scholarly journals The Contribution of Healthcare Workers’ Knowledge on Use of Integrated Palliative Care Approach in the Management of Chronic and Life Threatening Diseases at Kakamega County Referral Hospital, Kenya

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-31
Author(s):  
Wekesa J ◽  
Okoth J ◽  
Mutai C ◽  
Arudo J
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Referral Hospital ◽  
Care Approach ◽  
Life Threatening

scholarly journals Physicians’ decreased tendency to choose palliative care for patients with advanced dementia between 1999 and 2015

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Saila Haapasalmi ◽  
Reetta P. Piili ◽  
Riina Metsänoja ◽  
Pirkko-Liisa I. Kellokumpu-Lehtinen ◽  
Juho T. Lehto
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Palliative Care ◽  
Legal Protection ◽  
Postal Survey ◽  
Advanced Dementia ◽  
Background Factors ◽  
Physician Decision Making ◽  
Care Approach ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Physicians’ decision-making for seriously ill patients with advanced dementia is of high importance, especially as the prevalence of dementia is rising rapidly, and includes many challenging ethical, medical and juridical aspects. We assessed the change in this decision-making over 16 years (from 1999 to 2015) and several background factors influencing physicians’ decision. Methods A postal survey including a hypothetical patient-scenario representing a patient with an advanced dementia and a life-threatening gastrointestinal bleeding was sent to 1182 and 1258 Finnish physicians in 1999 and 2015, respectively. The target groups were general practitioners (GPs), surgeons, internists and oncologists. The respondents were asked to choose between several life-prolonging and palliative care approaches. The influence of physicians’ background factors and attitudes on their decision were assessed. Results The response rate was 56%. A palliative care approach was chosen by 57 and 50% of the physicians in 1999 and 2015, respectively (p = 0.01). This change was statistically significant among GPs (50 vs 40%, p = 0.018) and oncologists (77 vs 56%, p = 0.011). GPs chose a palliative care approach less often than other responders in both years (50 vs. 63% in 1999 and 40 vs. 56% in 2015, p < 0.001). In logistic regression analysis, responding in 2015 and being a GP remained explanatory factors for a lower tendency to choose palliative care. The impact of family’s benefit on the decision-making decreased, whereas the influence of the patient’s benefit and ethical values as well as the patient’s or physician’s legal protection increased from 1999 to 2015. Conclusions Physicians chose a palliative care approach for a patient with advanced dementia and life-threatening bleeding less often in 2015 than in 1999. Specialty, attitudes and other background factors influenced significantly physician decision-making. Education on the identification and palliative care of the patients with late-stage dementia are needed to make these decisions more consistent.

scholarly journals A palliative care approach in psychiatry: clinical implications

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mattias Strand ◽  
Manne Sjöstrand ◽  
Anna Lindblad
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Palliative Care ◽  
Psychiatric Disorders ◽  
Patient Centeredness ◽  
Palliative Approach ◽  
Clinical Scenarios ◽  
Care Approach ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Treatment Refractory

Abstract Background Traditionally, palliative care has focused on patients suffering from life-threatening somatic diseases such as cancer or progressive neurological disorders. In contrast, despite the often chronic, severely disabling, and potentially life-threatening nature of psychiatric disorders, there are neither palliative care units nor clinical guidelines on palliative measures for patients in psychiatry. Main text This paper contributes to the growing literature on a palliative approach in psychiatry and is based on the assumption that a change of perspective from a curative to a palliative approach could help promote patient-centeredness and increase quality of life for severely ill patients in psychiatry as well as in somatic medicine. To exemplify this, we offer three different clinical scenarios: severe and enduring anorexia nervosa, treatment-refractory schizophrenia, and chronic suicidality and persistent self-injury in borderline personality disorder. Conclusion We emphasize that many typical interventions for treatment-refractory psychiatric disorders may indeed be of a palliative nature. Furthermore, introducing traditional features of palliative care, e.g. so-called goals of care conversations, could aid even further in ensuring that caregivers, patients, and families agree on which treatment goals are to be prioritized in order to optimize quality of life in spite of severe, persistent mental disorder.

Palliative care in Japan

2015 ◽  
pp. 1130-1135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sayaka Takenouchi ◽  
Keiko Tamura
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Significant Role ◽  
Medical Professionals ◽  
Cultural Backgrounds ◽  
High Quality ◽  
General Hospitals ◽  
Life Threatening Illness ◽  
Care Approach ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Care At Home

In Japan, the palliative care approach to patients and families differs from the approach provided by other departments, especially the consideration of patients‘ families and cultural backgrounds, which plays a significant role in planning their care. Even if palliative care at home becomes well developed, there will always be patients who will choose to spend the last days of their lives in the general hospitals. It is therefore essential to offer chances for any medical professionals who provide care to patients and families facing life-threatening illness to be educated so that they can offer high quality palliative care for those in need.

scholarly journals Dynamics of the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among healthcare workers at a COVID-19 referral hospital in Milan, Italy

2021 ◽  
pp. oemed-2020-107060
Author(s):  
Laura Milazzo ◽  
Alessia Lai ◽  
Laura Pezzati ◽  
Letizia Oreni ◽  
Annalisa Bergna ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Referral Hospital ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Referral Centre ◽  
Single Centre ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Infection Control Measures ◽  
Professional Exposure ◽  
First Time ◽  
Time Point

ObjectivesHealthcare workers (HCWs) are at high risk of developing SARS-CoV-2 infection. The aim of this single-centre prospective study was to evaluate the trend of SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in HCWs working at the primary referral centre for infectious diseases and bioemergencies (eg, COVID-19) in Northern Italy and investigate the factors associated with seroconversion.MethodsSix hundred and seventy-nine HCW volunteers were tested for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies three times between 4 March and 27 May 2020 and completed a questionnaire covering COVID-19 exposure, symptoms and personal protective equipment (PPE) training and confidence at each time.ResultsSARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence rose from 3/679 to 26/608 (adjusted prevalence: 0.5%, 95% CI 0.1 to 1.7% and 5.4%, 95% CI 3.6 to 7.9, respectively) between the first two time points and then stabilised, in line with the curve of the COVID-19 epidemic in Milan. From the first time point, 61.6% of the HCWs had received training in the use of PPE and 17 (61.5%) of those who proved to be seropositive reported symptoms compatible with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Contacts with ill relatives or friends and self-reported symptoms were independently associated with an increased likelihood of seroconversion (p<0.0001 for both), whereas there was no significant association with professional exposure.ConclusionThe seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 among the HCWs at our COVID-19 referral hospital was low at the time of the peak of the epidemic. The seroconversions were mainly attributable to extrahospital contacts, probably because the hospital readily adopted effective infection control measures. The relatively high number of asymptomatic seropositive HCWs highlights the need to promptly identify and isolate potentially infectious HCWs.

Symptom Assessment for a Palliative Care Approach in People With Dementia Admitted to Acute Hospitals

2015 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 255-259 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma O’Shea ◽  
Suzanne Timmons ◽  
Sean Kennelly ◽  
Anna de Siún ◽  
Paul Gallagher ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Symptom Assessment ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Acute Hospitals ◽  
Care Approach

scholarly journals Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of the first 500 confirmed COVID-19 inpatients in a tertiary infectious disease referral hospital in Manila, Philippines

2021 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristal An Agrupis ◽  
Chris Smith ◽  
Shuichi Suzuki ◽  
Annavi Marie Villanueva ◽  
Koya Ariyoshi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Clinical Characteristics ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Underlying Disease ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Referral Hospital ◽  
Limited Data ◽  
Metro Manila ◽  
Related Mortality

Abstract Background The Philippines has been one of the most affected COVID-19 countries in the Western Pacific region, but there are limited data on COVID-19-related mortality and associated factors from this setting. We aimed to describe the epidemiological and clinical characteristics and associations with mortality among COVID-19-confirmed individuals admitted to an infectious diseases referral hospital in Metro Manila. Main text This was a single-centre retrospective analysis including the first 500 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 individuals admitted to San Lazaro Hospital, Metro Manila, Philippines, from January to October 2020. We extracted clinical data and examined epidemiological and clinical characteristics and factors associated with in-hospital mortality. Of the 500 individuals, 133 (26.6%) were healthcare workers (HCW) and 367 (73.4%) were non-HCW, with HCW more likely presenting with milder symptoms. Non-HCW admissions were more likely to have at least one underlying disease (51.6% vs. 40.0%; p = 0.002), with hypertension (35.4%), diabetes (17.4%), and tuberculosis (8.2%) being the most common. Sixty-one (12.2%) died, comprising 1 HCW and 60 non-HCW (0.7% vs. 16.3%; p < 0.001). Among the non-HCW, no death occurred for the 0–10 years age group, but deaths were recorded across all other age groups. Compared to those who recovered, individuals who died were more likely to be older (p < 0.001), male (p = 0.015), report difficulty of breathing (p < 0.001), be HIV positive (p = 0.008), be intubated (p < 0.001), categorised as severe or critical (p < 0.001), have a shorter mean hospital stay (p < 0.001), or have an additional diagnosis of pneumonia (p < 0.001) or ARDS (p < 0.001). Conclusion Our analysis reflected significant differences in characteristics, symptomatology, and outcomes between healthcare and non-healthcare workers. Despite the unique mix of cohorts, our results support the country’s national guideline on COVID-19 vaccination which prioritises healthcare workers, the elderly, and people with comorbidities and immunodeficiency states.

Palliative Care For Patients with Advanced COPD in Primary Care

Praxis ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 110 (15) ◽  
pp. 902-906
Author(s):  
Tanja Fusi-Schmidhauser
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Palliative Care ◽  
Symptom Management ◽  
Quality Care ◽  
Symptom Burden ◽  
High Quality ◽  
High Quality Care ◽  
Care And Support ◽  
Care Approach ◽  
Advance Planning

Abstract. Patients with advanced COPD have a high symptom burden that is often multidimensional. Identification of patients who might benefit from palliative care through validated identification tools, multidimensional symptom management, and timely discussion of advance planning are elements of a palliative care approach for these patients and their families. Coordination among stakeholders providing care and support to these patients is central to ensuring high-quality care and meeting all of their needs.

The Challenges of Biomedical Waste Management During the Ongoing Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) Pandemic: The Current Scenario

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabitha Vadakedath ◽  
Venkataramana Kandi ◽  
Tarun Kumar Suvvari ◽  
L V Simhachalam Kutikuppala ◽  
Vikram Godishala ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Complex Nature ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Waste Collection ◽  
Biomedical Waste ◽  
Infected People ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Current Scenario ◽  
Constant Observation ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

: The novel Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) that has emerged and spread throughout the world causing CoV disease-19 (COVID-19) has since its discovery affected not only humans and animals but also the environment. Because of the highly infectious nature of the virus, and the respiratory aerosol transmission route, face masks and personal protective equipment have become mandatory for public and healthcare workers, respectively. Also, the complex nature of the pathogenicity of the virus, wherein, it has been associated with mild, moderate, and severe life-threatening infections, has warranted increased laboratory testing and placing the infected people in isolation and under constant observation in quarantine centers or at dedicated hospitals. Some infected people, who are generally healthy, and do not show symptoms have been placed in home quarantines. At this juncture, there has been increased amount of biomedical waste (BMW), and infectious general waste along with plastic disposable recyclable and non-recyclable waste. The increased BMW along with the potentially hazardous plastic waste collection, segregation, transport, and disposal has assumed increased significance during the ongoing pandemic. Therefore, this review attempts to investigate the current scenario of BMW management and strategies to minimize BMW and prevent potential environmental pollution.

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