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Beattie JM, Higginson IJ, McDonagh TA, Gao W. Implementation of the Mental Capacity Act: a national observational study comparing resultant trends in place of death for older heart failure decedents with or without comorbid dementia. BMC Med 2022; 20:30. [PMID: 35057803 PMCID: PMC9901524 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-021-02210-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Heart failure (HF) is increasingly prevalent in the growing elderly population and commonly associated with cognitive impairment. We compared trends in place of death (PoD) of HF patients with/without comorbid dementia around the implementation period of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) in October 2007, this legislation supporting patient-centred decision making for those with reduced agency. METHODS Analyses of death certification data for England between January 2001 and December 2018, describing the PoD and sociodemographic characteristics of all people ≥ 65 years registered with HF as the underlying cause of death, with/without a mention of comorbid dementia. We used modified Poisson regression with robust error variance to determine the prevalence ratio (PR) of the outcome in dying at home, in care homes or hospices compared to dying in hospital. Covariates included year of death, age, gender, marital status, comorbidity burden, index of multiple deprivation and urban/rural settings. RESULTS One hundred twenty thousand sixty-eight HF-related death records were included of which 8199 mentioned dementia as a contributory cause. The overall prevalence proportion of dementia was 6.8%, the trend significantly increasing from 5.6 to 8.0% pre- and post-MCA (Cochran-Armitage trend test p < 0.0001). Dementia was coded as unspecified (78.2%), Alzheimer's disease (13.5%) and vascular (8.3%). Demented decedents were commonly older, female, and with more comorbidities. Pre-MCA, PoD for non-demented HF patients was hospital 68.2%, care homes 20.2% and 10.7% dying at home. Corresponding figures for those with comorbid dementia were 47.6%, 48.0% and 4.2%, respectively. Following MCA enforcement, PoD for those without dementia shifted from hospital to home, 62.5% and 17.2%, respectively; PR: 1.026 [95%CI: 1.024-1.029]. While home deaths also rose to 10.0% for those with dementia, with hospital deaths increasing to 50.4%, this trend was insignificant, PR: 1.001 [0.988-1.015]. Care home deaths reduced for all, with/without dementia, PR: 0.959 [0.949-0.969] and PR: 0.996 [0.993-0.998], respectively. Hospice as PoD was rare for both groups with no appreciable change over the study period. CONCLUSIONS Our analyses suggest the MCA did not materially affect the PoD of HF decedents with comorbid dementia, likely reflecting difficulties implementing this legislation in real-life clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- James M Beattie
- Cicely Saunders Institute of Palliative Care and Rehabilitation, King's College London, London, UK.,School of Cardiovascular Medicine and Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Irene J Higginson
- Cicely Saunders Institute of Palliative Care and Rehabilitation, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Theresa A McDonagh
- School of Cardiovascular Medicine and Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Wei Gao
- Cicely Saunders Institute of Palliative Care and Rehabilitation, King's College London, London, UK.
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Secinti E, Lewson AB, Wu W, Kent EE, Mosher CE. Health-Related Quality of Life: A Comparative Analysis of Caregivers of People With Dementia, Cancer, COPD/Emphysema, and Diabetes and Noncaregivers, 2015-2018 BRFSS. Ann Behav Med 2021; 55:1130-1143. [PMID: 33761526 DOI: 10.1093/abm/kaab007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many informal caregivers experience significant caregiving burden and report worsening health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Caregiver HRQoL may vary by disease context, but this has rarely been studied. PURPOSE Informed by the Model of Carer Stress and Burden, we compared HRQoL outcomes of prevalent groups of caregivers of people with chronic illness (i.e., dementia, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD]/emphysema, and diabetes) and noncaregivers and examined whether caregiving intensity (e.g., duration and hours) was associated with caregiver HRQoL. METHODS Using 2015-2018 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data, we identified caregivers of people with dementia (n = 4,513), cancer (n = 3,701), COPD/emphysema (n = 1,718), and diabetes (n = 2,504) and noncaregivers (n = 176,749). Regression analyses were used to compare groups. RESULTS Caregiver groups showed small, nonsignificant differences in HRQoL outcomes. Consistent with theory, all caregiver groups reported more mentally unhealthy days than noncaregivers (RRs = 1.29-1.61, ps < .001). Caregivers of people with cancer and COPD/emphysema reported more physically unhealthy days than noncaregivers (RRs = 1.17-1.24, ps < .01), and caregivers of people with diabetes reported a similar pattern (RR = 1.24, p = .01). However, general health and days of interference of poor health did not differ between caregivers and noncaregivers. Across caregiver groups, most caregiving intensity variables were unrelated to HRQoL outcomes; only greater caregiving hours were associated with more mentally unhealthy days (RR = 1.13, p < .001). CONCLUSIONS Results suggest that HRQoL decrements associated with caregiving do not vary substantially across chronic illness contexts and are largely unrelated to the perceived intensity of the caregiving. Findings support the development and implementation of strategies to optimize caregiver health across illness contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekin Secinti
- Department of Psychology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, North Blackford Street, LD, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Ashley B Lewson
- Department of Psychology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, North Blackford Street, LD, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Wei Wu
- Department of Psychology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, North Blackford Street, LD, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Erin E Kent
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Catherine E Mosher
- Department of Psychology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, North Blackford Street, LD, Indianapolis, IN, USA
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Development of a short form of the Singapore Caregiver Quality of Life Scale - Dementia: SCQOLS-D-15. J Patient Rep Outcomes 2021; 5:56. [PMID: 34245389 PMCID: PMC8272750 DOI: 10.1186/s41687-021-00330-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose The Singapore Caregiver Quality of Life Scale – Dementia (SCQOLS-D), developed based on the Singapore Caregiver Quality of Life Scale (SCQOLS), comprises 5 domains and 63 items. It has been shown to be a valid and reliable measurement scale. This study aimed to develop and evaluate a short form of the SCQOLS-D. Methods Data were collected from 102 family caregivers of person with dementia in Singapore. Candidate items were shortlisted by factor analysis, correlation and best subset regression. Shortlisted items with the best measurement properties including correlations with the long form and other established measures, internal consistency and test-retest reliability were identified. Their properties were compared with the corresponding domain scores in the long form of SCQOLS-D and a short form of the SCQOLS. A total score based on the average of the domain scores was also evaluated. Results A total of fifteen items, two to four items per domain, were selected. The total and domain scores generated from these items strongly correlated with the corresponding score of the long form (correlation coefficients: 0.83–0.97). The short and long forms had comparable correlation coefficients with Negative Personal Impact and Positive Personal Impact measures. The short form showed good internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha: 0.84–0.92) and test-retest reliability (intra-class correlation coefficient: 0.72–0.93). These 15 items form the SCQOLS-D-15, an abbreviated version of the SCQOLS-D. Conclusion The SCQOLS-D-15 showed acceptable measurement properties. This serves as an alternative to the SCQOLS-D to provide rapid assessment of the overall and domain-specific quality of life of caregivers of persons with dementia.
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Gott M, Morgan T, Williams L. Gender and palliative care: a call to arms. Palliat Care Soc Pract 2020; 14:2632352420957997. [PMID: 33134926 PMCID: PMC7576896 DOI: 10.1177/2632352420957997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
There has been a systematic and largely unconscious neglect of gender in
palliative care research, practice and policy. This is despite significant,
although previously uncollated, evidence that gender influences almost all
aspects of end-of-life preferences, experiences and care. The social situations
of women, transgender people and men often differ from one another while also
intersecting in complex ways with sex differences rooted in biology. If
palliative care is to meet its aspiration of providing universal benefit, it
urgently needs to address a range of gender inequalities currently (re)produced
at the level of the laboratory all the way through to government departments. In
this call to arms, we spotlight specific instances where gender inequalities
have been documented, for example, regarding end-of-life caregiving, end-of-life
intervention and palliative care access and benefit. We highlight how gender
inequalities intersect with other social determinants of health including
ethnicity and economic status to exacerbate situations of marginality. We
conclude by offering some practical steps that can be taken to support the
discipline to adopt a more critical gender lens to support more equitable
research, policy and practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Merryn Gott
- Professor, School of Nursing, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Tessa Morgan
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care and Cambridge Institute of Public Health, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Lisa Williams
- School of Nursing, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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Morgan T, Bharmal A, Duschinsky R, Barclay S. Experiences of oldest-old caregivers whose partner is approaching end-of-life: A mixed-method systematic review and narrative synthesis. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0232401. [PMID: 32516312 PMCID: PMC7282625 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0232401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2019] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Population ageing has rapidly increased the number of people requiring end-of-life care across the globe. Governments have responded by promoting end-of-life in the community. Partly as a consequence, older spouses are frequently providing for their partner's end-of-life care at home, despite potentially facing their own health issues. While there is an emerging literature on young-old caregivers, less is known about spouse carers over 75 who are likely to face specific challenges associated with their advanced age and relationship status. The aim of this review, therefore, is to identify and synthesise the literature concerning the experiences of caregiver's aged 75 and over whose partner is approaching end-of-life. We conducted a mixed-method systematic review and narrative synthesis of the empirical literature published between 1985 and May 2019, identified from six databases: Medline, PsychINFO, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Embase, Sociological Abstracts and Social Service Abstracts. Hand searching and reference checking were also conducted. Gough's Weight of Evidence and Morgan's Feminist Quality Appraisal tool used to determine the quality of papers. From the initial 7819 titles, 10 qualitative studies and 9 quantitative studies were included. We identified three themes: 1) "Embodied impact of care" whereby caring was found to negatively impact carers physical and psychological health, with adverse effects continuing into bereavement; 2) "Caregiving spouse's conceptualisation of their role" in which caregiver's navigated their self and marriage identities in relation to their partner's condition and expectations about gender and place; 3) "Learning to care" which involved learning new skills and ways of coping to remain able to provide care. We identified a recent up-surge in published papers about very old spousal caregivers, which now comprise a small, medium-quality evidence base. This review outlines a range of potential lines of inquiry for future research including further clarification of the impact of caregiving on the likelihood of mortality, the incidence of men and women providing end-of-life care amongst this age group, and the role of anticipatory grief in shaping their perceptions of their relationship and their own longevity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tessa Morgan
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, England, United Kingdom
| | - Aamena Bharmal
- Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, England, United Kingdom
| | - Robbie Duschinsky
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, England, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen Barclay
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, England, United Kingdom
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Bachner YG, Morad M, Sroussi C, O'Rourke N. Direct and indirect predictors of burden among Bedouin caregivers of family members with terminal cancer in Israel. Aging Ment Health 2020; 24:575-581. [PMID: 30744391 DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2019.1570080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Objective: The diverse demands of cancer care, which require time, psychological, physical, and material resources, often lead to caregiver burden. Studies with caregivers from ethnic minority groups suggest that they have unique beliefs and may experience different perceptions of role demands and caregiving. The aim of this study was to identify direct and indirect predictors of burden among Bedouin caregivers of family members with terminal cancer in Israel.Methods: A total of 101 Bedouin family caregivers of terminal cancer patients participated in this study. Participants were recruited from the oncology department of the largest medical center in southern Israel. The questionnaire battery included the Arabic version of the Zarit Burden Interview and other reliable measures validated for cancer caregiving. We performed path analyses on data allowing us to identify hypothesized, and un-hypothesized predictors of burden in this understudied population.Results: Most caregivers were adult children, followed by spouses, siblings and other family members. In our model, caregiver burden was directly predicted by depressive symptoms and (absence of) social support. Burden was indirectly predicted by quality of life (via depressive symptoms), optimism (via social support), emotional exhaustion (via quality of life and depressive symptoms) and mortality communication (via emotional exhaustion, quality of life and depressive symptoms).Conclusion: Social support and depression are the most important factors among all studied measures. Culturally-tailored intervention programs are required to foster community care and mitigate burden for Bedouin and other ethnic minority groups in Israel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y G Bachner
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheva, Israel
| | - M Morad
- Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheva, Israel
| | - C Sroussi
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheva, Israel
| | - N O'Rourke
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheva, Israel.,The Center for Multidisciplinary Research in Aging, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheva, Israel
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Eisenmann Y, Golla H, Schmidt H, Voltz R, Perrar KM. Palliative Care in Advanced Dementia. Front Psychiatry 2020; 11:699. [PMID: 32792997 PMCID: PMC7394698 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Dementia syndrome is common and expected to increase significantly among older people and characterized by the loss of cognitive, psychological and physical functions. Palliative care is applicable for people with dementia, however they are less likely to have access to palliative care. This narrative review summarizes specifics of palliative care in advanced dementia. Most people with advanced dementia live and die in institutional care and they suffer a range of burdensome symptoms and complications. Shortly before dying people with advanced dementia suffer symptoms as pain, eating problems, breathlessness, neuropsychiatric symptoms, and complications as respiratory or urinary infections and frequently experience burdensome transitions. Pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions may reduce symptom burden. Sensitive observation and appropriate assessment tools enable health professionals to assess symptoms and needs and to evaluate interventions. Due to lack of decisional capacity, proxy decision making is often necessary. Advanced care planning is an opportunity establishing values and preferences and is associated with comfort and decrease of burdensome interventions. Family carers are important for people with advanced dementia they also experience distress and are in need for support. Recommendations refer to early integration of palliative care, recognizing signs of approaching death, symptom assessment and management, advanced care planning, person-centered care, continuity of care, and collaboration of health care providers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yvonne Eisenmann
- Department of Palliative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Heidrun Golla
- Department of Palliative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Holger Schmidt
- Department of Palliative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Raymond Voltz
- Department of Palliative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.,Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf (CIO ABCD), Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.,Clinical Trials Center (ZKS), Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.,Center for Health Services Research, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Klaus Maria Perrar
- Department of Palliative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
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Hazell CM, Jones CJ, Pandey A, Smith HE. Barriers to recruiting and retaining psychosis carers: a case study on the lessons learned from the Caring for Caregivers (C4C) trial. BMC Res Notes 2019; 12:810. [PMID: 31847874 PMCID: PMC6918613 DOI: 10.1186/s13104-019-4832-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2019] [Accepted: 11/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Carers play an important role within the UK mental health system. Those carers who support persons with psychosis can experience a reduction in their own physical and mental health. As part of the Caring for Caregivers (C4C) trial, we piloted a writing intervention (Positive Written Disclosure) that has been shown to improve wellbeing in other populations. Although we reached our recruitment target, we encountered several barriers that made recruitment slower than anticipated. This paper synthesises the process data collected during the C4C trial that relates to the barriers to recruiting and retaining psychosis carers. Results We encountered four main carer-specific barriers to the recruitment and retention of participants in our study. These were: (1) poor relationship with mental health clinicians, (2) conflicting with the care recipient’s (CR) needs, (3) lack of spare time, and (4) lack of services for mental health carers. The interventions to assist carers need to be informed by robust evidence and this requires trials that reach their recruitment targets. By sharing our practical experiences other researchers and clinicians can modify their practices to minimise recruitment difficulties and delay. Trial registration ISRCTN79116352. Retrospectively registered (before the final participant was recruited) on 23rd January 2017
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassie M Hazell
- School of Social Sciences, University of Westminster, London, W1W 6UW, UK
| | | | - Aparajita Pandey
- Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Research and Development, Hove, BN3 7HZ, UK
| | - Helen E Smith
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University Singapore, Singapore, 308232, Singapore. .,Division of Public Health and Primary Care, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9PH, UK.
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9
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Ezendam NPM, Karlsen RV, Christensen J, Tjønneland A, van de Poll-Franse LV, von Heymann-Horan A, Johansen C, Bidstrup PE. Do people improve health behavior after their partner is diagnosed with cancer? A prospective study in the Danish diet, Cancer and Health Cohort. Acta Oncol 2019; 58:700-707. [PMID: 30706752 DOI: 10.1080/0284186x.2018.1557342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Background: The cancer diagnosis is regarded as a stressful life event that is thought to trigger a teachable moment to induce health behavior changes among cancer patients. However, this may also hold true for their partners. We assessed if partners of cancer patients make more health behavior changes compared to persons whose partner remained cancer-free. Methods: Lifestyles was assessed in the prospective Danish Diet, Cancer and Health study. Logistic regression analyses were used to assess health behavior change among partners of cancer patients (n = 672) compared to partners of persons who remained cancer-free (n = 5534). Additionally, associations in two subgroups were assessed: bereaved partners and partners of patients who remained alive after cancer. Results: Partners of cancer patients were more likely to decrease their alcohol intake compared to partners of persons who remained cancer free. This finding could mainly be attributed to bereaved partners. Moreover, bereaved partners were also more likely to decrease their BMI. In contrast to our hypothesis, bereaved partners were more likely to decrease fruit intake and increase sugared beverages compared to partners of persons who remained cancer free. In general, men tended to improve their physical activity, while women tended to worsen their physical activity following the cancer diagnosis of their partner. Conclusions: A cancer diagnosis in the partner does seem to improve health behavior change only for alcohol intake. Bereaved partners tend to worsen dietary behaviors after the patient's death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole P. M. Ezendam
- Department of Research, Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organisation, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands
| | - Randi V. Karlsen
- Survivorship Unit, Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jane Christensen
- Unit of Statistics, Bioinformatics and Registry, Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anne Tjønneland
- Unit of Diet, Genes and Environment, Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lonneke V. van de Poll-Franse
- Department of Research, Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organisation, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands
- Division of Psychosocial Research and Epidemiology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Christoffer Johansen
- Survivorship Unit, Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Oncology Clinic, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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10
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Hajradinovic Y, Tishelman C, Lindqvist O, Goliath I. Family members´ experiences of the end-of-life care environments in acute care settings - a photo-elicitation study. Int J Qual Stud Health Well-being 2019; 13:1511767. [PMID: 30176152 PMCID: PMC6127834 DOI: 10.1080/17482631.2018.1511767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE This article explores experiences of the acute-care environment as a setting for end-of-life (EoL) care from the perspective of family members of a dying person. METHOD We used participant-produced photographs in conjunction with follow-up interviews with nine family members to persons at the EoL, cared for in two acute-care settings. RESULTS The interpretive description analysis process resulted in three constructed themes-Aesthetic and un-aesthetic impressions, Space for privacy and social relationships, and Need for guidance in crucial times. Aspects of importance in the physical setting related to aesthetics, particularly in regard to sensory experience, and to a need for enough privacy to facilitate the maintenance of social relationships. Interactions between the world of family members and that of professionals were described as intrinsically related to guidance about both the material and immaterial environment at crucial times. CONCLUSION The care environment, already recognized to have an impact in relation to patients, is concluded to also affect the participating family members in this study in a variety of ways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yvonne Hajradinovic
- a Palliative Education & Research Centre, Region Östergötland , Vrinnevi hospital , Norrköping , Sweden.,b Sophiahemmet University , Department of Nursing Science , Stockholm , Sweden
| | - Carol Tishelman
- c Division of Innovative Care Research, Department of Learning, Informatics, Management and Ethics , Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm , Sweden.,d The Center for Rural Medicine , Storuman , Västerbottens county council (VLL).,e Stockholm Health Care Services (SLSO) , Stockholms country council (SLL) , Stockholm , Sweden
| | - Olav Lindqvist
- c Division of Innovative Care Research, Department of Learning, Informatics, Management and Ethics , Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm , Sweden.,f Department of Nursing , Umeå University , Umeå , Sweden
| | - Ida Goliath
- c Division of Innovative Care Research, Department of Learning, Informatics, Management and Ethics , Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm , Sweden.,g Ersta hospital , Hospice , Stockholm , Sweden
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11
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Comparison of the lived experiences of family caregivers of patients with dementia and of patients with cancer in Indonesia. Int Psychogeriatr 2018; 30:903-914. [PMID: 28870266 PMCID: PMC6088529 DOI: 10.1017/s1041610217001508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED ABSTRACTBackground:Dementia, even more than cancer, demands long-term care. While in Indonesia cancer is accepted as a disease requiring caregiving, dementia is still considered "a normal condition." These differences might affect the experiences of caregivers, especially those relating to social health, the subject of our study. We aim to describe and compare the lived experiences of family caregivers of patients with cancer (PWC) with those of patients with dementia (PWD) in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, and to explore the role of their social health in these experiences. METHOD A qualitative design was applied. In-depth face-to-face interviews were conducted with PWC and PWD caregivers in two outpatient clinics of a tertiary hospital. The constant comparative method was applied to analyze the data that were interpreted using the concept of social health to explore the experiences of the caregivers. We used Atlas.ti software. RESULTS Three themes were identified: problems with caregiving, dealing with problems, and beliefs in caregiving. We found more similarities than differences in the experiences of caregivers in both groups. Half of the categories were related to social health: challenges, consequences, hiding, social support, and the caregiver's approach. The organization of dementia care is characterized by simplicity and direct ties between medical specialists, PWD, and caregivers, whereas cancer care encounters coordination problems. CONCLUSIONS Family caregivers of both groups mostly had similar experiences of the caregiving process. Gaining a better understanding of the specific experiences of caregivers, and their social health, opens new avenues for interventions to improve their quality of life.
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12
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Farquhar M. Assessing carer needs in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Chron Respir Dis 2018; 15:26-35. [PMID: 28685601 PMCID: PMC5802659 DOI: 10.1177/1479972317719086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2017] [Accepted: 05/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Informal carers play a key role in supporting patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), particularly when disease is advanced. They also enable delivery of healthcare professional advice. There is a well-established impact of the caring role on carers in both the generic and COPD-specific literature. The needs of carers of patients with COPD are both generic to the caring role and disease specific. Healthcare professionals and health systems supporting patients with COPD need to actively identify and support carers. Carer assessment enables unmet needs to be identified and appropriately addressed. Assessments should consider carers' support needs, their caring capacity and practices, and carers own clinical needs. This narrative review outlines considerations for the assessment process including what should be assessed, who should conduct assessment and what should happen as a result of assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morag Farquhar
- School of Health Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK
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13
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Jain A, van Hoek AJ, Walker JL, Mathur R, Smeeth L, Thomas SL. Identifying social factors amongst older individuals in linked electronic health records: An assessment in a population based study. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0189038. [PMID: 29190680 PMCID: PMC5708811 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0189038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2017] [Accepted: 11/19/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Identification and quantification of health inequities amongst specific social groups is a pre-requisite for designing targeted healthcare interventions. This study investigated the recording of social factors in linked electronic health records (EHR) of individuals aged ≥65 years, to assess the potential of these data to identify the social determinants of disease burden and uptake of healthcare interventions. Methodology was developed for ascertaining social factors recorded on or before a pre-specified index date (01/01/2013) using primary care data from Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) linked to hospitalisation and deprivation data in a cross-sectional study. Social factors included: religion, ethnicity, immigration status, small area-level deprivation, place of residence (including communal establishments such as care homes), marital status and living arrangements (e.g. living alone, cohabitation). Each social factor was examined for: completeness of recording including improvements in completeness by using other linked EHR, timeliness of recording for factors that might change over time and their representativeness (compared with English 2011 Census data when available). Data for 591,037 individuals from 389 practices from England were analysed. The completeness of recording varied from 1.6% for immigration status to ~80% for ethnicity. Linkages provided the deprivation data (available for 82% individuals) and improved completeness of ethnicity recording from 55% to 79% (when hospitalisation data were added). Data for ethnicity, deprivation, living arrangements and care home residence were comparable to the Census data. For time-varying variables such as residence and living alone, ~60% and ~35% respectively of those with available data, had this information recorded within the last 5 years of the index date. This work provides methods to identify social factors in EHR relevant to older individuals and shows that factors such as ethnicity, deprivation, not living alone, cohabitation and care home residence can be ascertained using these data. Applying these methodologies to routinely collected data could improve surveillance programmes and allow assessment of health equity in specific healthcare studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anu Jain
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - Albert J. van Hoek
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jemma L. Walker
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- Statistics, Modelling and Economics Department, Public Health England, London, United Kingdom
| | - Rohini Mathur
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Liam Smeeth
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sara L. Thomas
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
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15
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Moore KJ, Davis S, Gola A, Harrington J, Kupeli N, Vickerstaff V, King M, Leavey G, Nazareth I, Jones L, Sampson EL. Experiences of end of life amongst family carers of people with advanced dementia: longitudinal cohort study with mixed methods. BMC Geriatr 2017; 17:135. [PMID: 28673257 PMCID: PMC5496359 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-017-0523-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2017] [Accepted: 06/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Many studies have examined the mental health of carers of people with dementia. Few have examined their experiences in the advanced stages of disease and into bereavement. We aimed to understand the experiences of carers during advanced dementia exploring the links between mental health and experiences of end of life care. Methods Mixed methods longitudinal cohort study. Thirty-five family carers of people with advanced dementia (6 at home, 29 in care homes) were recruited and assessed monthly for up to nine months or until the person with dementia died, then at two and seven months into bereavement. Assessments included: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Short Form 12 health–related quality of life, 22-item Zarit Burden Interview, Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced, Inventory of Complicated Grief and Satisfaction with Care at End of Life in Dementia. Subsequently, 12 carers (34%) were bereaved and 12 undertook a qualitative interview two months after death; these data were analysed thematically. We analysed quantitative and qualitative data independently and then merged findings at the point of interpretation. Results At study entry psychological distress was high; 26% reached caseness for depression and 41% for anxiety and median complicated grief scores were 27 [IQR 22–37] indicating that on average 11 of the 16 grief symptoms occurred at least monthly. Physical health reflected population norms (mean = 50) and median burden scores were 17 [IQR 9–30]. Three qualitative themes were identified: the importance of relationships with care services, understanding of the progression of dementia, and emotional responses to advanced dementia. An overarching theme tying these together was the carer’s ability to control and influence end of life care. Conclusions While carers report high levels of psychological distress during advanced dementia, the experience of end of life care in dementia may be amenable to change with the provision of sensitive and timely information about the natural progression of dementia. Regular health status updates and end of life discussions can help families understand dementia progression and prepare for end of life. The extent to which our findings reflect practice across the UK or internationally warrants further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirsten J Moore
- Marie Curie Palliative Care Research Department, University College London, London, UK.
| | - Sarah Davis
- Marie Curie Palliative Care Research Department, University College London, London, UK
| | - Anna Gola
- Marie Curie Palliative Care Research Department, University College London, London, UK
| | - Jane Harrington
- Marie Curie Palliative Care Research Department, University College London, London, UK
| | - Nuriye Kupeli
- Marie Curie Palliative Care Research Department, University College London, London, UK
| | - Victoria Vickerstaff
- Marie Curie Palliative Care Research Department, University College London, London, UK
| | - Michael King
- Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK
| | - Gerard Leavey
- Bamford Centre for Mental Health & Wellbeing, University of Ulster, Magee Campus, Derry Londonderry, UK
| | - Irwin Nazareth
- Department of Primary Care and Population Health, UCL Royal Free Site, London, UK
| | - Louise Jones
- Marie Curie Palliative Care Research Department, University College London, London, UK
| | - Elizabeth L Sampson
- Marie Curie Palliative Care Research Department, University College London, London, UK
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Rashid A. Yonder: Obese young people, fertility education, carers, and home visits. Br J Gen Pract 2017; 67:78. [PMID: 28126872 PMCID: PMC5308106 DOI: 10.3399/bjgp17x689233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Rashid
- UCL Medical School, UCL, London. E-mail: @Dr_A_Rashid
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