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Nyblom S, Öhlén J, Larsdotter C, Ozanne A, Fürst CJ, Hedman R. Registry study of cardiovascular death in Sweden 2013-2019: Home as place of death and specialized palliative care are the preserve of a minority. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CARDIOLOGY. CARDIOVASCULAR RISK AND PREVENTION 2024; 23:200328. [PMID: 39286291 PMCID: PMC11404052 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcrp.2024.200328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2024] [Revised: 08/20/2024] [Accepted: 08/31/2024] [Indexed: 09/19/2024]
Abstract
Background Palliative care needs in patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are expected to increase. For the planning of equitable palliative care, it is important to understand where people with CVD die. The aim was to examine trends in place of death, associated factors including utilization of specialized palliative services, and to what extent longitudinal development is influenced by national policy. Methods A population-level registry study of place of death for adults deceased due to CVD (n = 209 671) in Sweden 2013-2019. Linear regression analysis was applied. Results The predominant place of death was nursing home (39.1 %) and hospital (37.6 %), followed by home (22.0 %). From 2013 to 2019 home deaths increased by 2.8 % and hospital deaths decreased by 3.0 %. An overall downward trend was found for dying in hospital compared to dying at home. With variations, this trend was seen in all healthcare regions and for all CVD types, except Stockholm and cerebrovascular disease, with no significant trend. Overall, but with cross-regional variations, 2.1 % utilized specialized palliative services, while 94.2 % had potential palliative care needs. Other variables significantly influencing the trend were age and having had an unplanned healthcare visit. Conclusion Despite a slight positive trend, only a minority of people with CVD die in their own home. Regional variations in place of death and the low and varied utilization of specialized palliative services indicate inequity in access to palliative care. Hence, the impact of current national policies is questionable and calls for strengthening through inclusion of early palliative care in specific CVD policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stina Nyblom
- Palliative Centre, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Joakim Öhlén
- Palliative Centre, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Institute of Health and Care Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Centre for Person-Centred Care (GPCC), Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Cecilia Larsdotter
- Department of Nursing Science, Sophiahemmet University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anneli Ozanne
- Institute of Health and Care Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Neurology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Carl Johan Fürst
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund, Sweden
- The Institute for Palliative Care, Respiratory Medicine, Allergology, and Palliative Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Ragnhild Hedman
- Department of Nursing Science, Sophiahemmet University, Stockholm, Sweden
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Morton G, Moore J. Systems of care for heart failure: bridging the divide between primary care and specialist services. Heart 2023; 109:1564-1570. [PMID: 37147130 DOI: 10.1136/heartjnl-2022-321757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Geraint Morton
- Cardiology, Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust, Portsmouth, UK
| | - Jim Moore
- Gloucestershire Heart Failure Service, Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust, Gloucester, UK
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Åvik Persson H, Ahlström G, Årestedt K, Behm L, Drevenhorn E, Sandgren A. Palliative care delivery at nursing homes before and after an educational intervention from professionals' perspective: A pre-post design. Scand J Caring Sci 2023; 37:229-242. [PMID: 35524431 DOI: 10.1111/scs.13084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Revised: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The principles of palliative care were developed in hospices and specialised palliative care units and have not been sufficiently adapted to and evaluated in nursing homes. Therefore, an educational intervention from an interprofessional education perspective was performed within the project Implementation of Knowledge-Based Palliative Care in Nursing Homes. The aim of this study was to evaluate professionals' experience of palliative care delivery before and after the educational intervention. METHODS The educational intervention for nursing home professionals consisted of five 2-h seminars over 6 months at 20 nursing homes. The intervention and control groups consisted of 129 and 160 professionals from 30 nursing homes respectively. The questionnaire 'Your experience of palliative care' was completed 1 month before (baseline) and after (follow-up) the intervention. Descriptive and inferential statistics were calculated. RESULTS The positive effects at follow-up concerned the use of a valid scale for grading symptoms, attendance to the needs of next of kin (including bereavement support), documentation of older persons' wishes regarding place to die and conversations about their transition to palliative care and about how they were treated. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates a promising interprofessional educational model. However, the paucity of improvements brought to light at follow-up indicates a need for research directed towards a revision of this model. Supervision of professionals during palliative care delivery is one suggestion for change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helene Åvik Persson
- Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Gerd Ahlström
- Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Kristofer Årestedt
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden.,The Research Section, Region Kalmar County, Kalmar, Sweden
| | - Lina Behm
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Kristianstad University, Kristianstad, Sweden
| | - Eva Drevenhorn
- Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Anna Sandgren
- Center for Collaborative Palliative Care, Department of Health and Caring Sciences, Linnaeus University, Växjö, Sweden
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Persson HÅ, Ahlström G, Ekwall A. Professionals´ readiness for change to knowledge-based palliative care at nursing homes: a qualitative follow-up study after an educational intervention. BMC Palliat Care 2022; 21:132. [PMID: 35854375 PMCID: PMC9412037 DOI: 10.1186/s12904-022-01018-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background There has been a global increase in the number of people who are dying of old age. This development implies a need for good palliative care among older persons at the end of life. Here nursing homes have an important role to play. However, the principles of palliative care have not been sufficiently applied in nursing homes, and there is a need to increase the implementation of palliative care in these settings. Therefore the project named Implementation of Knowledge-Based Palliative Care in Nursing Homes (the KUPA project, to use its Swedish acronym) was started as a contribution to filling this knowledge gap. The aim of the present study was to investigate the professionals’ experiences of readiness for change to knowledge-based palliative care at nursing homes after the educational intervention within the KUPA project. Methods The focus group method was used to interview 39 health-care professionals with the aid of semistructured questions based on the Organizational Readiness for Change theoretical framework. Six focus groups were formed at six nursing homes in two counties in southern Sweden. The groups included different types of professionals: assistant nurses, nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and social workers. The analysis was conducted with an abductive approach and included deductive and inductive content analysis. Results The analysis revealed one overarching theme: hopeful readiness for change in palliative care despite remaining barriers. The main categories were increased knowledge facilitating development, enhanced team spirit, uncertainty about future plans connected with hopeful readiness and remaining organizational barriers. Conclusions This study adds knowledge and understanding concerning professionals’ readiness for change palliative care in nursing homes and shows how ready nursing home settings undertake these changes in practice. The Organizational Readiness for Change theory proved suitable for application in nursing homes to assess the professionals’ experiences and to evaluate educational interventions regardless of the organization’s readiness for change. Trial registration ClinicalTrials NCT02708498, first registration 15/03/2016.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helene Åvik Persson
- Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Box 157, 221 00, Lund, SE, Sweden.
| | - Gerd Ahlström
- Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Box 157, 221 00, Lund, SE, Sweden
| | - Anna Ekwall
- Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Box 157, 221 00, Lund, SE, Sweden
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O'Sullivan A, Alvariza A, Öhlén J, Ex Håkanson CL. The influence of care place and diagnosis on care communication at the end of life: bereaved family members' perspective. Palliat Support Care 2021; 19:664-671. [PMID: 33781369 DOI: 10.1017/s147895152100016x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the influence of care place and diagnosis on care communication during the last 3 months of life for people with advanced illness, from the bereaved family members' perspective. METHOD A retrospective survey design using the VOICES(SF) questionnaire with a sample of 485 bereaved family members (aged: 20-90 years old, 70% women) of people who died in hospital was employed to meet the study aim. RESULTS Of the deceased people, 79.2% had at some point received care at home, provided by general practitioners (GPs) (52%), district nurses (36.7%), or specialized palliative home care (17.9%), 27.4% were cared for in a nursing home and 15.7% in a specialized palliative care unit. The likelihood of bereaved family members reporting that the deceased person was treated with dignity and respect by the staff was lowest in nursing homes (OR: 0.21) and for GPs (OR: 0.37). A cancer diagnosis (OR: 2.36) or if cared for at home (OR: 2.17) increased the likelihood of bereaved family members reporting that the deceased person had been involved in decision making regarding care and less likely if cared for in a specialized palliative care unit (OR: 0.41). The likelihood of reports of unwanted decisions about the care was higher if cared for in a nursing home (OR: 1.85) or if the deceased person had a higher education (OR: 2.40). SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS This study confirms previous research about potential inequalities in care at the end of life. The place of care and diagnosis influenced the bereaved family members' reports on whether the deceased person was treated with respect and dignity and how involved the deceased person was in decision making regarding care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna O'Sullivan
- Department of Healthcare Sciences, Palliative Research Centre, Ersta Sköndal Bräcke University College, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anette Alvariza
- Department of Healthcare Sciences, Palliative Research Centre, Ersta Sköndal Bräcke University College, Stockholm, Sweden
- Capio Palliative Care, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Joakim Öhlén
- Institute of Health and Care Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Centre for Person-Centred Care, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- The Palliative Centre, Sahlgrenska University Hospital Västra Götaland Region, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Cecilia Larsdotter Ex Håkanson
- Department of Healthcare Sciences, Palliative Research Centre, Ersta Sköndal Bräcke University College, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Nursing Science, Sophiahemmet University, Stockholm, Sweden
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Carlsson ME, Hjelm K. Equal palliative care for foreign-born patients: A national quality register study. Palliat Support Care 2021; 19:656-663. [PMID: 34092275 DOI: 10.1017/s1478951521000110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To use data from a national quality register to investigate if there are differences relating to migrant background in the quality of end-of-life care of patients dying in Sweden. METHODS A retrospective, comparative register-based study. In total, 81,418 deceased patients, over 18 years of age, registered in the Swedish Register of Palliative Care during 2017 and 2018, of expected death were included in the study. Of these, 72,012 were Swedish-born and 9,395 were foreign-born. Descriptive and analytical statistical methods were used. RESULTS No general pattern of differences in quality regarding end-of-life care was found between Swedish- and foreign-born patients. There were several significant differences in various quality indicators but not in a specific direction. Sometimes, the quality indicators showed an advantage for Swedish-born patients but just as often, they were also favorable for foreign-born patients. Swedish-born patients had greater access to specialized palliative care than foreign-born patients. Foreign-born patients were more often cared for in general home care setting, despite a higher frequency of cancer diagnosis. SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS Foreign-born patients were less likely to be cared for in specialized palliative care units and had poorer access to palliative care teams than Swedish-born patients, despite having a higher proportion of cancer diagnoses. However, no general pattern was found indicating that foreign-born patients were disadvantaged in the quality indicators measured in the present study. Perhaps, this is an indication that the palliative care in Sweden is individualized; nonetheless, the quality of end-of-life care would be higher if dying patients, regardless of country of birth, have better access to specialized palliative care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria E Carlsson
- Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Katarina Hjelm
- Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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Birgisdóttir D, Duarte A, Dahlman A, Sallerfors B, Rasmussen BH, Fürst CJ. A novel care guide for personalised palliative care - a national initiative for improved quality of care. BMC Palliat Care 2021; 20:176. [PMID: 34763677 PMCID: PMC8582140 DOI: 10.1186/s12904-021-00874-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Even when palliative care is an integrated part of the healthcare system, the quality is still substandard for many patients and often initiated too late. There is a lack of structured guidelines for identifying and caring for patients; in particular for those with early palliative care needs. A care guide can act as a compass for best practice and support the care of patients throughout their palliative trajectory. Such a guide should both meet the needs of health care professionals and patients and families, facilitating discussion around end-of-life decision-making and enabling them to plan for the remaining time in life. The aim of this article is to describe the development and pilot testing of a novel Swedish palliative care guide. Methods The Swedish Palliative Care Guide (S-PCG) was developed according to the Medical Research Council framework and based on national and international guidelines for good palliative care. An interdisciplinary national advisory committee of over 90 health care professionals together with patient, family and public representatives were engaged in the process. The feasibility was tested in three pilot studies in different care settings. Results After extensive multi-unit and interprofessional testing and evaluation, the S-PCG contains three parts that can be used independently to identify, assess, address, follow up, and document the individual symptoms and care-needs throughout the whole palliative care trajectory. The S-PCG can provide a comprehensive overview and shared understanding of the patients’ needs and possibilities for ensuring optimal quality of life, the family included. Conclusions Based on broad professional cooperation, patients and family participation and clinical testing, the S-PCG provides unique interprofessional guidance for assessment and holistic care of patients with palliative care needs, promotes support to the family, and when properly used supports high-quality personalised palliative care throughout the palliative trajectory. Future steps for the S-PCG, entails scientific evaluation of the clinical impact and effect of S-PCG in different care settings – including implementation, patient and family outcomes, and experiences of patient, family and personnel. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12904-021-00874-4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dröfn Birgisdóttir
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Oncology and Pathology, Institute for Palliative Care, Lund University, Scheeletorget 1, Hus 404B, 223 81, Lund, Sweden. .,The Institute for Palliative Care, Lund University and Region Skåne, Lund, Sweden.
| | - Anette Duarte
- The Institute for Palliative Care, Lund University and Region Skåne, Lund, Sweden
| | - Anna Dahlman
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Oncology and Pathology, Institute for Palliative Care, Lund University, Scheeletorget 1, Hus 404B, 223 81, Lund, Sweden
| | - Bengt Sallerfors
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Oncology and Pathology, Institute for Palliative Care, Lund University, Scheeletorget 1, Hus 404B, 223 81, Lund, Sweden
| | - Birgit H Rasmussen
- The Institute for Palliative Care, Lund University and Region Skåne, Lund, Sweden.,Faculty of Medicine, Department for Healthcare Sciences, Institute for Palliative Care, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Carl Johan Fürst
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Oncology and Pathology, Institute for Palliative Care, Lund University, Scheeletorget 1, Hus 404B, 223 81, Lund, Sweden.,The Institute for Palliative Care, Lund University and Region Skåne, Lund, Sweden
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Prescribing practices, patterns, and potential harms in patients receiving palliative care: A systematic scoping review. EXPLORATORY RESEARCH IN CLINICAL AND SOCIAL PHARMACY 2021; 3:100050. [PMID: 35480601 PMCID: PMC9031741 DOI: 10.1016/j.rcsop.2021.100050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Revised: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Patients receiving palliative care often have existing comorbidities necessitating the prescribing of multiple medications. To maximize quality of life in this patient cohort, it is important to tailor prescribing of medication for preventing and treating existing illnesses and those for controlling symptoms, such as pain, according to individual specific needs. Objective(s) To provide an overview of peer-reviewed observational research on prescribing practices, patterns, and potential harms in patients receiving palliative care. Methods A systematic scoping review was conducted using four electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, Web of Science). Each database was searched from inception to May 2020. Search terms included ‘palliative care,’ ‘end of life,’ and ‘prescribing.’ Eligible studies had to examine prescribing for adults (≥18 years) receiving palliative care in any setting as a study aim or outcome. Studies focusing on single medication types (e.g., opioids), medication classes (e.g., chemotherapy), or clinical indications (e.g., pain) were excluded. The review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines for scoping reviews, and the findings were described using narrative synthesis. Results Following deduplication, 16,565 unique citations were reviewed, and 56 studies met inclusion criteria. The average number of prescribed medications per patient ranged from 3 to 23. Typically, prescribing changes involved decreases in preventative medications and increases in symptom-specific medications closer to the time of death. Twenty-one studies assessed the appropriateness of prescribing using various tools. The prevalence of patients with ≥1 potentially inappropriate prescription ranged from 15 to 92%. Three studies reported on adverse drug events. Conclusions This scoping review provides a broad overview of existing research and shows that many patients receiving palliative care receive multiple medications closer to the time of death. Future research should focus in greater detail on prescribing appropriateness using tools specifically developed to guide prescribing in palliative care and the potential for harm.
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Henoch I, Ekberg-Jansson A, Löfdahl CG, Strang P. Benefits, for patients with late stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, of being cared for in specialized palliative care compared to hospital. A nationwide register study. BMC Palliat Care 2021; 20:130. [PMID: 34429078 PMCID: PMC8386075 DOI: 10.1186/s12904-021-00826-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 08/15/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In early stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), dyspnea has been reported as the main symptom; but at the end of life, patients dying from COPD have a heavy symptom burden. Still, specialist palliative care is seldom offered to patients with COPD; they more often receive end of life care in hospitals. Furthermore, symptoms, symptom relief and care activities in the last week of life for COPD patients are rarely studied. The aim of this study was to compare patient and care characteristics in late stage COPD patients treated in specialized palliative care (SPC) versus hospital. METHODS Two nationwide registers were merged, the Swedish National Airway Register (SNAR) and the Swedish Register of Palliative Care (SRPC). Patients with COPD and < 50% of predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), who had died in inpatient or outpatient SPC (n = 159) or in hospital (n = 439), were identified. Clinical COPD characteristics were extracted from the SNAR, and end of life (EOL) care characteristics from the SRPC. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the sample and the registered care and treatments. Independent samples t-test, Mantel-Haenszel chi-square test and Fisher's exact test was used to compare variables. To examine predictors of place of death, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed with a dependent variable with demographic and clinical variables used as independent variables. RESULTS The patients in hospitals were older and more likely to have heart failure or hypertension. Pain was more frequently reported and relieved in SPC than in hospitals (p = 0.001). Rattle, anxiety, delirium and nausea were reported at similar frequencies between the settings; but rattle, anxiety, delirium, and dyspnea were more frequently relieved in SPC (all p < 0.001). Compared to hospital, SPC was more often the preferred place of care (p < 0.001). In SPC, EOL discussions with patients and families were more frequently held than in hospital (p < 0.001). Heart failure increased the probability of dying in hospital while lung cancer increased the probability of dying in SPC. CONCLUSION This study provides evidence for referring more COPD patients to SPC, which is more focused on symptom management and psychosocial and existential support.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingela Henoch
- Department of Research and Devlopment, Angered Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
- Institute of Health and Care Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Box 457, 405 30, Gothenburg, Sweden.
| | - Ann Ekberg-Jansson
- Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Claes-Göran Löfdahl
- University of Lund, Lund, Sweden
- COPD Center, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Peter Strang
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
- Research and Development Unit, Stockholms Sjukhem Foundation, Stockholm, Sweden
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Årestedt K, Brännström M, Evangelista LS, Strömberg A, Alvariza A. Palliative key aspects are of importance for symptom relief during the last week of life in patients with heart failure. ESC Heart Fail 2021; 8:2202-2209. [PMID: 33754461 PMCID: PMC8120384 DOI: 10.1002/ehf2.13312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Revised: 02/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
AIMS This study aimed to describe symptom prevalence of pain, shortness of breath, anxiety, and nausea and to identify factors associated with symptom relief in patients with heart failure during their last week of life. METHODS AND RESULTS This nationwide study used data from the Swedish Register of Palliative Care and the Swedish Causes of Death Certificate Register. The sample included 4215 patients with heart failure as the underlying cause of death. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used to analyse data. Pain was the most prevalent symptom (64.0%), followed by anxiety (45.1%), shortness of breath (28.8%), and nausea (11.4%). Pain was the most often totally relieved (77.5%), followed by anxiety (68.4%), nausea (54.7%), and shortness of breath (37.1%). Key aspects of palliative care such as documented palliative care in the patient record, individual medication prescriptions by injection, symptom assessment with validated scales, documented end-of-life discussions with patients and/or family members, and external consultation were significantly associated with symptom relief. Relief of pain, shortness of breath, anxiety, and nausea were significantly better managed in nursing homes and hospice/inpatient palliative care compared with care in hospitals. CONCLUSIONS The results show that key aspects of palliative care during the last week of life are significantly associated with symptom relief. Increased access to palliative care could provide a way to improve care during the last week of life for patients with heart failure. Home-based settings provided more symptom relief than hospitals, which may indicate that the latter focuses on treatments and saving lives rather than promoting life before death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristofer Årestedt
- Faculty of Health and Life SciencesLinnaeus UniversityKalmarSE‐39182Sweden
- The Research SectionKalmar County CouncilKalmarSweden
| | | | | | - Anna Strömberg
- Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences and Department of CardiologyLinköping UniversityLinköpingSweden
- Department of CardiologyLinköping UniversityLinköpingSweden
| | - Anette Alvariza
- Department of Health Care Sciences & Palliative Research CentreErsta Sköndal Bräcke University CollegeStockholmSweden
- Capio Palliative CareDalen HospitalStockholmSweden
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Eljas Ahlberg E, Axelsson B. End-of-life care in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A comparative registry study. Acta Neurol Scand 2021; 143:481-488. [PMID: 33141927 DOI: 10.1111/ane.13370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Revised: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 10/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal disease requiring palliative care. End-of-life care has been well studied in patients with incurable cancer, but less is known about the quality of such care for patients with ALS. AIM To study whether the quality of end-of-life care the last week in life for patients dying from ALS differed compared to patients with cancer in terms of registered symptoms, symptom management, and communication. DESIGN This retrospective comparative registry study used data from the Swedish Registry of Palliative Care for 2012-2016. Each patient with ALS (n = 825) was matched to 4 patients with cancer (n = 3,300). RESULTS Between-group differences in assessments for pain and other symptoms were significant (p < 0.01), and patients with ALS had fewer as-needed injection drugs prescribed than patients with cancer. Patients with ALS also had dyspnea and anxiety significantly more often than patients with cancer. There was no significant difference in communication about transition to end-of-life care between the two groups. Patients dying from ALS received artificial nutrition on their last day of life significantly more often than patients with cancer. CONCLUSIONS The results indicate that patients with ALS receive poorer end-of-life care than patients dying from cancer in terms of validated symptom assessments, prescription of as-needed drugs, and timely cessation of artificial nutrition. Educational efforts seem needed to facilitate equal care of dying patients, regardless of diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bertil Axelsson
- Unit of Clinical Research Centre Östersund Umeå University Umeå Sweden
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Klint Å, Bondesson E, Rasmussen BH, Fürst CJ, Schelin MEC. Dying With Unrelieved Pain-Prescription of Opioids Is Not Enough. J Pain Symptom Manage 2019; 58:784-791.e1. [PMID: 31319106 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2019.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2019] [Revised: 07/05/2019] [Accepted: 07/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Fear of pain resonates with most people, in particular, in relation to dying. Despite this, there are still people dying with unrelieved pain. OBJECTIVES We quantified the risk, and investigated risk factors, for dying with unrelieved pain in a nationwide observational cohort study. METHODS Using data from Swedish Register of Palliative Care, we analyzed 161,762 expected deaths during 2011-2015. The investigated risk factors included cause of death, place of death, absence of an end-of-life (EoL) conversation, and lack of contact with pain management expertise. Modified Poisson regression models were fitted to estimate risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for dying with unrelieved pain. RESULTS Unrelieved pain during the final week of life was reported for 25% of the patients with pain, despite prescription of opioids PRN in 97% of cases. Unrelieved pain was common both among patients dying of cancer and of nonmalignant chronic diseases. Statistically significant risk factors for unrelieved pain included hospital death (RR = 1.84, 95% CI 1.79-1.88) compared with dying in specialist palliative care, absence of an EoL conversation (RR = 1.42, 95% CI 1.38-1.45), and dying of cancer in the bones (RR = 1.13, 95% CI 1.08-1.18) or lung (RR = 1.10, 95% CI 1.06-1.13) compared with nonmalignant causes. CONCLUSION Despite almost complete prescription of opioids PRN for patients with pain, patients die with unrelieved pain. Health care providers, hospitals in particular, need to focus more on pain in dying patients. An EoL conversation is one achievable intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Åsa Klint
- Institute for Palliative Care, Lund University and Region Skåne, Lund, Sweden; Skåne University Hospital, Region Skåne, Lund, Sweden.
| | - Elisabeth Bondesson
- Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden; Department of Pain Rehabilitation, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
| | - Birgit H Rasmussen
- Institute for Palliative Care, Lund University and Region Skåne, Lund, Sweden; Department for Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Carl Johan Fürst
- Institute for Palliative Care, Lund University and Region Skåne, Lund, Sweden; Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Maria E C Schelin
- Institute for Palliative Care, Lund University and Region Skåne, Lund, Sweden; Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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13
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Bökberg C, Behm L, Wallerstedt B, Ahlström G. Evaluation of person-centeredness in nursing homes after a palliative care intervention: pre- and post-test experimental design. BMC Palliat Care 2019; 18:44. [PMID: 31151438 PMCID: PMC6543575 DOI: 10.1186/s12904-019-0431-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2018] [Accepted: 05/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The needs of care based on palliative principles are stressed for all people with progressive and/or life-limiting conditions, regardless of age and the place in which care is provided. Person-centred palliative care strives to make the whole person visible and prioritizes the satisfaction of spiritual, existential, social, and psychological needs to the same extent as physical needs. However, person-centred palliative care for older persons in nursing homes seems to be sparse, possibly because staff in nursing homes do not have sufficient knowledge, skills, and training in managing symptoms and other aspects of palliative care. METHODS This study aimed to evaluate whether an educational intervention had any effect on the staff's perception of providing person-centred palliative care for older persons in nursing homes. METHODS A knowledge-based palliative care intervention consisting of five 2-h seminars during a 6-month period was implemented at 20 nursing homes in Sweden. In total, 365 staff members were participated, 167 in the intervention group and 198 in the control group. Data were collected using two questionnaires, the Person-centred Care Assessment Tool (P-CAT) and the Person-Centred Climate Questionnaire (PCQ-S), answered before (baseline) and 3 months after (follow-up) the educational intervention was completed. Descriptive, comparative, and univariate logistical regression analyses were performed. RESULTS Both the intervention group and the control group revealed high median scores in all subscales at baseline, except for the subscale amount of organizational and environmental support in the P-CAT. The staff's high rating level of person-centred care before the intervention provides limited space for further improvements at follow-up. CONCLUSION This study shows that staff perceived that managers' and the organization's amount of support to them in their everyday work was the only area for improvement in order to maintain person-centred care. The experiences among staff are crucial knowledge in understanding how palliative care can be made person-centred in spite of often limited resources in nursing homes. The dose and intensity of education activities of the intervention model need to be tested in future research to develop the most effective implementation model. TRIAL REGISTRATION NCT02708498 . Date of registration 26 February 2016.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Bökberg
- Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, P.O. Box 157, SE-221 00, Lund, Sweden.
| | - Lina Behm
- Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, P.O. Box 157, SE-221 00, Lund, Sweden
| | - Birgitta Wallerstedt
- Department of Health and Caring Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Centre for Collaborative Palliative Care Linnaeus University, Växjö, Sweden
| | - Gerd Ahlström
- Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, P.O. Box 157, SE-221 00, Lund, Sweden
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Ding J, Johnson CE, Cook A. How We Should Assess the Delivery of End-Of-Life Care in General Practice? A Systematic Review. J Palliat Med 2018; 21:1790-1805. [PMID: 30129811 DOI: 10.1089/jpm.2018.0194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The majority of end-of-life (EOL) care occurs in general practice. However, we still have little knowledge about how this care is delivered or how it can be assessed and supported. AIM (i) To review the existing evaluation tools used for assessment of the delivery of EOL care from the perspective of general practice; (ii) To describe how EOL care is provided in general practice; (iii) To identify major areas of concern in providing EOL care in this context. DESIGN A systematic review. DATA SOURCES Systematic searches of major electronic databases (Medline, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and CINAHL) from inception to 2017 were used to identify evaluation tools focusing on organizational structures/systems and process of end-of-life care from a general practice perspective. RESULTS A total of 43 studies representing nine evaluation tools were included. A relatively restricted focus and lack of validation were common limitations. Key general practitioner (GP) activities assessed by the evaluation tools were summarized and the main issues in current GP EOL care practice were identified. CONCLUSIONS The review of evaluation tools revealed that GPs are highly involved in management of patients at the EOL, but there are a range of issues relating to the delivery of care. An EOL care registration system integrated with electronic health records could provide an optimal approach to address the concerns about recall bias and time demands in retrospective analyses. Such a system should ideally capture the core GP activities and any major issues in care provision on a case-by-case basis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinfeng Ding
- 1 School of Population and Global Health, University of Western Australia , Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Claire E Johnson
- 2 Cancer and Palliative Care Research and Evaluation Unit (CaPCREU), Medical School, University of Western Australia , Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- 3 School of Nursing and Midwifery, Monash University , Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Angus Cook
- 1 School of Population and Global Health, University of Western Australia , Perth, Western Australia, Australia
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15
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Martinsson L, Lundström S, Sundelöf J. Quality of end-of-life care in patients with dementia compared to patients with cancer: A population-based register study. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0201051. [PMID: 30059515 PMCID: PMC6066197 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0201051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2018] [Accepted: 07/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Globally, dementia is one of the leading causes of death. Given the growing elderly population in the world, the yearly number of deaths by dementia is expected to increase. Patients dying from dementia are reported to suffer from a burden of symptoms similar to that of patients with cancer, but receive less medication against symptoms, have a lower probability of palliative care planning and seldom have access to specialised palliative care. Studies investigating the quality of palliative care in dementia are scarce. The aim of this Swedish national study was to compare the quality of end-of-life care between patients with dementia and patients with cancer regardless of place of care. Methods Thirteen end-of-life care quality indicators collected by the Swedish Register of Palliative Care (SRPC) were compared between patients dying from dementia and patients dying from cancer. Data were collected from deaths occurring in nursing homes, hospitals, specialised and general palliative home care, and palliative in-patient units during a three-year period (during March 2012 to February 2015). Analyses were performed using a multivariable logistic regression model, adjusted for age and gender. A subgroup of patients with Alzheimer’s disease was identified and compared to patients with other and unspecified types of dementia. Results A total of 4624 deaths from Alzheimer’s disease, 11 804deaths from other dementia diagnoses and 51 609 deaths from cancer were included. For six of the 13 quality indicators examined (prescription of PRN drugs against nausea and anxiety, information and bereavement support offered to next of kin, pain assessment and specialised palliative care consultations), poorer outcomes were shown for the dementia group in comparison to the cancer group. Two outcomes (prevalence of pressure ulcers and fluid therapy during the last 24 hours in life) showed better outcomes for the dementia group. The outcomes for the 13 quality indicators were similar for patients with Alzheimer’s disease compared to patients with other and unspecified types of dementia. Conclusions The findings in this study indicates that patients dying from Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia receive a poorer quality of end-of-life care concerning several important end-of-life care areas when compared to patients dying from cancer. Guidelines for end-of-life care in Sweden cannot explain or justify these differences. Further studies are needed to find possible ways to improve end-of-life care in the large and growing group of patients dying from dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Martinsson
- Department of Radiation Sciences, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- * E-mail:
| | - Staffan Lundström
- Department of Palliative Medicine, Stockholms Sjukhem Foundation, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Johan Sundelöf
- Betaniastiftelsen (non-profit organisation), Stockholm, Sweden
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16
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Åvik Persson H, Sandgren A, Fürst CJ, Ahlström G, Behm L. Early and late signs that precede dying among older persons in nursing homes: the multidisciplinary team's perspective. BMC Geriatr 2018; 18:134. [PMID: 29898674 PMCID: PMC6000966 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-018-0825-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2017] [Accepted: 05/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nursing home residents in Sweden are old, frail and usually have multiple morbidities which often make dying a prolonged suffering. It has been found that older persons at nursing homes receive far less palliative care than younger persons, partly because it is difficult to identify when the final stage of life begins. The identification may help the staff to enable the older person and their families to participate in planning the care in accordance with their own preferences and values. With this in mind the aim was to explore the experiences of early and late signs preceding dying in older persons in nursing homes from the multidisciplinary team's perspective. METHODS The focus group method was used to interview 20 health-care professionals on the basis of semi-structured questions. Four focus groups were conducted at four nursing homes in two counties in southern Sweden. The groups included different professionals such as assistant nurses, registered nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, social workers and unit managers. The analysis was conducted according to the focus group method developed by Kruger and Casey. RESULTS The analysis revealed one major theme, from unawareness to obviousness, which illustrates that the participants experienced dying as a happening, not a process, and found it difficult to identify early signs. Even though it was a new way of thinking, several suggestions of early signs were presented. The main category "Going into a bubble" illustrates early signs, which meant that the older person showed signs of wanting to withdraw from the outside world. The main category "The body begins to shut down" illustrates late signs, which meant that the older person showed signs that indicate that the body starts to prepare for death. CONCLUSIONS This study conveys new knowledge concerning the multidisciplinary team's collective experience of early and late signs that precede dying. This knowledge can increase the understanding of when a palliative care approach needs to be in place at nursing homes. The use of a palliative care approach in care planning requires consensus in the perception of the dying process of frail older persons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helene Åvik Persson
- Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, P.O. Box 157, 221 00, Lund, Sweden.
| | - Anna Sandgren
- Center for Collaborative Palliative Care, Department of Health and Caring Sciences, Linnaeus University, Växjö, Sweden
| | - Carl-Johan Fürst
- The Institute for Palliative Care, Lund University and Region Skåne, 221 00, Lund, Sweden
| | - Gerd Ahlström
- Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, P.O. Box 157, 221 00, Lund, Sweden
| | - Lina Behm
- Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, P.O. Box 157, 221 00, Lund, Sweden
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17
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Andersson S, Årestedt K, Lindqvist O, Fürst CJ, Brännström M. Factors Associated With Symptom Relief in End-of-Life Care in Residential Care Homes: A National Register-Based Study. J Pain Symptom Manage 2018; 55:1304-1312. [PMID: 29305321 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2017.12.489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2017] [Revised: 12/22/2017] [Accepted: 12/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Residential care homes (RCHs) are a common place of death. Previous studies have reported a high prevalence of symptoms such as pain and shortness of breath among residents in the last week of life. OBJECTIVES The aim of the study was to explore the presence of symptoms and symptom relief and identify factors associated with symptom relief of pain, nausea, anxiety, and shortness of breath among RCH residents in end-of-life care. METHODS The data consisted of all expected deaths at RCHs registered in the Swedish Register of Palliative Care (N = 22,855). Univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted. RESULTS Pain was reported as the most frequent symptom of the four symptoms (68.8%) and the one that most often had been totally relieved (84.7%) by care professionals. Factors associated with relief from at least one symptom were gender; age; time in the RCH; use of a validated pain or symptom assessment scale; documented end-of-life discussions with physicians for both the residents and family members; consultations with other units; diseases other than cancer as cause of death; presence of ulcers; assessment of oral health; and prescribed pro re nata injections for pain, nausea, and anxiety. CONCLUSION Our results indicate that use of a validated pain assessment scale, assessment of oral health, and prescribed pro re nata injections for pain, nausea, and anxiety might offer a way to improve symptom relief. These clinical tools and medications should be implemented in the care of the dying in RCHs, and controlled trials should be undertaken to prove the effect.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kristofer Årestedt
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden; Kalmar County Hospital, Kalmar, Sweden
| | - Olav Lindqvist
- Department of Nursing, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden; Department of Learning, Informatics, Management and Ethics/MMC, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Carl-Johan Fürst
- Department of Clinical Science, Faculty of Medicine, The Institute for Palliative Care, Lund University and Region Skåne, Lund, Sweden
| | - Margareta Brännström
- Department of Nursing, Umeå University, Campus Skellefteå, Umeå, Sweden; The Arctic Research Centre, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden; Institute of Health and Care Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
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18
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Alpert CM, Smith MA, Hummel SL, Hummel EK. Symptom burden in heart failure: assessment, impact on outcomes, and management. Heart Fail Rev 2018; 22:25-39. [PMID: 27592330 DOI: 10.1007/s10741-016-9581-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 158] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Evidence-based management has improved long-term survival in patients with heart failure (HF). However, an unintended consequence of increased longevity is that patients with HF are exposed to a greater symptom burden over time. In addition to classic symptoms such as dyspnea and edema, patients with HF frequently suffer additional symptoms such as pain, depression, gastrointestinal distress, and fatigue. In addition to obvious effects on quality of life, untreated symptoms increase clinical events including emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and long-term mortality in a dose-dependent fashion. Symptom management in patients with HF consists of two key components: comprehensive symptom assessment and sufficient knowledge of available approaches to alleviate the symptoms. Successful treatment addresses not just the physical but also the emotional, social, and spiritual aspects of suffering. Despite a lack of formal experience during cardiovascular training, symptom management in HF can be learned and implemented effectively by cardiology providers. Co-management with palliative medicine specialists can add significant value across the spectrum and throughout the course of HF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Craig M Alpert
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Michael A Smith
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of Michigan College of Pharmacy, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Department of Pharmacy Services, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Scott L Hummel
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Ellen K Hummel
- VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. .,Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. .,University of Michigan Frankel Cardiovascular Center, 1500 East Medical Center Dr., SPC 5233, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-5233, USA.
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19
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Årestedt K, Alvariza A, Boman K, Öhlén J, Goliath I, Håkanson C, Fürst CJ, Brännström M. Symptom Relief and Palliative Care during the Last Week of Life among Patients with Heart Failure: A National Register Study. J Palliat Med 2018; 21:361-367. [DOI: 10.1089/jpm.2017.0125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Kristofer Årestedt
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
- Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Anette Alvariza
- Department of Health Care Sciences and Palliative Research Centre, Ersta Sköndal Bräcke University College, Stockholm, Sweden
- Capio Palliative Care, Dalens Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Kurt Boman
- Research Unit, Medicine-Geriatric, Skellefteå, Sweden
- Institution of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Joakim Öhlén
- Centre for Person-Centred Care and Institute of Health and Care Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Ida Goliath
- Department of Learning, Informatics, Management and Ethics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Cecilia Håkanson
- Department of Health Care Sciences and Palliative Research Centre, Ersta Sköndal Bräcke University College, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Nursing Science, Sophiahemmet University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Carl Johan Fürst
- The Institute for Palliative Care, Lund University and Region Skåne, Lund, Sweden
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20
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Kuragaichi T, Kurozumi Y, Ohishi S, Sugano Y, Sakashita A, Kotooka N, Suzuki M, Higo T, Yumino D, Takada Y, Maeda S, Yamabe S, Washida K, Takahashi T, Ohtani T, Sakata Y, Sato Y. Nationwide Survey of Palliative Care for Patients With Heart Failure in Japan. Circ J 2018. [DOI: 10.1253/circj.cj-17-1305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Kuragaichi
- Department of Cardiology, Hyogo Prefectural Amagasaki General Medical Center
| | - Yuma Kurozumi
- Department of Cardiology, Hyogo Prefectural Amagasaki General Medical Center
| | - Shogo Ohishi
- Department of Cardiology, Himeji Cardiovascular Center
| | - Yasuo Sugano
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center
| | - Akihiro Sakashita
- Department of Palliative Medicine, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine
| | | | - Makoto Suzuki
- Department of Cardiology, Yokohama Minami Kyosai Hospital
| | - Taiki Higo
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Kyushu University Graduate School of Medical Sciences
| | | | - Yasuko Takada
- Department of Nursing, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center
| | - Seiko Maeda
- Department of Nursing, Toyohashi Heart Center
| | - Saori Yamabe
- Department of Nursing, Mitsubishi Kyoto Hospital
| | | | | | - Tomohito Ohtani
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine
| | - Yasushi Sakata
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine
| | - Yukihito Sato
- Department of Cardiology, Hyogo Prefectural Amagasaki General Medical Center
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21
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Sandsdalen T, Høye S, Rystedt I, Grøndahl VA, Hov R, Wilde-Larsson B. The relationships between the combination of person- and organization-related conditions and patients' perceptions of palliative care quality. BMC Palliat Care 2017; 16:66. [PMID: 29212539 PMCID: PMC5719731 DOI: 10.1186/s12904-017-0240-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2017] [Accepted: 11/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Little is known about the combination of person- and organization- related conditions and the relationships with patients' perspectives of care quality. Such a combination could contribute knowledge reflecting the complexity of clinical practice, and enhance individualized care. The aim was to investigate the relationships between the combination of person- and organization-related conditions and patients' perceptions of palliative care quality. METHODS A cross-sectional study, including 191 patients in the late palliative phase (73% response rate) admitted to hospice inpatient care (n = 72), hospice day care (n = 51), palliative units in nursing homes (n = 30) and home care (n = 38), was conducted between November 2013 and December 2014, using the instrument Quality from the Patients' Perspective specific to palliative care (QPP-PC). Data were analysed, using analysis of covariance, to explore the amount of the variance in the dependent variables (QPP-PC) that could be explained by combination of the independent variables - Person- and organization-related conditions, - while controlling for differences in covariates. RESULTS Patients scored the care received and the subjective importance as moderate to high. The combination of person- and organization - related conditions revealed that patients with a high sense of coherence, lower age (person - related conditions) and being in a ward with access to and availability of physicians (organization-related condition) might be associated with significantly higher scores for the quality of care received. Gender (women), daily contact with family and friends, and low health-related quality of life (person-related conditions) might be associated with higher scores for subjective importance of the aspects of care quality. CONCLUSION Healthcare personnel, leaders and policy makers need to pay attention to person- and organization-related conditions in order to provide person-centered palliative care of high quality. Further studies from palliative care contexts are needed to confirm the findings and to investigate additional organizational factors that might influence patients' perceptions of care quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuva Sandsdalen
- Department of Health Studies, Faculty of Public Health, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Post box 400, 2418 Elverum, Norway
- Department of Health Science, Faculty of Health, Science and Technology, Discipline of Nursing Science, Karlstad University, 651 88 Karlstad, Sweden
| | - Sevald Høye
- Department of Health Studies, Faculty of Public Health, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Post box 400, 2418 Elverum, Norway
| | - Ingrid Rystedt
- Department of Health Science, Faculty of Health, Science and Technology, Discipline of Nursing Science, Karlstad University, 651 88 Karlstad, Sweden
| | | | - Reidun Hov
- Department of Health Studies, Faculty of Public Health, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Post box 400, 2418 Elverum, Norway
| | - Bodil Wilde-Larsson
- Department of Health Studies, Faculty of Public Health, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Post box 400, 2418 Elverum, Norway
- Department of Health Science, Faculty of Health, Science and Technology, Discipline of Nursing Science, Karlstad University, 651 88 Karlstad, Sweden
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22
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Martinsson L, Heedman PA, Lundström S, Axelsson B. Improved data validity in the Swedish Register of Palliative Care. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0186804. [PMID: 29049396 PMCID: PMC5648220 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0186804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2017] [Accepted: 10/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction The Swedish Register of Palliative Care (SRPC) is a national quality register that collects data about end-of-life care from healthcare providers that care for dying patients. Data are used for quality control and research. Data are mainly collected with an end-of-life questionnaire (ELQ), which is completed by healthcare staff after the death of a patient. A previous validity assessment of the ELQ showed insufficient validity in some items including symptom relief. The aim of this study was to examine the validity of the revised ELQ. Materials and methods Data from 100 consecutive patients’ medical records at two specialised palliative care units were used to complete new ELQs, which were then compared to the ELQ registrations from the SRPC for the same patients. The level of agreement was calculated for each ELQ item. To account for the possibility of the agreement occurring by chance, Cohen’s kappa was calculated for suitable items. To examine the extent of registration mistakes when transferring the paper form to the web, the original paper versions of the ELQ filled out at the units were compared to data from the ELQs reported to the SRPC. Results Level of agreement between ELQ registrations from the SRPC and the new ELQs based on the medical records varied between 0.55 and 1.00, where 24 items showed level of agreement above 0.80 and 9 items showed level of agreement below 0.80. Cohen’s kappa with 95% confidence intervals was calculated for 24 items. The kappa values showed that two items had poor agreement, four fair agreement, 11 moderate agreement, five good agreement and two very good agreement. The level of agreement varied between 0.93 and 1.00 when comparing the ELQ registrations in the SRPC and the paper forms. Conclusion The revised ELQ contains more items with high levels of agreement between registrations in the SRPC and notes in the patients’ medical records when compared to the previous version. Validating issues around symptom assessment remains a challenge in our model of quality assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Martinsson
- Department of Radiation Sciences, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- * E-mail:
| | - Per-Anders Heedman
- Palliative Education and Research Center in the County of Östergötland, Vrinnevi Hospital, Norrköping, Sweden
| | - Staffan Lundström
- Department of Palliative Medicine, Stockholms Sjukhem Foundation, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Bertil Axelsson
- Department of Radiation Sciences, Unit of Clinical Research Centre–Östersund, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
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23
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Ängerud KH, Boman K, Ekman I, Brännström M. Areas for quality improvements in heart failure care: quality of care from the patient's perspective. Scand J Caring Sci 2016; 31:830-838. [DOI: 10.1111/scs.12404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2016] [Accepted: 10/05/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Karin H. Ängerud
- Department of Nursing; Umeå University; Umeå Sweden
- The Arctic Research Centre; Umeå University; Umeå Sweden
| | - Kurt Boman
- Research Unit Skellefteå; Department of Medicine; Umeå University; Umeå Sweden
- Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine; Umeå University; Umeå Sweden
| | - Inger Ekman
- Institute of Health and Care Sciences; University of Gothenburg; Gothenburg Sweden
- Centre for Person-Centred Care; University of Gothenburg (GPCC); Gothenburg Sweden
| | - Margareta Brännström
- Department of Nursing; Umeå University; Umeå Sweden
- The Arctic Research Centre; Umeå University; Umeå Sweden
- Centre for Person-Centred Care; University of Gothenburg (GPCC); Gothenburg Sweden
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24
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Sandsdalen T, Grøndahl VA, Hov R, Høye S, Rystedt I, Wilde-Larsson B. Patients' perceptions of palliative care quality in hospice inpatient care, hospice day care, palliative units in nursing homes, and home care: a cross-sectional study. BMC Palliat Care 2016; 15:79. [PMID: 27553776 PMCID: PMC4995801 DOI: 10.1186/s12904-016-0152-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2016] [Accepted: 08/15/2016] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Patients’ perceptions of care quality within and across settings are important for the further development of palliative care. The aim was to investigate patients’ perceptions of palliative care quality within settings, including perceptions of care received and their subjective importance, and contrast palliative care quality across settings. Method A cross-sectional study including 191 patients in late palliative phase (73 % response rate) admitted to hospice inpatient care, hospice day care, palliative units in nursing homes, and home care was conducted, using the Quality from the Patients’ Perspective instrument-palliative care (QPP-PC). QPP-PC comprises four dimensions and 12 factors; “medical–technical competence” (MT) (2 factors), “physical–technical conditions” (PT) (one factor), “identity–orientation approach” (ID) (4 factors), “sociocultural atmosphere” (SC) (5 factors), and three single items (S); medical care, personal hygiene and atmosphere. Data were analysed using paired-samples t-test and analysis of covariance while controlling for differences in patient characteristics. Results Patients’ perceptions of care received within settings showed high scores for the factors and single items “honesty” (ID) and “atmosphere” (S) in all settings and low scores for “exhaustion” (MT) in three out of four settings. Patients’ perceptions of importance scored high for “medical care” (S), “honesty” (ID), “respect and empathy” (ID) and “atmosphere” (S) in all settings. No aspects of care scored low in all settings. Importance scored higher than perceptions of care received, in particular for receiving information. Patients’ perceptions of care across settings differed, with highest scores in hospice inpatient care for the dimensions; ID, SC, and “medical care” (S), the SC and “atmosphere” (S) for hospice day care, and “medical care” (S) for palliative units in nursing homes. There were no differences in subjective importance across settings. Conclusion Strengths of services related to identity–orientation approach and a pleasant and safe atmosphere. Key areas for improvement related to receiving information. Perceptions of subjective importance did not differ across settings, but perceptions of care received scored higher in more care areas for hospice inpatient care, than in other settings. Further studies are needed to support these findings, to investigate why perceptions of care differ across settings and to highlight what can be learned from settings receiving high scores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuva Sandsdalen
- Department of Health Studies, Faculty of Public Health, Hedmark University of Applied Sciences, Postbox 400, 2418, Elverum, Norway. .,Department of Health Science, Faculty of Health, Science and Technology, Discipline of Nursing Science, Karlstad University, 651 88, Karlstad, Sweden.
| | | | - Reidun Hov
- Department of Health Studies, Faculty of Public Health, Hedmark University of Applied Sciences, Postbox 400, 2418, Elverum, Norway
| | - Sevald Høye
- Department of Health Studies, Faculty of Public Health, Hedmark University of Applied Sciences, Postbox 400, 2418, Elverum, Norway
| | - Ingrid Rystedt
- Department of Health Science, Faculty of Health, Science and Technology, Discipline of Nursing Science, Karlstad University, 651 88, Karlstad, Sweden
| | - Bodil Wilde-Larsson
- Department of Health Studies, Faculty of Public Health, Hedmark University of Applied Sciences, Postbox 400, 2418, Elverum, Norway.,Department of Health Science, Faculty of Health, Science and Technology, Discipline of Nursing Science, Karlstad University, 651 88, Karlstad, Sweden
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Ziehm J, Farin E, Seibel K, Becker G, Köberich S. Health care professionals' attitudes regarding palliative care for patients with chronic heart failure: an interview study. BMC Palliat Care 2016; 15:76. [PMID: 27526940 PMCID: PMC4986383 DOI: 10.1186/s12904-016-0149-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2016] [Accepted: 08/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Even though struggling with similar symptom burden, patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) receive less palliative care than patients suffering from malignant diseases. Researchers have found that this might be related to lack of knowledge about palliative care, insufficient interprofessional communication as well as the cyclic course of disease which makes accurate prognosis difficult. However, research findings have shown that patients with CHF benefit from palliative care. As there are no studies for the German health care system this study aimed to assess health care professionals’ attitudes regarding palliative care of CHF patients in order to identify barriers and facilitators for this patient group and hence to develop recommendations for improvement of CHF patients’ access to palliative care in Germany. Method Problem-centered interviews with 23 health care professionals involved in care of CHF patients (nurses: hospital, outpatient, heart failure, PC; physicians: hospital and resident cardiologists, general practitioners) were conducted and analysed according to Mayring’s qualitative content analysis. Results Most interviewees perceived a need for palliative care for CHF patients. Regarding barriers patients’, public’s, and professionals’ lack of knowledge of palliative care and CHF; shortcomings in communication and cooperation of different professional groups; inability of cardiology to accept medical limits; difficult prognosis of course of disease; and patients’ concerns regarding palliative care were described. Different attitudes regarding appropriate time of initiation of palliative care for CHF patients (late vs. early) were found. Furthermore, better communication and closer cooperation between different professional groups and medical disciplines as well as better education about palliative care and CHF for professionals, patients, and public were cited. Conclusions Palliative care for CHF patients is a neglected topic in both practice and research and should receive more attention. Barriers to palliative care for CHF patients might be overcome by: better education for the public, patients, and professionals, closer cooperation between the different professional groups involved as well as development of a joint agreement regarding the appropriate time to administer palliative care to CHF patients. Trial registration DRKS00007119. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12904-016-0149-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeanette Ziehm
- Section of Health Care Research and Rehabilitation Research, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
| | - Erik Farin
- Section of Health Care Research and Rehabilitation Research, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Katharina Seibel
- Department of Palliative Care, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Gerhild Becker
- Department of Palliative Care, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Stefan Köberich
- Section of Health Care Research and Rehabilitation Research, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Pflegedirektion, Heart Center University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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26
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Sahlen KG, Boman K, Brännström M. A cost-effectiveness study of person-centered integrated heart failure and palliative home care: Based on a randomized controlled trial. Palliat Med 2016; 30:296-302. [PMID: 26603186 DOI: 10.1177/0269216315618544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous economic studies of person-centered palliative home care have been conducted mainly among patients with cancer. Studies on cost-effectiveness of advanced home care for patients with severe heart failure are lacking when a diagnosis of heart failure is the only main disease as the inclusion criterion. AIM To assess the cost-effectiveness of a new concept of care called person-centered integrated heart failure and palliative home care. DESIGN A randomized controlled trial was conducted from January 2011 to 2013 at a center in Sweden. Data collection included cost estimates for health care and the patients' responses to the EQ-5D quality of life instrument. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS Patients with chronic and severe heart failure were randomly assigned to an intervention (n = 36) or control (n = 36) group. The intervention group received the Palliative Advanced Home Care and Heart Failure Care intervention over 6 months. The control group received the same care that is usually provided by a primary health care center or heart failure clinic at the hospital. RESULTS EQ-5D data indicated that the intervention resulted in a gain of 0.25 quality-adjusted life years, and cost analysis showed a significant cost reduction with the Palliative Advanced Home Care and Heart Failure Care intervention. Even if costs for staffing are higher than usual care, this is more than made up for by the reduced need for hospital-based care. This intervention made it possible for the county council to use €50,000 for other needs. CONCLUSION The Palliative Advanced Home Care and Heart Failure Care working mode saves financial resources and should be regarded as very cost-effective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Klas-Göran Sahlen
- Department of Nursing, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden The Arctic Research Centre, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Kurt Boman
- Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden Research Unit, Department of Medicine, Umeå University, Skellefteå, Sweden
| | - Margareta Brännström
- Department of Nursing, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden The Arctic Research Centre, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
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27
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Markgren R, Brännström M, Lundgren C, Boman K. Impacts of person-centred integrated chronic heart failure and palliative home care on pharmacological heart failure treatment: a substudy of a randomised trial. BMJ Support Palliat Care 2016; 9:e10. [DOI: 10.1136/bmjspcare-2015-000894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2015] [Revised: 11/02/2015] [Accepted: 12/17/2015] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
ObjectivePatients with chronic heart failure (CHF) may be insufficiently treated pharmacologically. Recently, we presented a person-centred integrated Palliative advanced homecaRE and heart FailurE caRe (PREFER) strategy and compared it with usual care (control). Patients managed according to PREFER had improved health-related quality of life and markedly reduced hospitalisations compared with the control group. We hypothesised that these improvements may have been partly due to better drug treatments within the PREFER strategy. Thus, our aim in this study was to explore the management of drug treatments in the PREFER group compared with the control group.MethodsDoses and numbers of drugs and the number of patients receiving the target doses based on current guidelines were measured and compared between the groups at the start and finish of the study.ResultsThe percentages of ACE inhibitors (ACEIs) or mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) increased, while loop diuretics decreased in the PREFER arm during the study, although the differences were not significant. Beta-receptor blockers (BBs) decreased somewhat in both groups. The number of patients treated with MRAs differed the most between groups, and increased from 10 (28%) to 15 (48%) in the PREFER arm compared with 13 (35%) vs 13 (39%) in the control group. The change in patients receiving full target doses (+8 vs. +1) of the ACEIs/angiotensin receptor blockers, BBs and MRAs were significantly higher (p=0009) in the PREFER arm than in the control arm.ConclusionsPerson-centred integrated care of patients with severe CHF was associated with increased evidence-based drug treatments, especially MRAs.Clinical trial numberNCT01304381.
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28
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Henoch I, Carlander I, Holm M, James I, Kenne Sarenmalm E, Lundh Hagelin C, Lind S, Sandgren A, Öhlén J. Palliative Care Research - A Systematic Review of foci, designs and methods of research conducted in Sweden between 2007 and 2012. Scand J Caring Sci 2015; 30:5-25. [DOI: 10.1111/scs.12253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2014] [Accepted: 05/06/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ingela Henoch
- Institute of Health and Care Sciences; The Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg; Gothenburg Sweden
- University of Gothenburg Centre for Person-Centred Care (GPCC); University of Gothenburg; Gothenburg Sweden
| | - Ida Carlander
- Palliative Research Centre; Ersta Sköndal University College and Ersta Hospital; Stockholm Sweden
- Medical Management Center; Department of Learning, Informatics, Management and Ethics; Karolinska Institutet; Stockholm Sweden
| | - Maja Holm
- Palliative Research Centre; Ersta Sköndal University College and Ersta Hospital; Stockholm Sweden
- Department of Neurobiology; Care Sciences and Society; Karolinska Institutet; Stockholm Sweden
| | - Inger James
- School of Health and Medical Sciences; Örebro University; Örebro Sweden
| | - Elisabeth Kenne Sarenmalm
- Palliative Research Centre; Ersta Sköndal University College and Ersta Hospital; Stockholm Sweden
- Research and Development Centre; Skaraborg Hospital; Skövde Sweden
| | - Carina Lundh Hagelin
- Medical Management Center; Department of Learning, Informatics, Management and Ethics; Karolinska Institutet; Stockholm Sweden
- Sophiahemmet University; Stockholm Sweden
- Research and Development Unit in Palliative care; Stockholms Sjukhem Foundation; Stockholm Sweden
| | - Susanne Lind
- Palliative Research Centre; Ersta Sköndal University College and Ersta Hospital; Stockholm Sweden
- Department of Neurobiology; Care Sciences and Society; Karolinska Institutet; Stockholm Sweden
| | - Anna Sandgren
- School of Health Sciences; Jönköping University; Jönköping Sweden
- Center for Collaborative Palliative Care; Department of Health and Caring Sciences; Linneaus University; Kalmar/Växjö Sweden
| | - Joakim Öhlén
- Institute of Health and Care Sciences; The Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg; Gothenburg Sweden
- University of Gothenburg Centre for Person-Centred Care (GPCC); University of Gothenburg; Gothenburg Sweden
- Palliative Research Centre; Ersta Sköndal University College and Ersta Hospital; Stockholm Sweden
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29
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Köberich S, Ziehm J, Farin E, Becker G. Barriers and Facilitators to Palliative Care of Patients with Chronic Heart Failure in Germany: A Study Protocol. J Public Health Res 2015; 4:556. [PMID: 26425500 PMCID: PMC4568429 DOI: 10.4081/jphr.2015.556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2015] [Accepted: 03/19/2015] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Despite its high prevalence, similar symptoms and symptom burden, people suffering from chronic heart failure receive less palliative care than patients with malignant diseases. Internationally, numerous barriers to palliative care of patients with chronic heart failure are known, however, there are no credible data regarding barriers and facilitators to palliative care of people suffering from chronic heart failure available for Germany. Design and Methods Tripartite study. First part of this study evaluates health care providers’ (physicians and nurses) perceived barriers and facilitators to palliative care of patients with chronic heart failure using a qualitative approach. At least 18 persons will be interviewed. In the second part, based on the results of part one, a questionnaire about barriers and facilitators to palliative care of patients with chronic heart failure will be designed and applied to at least 150 physicians and nurses. In the last part a classic Delphi method will be used to develop specific measures to improve the palliative care for chronic heart failure patients. Expected Impact for Public Health The results of this study will help to understand why patients with heart failure are seldom referred to palliative care and will provide solutions to overcome these barriers. Developed solutions will be the first step to improve palliative care in patients with heart failure in Germany. In addition, the results will help health care providers in other countries to take action to improve palliative care situations for heart failure patients. Significance for public health Patients with chronic heart failure suffer from similar symptoms and symptom burden than patients with malignant diseases. However, palliative care differs between these groups in a quantitative and qualitative way. This study will help to understand why patients with chronic heart failure receive less palliative care than patients with malignant disease. In addition, measures to overcome barriers and to promote facilitators of palliative care in patients with chronic heart failure will be developed. These recommendations could provide a basis for quality improvement projects or studies aiming at improving symptoms and symptom burden of heart failure patients. The recommended measures could also be used to reduce caregiver burden.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Köberich
- Institute for Quality Management and Social Medicine, Medical Centre - University of Freiburg , Germany ; Heart Centre, University of Freiburg , Germany
| | - Jeantte Ziehm
- Institute for Quality Management and Social Medicine, Medical Centre - University of Freiburg , Germany
| | - Erik Farin
- Institute for Quality Management and Social Medicine, Medical Centre - University of Freiburg , Germany
| | - Gerhild Becker
- Department of Palliative Care, Medical Centre, University of Freiburg , Germany
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Martinsson L, Heedman PA, Eriksson M, Tavelin B, Axelsson B. Increasing the number of patients receiving information about transition to end-of-life care: the effect of a half-day physician and nurse training. BMJ Support Palliat Care 2015; 6:452-458. [DOI: 10.1136/bmjspcare-2014-000688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2014] [Revised: 10/10/2014] [Accepted: 12/19/2014] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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Brännström M, Boman K. Effects of person-centred and integrated chronic heart failure and palliative home care. PREFER: a randomized controlled study. Eur J Heart Fail 2014; 16:1142-51. [PMID: 25159126 DOI: 10.1002/ejhf.151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 252] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2014] [Revised: 06/27/2014] [Accepted: 07/11/2014] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
AIMS We evaluated the outcome of person-centred and integrated Palliative advanced home caRE and heart FailurE caRe (PREFER) with regard to patient symptoms, health-related quality of life (HQRL), and hospitalizations compared with usual care. METHODS AND RESULTS From January 2011 to October 2012, 36 (26 males, 10 females, mean age 81.9 years) patients with chronic heart failure (NYHA class III-IV) were randomized to PREFER and 36 (25 males, 11 females, mean age 76.6 years) to the control group at a single centre. Prospective assessments were made at 1, 3, and 6 months using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale, Euro Qol, Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire, and rehospitalizations. Between-group analysis revealed that patients receiving PREFER had improved HRQL compared with controls (57.6 ± 19.2 vs. 48.5 ± 24.4, age-adjusted P-value = 0.05). Within-group analysis revealed a 26% improvement in the PREFER group for HRQL (P = 0.046) compared with 3% (P = 0.82) in the control group. Nausea was improved in the PREFER group (2.4 ± 2.7 vs. 1.7 ± 1.7, P = 0.02), and total symptom burden, self-efficacy, and quality of life improved by 18% (P = 0.035), 17% (P = 0.041), and 24% (P = 0.047), respectively. NYHA class improved in 11 of the 28 (39%) PREFER patients compared with 3 of the 29 (10%) control patients (P = 0.015). Fifteen rehospitalizations (103 days) occurred in the PREFER group, compared with 53 (305 days) in the control group. CONCLUSION Person-centred care combined with active heart failure and palliative care at home has the potential to improve quality of life and morbidity substantially in patients with severe chronic heart failure. TRIAL REGISTRATION NCT01304381.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margareta Brännström
- Strategic Research Program in Health Care Sciences (SFO-V), 'Bridging Research and Practice for Better Health', Department of Nursing, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
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Affiliation(s)
- Joakim Öhlén
- Palliative Research Centre, Ersta Sköndal University College, Sweden; Institute of Health and Care Sciences, The Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden; University of Gothenburg Centre for Person-Centred Care, Sweden
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33
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Andersson L, Eriksson H, Nordgren L. Differences between heart failure clinics and primary health care. Br J Community Nurs 2013; 18:288-292. [PMID: 24046927 DOI: 10.12968/bjcn.2013.18.6.288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
There is a paucity of knowledge concerning how people with heart failure experience differences between specialised heart failure clinics and primary healthcare in Sweden. This study aimed to describe differences regarding information and follow-up in heart failure clinics and primary healthcare. The study was conducted in Sweden in 2011. Four people (three men, one woman; aged 60 to 84) with heart failure (NYHA II) were interviewed. The interviews were analysed with qualitative content analysis. The findings revealed after referral from the heart failure clinic to primary healthcare, follow-ups were omitted. Still, the patients needed care, support and information. The findings are illuminated in four themes. The patients' varying and individual needs can be difficult to recognise and manage unless they are followed-up from either HFC or PHC on a regular basis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lena Andersson
- Centre for Clinical Research, Sörmland, Uppsala University, Sweden.
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