Symptom Expression in the Last Seven Days of Life Among Cancer Patients Admitted to Acute Palliative Care Units

Can We Make More Accurate Prognoses During Last Days of Life?

Background: Life expectancy prediction is important for end-of-life planning. Established methods (Palliative Performance Scale [PPS], Palliative Prognostic Index [PPI]) have been validated for intermediate- to long-term prognoses, but last-weeks-of-life prognosis has not been well studied. Patients admitted to a palliative care facility often have a life expectancy of less than three weeks. Reliable last-weeks-of-life prognostic tools are needed. Objective: To improve short-term survival prediction in terminally ill patients. Method: This prospective study included all patients admitted to a palliative care facility in Montreal, Canada, over one year. PPS and PPI were assessed until patients' death. Seven prognostic clinical signs of impending death (Short-Term Prognosis Signs [SPS]) were documented daily. Results: The analyses included 273 patients (76% cancer). The median survival time for a PPS ≤20% was 2.5 days, while for a PPS ≥50% it was 44.5 days, for a PPI >8 the median survival was 3.5 days and for a PPI ≤4 it was 38.5 days. Receiver operating characteristic curves showed a high accuracy in predicting survival. Median survival after the first occurrence of any SPS was below one week. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that the PPS and PPI perform well between one week and three months extending their usefulness to shorter term survival prediction. SPS items provided survival information during the last week of life. Using SPS along with PPS and PPI during the last weeks of life could enable a more precise short-term survival prediction across various end-of-life diagnoses. The translation of this research into clinical practice could lead to a better adapted treatment, the identification of a most appropriate care setting for patients, and improved communication of prognosis with patients and families.

Transitional Changes of Anxiety, Pain and Other Symptoms in Cancer Patients Admitted to a Palliative Care Unit, Evaluated Using the Support Team Assessment Schedule - Japanese Version

Objective: Association between physical symptoms and psychosocial difficulties of cancer patients has been reported widely. Nevertheless, the effects of pain and other symptom control on anxiety in such patients have not been investigated well. We investigated the association of improvement of pain and other symptoms with patient anxiety, and assessed factors associated with improvement of such symptoms. Methods: Data of patients with advanced cancer admitted to a palliative care unit during August 2018 - June 2022 were analyzed retrospectively. Severity of pain, other symptoms, and anxiety was assessed by the Support Team Assessment Schedule Japanese version (STAS-J) administered at admission and after 2 weeks. Patients' physical data, their Palliative Prognostic Index (PPI) at admission, and their overall survival were collected and recorded. Results: Data of 701 patients were analyzed. Improvement of pain or other symptoms after 2 weeks was not associated with the PPI total score or actual survival (P = .105 and .999). Patients with higher anxiety on admission experienced improvement of pain or other symptoms more frequently (P = .005). Worsening of anxiety was observed less in patients who experienced improvement in pain or other symptoms after 2 weeks (P = .027). Conclusion: Pain or other symptoms of patients with advanced cancer was improved irrespective of the general condition indicated with actual survival and prognosis-predictive factors. These findings suggest the importance of pain and other symptoms' improvement and its important roles in the management of patient psychosocial problems such as anxiety.

Transdermal Rotigotine at End-of-Life for Parkinson's Disease: Association With Measures of Distress

BACKGROUND

End-of-life (EOL) care for Parkinson's disease (PD) can be challenging when oral medications are no longer tolerated.

MEASURES

To assess EOL prescribing for people with PD (PWP), focusing on rotigotine dosing and proxy measures of distress: benzodiazepine and opioid use.

INTERVENTION

A retrospective audit of patient records from PWP who died between January 2019 and May 2022 at the Royal Hobart Hospital (RHH), Australia, was conducted. Data was systematically collated on demographics, symptoms, levodopa equivalent daily dose (LEDD) and rotigotine, oral morphine equivalent (OME) and benzodiazepine doses in the last 72 hours of life .

OUTCOMES

Pain (72%), respiratory secretions (66%) and agitation (66%) were the most documented EOL symptoms. 83% (n = 52) of PWP were eligible for rotigotine and, of those, 13% (n = 7) received the correct dose, 38% (n = 20) a lower dose, 12% (n = 6) a higher dose and 37% (n = 19) did not receive any. Rotigotine dose was positively associated with total (P = 0.016) and PRN (P = 0.037) benzodiazepine dose. LEDD was positively associated with total benzodiazepine (P = 0.018) and total OME dose (P = 0.046). Contraindicated dopamine antagonists were prescribed for 43% of PWP and administered in 31% of those cases.

CONCLUSIONS

Rotigotine dose and admission LEDD were both associated with proxy measures of distress in the last 72 hours of life. This suggests cautious use of rotigotine at EOL. LEDD may help identify patients at risk of distress. Rates of inappropriate prescribing and symptom prevalence were high, indicating a need for further staff education to optimize the care of PWP.

Cancer caregivers at the end-of-life: How much me vs. how much we?

OBJECTIVE

This study explored cancer caregivers' individual and communal coping through their use of personal and communal pronouns during naturally occurring conversations.

METHODS

Nurse-home hospice visits involving cancer patients and their partner caregivers were audio recorded and then transcribed. Pronoun use was analyzed using Linguistic Inquiry Word Count (LIWC) software and descriptive statistics compared patient and partner caregivers' pronoun use. Personal and communal pronoun use was examined within six identified topics of caregiver speech: patient medical care, daily life, emotion, criticism/disagreement, relationships with family/friends, and asserting needs.

RESULTS

Dyads (N = 76) had an average of 35.8 years in their relationship. Caregivers used proportionately more first-person singular (I-talk) than first-person plural (we-talk). However, they used significantly less I-talk than patients and less I-talk than LIWC measures in naturally occurring speech. Caregivers were most likely to discuss patient medical care (41.9%) and least likely to discuss their own needs (3.8%).

CONCLUSION

Partner caregivers may find it easier to express emotions related to communal stressors, rather than their individual ability to cope with end-of-life caregiving.

INNOVATION

Examining personal and communal pronoun use by partner caregivers during nurse-home hospice visits may provide a more objective measure of caregiver coping than standard self-report measures.

[Transition from intensive care to palliative care : A retrospective analysis of 102 consultation requests]

BACKGROUND

The transition of patients from the intensive care unit (ICU) to the palliative care (PC) ward often implies changes including establishing a palliative concept. Adaptation of therapeutic goals can be challenging for medical staff, patients and relatives; however, descriptions of these transition trajectories are rare.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this retrospective study was to characterize the consultation requests of the ICU to the PC consultation team as well as the patients by a description of trajectories and interventions.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of all patients receiving intensive care at RWTH Aachen University Hospital in 2019 for whom a PC consultation was requested. The patient population transferred from the ICU to the PC ward was compared with the non-transferred population. In each case, the primary consultation was evaluated regarding the following factors: question, vigilance, length of time from consultation request to its performance, and primary focus of the question. The question focus was categorized into "symptom control", "counselling" and "transfer" (tick options). In addition, a free text field was available for further notes. Exploration of diagnoses was complemented by accessing the electronic health records.

RESULTS

A total of 102 consultation requests from the ICU to the PC ward were evaluated. The morbidity of patients was high, and most patients had at least one of the following diagnoses: pulmonary (62%), cardiovascular (61%), and/or neurological disease (55%). Of the patients 32 (31%) were transferred to the PC ward, among whom weakness (94%), fatigue (77%), anxiety (55%), pain (53%), and dyspnea (48%) were the most frequently noted symptoms. Of the transferred patients 5 (16%) could be discharged to home, nursing home, hospice or other. In total, 35 (34%) of all patients who were seen by palliative care specialists on ICUs in 2019 could be discharged alive. The most frequent reasons for nonadmission were lack of capacity of the PC ward (33%), dying while being on the waiting list (20%), and refusal by the patient (20%). Of the patients, 7 (26%) died within 48 h after they had been transferred to the PC ward. Performed consultation services "symptom control" (χ2 = 10.17; p < 0.05) and "counselling" (χ2 = 12.82; p < 0.001), which were requested by the intensive care physicians, showed a significant linkage with the respective intervention performed by the palliative care team. On the other hand, no statistically significant difference was found for requested and performed "transfer" of patients from ICUs to PC ward. Comparing the transferred versus non-transferred patient population, a significantly more frequent transfer of patients with malignant tumors (p = 0.00) was observed.

CONCLUSION

The need for palliative care support in the ICUs exceeded the admission capacity of the PC ward. Future studies should further examine palliative care models in intensive care medicine.

Development and external validation of a predictive multivariable model for last-weeks survival of advanced cancer patients in the palliative home care setting (PACS)

PURPOSE

Various prognostic indexes have been proposed to improve physicians' ability to predict survival time in advanced cancer patients, admitted to palliative care (PC) with a survival probably to a few weeks of life, but no optimal score has been identified. The study aims therefore to develop and externally validate a new multivariable predictive model in this setting.

METHODS

We developed a model to predict short-term overall survival in cancer patients on the basis of clinical factors collected at PC admission. The model was developed on 1020 cancer patients prospectively enrolled to home palliative care at VIDAS Milan, Italy, between May 2018 and February 2020 and followed-up to June 2020, and validated in two separate samples of 544 home care and 247 hospice patients.

RESULTS

Among 68 clinical factors considered, five predictors were included in the predictive model, i.e., rattle, heart rate, anorexia, liver failure, and the Karnofsky performance status. Patient's survival probability at 5, 15, 30 and 45 days was estimated. The predictive model showed a good calibration and moderate discrimination (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve between 0.72 and 0.79) in the home care validation set, but model calibration was suboptimal in hospice patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The new multivariable predictive model for palliative cancer patients' survival (PACS model) includes clinical parameters routinely at patient's admission to PC and can be easily used to facilitate immediate and appropriate short-term clinical decisions for PC cancer patients in the home setting.

Do Types of Opioids Matter for Terminal Cancer Dyspnea? A Preliminary Multicenter Cohort Study

CONTEXT

Dyspnea is among the most distressing symptoms in the last weeks to days of life (terminal dyspnea). While physicians frequently use parenteral opioids other than morphine for terminal dyspnea, little is known about their effects in cancer patients.

OBJECTIVES

To explore the effectiveness and safety of parenteral morphine, oxycodone, and hydromorphone for cancer patients with terminal dyspnea.

METHODS

This was a secondary analysis of a multicenter cohort study that consecutively enrolled advanced cancer patients with moderate/severe terminal dyspnea. Participating palliative care physicians initiated parenteral opioids (morphine/oxycodone/hydromorphone), utilizing a standardized treatment algorithm. We examined the dyspnea intensity (Integrated Palliative care Outcome Scale [IPOS]) at 24 and 48 hours.

RESULTS

Of 108 patients (mean age = 72), 66 (61%), 34 (32%), and 8 (7.4%) received morphine, oxycodone, and hydromorphone, respectively. At 24 hours, mean dyspnea IPOS scores significantly decreased from 3.0 (standard error (SE) = 0.1) at the baseline to 1.6 (0.1), 2.9 (0.1) to 2.0 (0.2), and 3.5 (0.2) to 1.2 (0.4) in the morphine (P < 0.001), oxycodone (P < 0.001), and hydromorphone (P = 0.011) groups, respectively. At 48 hours, the IPOS scores significantly reduced from 2.9 (0.1) at the baseline to 1.4 (0.1), 2.9 (0.1) to 1.6 (0.2), and 3.5 (0.2) to 1.2 (0.2) in the morphine (P < 0.001), oxycodone (P < 0.001), and hydromorphone (P = 0.004) groups, respectively. No significant differences in mean scores were found among the three groups at 24 (P = 0.080) and 48 hours (P = 0.322). Adverse events were rare.

CONCLUSION

Parenteral morphine, oxycodone, and hydromorphone may be similarly effective and safe for cancer patients with terminal dyspnea.

Current Management Options for Dyspnea in Cancer Patients

OPINION STATEMENT

Dyspnea is one of the most frequent and distressing symptoms in patients with advanced cancer. As dyspnea deteriorates patients' quality of life markedly and tends to worsen as the disease progresses, comprehensive assessment and timely treatment of the underlying etiologies are essential. International guidelines recommend various non-pharmacological and pharmacological management options. However, there is a scarcity of confirmatory clinical trials on cancer dyspnea, and the overall level of evidence is weak. Recently, observational and survey studies indicated a wide range of practice patterns of palliative care specialists, providing important insight into the real-world management of dyspnea. In this paper, we summarize current management options for dyspnea in cancer patients, highlight major controversies in the literature, and propose future research directions toward quality care for patients with dyspnea and their families.

The feasibility and effects of a pharmacological treatment algorithm for cancer patients with terminal dyspnea: A multicenter cohort study

BACKGROUND

How clinicians treat patients with terminal dyspnea widely varies, which could hamper quality care. We visualized comprehensive pharmacological treatment delivered by palliative care physicians.

AIM

To examine adherence to a comprehensive pharmacological treatment algorithm for patients with terminal dyspnea, and to explore its outcomes during 48 h.

DESIGN

A multicenter cohort study at five sites (February 2020 to June 2021).

SETTING/PARTICIPANTS

We prospectively enrolled consecutive patients with advanced cancer, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 3-4, and moderate/severe dyspnea. Participating palliative care physicians initiated algorithm-based treatment. The primary outcome was the proportion of adherence to the treatment algorithm over 24 h (predefined goal, 70%). We evaluated the adherence, goal achievement, and dyspnea level with a numerical rating scale (NRS), as well as adverse events over 48 h.

RESULTS

All 108 patients received algorithm-based pharmacological treatment. Among 96 and 87 patients who were alive at 24 and 48 h, respectively, 96 (100%; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 96%-100%) and 82 (94%; 95%CI = 87%-98%) continued to receive the algorithm treatment, respectively, and 66 (69%; 95%CI = 59%-77%) and 64 (74%; 95%CI = 63%-82%) achieved the treatment goals, respectively. Using a complete case analysis with paired t-tests, mean dyspnea NRS scores significantly reduced from 7.3 (standard error, 0.2) at the baseline to 4.9 (0.3) at 24 h (n = 72; p < 0.001), and 7.2 (0.3) at the baseline to 4.6 (0.4) at 48 h (n = 55; p < 0.001). Most adverse events were mild to moderate.

CONCLUSIONS

The comprehensive pharmacological treatment algorithm was feasible, and the study data supports its preliminary efficacy and safety. The use of this algorithm may help clinicians improve care for patients with terminal dyspnea.

Effect of Dexmedetomidine for Palliative Sedation for Refractory Dyspnoea in Patients with Terminal-Stage Cancer

Background

Dyspnoea affects a considerable percentage of patients with terminal-stage cancer, and clinical guidelines recommend palliative sedation for patients with refractory dyspnoea. Midazolam is currently the most commonly used sedative; however, it can cause serious adverse reactions, such as respiratory/circulatory depression. Hence, there is a need for an alternative sedative. Dexmedetomidine (DEX) is a promising alternative as its "awake sedation" effect; however, little is known regarding its use in patients with end-stage dyspnoea. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the safety and usefulness of DEX for palliative sedation of patients with refractory dyspnoea.

Methods

This retrospective study included patients with terminal-stage cancer who received DEX for palliative sedation owing to refractory dyspnoea in the hospice ward from January 2018 to October 2022. We analysed their general data, dyspnoea conditions, sedation details, sedative treatment effect, dyspnoea relief, and changes in vital signs before and after sedation, via paired t-tests.

Results

We included 17 patients with terminal-stage cancer who received DEX palliative sedation at a dose of 0.2-0.9 µg/kg·h for refractory dyspnoea, among whom 6 (35%) received a loading dose of 1 µg/kg in 10 min. After 1 h of sedation and at the maximum sedation dose, the Respiratory Distress Observation Scale and Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale scores decreased significantly compared with those before sedation (all P<0.001), as did the respiratory rate (P=0.024 and P=0.008, respectively). The heart rate and blood oxygen saturation did not significantly change, whereas the systolic and diastolic blood pressure after 1 h of sedation were significantly lower than those before sedation (both P=0.015).

Conclusion

DEX is a promising palliative sedative for patients with terminal-stage cancer, as it safely relieved the symptoms of refractory dyspnoea without inducing serious adverse reactions. Therefore, DEX may greatly enhance the quality of life for patients with terminal-stage cancer.

Medical Assistance in Dying, Data and Casting Assertions Aside

Various assertions have been made regarding why eligibility for medical assistance in dying (MAiD) should be expanded. Examining these and the studies used to support them should clear the way for thoughtful data monitoring and research into why some patients make death hastening requests. This will not only improve MAiD practices in Canada, but will lead to better more effective palliative care for patients whose suffering leads them to covet death.

Demystifying Prognosis : Understanding the Science and Art of Prognostication

The science of prognostication is emerging as a vital part of providing goal concordant patient care. Historically, modern medicine has tended to shy away from approaching prognostication as a core clinical skill, and prognosis as something to be shared directly with the patient. In recent years however, the medical field's shift towards a focus on patient autonomy and more openness in matters regarding end of life has propelled the study of prognostication into a more essential component of patient centered care. This calls for more emphasis on teaching the science of prognosis and the skill of prognostication as a core part of modern medical education. The following chapter aims to delve into the science of prognostication, explore the methods of formulating a prognosis, and discuss issues surrounding the communication of prognosis.

The practices of nurses about palliative sedation on palliative care wards: A qualitative study

AIM

To describe the practices of nurses concerning palliative sedation in palliative care wards in hospitals.

DESIGN

Qualitative descriptive design.

METHODS

A total of 27 nurses were interviewed in six focus groups and one pair interview; the nurses worked on four palliative care wards in three Finnish hospitals and the interviews took place between May and November 2019. The data were analysed using inductive content analysis. The COREQ checklist was used as a guide for reporting this study.

FINDINGS

Three main categories describing nurses' practices concerning palliative sedation were identified: participation in palliative sedation decision-making, sedation implementation and monitoring and information sharing and compassionate care for the patient and relatives.

CONCLUSIONS

Nurses play a key role throughout palliative sedation on palliative care wards in hospitals. To develop the quality of care, it is recommended to specify the role of nurses in palliative sedation, increase cooperation between nurses and physicians, and enhance palliative sedation education for nurses.

Effect of dexamethasone on dyspnoea in patients with cancer (ABCD): a parallel-group, double-blind, randomised, controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Systemic corticosteroids are commonly prescribed for palliation of dyspnoea in patients with cancer, despite scarce evidence to support their use. We aimed to assess the effect of high-dose dexamethasone versus placebo on cancer-related dyspnoea.

METHODS

The parallel-group, double-blind, randomised, controlled ABCD (Alleviating Breathlessness in Cancer Patients with Dexamethasone) trial was done at the at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and the general oncology clinic at Lyndon B Johnson General Hospital (both in Houston, TX, USA). Ambulatory patients with cancer, aged 18 years or older, and with an average dyspnoea intensity score on an 11-point numerical rating scale (NRS; 0=none, 10=worst) over the past week of 4 or higher were randomly assigned (2:1) to receive dexamethasone 8 mg orally every 12 h for 7 days followed by 4 mg orally every 12 h for 7 days, or matching placebo capsules for 14 days. Pharmacists did permuted block randomisation with a block size of six, and patients were stratified by baseline dyspnoea score (4-6 vs 7-10) and study site. Patients, research staff, and clinicians were masked to group assignment. The primary outcome was change in dyspnoea NRS intensity over the past 24 h from baseline to day 7 (±2 days). Analyses were done by modified intention-to-treat (ie, including all patients who were randomly assigned and started the study treatment, regardless of whether they completed the study). Enrolment was stopped after the second preplanned interim analysis, when the futility criterion was met. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03367156) and is now completed.

FINDINGS

Between Jan 11, 2018, and April 23, 2021, we screened 2867 patients, enrolled 149 patients, and randomly assigned 128 to dexamethasone (n=85) or placebo (n=43). The mean change in dyspnoea NRS intensity from baseline to day 7 (±2 days) was -1·6 (95% CI -2·0 to -1·2) in the dexamethasone group and -1·6 (-2·3 to -0·9) in the placebo group, with no significant between-group difference (mean 0 [95% CI -0·8 to 0·7]; p=0·48). The most common all-cause grade 3-4 adverse events were infections (nine [11%] of 85 patients in the dexamethasone group vs three [7%] of 43 in the placebo group), insomnia (seven [8%] vs one [2%]), and neuropsychiatric symptoms (three [4%] vs none [0%]). Serious adverse events, all resulting in hospital admissions, were reported in 24 (28%) of 85 patients in the dexamethasone group and in three (7%) of 43 patients in the placebo group. No treatment-related deaths occurred in either group.

INTERPRETATION

High-dose dexamethasone did not improve dyspnoea in patients with cancer more effectively than placebo and was associated with a higher frequency of adverse events. These data suggest that dexamethasone should not be routinely given to unselected patients with cancer for palliation of dyspnoea.

FUNDING

US National Cancer Institute.

Nursing support for symptoms in patients with cancer and caregiver burdens: a scoping review protocol

INTRODUCTION

Terminally ill patients with cancer experience a variety of symptoms, and their families experience certain caregiver burdens. Most studies on this topic have focused on the symptoms experienced by patients with cancer. There is little established evidence to show how nursing support affects these symptoms and burdens. Nurses provide support by extrapolating their clinical experience, practical knowledge and insights gained from the treatment phase of patients with cancer, regardless of the existence or degree of evidence. This study presents a scoping review protocol with the aim of categorising the feasibility of nursing support from the initial to the terminal phases in the trajectory of cancer care.

METHOD AND ANALYSIS

This review will be guided by Arksey and O'Malley's five-stage scoping review framework and Levac's extension. Our research project team will focus on the pain, dyspnoea, nausea and vomiting, constipation, delirium, fatigue and skin disorders experienced by patients with cancer as well as the burdens experienced by caregivers of such patients. All available published articles from database inception to 31 January 2022 will be systematically searched using the following electrical databases: PubMed, CINAHL, CENTRAL in the Cochrane Library and Ichushi-Web of the Japan Medical Abstract Society databases. In addition, we will assess relevant studies from the reference list and manually search each key journal. The formula creation phase of the literature search involves working with a librarian to identify relevant keywords. At least two reviewers will independently screen and review articles and extract data using a data chart form. Results will be mapped according to study design and analysed for adaptation in the field of terminal cancer.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This review does not require ethical approval as it is a secondary analysis of pre-existing, published data. The findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations.

Clinical Outcomes of Operating an Acute Palliative Care Unit at a Comprehensive Cancer Center

PURPOSE:

Acute palliative care units (APCUs) are inpatient services in tertiary hospitals that provide intensive symptom management and assist in hospital discharge for transitions to hospice care. We aimed to analyze the clinical outcomes of operating an APCU at a comprehensive cancer center.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 1,440 consecutive patients admitted to the APCU and analyzed demographic and clinical information, discharge outcomes, symptom assessments using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System, spiritual distress, and financial distress.

RESULTS:

The median age of patients was 67.0 (range, 23-97) years, and 41% were female. The most common primary cancer types were lung (21.9%), hepatopancreatobiliary (14.1%), and colorectal cancers (12.9%). The median length of stay was 8.0 days (range, 1-60 days), and 31.0% of patients died in the APCU. Death in the APCU showed a significant decrease over time, and overall inpatient death in oncology wards did not increase after APCU opening. In total, 44.7% of patients were discharged to government-certified hospice centers. The proportion of patients discharged to certified hospice centers increased from 32.2% in 2015 to 62.4% in 2018. Among 715 patients with a follow-up evaluation 1 week after admission, Edmonton Symptom Assessment System symptom scores, spiritual distress, and financial distress showed statistically significant improvements compared with the baseline symptom scores ( P < .001). This improvement was limited to patients who did not die in the APCU.

CONCLUSION:

Patients with advanced cancer admitted to the APCU may experience significant improvements in distressing symptoms. The majority of patients requiring transition to hospice were successfully transferred to certified hospice centers. The percentage discharged alive improved over time.

Dying in hospital is worse for non-cancer patients. A regional cross-sectional survey of bereaved relatives' views

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study is to examine differences in hospital care between patients with cancer and non-cancer conditions in their dying phase, perceived by bereaved relatives.

METHODS

A retrospective cross-sectional post-bereavement survey, with the total population of 351 deceased, 91 cancer patients and 46 non-cancer patients, who spent their last 2 days of life in hospital. A validated German version of the VOICES-questionnaire ('VOICES-LYOL-Cologne') was used.

RESULTS

There were substantial differences between the two groups in the rating of sufficient practical care such as pain relief or support to eat or drink (p = 0.005) and sufficient emotional care needs (p = 0.006) and in the quality of communication with healthcare professionals (p < 0.001), with non-cancer patients scoring lowest in all these dimensions.

CONCLUSION

In all surveyed dimensions on the quality of care in the dying phase, non-cancer patients' relatives rated the provided care worse than those of cancer patients. To compensate any differences in care in the dying phase between diagnosis groups, hospital care should be provided as needs-oriented and non-indication-specific.

Early integration of palliative care into oncological care: a focus on patient-important outcomes

BACKGROUND

Globally, cancer remains one of the leading causes of mortality. Palliative care is designed to meet a range of cancer patients' priority issues, including the management of pain and other cancer-associated symptoms. Routine palliative care envisages the provision of not just medical therapy, but also psychological support, social support and spiritual assistance. What constitutes the best model for palliative care remains a matter of debate.

AIM

This review was undertaken with the aim to discuss different aspects of early integration of palliative care into oncological care, with a focus on patient-important outcomes.

METHODS

A comprehensive search of publications was conducted with a focus on integrative palliative care for incurable cancer patients. For this purpose, the following databases and search engines were used: Scopus, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Research Gate, Google Scholar, eLIBRARY and Cyberleninka.

RESULTS

A comprehensive approach with early integration of different medical services appears to be the most promising. Integrative palliative care is best provided via specialised interdisciplinary teams, given that all members maintain systemic communications and regularly exchange information. This model ensures that timely and adequate interventions are provided to address the needs of patients.

CONCLUSION

Further research is needed to pinpoint the most optimal strategies to deliver palliative care and make it as tailored to the patient's demands as possible.

Live well, die well – an international cohort study on experiences, concerns and preferences of patients in the last phase of life: the research protocol of the iLIVE study

Introduction

Adequately addressing the needs of patients at the end of life and their relatives is pivotal in preventing unnecessary suffering and optimising their quality of life. The purpose of the iLIVE study is to contribute to high-quality personalised care at the end of life in different countries and cultures, by investigating the experiences, concerns, preferences and use of care of terminally ill patients and their families.

Methods and analysis

The iLIVE study is an international cohort study in which patients with an estimated life expectancy of 6 months or less are followed up until they die. In total, 2200 patients will be included in 11 countries, that is, 200 per country. In addition, one relative per patient is invited to participate. All participants will be asked to fill in a questionnaire, at baseline and after 4 weeks. If a patient dies within 6 months of follow-up, the relative will be asked to fill in a post-bereavement questionnaire. Healthcare use in the last week of life will be evaluated as well; healthcare staff who attended the patient will be asked to fill in a brief questionnaire to evaluate the care that was provided. Qualitative interviews will be conducted with patients, relatives and healthcare professionals in all countries to gain more in-depth insights.

Ethics and dissemination

The cohort study has been approved by ethics committees and the institutional review boards (IRBs) of participating institutes in all countries. Results will be disseminated through the project website, publications in scientific journals and at conferences. Within the project, there will be a working group focusing on enhancing the engagement of the community at large with the reality of death and dying.

Trial registration number

NCT04271085.

Management of Physical Symptoms in Patients with Advanced Cancer During the Last Weeks and Days of Life

Patients with advanced cancer are faced with many devastating symptoms in the last weeks and days of life, such as pain, delirium, dyspnea, bronchial hypersecretions (death rattle), and intractable seizures. Symptom management in the last weeks of life can be particularly challenging because of the high prevalence of delirium complicating symptom assessment, high symptom expression secondary to psychosocial and spiritual factors, limited life-expectancy requiring special considerations for prognosis-based decision-making, and distressed caregivers. There is a paucity of research involving patients in the last weeks of life, contributing to substantial variations in clinical practice. In this narrative review, we shall review the existing literature and provide a practical approach to in-patient management of several of the most distressing physical symptoms in the last weeks to days of life.

Assessment of symptoms among among patients living with cancer: prevalence, distress and its correlation with quality of life

Background: Several symptoms known to be experienced by cancer patients receiving palliative care remain under-reported, inadequately managed and unexplored in Jordan. Aim: To describe the prevalence of symptoms, the distress caused and the correlation with quality-of-life among cancer patients receiving palliative care in Jordan. Methods: A cross-sectional correlational survey design was used. The Rotterdam Symptom Checklist and the Quality-of-Life Index-Cancer version were used for data collection. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, unpaired t-test and Pearson correlation coefficients. Results: The sample comprises of 124 patients with a mean age of 55.7 years (SD=12.9). A total of 57.3% of them were females. Patients reported having an average of 17.3 (SD=7.1) symptoms. The most reported symptoms were tiredness (90.3%), lack of energy (81.5%), sore muscles (81.5%) and worry (76.6%). The mean total score for quality of life was 17.9 (SD=5.9) out of 30. A negative (P<0.05) relationship was found between the number of concurrent symptoms and the total quality of life score. Conclusions: Palliative care patients in Jordan reported a high number of co-occurring symptoms and experienced high levels of symptom distress, which negatively impacted their quality of life. Further research to evaluate the impact of total symptom management, its efficacy and feasibility is needed.

Prognostication of the last days of life: Review article

Accurate prediction of impending death (i.e., last few days of life) is essential for terminally-ill cancer patients and their families. International guidelines state that clinicians should identify patients with impending death, communicate the prognosis with patients and families, help them with their end-of-life decision-making, and provide sufficient symptom palliation. Over the past decade, several national and international studies have been conducted that systematically investigated signs and symptoms of impending death as well as how to communicate such a prognosis effectively with patients and families. In this article, we summarize the current evidence on prognostication and communication regarding the last days of life of patients with cancer, and future directions of clinical research.

Visualizing How to Use Parenteral Opioids for Terminal Cancer Dyspnea: A Pilot, Multicenter, Prospective, Observational Study

CONTEXT

How physicians use opioids for dyspnea in imminently dying cancer patients (terminal dyspnea) varies markedly, which could hamper quality care.

OBJECTIVES

To examine the adherence to an algorithm-based treatment for terminal dyspnea, and explore its outcomes over 24 hours.

METHODS

This was a pre-planned subgroup analysis of a multicenter prospective observational study. Inclusion criteria were: advanced cancer patients admitted to palliative care units, ECOG performance status = 3-4, and a dyspnea intensity ≥2 on the Integrated Palliative care Outcome Scale (IPOS). We developed an algorithm to visualize how palliative care physicians would use parenteral opioids. Participating physicians (palliative care specialists) initiated parenteral opioids, choosing whether to use the algorithm based on their preference. We measured the adherence rate to the algorithm over 24 hours (predefined goal = 70%), and compared dyspnea IPOS scores and adverse events between patients with and without algorithm-based treatment.

RESULTS

Of 164 patients (median survival = 5 days), 71 (43%) received algorithm-based treatment, and 70 (99%; 95% confidence interval = 92%-100%) adhered to it over 24 hours. In a complete case analysis, mean dyspnea IPOS scores significantly decreased from 2.9 (standard error = 0.1) to 1.5 (0.1) in the algorithm group (n = 54; P < 0.001), and 2.9 (0.1) to 1.6 (0.1) in the non-algorithm group (n = 72; P < 0.001). There was no significant between-group difference in changes in dyspnea IPOS scores (P = 0.65). Adverse events were rare (n = 5).

CONCLUSION

The algorithm-based treatment was feasible, and might be as effective and safe as the usual care by palliative care specialists. Its implementation may help physicians provide quality care for terminal dyspnea.

Assessment of Changes in Symptoms Is Feasible and Prognostic in the Last Weeks of Life: An International Multicenter Cohort Study

Background: Symptoms are not typically part of established various prognostic factors and scoring systems but are among the most frequently assessed issues in patient care. Objectives: To evaluate that, changes in symptoms can provide additional useful prognostic information. Design: A secondary analysis of an international cohort study in Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. Setting/Subjects: Subjects were adult patients with advanced cancer (n = 2074) who were admitted to 37 palliative care units (PCUs) in 3 countries from January 2017 to September 2018. Measurements: Symptoms (dyspnea, fatigue, dry mouth, and drowsiness) were assessed at admission and one-week later. Dyspnea was assessed by the presence of resting and exertional dyspnea, whereas other symptoms were assessed using the Integrated Palliative care Outcome Scales (IPOS) (range 0-4). For analysis, we grouped patients by symptom change, as either Improved, Stable, or Worsened (by having at least a one increment decrease, no change, or at least a one increment increase, respectively). Results: Worsened groups had the shortest survival (median survival 15-21 days) compared with those with Improved (median survival 23-31 days) and Stable symptoms (median survival 27-29 days) across all four symptoms (dyspnea, fatigue, dry mouth, and drowsiness). Survival differences were statistically significantly different across all three groups for all symptoms (all p < 0.001). Interestingly, Improved symptoms were associated with similar survival compared with Stable groups, with no statistical differences. Conclusions: Worsened symptoms at one week after admission were useful predictors of survival for patients with advanced cancer in PCUs during the final weeks of life. Longitudinal assessments are needed to reflect passage of time as well as impact of treatments.

The conscious state of the dying patient: An integrative review

OBJECTIVES

The cognitive state of the dying in the last days of life may deteriorate, resulting in a reduced ability to communicate their care needs. Distressing symptoms, physical and existential, may go unrecognized and untreated. The objectives of this integrative review were to systematically interrogate the literature to determine the changing conscious state of dying adults and to identify changes in their care needs.

METHODS

An integrative review protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42020160475). The World Health Organization definition of palliative care informed the review. CINAHL, MEDLINE (OVID), Scopus, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, and PubMed were searched from inception to October 2019 using search strategies for each database. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied. Methodological quality was appraised using the Joanna Briggs Institute Checklist for the Case Series appraisal tool. Extracted data were synthesized using a narrative approach.

RESULTS

Of 5,136 papers identified, 11 quantitative case series studies were included. Six themes were identified: conscious state and change over time, awareness, pain, absence of holistic care, the voiceless patient, and signs and symptoms of dying.

SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS

In the last days of life, the physical and conscious state of the dying patient declines, resulting in an inability to express their care needs. Dignity in dying and freedom from pain and suffering are both an imperative and a human right; and unvoiced care needs can result in unnecessary suffering and distress. This review revealed that little is known about how healthcare professionals assess holistic care needs at this vulnerable time. Although much has been written about palliative and end-of-life care, the assessment of care needs when patients are no longer able to voice their own needs has largely been ignored, with little attention from clinical, educational, or research perspectives. This gap in evidence has important implications for the dying and their families.

Experience of symptom control, anxiety and associating factors in a palliative care unit evaluated with Support Team Assessment Schedule Japanese version

Various physical and psychosocial difficulties including anxiety affect cancer patients. Patient surroundings also have psychological effects on caregiving. Assessing the current status of palliative care intervention, specifically examining anxiety and its associated factors, is important to improve palliative care unit (PCU) patient quality of life (QOL). This study retrospectively assessed 199 patients admitted to a PCU during August 2018–June 2019. Data for symptom control, anxiety level, disease insight, and communication level obtained using Support Team Assessment Schedule Japanese version (STAS-J) were evaluated on admission and after 2 weeks. Palliative Prognostic Index (PPI) and laboratory data were collected at admission. Patient anxiety was significantly severer and more frequent in groups with severer functional impairment (p = 0.003) and those requiring symptom control (p = 0.006). Nevertheless, no relation was found between dyspnea and anxiety (p = 0.135). Patients with edema more frequently experienced anxiety (p = 0.068). Patient survival was significantly shorter when family anxiety was higher after 2 weeks (p = 0.021). Symptoms, edema, and disabilities in daily living correlate with patient anxiety. Dyspnea is associated with anxiety, but its emergence might be attributable mainly to physical factors in this population. Family members might sensitize changes reflecting worsened general conditions earlier than the patients.

Compromised end-of-life syndrome: Concept development from the condition of adults and older adults in palliative care

PURPOSE

This study aimed to develop the nursing diagnosis concept "compromised end-of-life syndrome" in palliative care.

METHODS

The authors used the integrative strategy by Meleis to develop the concept in this study and identifying clinical indicators from a literature review. For data organization, we applied the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Metanalysis (PRISMA).

FINDINGS

Some clusters of unpleasant signs and symptoms in palliative care patients at the end of life, such as pain, dyspnea, depression, constipation, and anxiety, were identified. Through conceptualization, the authors propose a new nursing diagnosis, "compromised end-of-life syndrome." The manuscript includes a model case of a patient with nursing diagnosis syndrome as a clinical example.

CONCLUSIONS

Simultaneous patterns of signs and symptoms present in the literature reinforce the utility of the proposition of end-of-life syndrome as a nursing diagnostic construct.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE

The concept development related to patients' unpleasant signs and symptoms critically ill at palliative care supports the proposition of a new nursing diagnosis relevant to selecting adequate nursing interventions and nursing outcomes. Some clusters of unpleasant signs and symptoms in palliative care patients at the end of life, such as pain, dyspnea, depression, constipation, and anxiety were identified. Conceptualization was used to propose a new nursing diagnosis, "compromised end-of-life syndrome." A model case of a patient with nursing diagnosis syndrome is described as a clinical example.

CONCLUSION

Simultaneous patterns of signs and symptoms present in the literature reinforce the utility of the proposition of end-of-life syndrome as nursing diagnostic construct.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE

The concept development related to patients' unpleasant signs and symptoms critically ill at palliative care supports the proposition of a new nursing diagnosis relevant to selecting adequate nursing interventions and nursing outcomes.

Care of the adult cancer patient at the end of life: ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines

•This ESMO Clinical Practice Guideline provides key recommendations for end-of-life care for patients with advanced cancer. •It details care that is focused on comfort, quality of life and approaching death of patients with advanced cancer. •All recommendations were compiled by a multidisciplinary group of experts. •Recommendations are based on available scientific data and the authors’ collective expert opinion.

Nurse Perspectives on Urinary Incontinence in the Home Hospice Setting

CONTEXT

To date, no studies have characterized the impacts of urinary incontinence (UI) at the end of life in the home hospice (HH) setting. UI is highly prevalent at the end of life and adversely affects quality of life.

OBJECTIVES

To characterize HH nurses' perspectives on UI in HH patients.

METHODS

We conducted a qualitative descriptive study of interviews between HH nurses and the study investigator. Thirty-two interviews with HH nurses were transcribed and analyzed. Nurses were mostly female, college-educated, and had several years of experience in HH nursing.

RESULTS

We identified findings in four major themes: 1) HH nurses' definition and identification of UI, 2) the absence of formal guidelines for diagnosing UI in HH patients, 3) UI's adverse effect on HH patients and their families, and 4) the lack of standardized guidelines for the management of UI in the HH setting. We found that there was a general lack of clarity on the subtypes of UI and no standardized guidelines for management of UI in the HH setting. Nurses reported that UI was bothersome to HH patients and their caregivers, citing patient discomfort, loss of dignity, and additional labor burden as reasons for this. Management strategies for UI lacked standardization.

CONCLUSION

UI is a prevalent and debilitating condition in HH patients. There is a need for studies to further characterize the impacts of UI on HH patients and their caregivers. Formal training on UI subtypes and management is needed to facilitate proper documentation, research, and improve patient outcomes.

How Successful Is Parenteral Oxycodone for Relieving Terminal Cancer Dyspnea Compared With Morphine? A Multicenter Prospective Observational Study

CONTEXT

Parenteral morphine is widely used for dyspnea of imminently dying cancer patients (terminal dyspnea). However, the efficacy of other opioids such as oxycodone remains largely unknown.

OBJECTIVES

To explore the efficacy of parenteral oxycodone vs. morphine by continuous infusion over 24 hours in cancer patients with terminal dyspnea.

METHODS

This was a pre-planned subgroup analysis of a multicenter prospective observational study. Inclusion criteria were advanced cancer patients admitted to palliative care units, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status = 3-4, and a dyspnea intensity ≥2 on the Integrated Palliative care Outcome Scale (IPOS) for which oxycodone or morphine was initiated by continuous infusion. We measured dyspnea IPOS scores over 24 hours.

RESULTS

We analyzed 164 patients who received oxycodone (n = 26) and morphine (n = 138) for dyspnea (median survival = 5 days). The mean age was 70 years, 58 patients (35%) had lung cancer, and 97 (59%) had lung metastases. Complete case analysis revealed that mean dyspnea IPOS scores decreased from 3.0 (standard deviation = 0.7) to 1.5 (0.7) in the oxycodone group (difference in means = 1.5; P < 0.001), and from 2.9 (0.7) to 1.6 (1.0) in the morphine group (difference in means = 1.3; P < 0.001). No significant between-group differences existed in the IPOS scores at 24 hours (P = 0.753). Adverse events were seen in no and 5 patients in the oxycodone and morphine groups, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Parenteral oxycodone may be equally effective and safe as morphine in the treatment of terminal dyspnea in cancer patients. Future randomized controlled trials should confirm the efficacy and safety of opioids other than morphine for terminal dyspnea.

Symptom and Illness Experience for English and Spanish-Speaking Children with Advanced Cancer: Child and Parent Perspective

Understanding the symptom and illness experience of children with advanced cancer facilitates quality care; yet, obtaining this understanding is complicated by the child’s developmental level and physical and psychological health factors that affect communication. The purpose of this study was to describe the symptom and illness experience of English- and Spanish-speaking children with advanced cancer as described by the child and parent. We conducted hermeneutic phenomenological, descriptive, and interpretive interviews with eligible children and parents. The interdisciplinary research team analyzed transcripts hermeneutically until consensus on theme labels was reached. Four themes and associated subthemes were identified from the interviews of the 10 child–parent dyads: 1. symptoms disrupt life (path to diagnosis, life is disrupted), 2. isolation (lack of understanding, family separations/relationships), 3. protection, and 4. death is not for children. Children and parents readily described the impact symptoms and cancer treatment had on their lives and relationships. These findings underscore the salient aspects of daily life disrupted by cancer. With a deeper understanding of symptom burden and its interference, relationship and communication implications, and anticipatory grief, the treating team may better optimize care for children and their families living with advanced cancer.

Idiopathic Parkinson's Disease at the End of Life: A Retrospective Evaluation of Symptom Prevalence, Pharmacological Symptom Management and Transdermal Rotigotine Dosing

BACKGROUND

Distressing symptoms are prevalent in patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease, yet little is known about symptom burden and subsequent pharmacological management at the end of life. Additionally, when oral administration of antiparkinsonian medications is no longer possible in dying patients, it is becoming common place to initiate transdermal rotigotine, despite a paucity of evidence to guide dosing.

OBJECTIVES

To assess: (1) symptom prevalence from the use of anticipatory medicines in patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease, (2) the prescribing of antiparkinsonian medication at the end of life; and (3) the accuracy of conversion from oral antiparkinsonian medicines to transdermal rotigotine and any associations between rotigotine dosing and end-of-life symptoms.

METHODS

A retrospective case review was performed. One hundred consecutive patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease who died during an inpatient admission at a UK teaching hospital were assessed.

RESULTS

The most prevalent terminal symptoms were excess respiratory secretions (58%), pain (52%), agitation (51%) and fever (23%). The majority of patients were converted to transdermal rotigotine (90%). Patients converted to a higher than equivalent dose of rotigotine were more likely to be agitated (p < 0.05), whilst those converted to a lower than equivalent dose were less likely to develop excess respiratory secretions (p < 0.05). The prevalence of pain did not differ according to rotigotine dosing.

CONCLUSIONS

This study highlights for the first time use of anticipatory medications at the end of life in patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease and the prevalence of terminal symptoms. It also demonstrates the widespread use of rotigotine patches, and that lower than equivalent doses may be better tolerated.

Management of Dyspnea in Advanced Cancer: ASCO Guideline

PURPOSE

To provide guidance on the clinical management of dyspnea in adult patients with advanced cancer.

METHODS

ASCO convened an Expert Panel to review the evidence and formulate recommendations. An Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) systematic review provided the evidence base for nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic interventions to alleviate dyspnea. The review included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies with a concurrent comparison group published through early May 2020. The ASCO Expert Panel also wished to address dyspnea assessment, management of underlying conditions, and palliative care referrals, and for these questions, an additional systematic review identified RCTs, systematic reviews, and guidelines published through July 2020.

RESULTS

The AHRQ systematic review included 48 RCTs and two retrospective cohort studies. Lung cancer and mesothelioma were the most commonly addressed types of cancer. Nonpharmacologic interventions such as fans provided some relief from breathlessness. Support for pharmacologic interventions was limited. A meta-analysis of specialty breathlessness services reported improvements in distress because of dyspnea.

RECOMMENDATIONS

A hierarchical approach to dyspnea management is recommended, beginning with dyspnea assessment, ascertainment and management of potentially reversible causes, and referral to an interdisciplinary palliative care team. Nonpharmacologic interventions that may be offered to relieve dyspnea include airflow interventions (eg, a fan directed at the cheek), standard supplemental oxygen for patients with hypoxemia, and other psychoeducational, self-management, or complementary approaches. For patients who derive inadequate relief from nonpharmacologic interventions, systemic opioids should be offered. Other pharmacologic interventions, such as corticosteroids and benzodiazepines, are also discussed. Additional information is available at www.asco.org/supportive-care-guidelines .

Nursing diagnosis "Terminality Syndrome": a content analysis

OBJECTIVES

to validate the nursing diagnosis "Terminality Syndrome" with experts.

METHODS

a quantitative research of content validation type based on collective wisdom approach. An online semi-structured questionnaire was used as an instrument for data collection, and Content Validity Index and Wilcoxon test were used for comparing possible differences.

RESULTS

the questionnaire was answered by 89 professionals after judges' assessment in relation to the structural components of the diagnosis proposed. The mean Content Validity Index of items was above that recommended, except for title, which was ≥ 0.8. The suggestions were reviewed and accepted, being forwarded for a new analysis, reaching 83.7% of agreement among participants.

CONCLUSIONS

the diagnosis' content proved to be valid by judges. With that, it is expected to contribute with a useful nursing diagnosis for nursing practice documentation in palliative care.

Longitudinal Symptom Burden Trajectories in a Population-Based Cohort of Women with Metastatic Breast Cancer: A Group-Based Trajectory Modeling Analysis

Understanding the symptom burden trajectory for metastatic breast cancer patients can enable the provision of appropriate supportive care for symptom management. The aim of this study was to describe the longitudinal trajectories of symptom burden for metastatic breast cancer patients at the population-level. A cohort of 995 metastatic breast cancer patients with 16,146 Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) assessments was constructed using linked population-level health administrative databases. The patient-reported ESAS total symptom distress score (TSDS) was studied over time using group-based trajectory modeling, and covariate influences on trajectory patterns were examined. Cohort patients experienced symptom burden that could be divided into six distinct trajectories. Patients experiencing a higher baseline TSDS were likely to be classified into trajectory groups with high, uncontrolled TSDS within the study follow-up period (χ2 (1, N = 995) = 136.25, p < 0.001). Compared to patients classified in the group trajectory with the highest relative TSDS (Group 6), patients classified in the lowest relative TSDS trajectory group (Group 1) were more likely to not have comorbidities (97.34% (for Groups 1-3) vs. 91.82% (for Group 6); p < 0.05), more likely to receive chemotherapy (86.52% vs. 80.50%; p < 0.05), and less likely to receive palliative care (52.81% vs. 79.25%; p < 0.0001). Receiving radiotherapy was a significant predictor of how symptom burden was experienced in all identified groups. Overall, metastatic breast cancer patients follow heterogeneous symptom burden trajectories over time, with some experiencing a higher, uncontrolled symptom burden. Understanding trajectories can assist in establishing risk-stratified care pathways for patients.

Communication and Behavior of Palliative Care Physicians of Patients With Cancer Near End of Life in Three East Asian Countries

BACKGROUND

The characteristics of physician communication with patients at the end of life (EOL) in East Asia have not been well studied. We investigated physicians' communications with imminently dying patients with cancer and their families in palliative care units (PCUs) in Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan.

METHODS

This observational study included patients with cancer newly admitted and deceased during their first admission to 39 PCUs in three countries. We evaluated 1) the prevalence and timing of informing patients and families of patients' impending death and 2) the prevalence of communication to assure the families of the patient's comfort.

RESULTS

We analyzed 2138 patients (Japan: 1633, South Korea: 256, Taiwan: 249). Fewer Japanese (4.8%: 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 3.8%-5.9%) and South Korean (19.6%: 95% CI, 15.2%-25.0%) patients were informed of their impending death, whereas 66.4% (95% CI, 60.2%-72.1%) of Taiwanese were informed; among all three countries, ≥90% of families were informed. Although most patients in all three countries and the families in South Korea and Taiwan were informed of the impending death greater than or equal to four days before death, 62.1% (95% CI, 59.6%-64.6%) of Japanese families were informed less than or equal to three days prior. Most families in all three countries received assurance that the patient would remain comfortable (could hear until death, no distress with death rattle or respiration with mandibular movement).

CONCLUSIONS

Physicians in Taiwan communicated about patient's impending death most frequently, and physicians in all three countries generally provided assurance to families that the patients would remain comfortable. Further studies should explore the reasons for these differences and the effects of such communications in East Asia.

Experiences, Personal Attitudes, and Professional Stances of Swiss Health Care Professionals Toward Voluntary Stopping of Eating and Drinking to Hasten Death: A Cross-Sectional Study

CONTEXT

Voluntary stopping of eating and drinking (VSED) is the self-determined decision of an individual with the decision-making capacity to cause premature death. During the course of VSED, the person is dependent on the support of relatives and health professionals. To date, little is known of the attitudes of Swiss health professionals on this topic.

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this study was to assess the experiences, personal attitudes, and professional stances of Swiss health care professionals toward VSED.

METHODS

We conducted a nationwide cross-sectional survey by questioning family physicians and the heads of outpatient care and long-term care (e.g., nursing directors, institute directors, or head nurses) about VSED (n = 1681; response rate 40.1%). Descriptive data analysis and hypothesis testing (occupational group, age, sex, professional years, VSED experience, and regions) were subsequently conducted.

RESULTS

Individuals who are willing to die are granted the right to professional accompaniment during VSED (agreement 97.8%), and their death is usually classified as a natural form of dying (63.5%) and only rarely (5.4%) as suicide. Family physicians have significantly more moral concerns during accompaniment compared with the heads of outpatient and long-term care (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Swiss health care professionals support the autonomy and self-determination of patients, which is also reflected in their positive attitude toward VSED, even if they have moral reservations when accompanying patients.

Artificial neural networks for simultaneously predicting the risk of multiple co-occurring symptoms among patients with cancer

Patients with cancer often exhibit multiple co-occurring symptoms which can impact the type of treatment received, recovery, and long-term health. We aim to simultaneously predict the risk of three symptoms: severe pain, moderate-severe depression, and poor well-being in order to flag patients who may benefit from pre-emptive early symptom management. This was a retrospective population-based cohort study of adults diagnosed with cancer between 2008 and 2015. We developed and tested an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model to predict the risk of multiple co-occurring symptoms within 6 months after diagnosis. The ANN model derived from a training cohort was assessed on an independent test cohort for model performance based on sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, AUC, and calibration. The mutually exclusive training and test cohorts consisted of 35,606 and 10,498 patients, respectively. The area under the curve for the risk of experiencing severe pain, moderate-severe depression, and poor well-being were 71%, 73%, and 70%, respectively. Patient characteristics at highest risk of simultaneously experiencing these three symptoms included: those with lung cancer, late stage cancer, existing chronic conditions such as osteoarthritis, mood disorder, hypertension, diabetes, and coronary disease. Patients with over a 40% risk of severe pain also had over a 70% risk of depression, and over a 55% risk of poor well-being. Our ANN model was able to simultaneously predict the risk of pain, depression, and lack of well-being. Accurate prediction of future symptom burden can serve as an early indicator tool so that providers can implement timely interventions for symptom management, ultimately improving cancer care and quality of life.

Hospitalised patients with palliative care needs: Spain and Sweden compared

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to describe and compare symptoms, care needs and types of diagnoses in hospitalised patients with palliative care needs in Spain and Sweden.

METHODS

A cross-sectional, population-based study was carried out at two hospitals in both Spain and Sweden. Using a questionnaire, we performed 154 one-day inventories (n=4213) in Spain and 139 in Sweden (n=3356) to register symptoms, care needs and diagnoses. Descriptive analyses were used.

RESULTS

The proportion of patients with care needs in the two countries differed (Spain 7.7% vs Sweden 12.4%, p<0.001); however, the percentage of patients with cancer and non-cancer patients was similar. The most prevalent symptoms in cancer and non-cancer patients in both countries were deterioration, pain, fatigue and infection. The most common cancer diagnosis in both countries was lung cancer, although it was more common in Spain (p<0.01), whereas prostate cancer was more common among Swedish men (p<0.001). Congestive heart failure (p<0.001) was a predominant non-cancer diagnosis in Sweden, whereas in Spain, the most frequent diagnosis was dementia (p<0.001). Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was common in both countries, although its frequency was higher in Spain (p<0.05). In total, patients with cancer had higher frequencies of pain (p<0.001) and nausea (p<0.001), whereas non-cancer patients had higher frequencies of deterioration (p<0.001) and infections (p<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

The similarities in symptoms among the patients indicate that the main focus in care should be on patient care needs rather than diagnoses. Integrating palliative care in hospitals and increasing healthcare professional competency can result in providing optimal palliative care.

Impact of Palliative Care in Evaluating and Relieving Symptoms in Patients with Advanced Cancer. Results from the DEMETRA Study

Background: Cancer patients experience multiple symptoms throughout the course of the disease. We aimed to provide a comprehensive analysis of the symptom burden in patients with advanced cancer at admission to specialist palliative care (PC) services and seven days later to estimate the immediate impact of PC intervention. Patient and methods: The analysis was based on an observational, prospective, multicenter study (named DEMETRA) conducted in Italy on new patients accessing network specialist PC centers during the period May 2017–November 2017. The prevalence and intensity of symptoms were assessed at baseline and after seven days using three tools including the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS). Results: Five PC centers recruited 865 cancer patients. Thirty-three different symptoms were observed at the baseline, the most frequent being asthenia (84.9%) and poor well-being (71%). The intensity of the most frequent symptoms according to ESAS ranged from 5.5 for asthenia to 3.9 for nausea. The presence and intensity of physical symptoms increased with increasing levels of anxiety and depression. After seven days, prevalence of nausea and breathlessness as well as intensity of almost all symptoms significantly decreased. Conclusions: The study confirmed the considerable symptom burden of patients with advanced cancer. PC intervention has significantly reduced the severity of symptoms, despite the patients’ advanced disease and short survival.

Unanswered questions and future direction in the management of terminal breathlessness in patients with cancer

Breathlessness is among the most common and deteriorating symptoms in patients with advanced cancer, which may worsen towards the end of life. Breathlessness in patients with estimated life expectancy of weeks to days has unique clinical features: it tends to worsen rapidly over days to hours as death approaches often despite current symptom control measures. Breathlessness in patients during the last weeks to days of life can be called ‘terminal breathlessness’. While evidence has accumulated for the management of breathlessness in patients with cancer who are not dying, such evidence may not be fully applied to terminal breathlessness. Only a few studies have investigated the best practice of terminal breathlessness in patients with cancer. In this paper, we summarise the current evidence for the management of terminal breathlessness, and propose future directions of clinical research.

Integrating Symptoms Into the Middle-Range Theory of Self-Care of Chronic Illness

The Middle-Range Theory of Self-Care of Chronic Illness has been used widely since it was first published in 2012. With the goal of theoretical refinement in mind, we evaluated the theory to identify areas where the theory lacked clarity and could be improved. The concept of self-care monitoring was determined to be underdeveloped. We do not yet know how the process of symptom monitoring influences the symptom appraisal process. Also, the manner in which self-care monitoring and self-care management are associated was thought to need refinement. As both of these issues relate to symptoms, we decided to enrich the Middle-Range Theory with knowledge from theories about symptoms. Here, we propose a revision to the Middle-Range Theory of Self-Care of Chronic Illness where symptoms are clearly integrated with the self-care behaviors of self-care maintenance, monitoring, and management.

Assessment of the Decision-Making Capacity for Clinical Research Participation in Patients With Advanced Cancer in the Last Weeks of Life

CONTEXT

Few studies have examined how clinicians assess decision-making capacity for research in the last weeks of life.

OBJECTIVES

We examined the decision-making capacity for participation in a research study and its association with clinician impression and delirium among patients with cancer with days to weeks of life expectancy.

METHODS

Patients admitted to our palliative and supportive care unit were approached for a prospective observational study. We assessed for their decision-making capacity based on clinical impression of physician and nurse, Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale (MDAS), and the MacArthur Competency Assessment Tool for Clinical Research (MacCAT-CR).

RESULTS

Among the 206 patients, 131 patients (64%) did not require MacCAT-CR assessment because they were overtly delirious or unresponsive; 37 (18%) patients were alert but did not complete the MacCAT-CR assessment for other reasons, and 38 patients (18%) completed the MacCAT-CR assessment. Among these 38 patients, five (13%) patients were incapable and had normal albeit significantly higher MDAS scores compared with those who were capable (1.8 vs. 4.2; P = 0.002). Compared against MacCAT-CR and MDAS, the overall agreement with capacity assessment with a clinician was 88% (95% CI 82-93) for physicians and 90% (95% CI 82-94) for nurses. The area under the receiver operating characteristics curve was 0.93 (95% CI 0.88-0.96) for physicians and 0.94 (95% CI 0.89-0.97) for nurses, suggesting high discrimination.

CONCLUSION

Most patients in the palliative and supportive care unit lacked decision-making capacity for participation in clinical research. Clinician impression had high accuracy. Few patients with normal MDAS were found to be incapable with MacCAT-CR assessment.

Validation of the Dutch version of the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System

BACKGROUND

The Utrecht Symptom Diary (USD) is a Dutch and adapted version of the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System, a patient-reported outcome measurement (PROM) tool to asses and monitor symptoms in cancer patients. This study analyses the validity and responsiveness of the USD and the cutoff points to determine the clinical significance of a symptom score.

METHODS

Observational longitudinal cohort study including adult in- and outpatients treated in an academic hospital in the Netherlands who completed at least one USD as part of routine care (2012-2019). The distress thermometer and problem checklist (DT&PC) was used as a reference PROM. Content, construct and criterion validity, responsiveness, and cutoff points are shown with prevalences, area under receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, Chi-squared test, Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and positive and negative predictive values, respectively.

RESULTS

A total of 3913 patients completed 22 400 USDs. Content validity was confirmed for all added USD items with prevalences of ≥22%. All USD items also present on the DT&PC demonstrated a good criterion validity (ROC >0.8). Construct validity was confirmed for the USD as a whole and for the items dry mouth, dysphagia and well-being (P < .0001). USD scores differed significantly for patients when improving or deteriorating on the DT&PC which confirmed responsiveness. Optimal cutoff points (3 or 4) differed per symptom.

CONCLUSION

The USD is a valid 12-item PROM for the most prevalent symptoms in cancer patients, which has content, criterion, and construct validity, and detects clinically important changes over time, in both curative and palliative phase.

The Bereaved Families' Preferences for Individualized Goals of Care for Terminal Dyspnea: What Is an Acceptable Balance between Dyspnea Intensity and Communication Capacity?

Background: Toward the individualized care of terminally ill patients with dyspnea (“terminal dyspnea”), it is essential to identify individualized goals of care (GOC) to achieve an acceptable balance between dyspnea intensity and communication capacity.

Objective: To explore preferences for individualized GOC for terminal dyspnea, and factors associated with the preferences.

Design: A nationwide cross-sectional survey.

Setting/Subjects: In total, 1055 bereaved families of cancer patients admitted to 167 inpatient hospices in Japan.

Measurements: Preferences for individualized GOC for terminal dyspnea to achieve an acceptable balance between dyspnea intensity and communication capacity, should individuals experience continuous moderate or severe/overwhelming dyspnea despite optimal palliative care, and perceptions about a good death.

Results: Among 548 participants (response rate = 52%), we analyzed responses of 477 families whose loved one suffered dyspnea in the last week of life. In total, 167 (45%; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 40%–50%) and 272 (80%; 95% CI = 75%–84%) participants would prioritize dyspnea relief over communication capacity, should they continuously suffer moderate or severe/overwhelming dyspnea, respectively. In multivariate analyses, the determinants of the prioritization of dyspnea relief were perceiving physical comfort as important for a good death (odds ratio [OR] = 1.389; 95% CI = 1.062–1.818; p = 0.017) in moderate dyspnea, and perceiving physical comfort (OR = 2.505; 95% CI = 1.718–3.651; p < 0.001) and not perceiving mental awareness (OR = 0.695; 95% CI = 0.529–0.913; p = 0.009) as important in severe/overwhelming dyspnea.

Conclusions: Preferences for individualized GOC for terminal dyspnea can vary among individuals and with different symptom intensity, and may be influenced by perceptions about a good death. Outcome measurements incorporating an acceptable balance between dyspnea intensity and communication capacity should be developed.

A robust and novel electrical impedance metric of pulmonary function in ALS patients

OBJECTIVE

Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) are important for assessing respiratory function in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. However, weakness of oral and glottal closure, due to concomitant bulbar dysfunction, may result in unreliable PFT values stemming from leakage of air around the breathing tube and through the glottis. In this study, we assessed whether standard thoracic electrical impedance tomography (EIT) could serve as a surrogate measure for PFTs.

APPROACH

Thoracic EIT was performed simultaneously with standard PFTs on seven ALS patients without clinical bulbar weakness (six men and one woman, mean age of 63 years) and ten healthy volunteers (seven men and three women, mean age of 57 years). A raw impedance metric along with more standard EIT measures were computed and correlated with the normalized forced vital capacity (FVC). Additionally, test/re-test metrics and EIT images were analyzed.

MAIN RESULTS

The impedance metric was found to be robust and sensitive to lung activity. We also identified qualitative EIT differences between healthy volunteers and ALS patients, with the ALS images showing greater heterogeneity. Significant correlations with FVC were found for both impedance and EIT metrics in ALS patients (r² = 0.89) and for the impedance metric only in healthy volunteers (r² = 0.49).

SIGNIFICANCE

This suggests that EIT, using our novel impedance metric, has the potential to serve as an alternative technology to standard PFTs for assessing pulmonary function in patients with ALS, offering new metrics of disease status for those with bulbar weakness.