month pilot was initiated at two centers using a report run on a weekly basis, generated from the SIT process utilizing the following criteria: six or > symptoms from 27 increasing in severity by two points or > since their last assessment. This subset of patients identified by this filter was reviewed by the palliative care nurse to determine if they meet the following criteria: any stage with metastatic disease, stage 3 not in remission, and stage 4 not already enrolled in palliative care. Results: During the pilot timeframe, 1,127 SIT self-assessments were completed by patients at Site 1 with 168 patients flagged for review by the palliative care RN. Of these 168 patients 75 (or 44.6%) met the criteria for palliative care services. At Site 2, 802 self-assessments were completed, with 82 identified for review of which 46 (or 56.1%) met the criteria. Conclusions: Patients with overwhelming symptoms were identified for intervention that might otherwise have been missed by relying solely on referral. This patient population resulted in a request for practice integration across centers recognizing the clinical and financial benefits outlined below. [Table: see text]

Palliative Care Needs Assessment Tool

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Waller ◽  
A. Girgis ◽  
D. Currow ◽  
C. Lecathelinais
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Needs Assessment ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Palliative Care Needs
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