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Jan D, Kim KY. End-of-Life Care of Persons with Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias. Am J Hosp Palliat Care 2024:10499091241253838. [PMID: 38714329 DOI: 10.1177/10499091241253838] [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: 05/09/2024] Open
Abstract
End-of-life (EOL) care has been a common option for patients with terminal medical conditions such as cancers. However, the utilization of EOL care in Alzheimer disease and other dementing conditions have become available relatively recently. As the end-stage dementia approaches, the clinicians and caregivers become faced with numerous clinical challenges-delirium, neuropbehavioral symptoms, the patient's inability to communicate pain and associated discomfort, food refusal, and so on. In addition to providing quality clinical care to the EOL patients, clinicians should pay special attention to their families, assuring that their loved ones will receive supportive measures to improve quality of life (QOL).
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Affiliation(s)
- Darlon Jan
- Psychiatry Residency Program, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke, VA, USA
- Center for Healthy Aging, Carilion Clinic, Roanoke, VA, USA
| | - Kye Y Kim
- Psychiatry Residency Program, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke, VA, USA
- Center for Healthy Aging, Carilion Clinic, Roanoke, VA, USA
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2
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Spichiger F, Volken T, Larkin P, Meichtry AA, Koppitz A. Inter-rating reliability of the Swiss easy-read integrated palliative care outcome scale for people with dementia. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0286557. [PMID: 37531385 PMCID: PMC10395940 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0286557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Integrated Palliative Care Outcome Scale for People with Dementia is a promising instrument for nursing home quality improvement and research in dementia care. It enables frontline staff in nursing homes to understand and rate the needs and concerns of people with dementia. We recently adapted the measure to include easy language for users from various educational backgrounds. OBJECTIVES In this study, we examine the inter-rating reliability of the Integrated Palliative Care Outcome Scale for People with Dementia for frontline staff in nursing homes. METHODS In this secondary analysis of an experimental study, 317 frontline staff members in 23 Swiss nursing homes assessed 240 people with dementia from a convenience sample. Reliability for individual items was computed using Fleiss Kappa. Because of the nested nature of the primary data, a generalisability and dependability study was performed for an experimental IPOS-Dem sum score. RESULTS The individual Integrated Palliative Care Outcome Scale for People with Dementia items showed kappa values between .38 (95% CI .3-.48) and .15 (95% CI .08-.22). For the experimental IPOS-Dem sum score, a dependability index of .57 was found. The different ratings and time between ratings explain less than 2% of the variance in the sum score. The different nursing homes make up 12% and the people with dementia make up 43% of the sum score variance. The dependability study indicates that an experimental IPOS-Dem sum score could be acceptable for research by averaging two ratings. CONCLUSION Limited research has been conducted on the measurement error and reliability of patient-centred outcome measures for people with dementia who are living in nursing homes. The Swiss Easy-Read IPOS-Dem is a promising instrument but requires further improvement to be reliable for research or decision making. Future studies may look at its measurement properties for different rater populations or at different stages of dementia. Furthermore, there is a need to establish the construct validity and internal consistency of the easy-read IPOS-Dem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Spichiger
- UNIL, Institute of Higher Education and Research in Healthcare, Lausanne, Switzerland
- HES-So, School of Health Sciences Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Thomas Volken
- ZHAW, School of Health Sciences, Winterthur, Switzerland
| | - Philip Larkin
- UNIL, Institute of Higher Education and Research in Healthcare, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Palliative and Supportive Care Service, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - André Anton Meichtry
- School of Health Professionals, Bern University of Applied Sciences, Bern, Switzerland
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Measuring relatives' perceptions of end-of-life communication with physicians in five countries: a psychometric analysis. Eur J Ageing 2022; 19:1561-1570. [PMID: 36692786 PMCID: PMC9729495 DOI: 10.1007/s10433-022-00742-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The Family Perceptions of Physician-Family Caregiver Communication scale (FPPFC) was developed to assess quality of physician-family end-of-life communication in nursing homes. However, its validity has been tested only in the USA and the Netherlands. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the FPPFC construct validity and its reliability, as well as the psychometric characteristics of the items comprising the scale. Data were collected in cross-sectional study in Belgium, Finland, Italy, the Netherlands and Poland. The factorial structure was tested in confirmatory factor analysis. Item parameters were obtained using an item response theory model. Participants were 737 relatives of nursing home residents who died up to 3 months prior to the study. In general, the FPPFC scale proved to be a unidimensional and reliable measure of the perceived quality of physician-family communication in nursing home settings in all five countries. Nevertheless, we found unsatisfactory fit to the data with a confirmatory model. An item that referred to advance care planning performed less well in Poland and Italy than in the Northern European countries. In the item analysis, we found that with no loss of reliability and with increased coherency of the item content across countries, the full 7-item version can be shortened to a 4-item version, which may be more appropriate for international studies. Therefore, we recommend use of the brief 4-item FPPFC version by nursing home managers and professionals as an evaluation tool, and by researchers for their studies as these four items confer the same meaning across countries.
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Puente-Fernández D, Olivencia Peña P, Soto-Felipe C, Montoya-Juárez R, Roldán C, García-Caro MP. Quality of dying among elderly people diagnosed with dementia in nursing homes: A mixed methods study. J Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs 2022; 30:435-450. [PMID: 36066569 DOI: 10.1111/jpm.12871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT Nurses working at nursing homes can play a pivotal role in mental health as a high proportion of residents diagnosed with dementia are in these facilities. Many institutionalized residents diagnosed with dementia develop clinical complications and symptoms that reduce the quality of dying. A mixed-methods approach can help nurses with the difficult task of assessing the quality of dying among these residents and identify inconsistencies that cannot be found using scales alone, but no studies were found in this topic. WHAT THE PAPER ADDS TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE Through the Quality of dying in Long-Term Care Scale (QoD-LTC), nurses described symptom management, quality of care, and end-of-life appearance as adequate and end-of-life communication as lacking. Generally speaking, the scores on the scale were consistent with the data from semi-structured interviews conducted with nurses. In the semi-structured interviews, some of the concepts on the scale, including 'dignity', 'holistic' care, 'good relationships with healthcare professionals', and 'a peaceful death', are complex and not fully incorporated into nurses' practice in nursing homes when assessing residents diagnosed with dementia. This could be improved by using the SENSES Model or person-centred care frameworks. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE?: There is evidence of shortcomings among professionals in the correct use of concepts linked to psychological wellbeing, communication, therapeutic relationship, safety and participation, preservation of dignity, decision-making, and resident autonomy, which can be addressed using specific theoretical approaches developed in the field of mental health nursing. ABSTRACT Introduction The complex nature of end-of-life assessment of individuals diagnosed with dementia would benefit from a mixed-methods approach that simultaneously assess the perception and response of nurses to standardized tools. Aim/Question To examine nursing professionals' perceptions of the quality of dying among residents diagnosed with dementia using the Quality of Dying in Long-Term Care settings (QoD-LTC) questionnaire and to identify consistencies and inconsistencies in their narratives. Method Mixed-methods study using concurrent triangulation with data integration for results and interpretation. Nurses from eight nursing homes assessed 117 residents diagnosed with dementia who died in the previous 3 months using the QoD-LTC scale. After informed consent was obtained (nurses/caregivers), 17 semi-structured scale-based interviews were conducted. Results Symptom management, quality of care, and end-of-life appearance were found to be adequate, while end-of-life communication was deemed insufficient. The qualitative and quantitative data were consistent for most of the items on the QoD-LTC. Discussion Concepts such as dignity, holistic care, good relationships, and peaceful death are complex and not fully incorporated into professional practice. Implications for Practice The results highlight the need for greater involvement of mental health nurses as well as improved communication, training, and specific tools tailored to residents diagnosed with dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Puente-Fernández
- Programa de doctorado en Medicina clínica y salud Pública, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.,Department of Nursing, University of Jaén, Jaén, Spain
| | | | | | - Rafael Montoya-Juárez
- Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada - IBS Granada, Granada, Spain.,Mind, Brain and Behaviour Research Centre (CIMCYC), University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Concepción Roldán
- Department of Statistics and Operational Research, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - María Paz García-Caro
- Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada - IBS Granada, Granada, Spain.,Mind, Brain and Behaviour Research Centre (CIMCYC), University of Granada, Granada, Spain
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Which has more influence on a family's assessment of the quality of dying of their long-term care resident with dementia: Frequency of symptoms or quality of communication with healthcare team? Palliat Support Care 2022; 21:438-444. [PMID: 35346414 DOI: 10.1017/s1478951522000323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Symptoms present at the end of life and the quality of communication with the healthcare team have both been shown to impact family assessments of the quality of dying of their loved one with dementia. However, the relative contributions of these two factors to family assessments have not yet been investigated. To address this knowledge gap, we explored which of these two factors has more influence on family assessments of the quality of dying of long-term care (LTC) residents with dementia. METHOD This is a secondary analysis of a mortality follow-back study. Ninety-four family members of LTC residents who had died with dementia assessed the quality of dying (very good or not very good), the frequency of symptoms, and the quality of communication with the healthcare team using a self-administered questionnaire mailed 1 month after the resident's death. Logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the relative contributions of the two independent variables of primary interest (frequency of symptoms and quality of communication) to the families' assessments of the quality of dying. RESULTS Multivariate analyses revealed that the quality of communication with the healthcare team was closely linked to the quality of dying (p = 0.009, OR = 1.34, 95% CI = 1.09-1.65), whereas the frequency of symptoms was not (p = 0.142, OR = 1.05, 95% CI = 0.98-1.11) after controlling for potential confounders. SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS Our findings show that healthcare providers' ability to engage in the end-of-life conversations with families outweighs the frequency of symptoms in family assessments of the quality of dying of their relative with dementia. Enhancing healthcare providers' ability to communicate with families about the end-of-life care could improve families' perceptions of the quality of dying of their relative with dementia and, consequently, ease their grieving process.
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Kolagari S, Khoddam H, Guirimand F, Teymouri Yeganeh L, Mahmoudian A. Psychometric Properties of the 'Patients' Perspective of the Quality of Palliative Care Scale'. Indian J Palliat Care 2022; 28:64-74. [PMID: 35673378 PMCID: PMC9165455 DOI: 10.25259/ijpc_72_2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives Palliative care is a basic human right for all patients suffering from progressive and excruciating pain, limitations in daily activities as well as requiring constant care. The development of palliative care is always associated with the physical, psychological, social and spiritual care quality level and requires continuous evaluation by the care-receiving patients. This study aimed to determine the psychometric properties of the patients' perspective of the quality of palliative care scale. Materials and Methods This methodological study was conducted on 500 patients with chronic diseases admitted to the hospitals affiliated in Golestan University of Medical Sciences, between 2019 and 2020. Participants were selected through stratified sampling through proportional allocation as well as considering the bed occupancy rate in the two referral hospitals of the university. According to Wild approach, we translated the original version of the scale the patients' perspectives of the quality of the palliative care scale with 35 items and eight subscales. Using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, the psychometric properties of the scale (i.e., initial reliability and face, content, convergent and construct validities) were assessed. The reliability of the scale was calculated by applying Cronbach's alpha coefficient, McDonald's omega coefficient and the Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). SPSS-16 and AMOS-24 software programs were used to analyse the data. Results Three items were omitted after assessing the initial reliability of the translated version of the perspectives of the quality of the palliative care scale using adjusted Cronbach's alpha. The qualitative face validity and impact score of the remaining items of the scale were confirmed by the target group. Meanwhile, a panel of experts confirmed the content validity ratio and content validity index. Convergent validity was approved by calculating the average variance extracted >0.5. Performing EFA led to the extraction of 7 subscales with 32 items. CFA and goodness of fit indices such as GFI = 0.98, CFI = 0.91, RMSEA = 0.048 and GFI = 0.97 confirmed the construct model by omitting three items. Hence, the Persian version of the patient's perspective of the quality of palliative care scale was finalised, including seven subscales with 29 items. ICC of >0.7 represented good reliability. Moreover, Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega coefficient confirmed the internal consistency of the scale. Conclusion Based on the findings of this study, the Persian version of the patients' perspective of the quality of palliative care scale is introduced as a valid and reliable scale. It can accurately indicate and predict the meticulous quality of such care in hospitalised patients and can be used in the cure and care assessments in the health system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shohreh Kolagari
- Nursing Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
| | - Homeira Khoddam
- Nursing Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
| | - Frédéric Guirimand
- Pôle Recherche et Enseignement Universitaire, Soins Palliatifs en Société, Maison MédicaleJeanne-Garnier, Paris, France
| | | | - Amaneh Mahmoudian
- School of Nursing, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
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7
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What Clinicians Need to Know About Measurement. J Am Med Dir Assoc 2021; 22:1606-1608. [PMID: 34334161 DOI: 10.1016/j.jamda.2021.06.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Puente-Fernández D, Jimeno-Ucles R, Mota-Romero E, Roldán C, Froggatt K, Montoya-Juárez R. Cultural Adaptation and Validation of the Quality of Dying in Long-Term Care Scale (QoD-LTC) for Spanish Nursing Homes. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:5287. [PMID: 34065678 PMCID: PMC8156125 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18105287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is a need for instruments that can evaluate the psychosocial quality of dying in nursing homes. The aim of this study was to adapt and validate the Quality of Dying in Long-Term Care scale (QoD-LTC) to the Spanish context. METHODS Descriptive cross-sectional study. Fourteen nurses from 7 facilities in southern Spain assessed 153 residents who died in the centers; validity, reliability, and feasibility were evaluated. RESULTS The Spanish version consists of 11 items with acceptable reliability (α = 0.681). Three factors model was validated by principal components analysis. A mean of 180.62 (SD = 86.66) seconds is needed to fill it in. An inter-observer 0.753 (95% CI: 0.391-0.900, p< 0.001) and intra-observer 0.855 (95% CI: 0.568-0.951 p = 0.001) reliability were observed. Weak correlation was observed; positive with mono-item question (0.322) and negative with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) with a value of (-0.321) and Integrated Palliative outcome scale (IPOS) with a value of (-0.252). CONCLUSIONS The QoD-LTC scale presents an adequate factorial structure, internal consistency, and feasibility to evaluate psychosocial quality of dying in nursing homes. It can be used as a quality indicator.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Puente-Fernández
- Doctoral Program of Clinical Medicine and Public Health, University of Granada, 18012 Granada, Spain
| | | | - Emilio Mota-Romero
- Salvador Caballero Primary Care Centre, Andalusian Health Service, 18012 Granada, Spain;
| | - Concepción Roldán
- Department of Statistics and Operational Research, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain;
| | - Katherine Froggatt
- Formerly International Observatory on End-of-Life Care, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YD, UK;
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Wichmann AB, Adang EMM, Vissers KCP, Szczerbińska K, Kylänen M, Payne S, Gambassi G, Onwuteaka-Philipsen BD, Smets T, Van den Block L, Deliens L, Vernooij-Dassen MJFJ, Engels Y. Decreased costs and retained QoL due to the 'PACE Steps to Success' intervention in LTCFs: cost-effectiveness analysis of a randomized controlled trial. BMC Med 2020; 18:258. [PMID: 32957971 PMCID: PMC7507669 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-020-01720-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The number of residents in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) in need of palliative care is growing in the Western world. Therefore, it is foreseen that significantly higher percentages of budgets will be spent on palliative care. However, cost-effectiveness analyses of palliative care interventions in these settings are lacking. Therefore, the objective of this paper was to assess the cost-effectiveness of the 'PACE Steps to Success' intervention. PACE (Palliative Care for Older People) is a 1-year palliative care programme aiming at integrating general palliative care into day-to-day routines in LTCFs, throughout seven EU countries. METHODS A cluster RCT was conducted. LTCFs were randomly assigned to intervention or usual care. LTCFs reported deaths of residents, about whom questionnaires were filled in retrospectively about resource use and quality of the last month of life. A health care perspective was adopted. Direct medical costs, QALYs based on the EQ-5D-5L and costs per quality increase measured with the QOD-LTC were outcome measures. RESULTS Although outcomes on the EQ-5D-5L remained the same, a significant increase on the QOD-LTC (3.19 points, p value 0.00) and significant cost-savings were achieved in the intervention group (€983.28, p value 0.020). The cost reduction mainly resulted from decreased hospitalization-related costs (€919.51, p value 0.018). CONCLUSIONS Costs decreased and QoL was retained due to the PACE Steps to Success intervention. Significant cost savings and improvement in quality of end of life (care) as measured with the QOD-LTC were achieved. A clinically relevant difference of almost 3 nights shorter hospitalizations in favour of the intervention group was found. This indicates that timely palliative care in the LTCF setting can prevent lengthy hospitalizations while retaining QoL. In line with earlier findings, we conclude that integrating general palliative care into daily routine in LTCFs can be cost-effective. TRIAL REGISTRATION ISRCTN14741671 .
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne B Wichmann
- IQ Health Care, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
- Department of Anaesthesiology, Pain and Palliative Medicine, Radboud University Medical Centre, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Eddy M M Adang
- Department for Health Evidencef, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Kris C P Vissers
- Department of Anaesthesiology, Pain and Palliative Medicine, Radboud University Medical Centre, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Katarzyna Szczerbińska
- Unit for Research on Aging Society, Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine Chair, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland
| | - Marika Kylänen
- National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Sheila Payne
- Division of Health Research, Lancaster University, Lancaster, England
| | - Giovanni Gambassi
- Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS and Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Bregje D Onwuteaka-Philipsen
- Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Tinne Smets
- End-of-Life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel & Ghent University, Brussel, Belgium
| | - Lieve Van den Block
- End-of-Life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel & Ghent University, Brussel, Belgium
| | - Luc Deliens
- End-of-Life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel & Ghent University, Brussel, Belgium
| | - Myrra J F J Vernooij-Dassen
- IQ Health Care, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Yvonne Engels
- Department of Anaesthesiology, Pain and Palliative Medicine, Radboud University Medical Centre, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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Miranda R, van der Steen JT, Smets T, Van den Noortgate N, Deliens L, Payne S, Kylänen M, Szczerbińska K, Gambassi G, Van den Block L. Comfort and clinical events at the end of life of nursing home residents with and without dementia: The six-country epidemiological PACE study. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 2020; 35:719-727. [PMID: 32128874 DOI: 10.1002/gps.5290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2019] [Revised: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We aimed to investigate the occurrence rates of clinical events and their associations with comfort in dying nursing home residents with and without dementia. METHODS Epidemiological after-death survey was performed in nationwide representative samples of 322 nursing homes in Belgium, Finland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, and England. Nursing staff reported clinical events and assessed comfort. The nursing staff or physician assessed the presence of dementia; severity was determined using two highly discriminatory staff-reported instruments. RESULTS The sample comprised 401 residents with advanced dementia, 377 with other stages of dementia, and 419 without dementia (N = 1197). Across the three groups, pneumonia occurred in 24 to 27% of residents. Febrile episodes (unrelated to pneumonia) occurred in 39% of residents with advanced dementia, 34% in residents with other stages of dementia and 28% in residents without dementia (P = .03). Intake problems occurred in 74% of residents with advanced dementia, 55% in residents with other stages of dementia, and 48% in residents without dementia (P < .001). Overall, these three clinical events were inversely associated with comfort. Less comfort was observed in all resident groups who had pneumonia (advanced dementia, P = .04; other stages of dementia, P = .04; without dementia, P < .001). Among residents with intake problems, less comfort was observed only in those with other stages of dementia (P < .001) and without dementia (P = .003), while the presence and severity of dementia moderated this association (P = .03). Developing "other clinical events" was not associated with comfort. CONCLUSIONS Discomfort was observed in dying residents who developed major clinical events, especially pneumonia, which was not specific to advanced dementia. It is crucial to identify and address the clinical events potentially associated with discomfort in dying residents with and without dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rose Miranda
- End-of-Life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and Ghent University, Brussels, Belgium.,Department of Family Medicine and Chronic Care, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Jenny T van der Steen
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.,Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam Public Health research institute, Expertise center for Palliative Care, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Primary and Community Care, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Tinne Smets
- End-of-Life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and Ghent University, Brussels, Belgium.,Department of Family Medicine and Chronic Care, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | | | - Luc Deliens
- End-of-Life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and Ghent University, Brussels, Belgium.,Department of Family Medicine and Chronic Care, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium.,Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sheila Payne
- International Observatory on End-of-Life Care, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
| | - Marika Kylänen
- National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Katarzyna Szczerbińska
- Unit for Research on Aging Society, Department of Sociology of Medicine, Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine Chair, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
| | - Giovanni Gambassi
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy.,Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Lieve Van den Block
- End-of-Life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and Ghent University, Brussels, Belgium.,Department of Family Medicine and Chronic Care, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
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Tay RY, Hum AYM, Ali NB, Leong IYO, Wu HY, Chin JJ, Lee AOK, Koh MYH. Comfort and Satisfaction With Care of Home-Dwelling Dementia Patients at the End of Life. J Pain Symptom Manage 2020; 59:1019-1032.e1. [PMID: 31837451 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2019.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2019] [Revised: 12/02/2019] [Accepted: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT Despite the preference to pass away at home, many dementia patients die in institutions, resulting in a paucity of studies examining end-of-life care outcomes in the home setting. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to identify modifiable factors associated with the comfort of dementia patients dying at home and families' satisfaction with care. METHODS This is a prospective cohort study conducted from October 2014 to April 2019 in Singapore. Dementia patients at Stage 7 on the Functional Assessment Staging Scale, with albumin <35 g/L, enteral feeding, or pneumonia, were recruited from a palliative homecare program. Independent variables included demographics, medical information, and care preferences. The Comfort Assessment in Dying with Dementia scale assessed dying patients' comfort, whereas the Satisfaction with Care at the End-of-Life in Dementia scale evaluated family caregivers' satisfaction two months after bereavement. Gamma regression identified factors independently associated with comfort and satisfaction. RESULTS The median age of 202 deceased patients whose comfort was assessed was 88 years. Anti-cholinergic prescription (60.4% of patients) [β (95% CI) = 1.823 (0.660-2.986), P = 0.002] was positively associated with comfort, whereas opioid prescription (89.6%) [β (95% CI) = -2.179 (-4.107 to -0.251), P = 0.027] and >1 antibiotic courses used in the last two weeks of life (77.2%) [β (95% CI) = -1.968 (-3.196 to -0.740), P = 0.002] were negatively associated. Independent factors associated with families' satisfaction with care were comfort [β (95% CI) = 0.149 (0.012-0.286), P = 0.033] and honoring of medical intervention preferences (96.0%) [β (95% CI) = 3.969 (1.485-6.453), P = 0.002]. CONCLUSION Achieving comfort and satisfaction with care for dementia patients dying at home involves an interplay of modifiable factors. Honoring medical intervention preferences, such as those with palliative intent associated with patients' comfort, determined families' satisfaction with care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ri Yin Tay
- Dover Park Hospice, The Palliative Care Centre for Excellence in Research and Education, Singapore.
| | - Allyn Y M Hum
- Dover Park Hospice, The Palliative Care Centre for Excellence in Research and Education, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore
| | | | | | - Huei Yaw Wu
- The Palliative Care Centre for Excellence in Research and Education, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore
| | | | | | - Mervyn Y H Koh
- The Palliative Care Centre for Excellence in Research and Education, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore
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12
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Zhao J, Wong FKY, You L, Tao H. Validation of the Chinese Version of the Good Death Inventory for Evaluating End-of-Life Care From the Perspective of the Bereaved Family. J Pain Symptom Manage 2019; 58:472-480. [PMID: 31173872 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2019.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2019] [Revised: 05/26/2019] [Accepted: 05/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT It is essential to evaluate good death of patients with cancer. However, currently, there is no validated measurement tool available in Mainland China. OBJECTIVES To validate the Chinese version of the Good Death Inventory (GDI). METHODS An online survey was distributed to the bereaved family members of patients with cancer (from 10 medical institutes) who died between January 2014 and December 2016. The survey included the demographic characteristics of the patients and their family members, the Chinese version of the GDI, overall satisfaction of family members regarding the end-of-life care, as well as the patients' overall quality of death and dying, and overall quality of life. RESULTS A total of 305 valid responses were analyzed. The average score of the GDI was 241.20 ± 39.45. The Cronbach's α coefficient of the GDI was 0.896 overall and ranged from 0.561 to 0.950 for the subdomains. The fit indices for the original 18-factor model were acceptable: root mean square error of approximation = 0.044, Comparative Fit Index = 0.900, Tucker-Lewis Index = 0.892, and standardized root mean square residual = 0.073. The total scores of the GDI were moderately correlated with overall satisfaction with medical care (r = 0.411, P < 0.01), patient's quality of life (r = 0.468, P < 0.01), and quality of death and dying (r = 0.441, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS The psychometric characteristics of the Chinese version of the GDI indicate that this questionnaire is reliable and valid. It can be used as a tool for the assessment of quality of death and dying of patients with cancer among the Chinese population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juanjuan Zhao
- School of Nursing, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | | | - Liming You
- School of Nursing, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hongmei Tao
- Department of Nursing, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China
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13
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Tools Measuring Quality of Death, Dying, and Care, Completed after Death: Systematic Review of Psychometric Properties. PATIENT-PATIENT CENTERED OUTCOMES RESEARCH 2019; 12:183-197. [PMID: 30141020 PMCID: PMC6397142 DOI: 10.1007/s40271-018-0328-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Introduction Measuring the quality of care at the end of life and/or the quality of dying and death can be challenging. Some measurement tools seek to assess the quality of care immediately prior to death; others retrospectively assess, following death, the quality of end-of-life care. The comparative evaluation of the properties and application of the various instruments has been limited. Objective This systematic review identified and critically appraised the psychometric properties and applicability of tools used after death. Method We conducted a systematic review according to PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines by systematically searching MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, and PsycINFO for relevant studies. We then appraised the psychometric properties and the quality of reporting of the psychometric properties of the identified tools using the COSMIN (Consensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement Instruments) checklist. The protocol of this systematic review has been registered on PROSPERO (CRD42016047296). Results The search identified 4751 studies. Of these, 33 met the inclusion criteria, reporting on the psychometric properties of 67 tools. These tools measured quality of care at the end of life (n = 35), quality of dying and death (n = 22), or both quality of care at the end of life and dying and death (n = 10). Most tools were completed by family carers (n = 57), with some also completed by healthcare professionals (HCPs) (n = 2) or just HCPs (n = 8). No single tool was found to be adequate across all the psychometric properties assessed. Two quality of care at the end of life tools—Care of the Dying Evaluation and Satisfaction with Care at the End of Life in Dementia—had strong psychometric properties in most respects. Two tools assessing quality of dying and death—the Quality of Dying and Death and the newly developed Staff Perception of End of Life Experience—had limited to moderate evidence of good psychometric properties. Two tools assessing both quality of care and quality of dying and death—the Quality Of Dying in Long-Term Care for cognitively intact populations and Good Death Inventory (Korean version)—had the best psychometric properties. Conclusion Four tools demonstrated some promise, but no single tool was consistent across all psychometric properties assessed. All tools identified would benefit from further psychometric testing. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s40271-018-0328-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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14
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Boyd M, Frey R, Balmer D, Robinson J, McLeod H, Foster S, Slark J, Gott M. End of life care for long-term care residents with dementia, chronic illness and cancer: prospective staff survey. BMC Geriatr 2019; 19:137. [PMID: 31117991 PMCID: PMC6532195 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-019-1159-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2018] [Accepted: 05/14/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Little is known about the quality of end of life care in long-term care (LTC) for residents with different diagnostic trajectories. The aim of this study was to compare symptoms before death in LTC for those with cancer, dementia or chronic illness. Methods After-death prospective staff survey of resident deaths with random cluster sampling in 61 representative LTC facilities across New Zealand (3709 beds). Deaths (n = 286) were studied over 3 months in each facility. Standardised questionnaires - Symptom Management (SM-EOLD) and Comfort Assessment in End of life with Dementia (CAD-EOLD) - were administered to staff after the resident’s death. Results Primary diagnoses at the time of death were dementia (49%), chronic illness (30%), cancer (17%), and dementia and cancer (4%). Residents with cancer had more community hospice involvement (30%) than those with chronic illness (12%) or dementia (5%). There was no difference in mean SM-EOLD in the last month of life by diagnosis (cancer 26.9 (8.6), dementia 26.5(8.2), chronic illness 26.9(8.6). Planned contrast analyses of individual items found people with dementia had more pain and those with cancer had less anxiety. There was no difference in mean CAD-EOLD scores in the week before death by diagnosis (total sample 33.7(SD 5.2), dementia 34.4(SD 5.2), chronic illness 33.0(SD 5.1), cancer 33.3(5.1)). Planned contrast analyses showed significantly more physical symptoms for those with dementia and chronic illness in the last month of life than those with cancer. Conclusions Overall, symptoms in the last week and month of life did not vary by diagnosis. However, sub-group planned contrast analyses found those with dementia and chronic illness experienced more physical distress during the last weeks and months of life than those with cancer. These results highlight the complex nature of LTC end of life care that requires an integrated gerontology/palliative care approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Boyd
- School of Nursing, The University of Auckland, Private Bag, Auckland, 92019, New Zealand. .,Freemasons' Department of Geriatric Medicine, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
| | - Rosemary Frey
- School of Nursing, The University of Auckland, Private Bag, Auckland, 92019, New Zealand
| | - Deborah Balmer
- School of Nursing, The University of Auckland, Private Bag, Auckland, 92019, New Zealand
| | - Jackie Robinson
- School of Nursing, The University of Auckland, Private Bag, Auckland, 92019, New Zealand
| | - Heather McLeod
- School of Nursing, The University of Auckland, Private Bag, Auckland, 92019, New Zealand
| | - Susan Foster
- School of Nursing, The University of Auckland, Private Bag, Auckland, 92019, New Zealand
| | - Julia Slark
- School of Nursing, The University of Auckland, Private Bag, Auckland, 92019, New Zealand
| | - Merryn Gott
- School of Nursing, The University of Auckland, Private Bag, Auckland, 92019, New Zealand
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15
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Guirimand F, Martel-Samb P, Guy-Coichard C, Picard S, Devalois B, Copel L, Abel A, Ghadi V. Development and validation of a French questionnaire concerning patients' perspectives of the quality of palliative care: the QUALI-PALLI-Patient. BMC Palliat Care 2019; 18:19. [PMID: 30744627 PMCID: PMC6369559 DOI: 10.1186/s12904-019-0403-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2017] [Accepted: 01/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Indicators for the quality of palliative care are a priority of caregivers and managers to allow improvement of various care settings and their comparison. The involvement of patients and families is of paramount, although this is rarely achieved in practice. No validated assessment tools are available in French. Simple cultural adaption of existing questionnaires may be insufficient, due to the varying organization of care in different countries. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a new instrument to measure the quality of palliative care and satisfaction from the patient point of view. Methods Results from a qualitative study were used by a multi-professional workgroup to construct an initial set of 42 items exploring six domains. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in seven hospitals, encompassing three care settings: two palliative care units, one palliative care hospital, and four standard medical units with a mobile palliative care team. All items were assessed for acceptability. We conducted exploratory structural analysis using Principal Component Analysis (PCA), and evaluated external validity by comparison against global rating of satisfaction and the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory (MDASI) questionnaire. Results A total of 214 patients completed the questionnaire. After removing 7 items from the response distribution, PCA identified eight interpretable domains from the 35 final items: availability of caregivers, serenity, quality of information, pain management, caregivers’ listening skills, psychosocial and spiritual aspects, possibility to refuse (care or volunteers), and respect for the patient. Internal consistency was good or acceptable for all subscales (Cronbach’s α 0.5–0.84), except the last one (0.15). Factorial structure was found globally maintained across subgroups defined by age, sex, Palliative Performance Scale (PPS ≥ 60%, 40–50% and ≤ 30%), and care settings. General satisfaction was inversely correlated with the 2 scores of the MDASI questionnaire: symptoms’ severity and impact on life. Each subscale, except “possibility to refuse”, correlated with general satisfaction. Conclusions Quali-Palli-Pat appears to be a valid, reliable, and well-accepted French tool to explore the quality of care and the satisfaction of palliative care patients. It should be confirmed in a wider sample of care settings. Trial registration clinicaltrials.gov NCT02814682, registration date 28.6.2016. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12904-019-0403-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frédéric Guirimand
- Pôle recherche SPES "Soins Palliatifs en Société", Maison Médicale Jeanne Garnier, 106 avenue Emile Zola, 75015, Paris, France.
| | - Patricia Martel-Samb
- Unité de Recherche Clinique URC HU PIFO, AP-HP, Hôpital Ambroise Paré, Boulogne, France
| | | | - Stéphane Picard
- Unité de Soins Palliatifs, Groupe Hospitalier Diaconesses Croix Saint-Simon, Paris, France
| | - Bernard Devalois
- Centre de Recherche Interprofessionnel Bientraitance et Fin de Vie, Service de Médecine Palliative, Hôpital de Pontoise, Pontoise, France
| | - Laure Copel
- Unité de Soins Palliatifs, Groupe Hospitalier Diaconesses Croix Saint-Simon, Paris, France
| | - Anne Abel
- Équipe Mobile de Soins Palliatifs, AP-HP, Hôpital Ambroise Paré, Boulogne, France
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16
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Bolt SR, Verbeek L, Meijers JMM, van der Steen JT. Families' Experiences With End-of-Life Care in Nursing Homes and Associations With Dying Peacefully With Dementia. J Am Med Dir Assoc 2019; 20:268-272. [PMID: 30718151 DOI: 10.1016/j.jamda.2018.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2018] [Revised: 11/28/2018] [Accepted: 12/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To examine family caregivers' experiences with end-of-life care for nursing home residents with dementia and associations with the residents dying peacefully. DESIGN A secondary data analysis of family caregiver data collected in the observational Dutch End of Life in Dementia (DEOLD) study between 2007 and 2010. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS Data were collected at 34 Dutch nursing homes (2799 beds) representing the nation. We included 252 reports from bereaved family members of nursing home residents with dementia. MEASURES The primary outcome was dying peacefully, assessed by family members using an item from the Quality of Dying in Long-term Care instrument. Unpleasant experiences with end-of-life care were investigated using open-ended questions. Overall satisfaction with end-of-life care was assessed with the End-of-Life Satisfaction With Care (EOLD-SWC) scale, and families' appraisal of decision making was measured with the Decision Satisfaction Inventory. Associations were investigated with multilevel linear regression analyses using generalized estimating equations. RESULTS Families' reports of unpleasant experiences translated into 2 themes: neglect and lack of respect. Neglect involved facing inaccessibility, disinterest, or discontinuity of relations, and negligence in tailored care and information. Lack of respect involved perceptions of being purposefully disregarded, an insensitive approach towards resident and family, noncompliance with agreements, and violations of privacy. Unpleasant experiences with end-of-life care were negatively associated with families' perceptions of the resident dying peacefully. Families' assessment of their relative dying peacefully was positively associated with satisfaction with end-of-life care and decision making. CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS Families' reports of unpleasant experiences with end-of-life care may inform practice to improve perceived quality of dying of their loved ones. Humane and compassionate care and attention from physicians and other staff for resident and family may facilitate recollections of a peaceful death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sascha R Bolt
- Department of Health Services Research, CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Health Medicine and Lifesciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
| | - Laura Verbeek
- Department of Health Services Research, CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Health Medicine and Lifesciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Judith M M Meijers
- Department of Health Services Research, CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Health Medicine and Lifesciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Zuyderland Care, Zuyderland Medical Center, Sittart-Geleen, the Netherlands
| | - Jenny T van der Steen
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands; Department of Primary and Community Care, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
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17
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Pivodic L, Smets T, Van den Noortgate N, Onwuteaka-Philipsen BD, Engels Y, Szczerbińska K, Finne-Soveri H, Froggatt K, Gambassi G, Deliens L, Van den Block L. Quality of dying and quality of end-of-life care of nursing home residents in six countries: An epidemiological study. Palliat Med 2018; 32:1584-1595. [PMID: 30273519 PMCID: PMC6238165 DOI: 10.1177/0269216318800610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nursing homes are among the most common places of death in many countries. AIM To determine the quality of dying and end-of-life care of nursing home residents in six European countries. DESIGN Epidemiological survey in a proportionally stratified random sample of nursing homes. We identified all deaths of residents of the preceding 3-month period. Main outcomes: quality of dying in the last week of life (measured using End-of-Life in Dementia Scales - Comfort Assessment while Dying (EOLD-CAD)); quality of end-of-life care in the last month of life (measured using Quality of Dying in Long-Term Care (QoD-LTC) scale). Higher scores indicate better quality. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS Three hundred and twenty-two nursing homes in Belgium, Finland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland and England. Participants were staff (nurses or care assistants) most involved in each resident's care. RESULTS Staff returned questionnaires regarding 1384 (81.6%) of 1696 deceased residents. The End-of-Life in Dementia Scales - Comfort Assessment while Dying mean score (95% confidence interval) (theoretical 14-42) ranged from 29.9 (27.6; 32.2) in Italy to 33.9 (31.5; 36.3) in England. The Quality of Dying in Long-Term Care mean score (95% confidence interval) (theoretical 11-55) ranged from 35.0 (31.8; 38.3) in Italy to 44.1 (40.7; 47.4) in England. A higher End-of-Life in Dementia Scales - Comfort Assessment while Dying score was associated with country ( p = 0.027), older age ( p = 0.012), length of stay ⩾1 year ( p = 0.034), higher functional status ( p < 0.001). A higher Quality of Dying in Long-Term Care score was associated with country ( p < 0.001), older age ( p < 0.001), length of stay ⩾1 year ( p < 0.001), higher functional status ( p = 0.002), absence of dementia ( p = 0.001), death in nursing home ( p = 0.033). CONCLUSION The quality of dying and quality of end-of-life care in nursing homes in the countries studied are not optimal. This includes countries with high levels of palliative care development in nursing homes such as Belgium, the Netherlands and England.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara Pivodic
- 1 End-of-Life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and Ghent University, Brussels and Ghent, Belgium
| | - Tinne Smets
- 1 End-of-Life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and Ghent University, Brussels and Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - Bregje D Onwuteaka-Philipsen
- 3 EMGO+ Institute for Health and Care Research, Expertise Center for Palliative Care, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Yvonne Engels
- 4 Radboud University Medical Center, Department of Anesthesiology, Pain and Palliative Medicine, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Katarzyna Szczerbińska
- 5 Unit for Research on Aging Society, Department of Sociology, Chair of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Cracow, Poland
| | | | - Katherine Froggatt
- 7 International Observatory on End-of-Life Care, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
| | - Giovanni Gambassi
- 8 Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.,9 Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Luc Deliens
- 1 End-of-Life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and Ghent University, Brussels and Ghent, Belgium
| | - Lieve Van den Block
- 1 End-of-Life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and Ghent University, Brussels and Ghent, Belgium
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18
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Smaling HJA, Joling KJ, van de Ven PM, Bosmans JE, Simard J, Volicer L, Achterberg WP, Francke AL, van der Steen JT. Effects of the Namaste Care Family programme on quality of life of nursing home residents with advanced dementia and on family caregiving experiences: study protocol of a cluster-randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open 2018; 8:e025411. [PMID: 30327407 PMCID: PMC6196971 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-025411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Quality of life of people with advanced dementia living in nursing homes is often suboptimal. Family caregivers can feel frustrated with limited contact with their relatives, which results in visits that are perceived as stressful and not very meaningful. Few psychosocial interventions are specifically developed for people with advanced dementia, and actively involve family caregivers or volunteers. Also, interventions usually stop when it becomes difficult for people to participate. The Namaste Care Family programme aims to increase the quality of life of people with advanced dementia, and improve family caregiving experiences through connecting to people and making them comfortable. METHODS AND ANALYSIS Our study will evaluate the effects of the Namaste Care Family programme on quality of life of people with advanced dementia living in nursing homes and family caregiving experiences using a cluster-randomised controlled trial. Longitudinal analyses will be performed taking into account clustering at the nursing home level. Both a cost-effectiveness and a cost-utility analysis from a societal perspective will be performed. We will modify the Namaste Care Family programme to increase family and volunteer involvement in ongoing and end-of-life care. Data collection involves assessments by family caregivers, nursing staff and elderly care physicians using questionnaires, and observations by the researchers at baseline and multiple times over 12 months. The last questionnaire will be sent up to month 24 after the death of the person with dementia. During semistructured interviews, the feasibility, accessibility and sustainability of the Namaste Care Family programme will be assessed. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION The study protocol is approved by the Medical Ethics Review Committee of the VU University Medical Center in Amsterdam (protocol no. 2016.399) and registered with the Nederlands Trial Register (NTR5692). The findings will be disseminated via publications in peer-reviewed journals, conference presentations and presentations for healthcare professionals where appropriate. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NTR5692.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanneke J A Smaling
- Department of Public and Occupational Health, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Karlijn J Joling
- Department of General Practice and Elderly Care Medicine, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Peter M van de Ven
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Judith E Bosmans
- Department of Health Sciences, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Joyce Simard
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, College of Health and Sciences, Western Sydney University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ladislav Volicer
- School of Aging Studies, University of South Florida, Land O'Lakes, Florida, USA
| | - Wilco P Achterberg
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Anneke L Francke
- Department of Public and Occupational Health, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research (NIVEL), Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jenny T van der Steen
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Department of Primary and Community Care, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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Verreault R, Arcand M, Misson L, Durand PJ, Kroger E, Aubin M, Savoie M, Hadjistavropoulos T, Kaasalainen S, Bédard A, Grégoire A, Carmichael PH. Quasi-experimental evaluation of a multifaceted intervention to improve quality of end-of-life care and quality of dying for patients with advanced dementia in long-term care institutions. Palliat Med 2018; 32:613-621. [PMID: 28731379 DOI: 10.1177/0269216317719588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Improvement in the quality of end-of-life care for advanced dementia is increasingly recognized as a priority in palliative care. AIM To evaluate the impact of a multidimensional intervention to improve quality of care and quality of dying in advanced dementia in long-term care facilities. DESIGN Quasi-experimental study with the intervention taking place in two long-term care facilities versus usual care in two others over a 1-year period. The intervention had five components: (1) training program to physicians and nursing staff, (2) clinical monitoring of pain using an observational pain scale, (3) implementation of a regular mouth care routine, (4) early and systematic communication with families about end-of-life care issues with provision of an information booklet, and (5) involvement of a nurse facilitator to implement and monitor the intervention. Quality of care was assessed with the Family Perception of Care Scale. The Symptom Management for End-of-Life Care in Dementia and the Comfort Assessment in Dying scales were used to assess the quality of dying. PARTICIPANTS A total of 193 residents with advanced dementia and their close family members were included (97 in the intervention group and 96 in the usual care group). RESULTS The Family Perception of Care score was significantly higher in the intervention group than in the usual care group (157.3 vs 149.1; p = 0.04). The Comfort Assessment and Symptom Management scores were also significantly higher in the intervention group. CONCLUSIONS Our multidimensional intervention in long-term care facilities for patients with terminal dementia resulted in improved quality of care and quality of dying when compared to usual care.
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Affiliation(s)
- René Verreault
- 1 Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Quebec City, QC, Canada.,2 Quebec Centre of Excellence on Aging, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Marcel Arcand
- 3 Faculty of Medicine, University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - Lucie Misson
- 2 Quebec Centre of Excellence on Aging, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Pierre J Durand
- 1 Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Quebec City, QC, Canada.,2 Quebec Centre of Excellence on Aging, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | | | - Michèle Aubin
- 1 Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Quebec City, QC, Canada.,2 Quebec Centre of Excellence on Aging, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | | | | | | | - Annick Bédard
- 2 Quebec Centre of Excellence on Aging, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Annie Grégoire
- 3 Faculty of Medicine, University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
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20
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Boogaard JA, de Vet HCW, van Soest-Poortvliet MC, Anema JR, Achterberg WP, van der Steen JT. Effects of two feedback interventions on end-of-life outcomes in nursing home residents with dementia: A cluster-randomized controlled three-armed trial. Palliat Med 2018; 32:693-702. [PMID: 29343173 PMCID: PMC5851130 DOI: 10.1177/0269216317750071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite increased attention for palliative care in dementia, recent studies found burdensome symptoms and unmet family caregiver needs in the last phase of life. Feedback is being used to improve the quality of palliative care, but we do not know how effective it is. AIM To assess the effect of two feedback strategies on perceived quality of end-of-life care and comfort in dying nursing home residents with dementia. METHODS In a cluster-randomized controlled trial, the End-of-Life in Dementia-Satisfaction With Care and the End-of-Life in Dementia-Comfort Assessment in Dying scales were completed by bereaved family caregivers of residents with dementia of 18 Dutch nursing homes. Two feedback strategies, generic feedback with mean End-of-Life in Dementia-scores and feedback with individual (patient-specific) End-of-Life in Dementia-scores, were compared to no feedback provided. The intervention groups discussed End-of-Life in Dementia-ratings in team meetings and formulated actions to improve care. Multi-level analyses assessed effects. RESULTS A total of 668 families rated the End-of-Life in Dementia-instruments. Compared to no feedback, the generic strategy resulted in lower quality of end-of-life care in unadjusted ( B = -1.65, confidence interval = -3.27; -0.21) and adjusted analyses ( B = -2.41, confidence interval = -4.07; -0.76), while there was no effect on comfort. The patient-specific strategy did not affect the quality of end-of-life care, but it increased comfort in unadjusted analyses (only, B = 2.20, confidence interval = 0.15; 4.39; adjusted: B = 1.88, confidence interval = -0.34; 4.10). CONCLUSION Neither feedback strategy improved end-of-life outcome. Perhaps, skills to translate the feedback into care improvement actions were insufficient. Feedback with favorable family ratings might even have triggered opposite effects. Trial number: NTR3942.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jannie A Boogaard
- 1 Department of General Practice & Elderly Care Medicine, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Henrica C W de Vet
- 2 Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Johannes R Anema
- 4 Department of Public and Occupational Health, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Wilco P Achterberg
- 5 Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Jenny T van der Steen
- 5 Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.,6 Department of Primary and Community Care, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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Measuring quality of life in opioid-dependent people: a systematic review of assessment instruments. Qual Life Res 2017; 26:3187-3200. [PMID: 28762100 PMCID: PMC5681984 DOI: 10.1007/s11136-017-1674-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/26/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Purpose Opioid dependence is a chronic relapsing disorder. Despite increasing research on quality of life (QOL) in people with opioid dependence, little attention has been paid to the instruments used. This systematic review examines the suitability of QOL instruments for use in opioid-dependent populations and the instruments’ quality. Methods A systematic search was performed in the databases Medline, PsycInfo, The Cochrane Library, and CINAHL. Articles were eligible if they assessed QOL of opioid-dependent populations using a validated QOL instrument. Item content relevance to opioid-dependent people was evaluated by means of content analysis, and instrument properties were assessed using minimum standards for patient-reported outcome measures. Results Eighty-nine articles were retrieved, yielding sixteen QOL instruments, of which ten were assessed in this review. Of the ten instruments, six were disease specific, but none for opioid dependence. Two instruments had good item content relevance. The conceptual and measurement model were described in seven instruments. Four instruments were developed with input from the respective target population. Eight instruments had low respondent and administrator burden. Psychometric properties were either not assessed in opioid-dependent populations or were inconclusive or moderate. Conclusions No instrument scored perfectly on both the content and properties. The limited suitability of instruments for opioid-dependent people hinders accurate and sensitive measurement of QOL in this population. Future research is in need of an opioid dependence-specific QOL instrument to measure the true impact of the disease on people’s lives and to evaluate treatment-related services. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s11136-017-1674-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Sánchez-García MR, Gutiérrez-Romero JA, Fernández-Alcántara M, Hueso-Montoro C, Goodman C, Montoya-Juárez R. End of life care in nursing homes in Spain: Exploratory analysis and evidences of validity of a new scale. Appl Nurs Res 2017; 37:6-12. [PMID: 28985922 DOI: 10.1016/j.apnr.2017.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2017] [Revised: 05/10/2017] [Accepted: 07/03/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Quality end-of-life care is a central issue in nursing homes, requiring the assessment of individual and family needs by health professionals. Although previous instruments have been developed, they usually rely on family reports and have been adapted from other clinical contexts (hospital or primary care). It is important to consider how health care professionals working in nursing homes perceive what is necessary to achieve quality end-of-life care. In this study, the objective was to develop an instrument to assess quality of end-of-life care in the context of Spanish care homes. A 24 item scale Nursing Home End of Life Care Scale (NHEOLC) was developed through a systematic evaluation of existing tools combined with an iterative process of consultation with group experts in end of life care in long term care settings. A total of 307 health care professionals agreed to participate in the study and completed the scale. The scale was grouped in six dimensions: physical, psychological aspects and spiritual aspects of care, family care, bereavement, and patient/family preferences management. The results suggest an adequate factorial structure of the scale and good internal consistency for the total score and the subscales. In addition, the results showed significant differences depending on the size of the nursing home, the category of health professionals, and their own perceptions of his work regarding end-of-life care.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Claire Goodman
- Centre for Research in Primary and Community Care, University of Hertfordshire, United Kingdom.
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23
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Abstract
The purpose of this concept analysis paper is to delineate the meaning of good death in long term care (LTC) settings and examine its implications for nursing. The Walker and Avant (2011) method was chosen for this analysis. An in depth literature review identifies uses of the concept and determines the defining attributes of the good death. This paper also illustrates case presentations, antecedents, consequences, empirical referents and implications for clinical practice to clarify the concept of 'good death' in this population. In LTC, death is experienced frequently and is considered the ultimate outcome for most admissions. Much of the existing research on end-of-life care has focused on community dwelling cancer patients whose death trajectory is predictable and who may remain cognitively intact until actively dying. In contrast, the LTC population is older and more likely to suffer from dementia and experience chronic illness for long periods prior to death, and they follow a less predictable death trajectory. In this century, death became the province of older people and the assurance of a good death became the responsibility of those caring for them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Preetha Krishnan
- Nurse Practitioner, Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, Winnipeg, Canada
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Verhofstede R, Smets T, Cohen J, Eecloo K, Costantini M, Van Den Noortgate N, Deliens L. End-of-Life Care and Quality of Dying in 23 Acute Geriatric Hospital Wards in Flanders, Belgium. J Pain Symptom Manage 2017; 53:693-702. [PMID: 28042062 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2016.10.363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2016] [Revised: 10/18/2016] [Accepted: 10/30/2016] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To describe the nursing and medical interventions performed in the last 48 hours of life and the quality of dying of patients dying in acute geriatric hospital wards. METHODS Cross-sectional descriptive study between October 1, 2012 and September 30, 2013. Twenty-three acute geriatric wards in 13 hospitals in Flanders, Belgium. Patients hospitalized for more than 48 hours before dying in the participating wards. Structured after-death questionnaires, filled out by the nurse, the physician, and the family carer most involved in end-of-life care. Main outcome measures were several nursing and medical interventions reported to be performed in the last 48 hours of life and the quality of dying. RESULTS Of 993 patients, we included 338 (mean age 85.7 years; 173 women). Almost 58% had dementia and nearly half were unable to communicate in the last 48 hours of their life. The most frequently continued or started nursing and medical interventions in the last 48 hours of life were measuring temperature (91.6%), repositioning (83.3%), washing (89.5%), oxygen therapy (49.7%), and intravenous fluids and nutrition (30%). Shortness of breath, lack of serenity, lack of peace, and lack of calm were symptoms reported most frequently by nurses and family carers. CONCLUSION Many nursing and medical interventions are continued or started in the last hours of a patient's life, which may not always be in their best interests. Furthermore, patients dying in acute geriatric wards are often affected by several symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Verhofstede
- End-of-Life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel & Ghent University, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Tinne Smets
- End-of-Life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel & Ghent University, Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Joachim Cohen
- End-of-Life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel & Ghent University, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Kim Eecloo
- End-of-Life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel & Ghent University, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Massimo Costantini
- Palliative Care Unit, IRCCS Arcispedale S. Maria Nuova, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | | | - Luc Deliens
- End-of-Life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel & Ghent University, Brussels, Belgium; Department of Medical Oncology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
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25
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Cornally N, Coffey A, Daly E, McGlade C, Weathers E, O’Herlihy E, O’Caoimh R, McLoughlin K, Svendrovski A, Molloy W. Measuring staff perception of end-of-life experience of older adults in long-term care. Appl Nurs Res 2016; 30:245-51. [DOI: 10.1016/j.apnr.2015.05.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2014] [Revised: 05/14/2015] [Accepted: 05/20/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Abstract
We studied 183 patients with advanced dementia who had been admitted to the Geriatric-Internal Medicine Department of a general hospital, with a 1 year follow-up evaluated by Mini-Suffering State Examination (MSSE) scores on first days after admission. The not calm compared to calm patients with advanced dementia had a high suffering level (6.12 ± 2.16 versus 3.21 ± 1.71) with a statistically significant difference (P = 0.001). The not calm patients were sicker, a higher percentage had fever (P = 0.005), elevated levels of white blood cells WBC (P = 0.003) and C-reactive protein (CRP) (P = 0.020). The Kaplan-Meier function analysis showed a shorter survival of not calm versus calm advanced dementia patients, with a statistically significant difference (Log Rank [Mantel-Cox] P = 0.002). Not calm in advanced dementia patients is the first item of the MSSE and is a very important symptom of Aminoff Suffering Syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bechor Zvi Aminoff
- The Minerva Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of End-of-Life, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Israel Geriatric Division, The Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
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27
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Collins ES, Witt J, Bausewein C, Daveson BA, Higginson IJ, Murtagh FEM. A Systematic Review of the Use of the Palliative Care Outcome Scale and the Support Team Assessment Schedule in Palliative Care. J Pain Symptom Manage 2015; 50:842-53.e19. [PMID: 26335764 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2015.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2015] [Revised: 06/24/2015] [Accepted: 07/13/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT The Palliative care Outcome Scale (POS) and the Support Team Assessment Schedule (STAS) are two outcome measures used in palliative care settings to assess palliative concerns, needs, and quality of care. OBJECTIVES This systematic review builds on the findings of a previous review to appraise the use of the POS and STAS since 2010, particularly the context and nature of their use. METHODS MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, British Nursing Index, and CINAHL were searched for studies published between February 2010 and June 2014. Relevant authors were contacted, and reference lists of included studies were searched. Studies reporting validation or the use of the POS or STAS were included, and data on sample population, how the outcome measure was being used, study design, study aim, and results of the study were extracted. RESULTS Forty-three studies were included (POS n = 35, STAS n = 8). There was an increase in the use of the POS and STAS in Europe and Africa with the publication of 13 new translations of the POS. Most studies focused on the use, rather than further validation, of the POS and STAS. There has been increasing use of these measures within non-cancer patient groups. CONCLUSION The POS and STAS are now used in a wide variety of settings and countries. These tools may be used in the future to compare palliative care needs and quality of care across diverse contexts and patient groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily S Collins
- Department of Palliative Care, Policy and Rehabilitation, Cicely Saunders Institute, King's College London, London, United Kingdom; School of Medicine, Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Jana Witt
- Department of Palliative Care, Policy and Rehabilitation, Cicely Saunders Institute, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Claudia Bausewein
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Palliativmedizin, Klinikum der Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Barbara A Daveson
- Department of Palliative Care, Policy and Rehabilitation, Cicely Saunders Institute, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Irene J Higginson
- Department of Palliative Care, Policy and Rehabilitation, Cicely Saunders Institute, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Fliss E M Murtagh
- Department of Palliative Care, Policy and Rehabilitation, Cicely Saunders Institute, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
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Type and course of symptoms demonstrated in the terminal and dying phases by people with dementia in nursing homes. Z Gerontol Geriatr 2015; 48:176-83. [PMID: 25119700 DOI: 10.1007/s00391-014-0668-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In all, 39 % of people living in Swiss nursing homes suffer from dementia. Detailed data about type and course of symptoms displayed by these patients in their terminal phase are lacking. METHODS This descriptive, retrospective study analysed 65 nursing documents from deceased people with dementia in four nursing homes in the canton of Zurich, Switzerland. RESULTS Difficulties with mobility (81 %), pain (71 %) and sleep disturbance (63 %) were the most frequent of the 10 identified symptoms. Towards the end of life, difficulties with mobility, sleep disturbance, agitation and other neuropsychiatric symptoms, such as episodes of depression, decreased (decrescent pattern), while pain, feeding problems, breathing abnormalities, apathy and anxiety increased (crescent pattern). Courses of pain were documented in 17 % of the nursing records. In addition, 76 % of the residents had been visited on a daily basis by next of kin in their last 7 days, compared with only one third of residents previously. Furthermore, daily communication between healthcare professionals and next of kin tripled during this period. CONCLUSION The documented prevalence of a high and increasing level of pain towards the end of life, combined with the lack of documented courses of pain, shows potential for improvement in pain relief and pain identification for patients with dementia in their terminal phase. The increasing number of visits by next of kin and the increasingly intensive contact between healthcare professionals and next of kin in the last 7 days are a strong indicator that the end of life can be predicted relatively well by the involved participants and appropriate reactions follow.
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van der Steen JT, Sampson EL, Van den Block L, Lord K, Vankova H, Pautex S, Vandervoort A, Radbruch L, Shvartzman P, Sacchi V, de Vet HCW, Van Den Noortgate NJA. Tools to Assess Pain or Lack of Comfort in Dementia: A Content Analysis. J Pain Symptom Manage 2015. [PMID: 26212095 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2015.05.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT There is need for tools to help detect pain or lack of comfort in persons unable to communicate. However, pain and (dis)comfort tools have not been compared, and it is unclear to what extent they discriminate between pain and other possible sources of discomfort, or even if items differ. OBJECTIVES To map and compare items in tools that assess pain and the broader notion of discomfort or comfort in people with severe dementia or at the end of life. METHODS Using qualitative content analysis with six classifications, we categorized each item of four thoroughly tested observational pain tools (Pain Assessment in Advanced Dementia [PAINAD], Pain Assessment Checklist for Seniors with Limited Ability to Communicate [PACSLAC], Doloplus-2, and draft Pain Assessment in Impaired Cognition [PAIC]), and four discomfort tools (including distress, comfort, and quality of life in severe dementia or at the end of life; Discomfort Scale-Dementia Alzheimer Type [DS-DAT], Disability Distress Assessment Tool [DisDAT], End-of-Life in Dementia-Comfort Assessment in Dying with Dementia [EOLD-CAD], and Quality of Life in Late-Stage Dementia [QUALID] scale). We calculated median proportions to compare distributions of categories of pain and discomfort tools. RESULTS We found that, despite variable content across tools, items from pain and discomfort tools overlapped considerably. For example, positive elements such as smiling and spiritual items were more often included in discomfort tools but were not unique to these. Pain tools comprised more "mostly descriptive" (median 0.63 vs. 0.44) and fewer "highly subjective" items (0.06 vs. 0.18); some used time inconsistently, mixing present and past observations. CONCLUSION This analysis may inform a more rigorous theoretical underpinning and (re)development of pain and discomfort tools and calls for empirical testing of a broad item pool for sensitivity and specificity in detecting and discriminating pain from other sources of discomfort.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny T van der Steen
- EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of General Practice & Elderly Care Medicine, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Elizabeth L Sampson
- Division of Psychiatry, Marie Curie Palliative Care Research Department, University College London, London, United Kingdom; Barnet Enfield and Haringey Mental Health Trust Liaison Team, North Middlesex University Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Lieve Van den Block
- End-of-Life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel and Ghent University, Belgium, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Kathryn Lord
- Division of Psychiatry, Marie Curie Palliative Care Research Department, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Hana Vankova
- Faculty of Humanities and Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Sophie Pautex
- Department of Community Medicine, Primary Care and Emergency Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals and University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - An Vandervoort
- End-of-Life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel and Ghent University, Belgium, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Lukas Radbruch
- Department of Palliative Medicine, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany; Center for Palliative Care, Malteser Hospital Seliger Gerhard Bonn/Rhein-Sieg, Bonn, Germany
| | - Pesach Shvartzman
- Pain and Palliative Medicine Unit, Division of Community Health, Department of Family Medicine, Siaal Research Center for Family Medicine and Primary Care, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Valentina Sacchi
- Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation Trust, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, United Kingdom
| | - Henrica C W de Vet
- EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Goodman C, Froggatt K, Amador S, Mathie E, Mayrhofer A. End of life care interventions for people with dementia in care homes: addressing uncertainty within a framework for service delivery and evaluation. BMC Palliat Care 2015; 14:42. [PMID: 26383081 PMCID: PMC4574222 DOI: 10.1186/s12904-015-0040-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2015] [Accepted: 09/07/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background There has been an increase in research on improving end of life (EoL) care for older people with dementia in care homes. Findings consistently demonstrate improvements in practitioner confidence and knowledge, but comparisons are either with usual care or not made. This paper draws on findings from three studies to develop a framework for understanding the essential dimensions of end of life care delivery in long-term care settings for people with dementia. Methods The data from three studies on EoL care in care homes: (i) EVIDEM EoL, (ii) EPOCH, and (iii) TTT EoL were used to inform the development of the framework. All used mixed method designs and two had an intervention designed to improve how care home staff provided end of life care. The EVIDEM EoL and EPOCH studies tracked the care of older people in care homes over a period of 12 months. The TTT study collected resource use data of care home residents for three months, and surveyed decedents' notes for ten months, Results Across the three studies, 29 care homes, 528 residents, 205 care home staff, and 44 visiting health care professionals participated. Analysis of showed that end of life interventions for people with dementia were characterised by uncertainty in three key areas; what treatment is the 'right' treatment, who should do what and when, and in which setting EoL care should be delivered and by whom? These uncertainties are conceptualised as Treatment uncertainty, Relational uncertainty and Service uncertainty. This paper proposes an emergent framework to inform the development and evaluation of EoL care interventions in care homes. Conclusion For people with dementia living and dying in care homes, EoL interventions need to provide strategies that can accommodate or "hold" the inevitable and often unresolvable uncertainties of providing and receiving care in these settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Goodman
- Centre for Research in Primary and Community Care University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, AL10 9AB, UK.
| | - Katherine Froggatt
- International Observatory on End of Life Care University of Lancaster, Lancaster, UK.
| | - Sarah Amador
- Marie Curie Palliative Care Research Department University College London, London, UK.
| | - Elspeth Mathie
- Centre for Research in Primary and Community Care University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, UK.
| | - Andrea Mayrhofer
- Centre for Research in Primary and Community Care University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, UK.
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van Soest-Poortvliet MC, van der Steen JT, de Vet HCW, Hertogh CMPM, Deliens L, Onwuteaka-Philipsen BD. Comfort goal of care and end-of-life outcomes in dementia: A prospective study. Palliat Med 2015; 29:538-46. [PMID: 25690602 DOI: 10.1177/0269216315570409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many people with dementia die in a nursing home. A comfort care goal may be beneficial. Little research has examined the relationship between care goals and outcome. AIM To investigate whether family satisfaction with end-of-life care and quality of dying is associated with whether or not dementia patients have a comfort goal shortly after admission. DESIGN AND SETTING Prospective data collection from 28 long-term care facilities (the Dutch End of Life in Dementia study). We included 148 patients who died after prospective follow-up. Main outcomes were family satisfaction (End-of-Life in Dementia-Satisfaction with Care scale; range: 10-40) and quality of dying (End-of-Life in Dementia-Comfort Assessment in Dying; range: 14-42). We performed generalized estimating equations regression analyses to analyze whether these outcomes are associated with a comfort goal established shortly after admission compared with another or no care goal as reported by the physician. RESULTS Families of patients were more satisfied with end-of-life care when a comfort goal was established shortly after admission. We found this pattern only for patients who died within 6 months of admission (adjusted b: 4.5; confidence interval: 2.8, 6.3 vs -1.2; confidence interval: -3.0, 0.6 for longer stay). For quality of dying, no such association was found. CONCLUSION We found that family satisfaction with care is related to a comfort care goal shortly after admission, but quality of dying did not. Establishing a comfort goal at an early stage may be important to the family. Advance care planning interventions should be studied for their effects on patient and family outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirjam C van Soest-Poortvliet
- Department of General Practice & Elderly Care Medicine, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jenny T van der Steen
- Department of General Practice & Elderly Care Medicine, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Henrica C W de Vet
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Cees M P M Hertogh
- Department of General Practice & Elderly Care Medicine, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Luc Deliens
- Department of Public and Occupational Health, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands End-of-Life Care Research Group, Ghent University and Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Bregje D Onwuteaka-Philipsen
- Department of Public and Occupational Health, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Zimmerman S, Cohen L, van der Steen JT, Reed D, van Soest-Poortvliet MC, Hanson LC, Sloane PD. Measuring end-of-life care and outcomes in residential care/assisted living and nursing homes. J Pain Symptom Manage 2015; 49:666-79. [PMID: 25205231 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2014.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2013] [Revised: 08/08/2014] [Accepted: 08/14/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT The two primary residential options for older adults who require supportive care are nursing homes and residential care/assisted living. More than one-quarter of all deaths in the U.S. occur in these settings. Although the information available on end of life in long-term care has been growing, the comparative suitability of various measures to guide this work is unknown. OBJECTIVES To determine the optimal measures to assess end-of-life care and outcomes in nursing homes and residential care/assisted living. METHODS A total of 264 family members of decedents from 118 settings were interviewed and provided data on 11 instruments that have been used in, but not necessarily developed for, long-term care populations; Overall, 20 scales and subscales/indices were evaluated. Measures were compared on their psychometric properties and the extent to which they discriminated among important resident, family, and setting characteristics. RESULTS Prioritizing measures that distinguish the assessment of care from the assessment of dying, and secondarily that exhibit an acceptable factor structure, this study recommends two measures of care-the Family Perceptions of Physician-Family Caregiver Communication and the End of Life in Dementia (EOLD)-Satisfaction With Care-and two measures of outcomes-the EOLD-Symptom Management and the EOLD-Comfort Assessment in Dying. An additional measure to assess outcomes is the Mini-Suffering State Examination (MSSE). The care measures and the MSSE are especially valuable as they discriminate between decedents who were and were not transferred immediately before death, an important outcome, and whether the family expected the death, a useful target for intervention. CONCLUSION Despite these recommendations, measurement selection should be informed not only on the basis of psychometric properties but also by specific clinical and research needs. The data in this manuscript will help researchers, clinicians, and administrators understand the implications of choosing various measures for their work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheryl Zimmerman
- Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; School of Social Work, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
| | - Lauren Cohen
- Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; Department of Medicine Palliative Care Program, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jenny T van der Steen
- Department of Nursing Home Medicine, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Public and Occupational Health, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - David Reed
- Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | | | - Laura C Hanson
- Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; Department of Medicine Palliative Care Program, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Philip D Sloane
- Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; Department of Family Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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van der Steen JT, Gijsberts MJH, Hertogh CM, Deliens L. Predictors of spiritual care provision for patients with dementia at the end of life as perceived by physicians: a prospective study. BMC Palliat Care 2014; 13:61. [PMID: 25589896 PMCID: PMC4293807 DOI: 10.1186/1472-684x-13-61] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2014] [Accepted: 12/01/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Spiritual caregiving is part of palliative care and may contribute to well being at the end of life. However, it is a neglected area in the care and treatment of patients with dementia. We aimed to examine predictors of the provision of spiritual end-of-life care in dementia as perceived by physicians coordinating the care. METHODS We used data of the Dutch End of Life in Dementia study (DEOLD; 2007-2011), in which data were collected prospectively in 28 Dutch long-term care facilities. We enrolled newly admitted residents with dementia who died during the course of data collection, their families, and physicians. The outcome of Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) regression analyses was whether spiritual care was provided shortly before death as perceived by the on-staff elderly care physician who was responsible for end-of-life care (last sacraments or rites or other spiritual care provided by a spiritual counselor or staff). Potential predictors were indicators of high-quality, person-centered, and palliative care, demographics, and some other factors supported by the literature. Resident-level potential predictors such as satisfaction with the physician's communication were measured 8 weeks after admission (baseline, by families and physicians), physician-level factors such as the physician's religious background midway through the study, and facility-level factors such as a palliative care unit applied throughout data collection. RESULTS According to the physicians, spiritual end-of-life care was provided shortly before death to 20.8% (43/207) of the residents. Independent predictors of spiritual end-of-life care were: families' satisfaction with physicians' communication at baseline (OR 1.6, CI 1.0; 2.5 per point on 0-3 scale), and faith or spirituality very important to resident whether (OR 19, CI 5.6; 63) or not (OR 15, CI 5.1; 47) of importance to the physician. Further, female family caregiving was an independent predictor (OR 2.7, CI 1.1; 6.6). CONCLUSIONS Palliative care indicators were not predictive of spiritual end-of-life care; palliative care in dementia may need better defining and implementation in practice. Physician-family communication upon admission may be important to optimize spiritual caregiving at the end of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny T van der Steen
- Department of General Practice & Elderly Care Medicine, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Marie-José He Gijsberts
- Department of General Practice & Elderly Care Medicine, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT Amsterdam, the Netherlands ; Department of Public and Occupational Health, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Cees Mpm Hertogh
- Department of General Practice & Elderly Care Medicine, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Luc Deliens
- End-of-Life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel & Ghent University, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium
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Aminoff BZ. Prognosis of short survival in patients with advanced dementia as diagnosed by Aminoff suffering syndrome. Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen 2014; 29:673-7. [PMID: 24939003 PMCID: PMC10852573 DOI: 10.1177/1533317514539543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
On the first few days after admission to the Geriatric-Internal Medicine department, the suffering level of patients with advanced dementia (Mini-Mental State Examination 0 of 30) was evaluated according to the Mini-Suffering State Examination (MSSE). During hospitalization, 14.8% (27 of 183) of patients with advanced dementia were died with a mean survival rate of 19.86 ± 26.9 days. The MSSE scale score of died patients was 7.56 ± 1.71 during the first few days of admission which indicates high suffering levels. The MSSE scale score of survived patients with advanced dementia was 3.99 ± 2.10 which confirms their low level of suffering. There was a significant difference (P < .001) between the groups. Patients with dementia who died and were diagnosed as having Aminoff suffering syndrome during the first few days of admission had a high suffering level and short-survival time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bechor Zvi Aminoff
- The Minerva Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of End-of-Life, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel Geriatric Division, The Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
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Klapwijk MS, Caljouw MAA, van Soest-Poortvliet MC, van der Steen JT, Achterberg WP. Symptoms and treatment when death is expected in dementia patients in long-term care facilities. BMC Geriatr 2014; 14:99. [PMID: 25181947 PMCID: PMC4158395 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2318-14-99] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2014] [Accepted: 08/20/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although dementia at the end of life is increasingly being studied, we lack prospective observational data on dying patients. In this study symptoms were observed in patients with dementia in the last days of life. METHODS When the elderly care physicians in two Dutch nursing homes expected death within one week, symptoms of (dis)comfort, pain and suffering were observed twice daily. For this the Pain Assessment in Advanced Dementia (PAINAD; range 0-10), Discomfort Scale-Dementia of Alzheimer Type (DS-DAT; range 0-27), End-Of-Life in Dementia-Comfort Assessment in Dying (EOLD-CAD; range 14-42) and an adapted version of the Mini-Suffering State Examination (MSSE; range 0-9), were used. Information on care, medical treatment and treatment decisions were also collected. RESULTS Twenty-four participants (median age 91 years; 23 females), were observed several times (mean of 4.3 observations (SD 2.6)), until they died. Most participants (n = 15) died from dehydration/cachexia and passed away quietly (n = 22). The mean PAINAD score was 1.0 (SD 1.7), DS-DAT 7.0 (SD 2.1), EOLD-CAD 35.1 (SD 1.7), and MSSE 2.0 (SD 1.7). All participants received morphine, six received antibiotics, and rehydration was prescribed once. CONCLUSION In these patients with dementia and expected death, a low symptom burden was observed with validated instruments, also in dehydrated patients without aggressive treatment. A good death is possible, but might be enhanced if the symptom burden is regularly assessed with validated instruments. The use of observation tools may have influenced the physicians to make treatment decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maartje S Klapwijk
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Center, P,O, Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands.
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Hermans K, De Almeida Mello J, Spruytte N, Cohen J, Van Audenhove C, Declercq A. A Comparative Analysis of Comprehensive Geriatric Assessments for Nursing Home Residents Receiving Palliative Care: A Systematic Review. J Am Med Dir Assoc 2014; 15:467-476. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jamda.2014.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2013] [Revised: 12/05/2013] [Accepted: 01/03/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Aminoff BZ. Mrs Auguste D{eter} demise in 1906 was in Aminoff suffering syndrome. Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen 2014; 29:199-200. [PMID: 24211868 PMCID: PMC10852753 DOI: 10.1177/1533317513511288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/03/2024]
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Daaleman TP, Reed D, Cohen LW, Zimmerman S. Development and preliminary testing of the quality of spiritual care scale. J Pain Symptom Manage 2014; 47:793-800. [PMID: 23998778 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2013.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2013] [Revised: 06/07/2013] [Accepted: 06/15/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT The provision of spiritual care is considered a key element of hospice and palliative care, but there is a paucity of empirically developed quality-of-care measures in this domain. OBJECTIVES To describe the development and reliability and validity of the Quality of Spiritual Care (QSC) scale in family caregivers. METHODS We conducted analyses of interviews conducted that included the QSC scale with family members of residents who died in long-term care settings taken after the resident had died. To determine reliability and validity of the QSC scale, we examined internal consistency, concurrent construct validity, and factor analysis with promax rotation. RESULTS Of 165 family caregivers of decedents who were asked whether they received spiritual care, 91 (55%) responded yes, and 89 of these (98%) completed at least 80% of the QSC items. Two items (i.e., satisfaction with and value of spiritual care) were perfectly correlated so the latter item was dropped in scale development. Factor analysis identified two factors, personal spiritual enrichment (mean pattern matrix loading = 0.77) and relationship enrichment (mean pattern matrix loading = 0.72). Reliability analysis yielded a Cronbach's alpha of 0.87, and item-total correlations for all items were in excess of 0.55. Preliminary validity of the QSC was supported by significant and expected correlations in both direction and magnitude with items from validated instruments conceptually associated with the quality of spiritual care. CONCLUSION Preliminary testing of the QSC scale suggests that it is a valid and reliable outcome measure of the quality of spiritual care at the end of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy P Daaleman
- Department of Family Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
| | - David Reed
- Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Lauren W Cohen
- Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Sheryl Zimmerman
- Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; School of Social Work, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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Hacker ED, Zimmerman S, Burgener SC. Measurement of quality of life outcomes. Res Gerontol Nurs 2014; 7:7-12. [PMID: 24477296 DOI: 10.3928/19404921-20131126-02] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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40
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Boogaard JA, van Soest-Poortvliet MC, Anema JR, Achterberg WP, Hertogh CMPM, de Vet HCW, van der Steen JT. Feedback on end-of-life care in dementia: the study protocol of the FOLlow-up project. BMC Palliat Care 2013; 12:29. [PMID: 23924229 PMCID: PMC3751417 DOI: 10.1186/1472-684x-12-29] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2013] [Accepted: 08/01/2013] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND End-of-life care in dementia in nursing homes is often found to be suboptimal. The Feedback on End-of-Life care in dementia (FOLlow-up) project tests the effectiveness of audit- and feedback to improve the quality of end-of-life care in dementia. METHODS/DESIGN Nursing homes systematically invite the family after death of a resident with dementia to provide feedback using the End-of-Life in Dementia (EOLD) - instruments. Two audit- and feedback strategies are designed and tested in a three-armed Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT): a generic feedback strategy using cumulative EOLD-scores of a group of patients and a patient specific feedback strategy using EOLD-scores on a patient level. A total of 18 nursing homes, three groups of six homes matched on size, geographic location, religious affiliation and availability of a palliative care unit were randomly assigned to an intervention group or the control group. The effect on quality of care and quality of dying and the barriers and facilitators of audit- and feedback in the nursing home setting are evaluated using mixed-method analyses. DISCUSSION The FOLlow-up project is the first study to assess and compare the effect of two audit- and feedback strategies to improve quality of care and quality of dying in dementia. The results contribute to the development of practice guidelines for nursing homes to monitor and improve care outcomes in the realm of end-of-life care in dementia. TRIAL REGISTRATION The Netherlands National Trial Register (NTR). TRIAL NUMBER NTR3942.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jannie A Boogaard
- Department of General Practice & Elderly Care Medicine, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081BT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Gerion, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Mirjam C van Soest-Poortvliet
- Department of General Practice & Elderly Care Medicine, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081BT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Johannes R Anema
- Department of Public and Occupational Health, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Wilco P Achterberg
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Cees M P M Hertogh
- Department of General Practice & Elderly Care Medicine, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081BT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Henrica C W de Vet
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jenny T van der Steen
- Department of General Practice & Elderly Care Medicine, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081BT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Caregivers' understanding of dementia predicts patients' comfort at death: a prospective observational study. BMC Med 2013; 11:105. [PMID: 23577637 PMCID: PMC3648449 DOI: 10.1186/1741-7015-11-105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2012] [Accepted: 03/14/2013] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with dementia frequently do not receive adequate palliative care which may relate to poor understanding of the natural course of dementia. We hypothesized that understanding that dementia is a progressive and terminal disease is fundamental to a focus on comfort in dementia, and examined how family and professional caregivers' understanding of the nature of the disease was associated with patients' comfort during the dying process. METHODS We enrolled 372 nursing home patients from 28 facilities in The Netherlands in a prospective observational study (2007 to 2010). We studied both the families and the physicians (73) of 161 patients. Understanding referred to families' comprehension of complications, prognosis, having been counseled on these, and perception of dementia as "a disease you can die from" (5-point agreement scale) at baseline. Physicians reported on this perception, prognosis and having counseled on this. Staff-assessed comfort with the End-of-Life in Dementia - Comfort Assessment in Dying (EOLD-CAD) scale. Associations between understanding and comfort were assessed with generalized estimating equations, structural equation modeling, and mediator analyses. RESULTS A family's perception of dementia as "a disease you can die from" predicted higher patient comfort during the dying process (adjusted coefficient -0.8, 95% confidence interval (CI): -1.5; -0.06 point increment disagreement). Family and physician combined perceptions (-0.9, CI: -1.5; -0.2; 9-point scale) were also predictive, including in less advanced dementia. Forty-three percent of the families perceived dementia as a disease you can die from (agreed completely, partly); 94% of physicians did. The association between combined perception and higher comfort was mediated by the families' reporting of a good relationship with the patient and physicians' perception that good care was provided in the last week. CONCLUSIONS Awareness of the terminal nature of dementia may improve patient comfort at the end of life. Educating families on the nature of dementia may be an important part of advance care planning.
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Krikorian A, Limonero JT, Corey MT. Suffering assessment: a review of available instruments for use in palliative care. J Palliat Med 2013; 16:130-42. [PMID: 23350831 DOI: 10.1089/jpm.2012.0370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The prevention and relief of suffering in palliative care are critical to the well-being and quality of life of patients and families facing life-threatening diseases. Many tools to assess different issues in health care are available, but few are specifically designed to evaluate suffering, which is essential for its prevention, early management, and treatment. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this review was to identify and describe existing instruments developed to assess suffering in palliative care, as well as to comment on their psychometric properties. METHODS A review of articles indexed in MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and SciELO up to June 2011 was conducted. All articles reporting the development, description, or psychometric properties of instruments that assess suffering were included. An assessment of their psychometric quality was performed following a structured checklist. RESULTS Ten instruments that assess suffering were identified. Their main features and psychometric properties are described in order to facilitate the selection of the appropriate one given each patient's context. CONCLUSION By taking into consideration all features of the assessment instruments under review, the evaluation of suffering can be made easier. A wide and ever expanding range of approaches is now available, which facilitates the selection of the suffering-assessment instrument that is best suited to the needs of the specific patient. One of the challenges ahead will be to further analyze the psychometric properties of some existing instruments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia Krikorian
- Pain and Palliative Care Group, School of Health Sciences, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Medellín, Colombia.
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van Soest-Poortvliet MC, van der Steen JT, Zimmerman S, Cohen LW, Reed D, Achterberg WP, Ribbe MW, de Vet HCW. Selecting the best instruments to measure quality of end-of-life care and quality of dying in long term care. J Am Med Dir Assoc 2012; 14:179-86. [PMID: 23165164 DOI: 10.1016/j.jamda.2012.09.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2012] [Revised: 09/17/2012] [Accepted: 09/18/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To compare available instruments and investigate which best measure the quality of end-of-life care (QOC) and quality of dying (QOD) in long term care settings, in terms of validity, reliability, and feasibility. DESIGN Family and professional caregivers of long term care decedents completed postdeath interviews and questionnaires between November 2007 and April 2009. SETTING Nursing home and residential care/assisted living settings in the United States and the Netherlands. PARTICIPANTS Two hundred and sixty four families of decedents with (48%) and without (52%) dementia in the United States, and 70 families and 103 professional caregivers of decedents with dementia in The Netherlands. MEASUREMENTS Ten instruments to evaluate the QOC and QOD in long term care, an additional overall assessment of QOC/QOD, and an assessment of the perception of the relevance and ease of use of each instrument. Criteria for validity, reliability, and feasibility were set forth for good, intermediate, and poor performance. RESULTS None of the instruments scored positively on all criteria. In both countries, of the QOC instruments, the End-of-Life in Dementia-Satisfaction With Care (EOLD-SWC) best met the criteria, followed by the Family Assessment of Treatment at the End-of-Life Short Version, the Family Perception of Care Scale, and Family Perception of Physician-Family Caregiver Communication. Of the QOD instruments, the End-of-Life in Dementia-Comfort Assessment at Dying (EOLD-CAD) and Mini-Suffering State Examination (MSSE) met more of the criteria than others. The EOLD-CAD performed better on content and construct validity than the MSSE. The MSSE performed better on feasibility. CONCLUSION We recommend the EOLD-SWC to measure QOC, and the EOLD-CAD and MSSE to measure QOD in populations with dementia and in mixed long term care populations of nursing home or residential care home/assisted living residents, because they performed best in both countries. Use of the same instruments allows for comparison of the results between studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirjam C van Soest-Poortvliet
- Department of General Practice & Elderly Care Medicine, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Thompson SA, Bott M, Gajewski B, Tilden VP. Quality of care and quality of dying in nursing homes: two measurement models. J Palliat Med 2012; 15:690-5. [PMID: 22551446 DOI: 10.1089/jpm.2011.0497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is consistent evidence of significant variation in the quality of end-of-life care among nursing homes, with many facilities ill-prepared to provide optimal physical and psychological care that is culturally sensitive and respectful of the needs and preferences of residents and their family members. There is continued evidence that what is impeding efforts to improve care is that most measurement tools are hampered by a lack of distinction between quality of care and quality of dying as well as a lack of complete psychometric evaluation. Further, health services researchers cite the need to include "system-level" factors, variables that reflect leadership, culture, or informal practices, all of which influence end-of-life care and can be used to differentiate one setting from another. The purpose of this article is to report advancement in conceptualizing quality end-of-life care in nursing homes and to offer a refined approach to measurement. METHODS Two latent constructs are tested: quality of care (composed of system-level factors) and quality of dying (comprised of resident/family outcomes). Data obtained from 85 Midwestern nursing homes and 1282 interviews with bereaved family members were used to evaluate both constructs. RESULTS Confirmatory factor analyses were conducted and evidence of validity and reliability were obtained for both. CONCLUSION For health services researchers, expanded models that include system-level factors as well as more comprehensive and psychometrically sound models of resident outcomes stand to inform efforts to improve care in this very important area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah A Thompson
- College of Nursing, University of Nebraska, Omaha, Nebraska 68198-5330, USA.
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van der Steen JT, Arcand M, Toscani F, de Graas T, Finetti S, Beaulieu M, Brazil K, Nakanishi M, Nakashima T, Knol DL, Hertogh CM. A Family Booklet About Comfort Care in Advanced Dementia: Three-Country Evaluation. J Am Med Dir Assoc 2012; 13:368-75. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jamda.2011.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2011] [Accepted: 02/07/2011] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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van der Steen JT, de Graas T, Arcand M, Hertogh CMPM. [Evaluation of a family booklet on comfort care in dementia by professional and family caregivers]. Tijdschr Gerontol Geriatr 2012; 42:215-25. [PMID: 22470987 DOI: 10.1007/s12439-011-0037-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
Abstract
Families of nursing home residents with dementia are usually involved in care and treatment decisions. To this end, family needs to be informed on the course of the dementia and possible palliative care. Based on a Canadian booklet, we developed an adapted version for use in the Netherlands. Elderly care physicians (n = 30), nurses (n = 38), and bereaved families (n = 59) evaluated the booklet and possible implementation strategies. All respondents confirmed that in general, there is a need of an information brochure on comfort care and end-of-life issues for families. Most (93%) families believed they would have found the booklet useful when received earlier. Compared to the physicians, nurses more frequently found the booklet useful to most or all families (p = 0.04). Acceptance, as measured on an 8-item scale, was highest among families and lowest among physicians. Overall usefulness was often perceived as high (means 7.9 to 8.3; scale range 0-10; SD 0.9 to 1.4) and did not differ across groups of respondents (p = 0.29). All respondents agreed that professional caregivers should have a role in providing the booklet. Additionally, half (53%; no difference across groups) favoured availability of the booklet through families' own initiative; some already before admission. In conclusion, there is a high need for written information on palliative care. The booklet is highly appreciated. A further improved version may support professional and family caregivers in practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- J T van der Steen
- VUmc, EMGO Instituut, afdeling Verpleeghuisgeneeskunde en afdeling Sociale Geneeskunde, Amsterdam.
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Psychometric properties of instruments to measure the quality of end-of-life care and dying for long-term care residents with dementia. Qual Life Res 2011; 21:671-84. [PMID: 21814875 PMCID: PMC3323818 DOI: 10.1007/s11136-011-9978-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/14/2011] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Purpose Quality of care for long-term care (LTC) residents with dementia at the end-of-life is often evaluated using standardized instruments that were not developed for or thoroughly tested in this population. Given the importance of using appropriate instruments to evaluate the quality of care (QOC) and quality of dying (QOD) in LTC, we compared the validity and reliability of ten available instruments commonly used for these purposes. Methods We performed prospective observations and retrospective interviews and surveys of family (n = 70) and professionals (n = 103) of LTC decedents with dementia in the Netherlands. Results Instruments within the constructs QOC and QOD were highly correlated, and showed moderate to high correlation with overall assessments of QOC and QOD. Prospective and retrospective ratings using the same instruments differed little. Concordance between family and professional scores was low. Cronbach’s alpha was mostly adequate. The EOLD–CAD showed good fit with pre-assumed factor structures. The EOLD–SWC and FPCS appear most valid and reliable for measuring QOC, and the EOLD–CAD and MSSE for measuring QOD. The POS performed worst in this population. Conclusions Our comparative study of psychometric properties of instruments allows for informed selection of QOC and QOD measures for LTC residents with dementia.
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