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Daveson B, Blanchard M, Clapham S, Draper K, Connolly A, Currow D. Population-level, patient-reported outcomes: a case study regarding a public health intervention that involves patients with life-limiting illnesses. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1232881. [PMID: 37637805 PMCID: PMC10449265 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1232881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Dying and death are public health concerns, but little is known about public health interventions that target populations living with life-limiting illnesses. This gap makes it difficult to identify best-practice public health interventions for this population and to achieve public health objectives. The study aimed to describe a public health intervention that intends to improve population-level outcomes using point-of-care and patient-reported outcomes. Methods A case study approach, informed by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development's (OECD) Best-Practice Public Health Framework, was used to describe coverage, effectiveness, and equity using mixed methods. Data from 2012 to 2022 were analyzed. Results Over the 10-year period, the number of deaths recorded in the programme (n = 16,358 to 32,421, +98.2%) as well as the percentage of the population that might benefit from palliative care increased (14.8% to 25.1%). The median age of those admitted for care (74 to 77 years) and the proportion of services participating in the programme located in outer regional and remote areas of Australia increased (2012: 59; 2022: 94; +5.4%). The access by patients that experience the greatest socioeconomic disadvantage decreased (2012: 18.2% n = 4,918; 2022: 15.9% n = 9,525). Improvements in relation to moderate distress related to pain were identified (2012: 63% n = 8,751, 2022: 69% n = 13,700), and one in five instances of severe distress related to pain did not improve (2012: 20% n = 781; 2022: 19% n = 635). Conclusion Population-level, patient-reported outcome data are useful and necessary in addressing public health objectives in populations with life-limiting illnesses. Our application of the OECD's Best-Practice Public Health Framework has helped to identify and describe a national intervention that may be transferred to other settings to address health promotion objectives. This may help improve the targeting of treatments to improve pain and issues related to equity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Daveson
- Palliative Care Outcomes Collaboration, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Megan Blanchard
- Palliative Care Outcomes Collaboration, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Sabina Clapham
- Palliative Care Outcomes Collaboration, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Kylie Draper
- Palliative Care Outcomes Collaboration, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Alanna Connolly
- Palliative Care Outcomes Collaboration, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - David Currow
- Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
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Miller EM, Porter JE, Peel R. Palliative and End-of-Life Care in the Home in Regional/Rural Victoria, Australia: The Role and Lived Experience of Primary Carers. SAGE Open Nurs 2021; 7:23779608211036284. [PMID: 34869854 PMCID: PMC8642066 DOI: 10.1177/23779608211036284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Revised: 07/11/2021] [Accepted: 07/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Palliative support services (generalist or specialist) can provide
much-needed assistance to carers who are providing palliative and
end-of-life care in their homes, but access to such services in regional and
rural areas of Australia is poorly understood. Objectives This study aimed to explore the role and lived experience of primary carers
who are providing palliative and end-of-life care in the home in
regional/rural Victoria, Australia. Methods Nine female participants, of whom six were bereaved between 7 and 20 months
were interviewed using a semistructured interview technique. Each interview
was audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed thematically. Results Two themes emerged: “Negotiating healthcare systems” which
described the needs for multidisciplinary supports and “The caring
experience” which discussed daily tasks, relationships, mental
and physical exhaustion, respite, isolation, medication management, and
grief and loss. Findings show that regional/rural carers have an added
burden of travel stress as well as feeling overwhelmed, isolated, and
physically and emotionally exhausted. Carers would benefit from greater
flexibility for short-term respite care. The engagement of specialist
palliative care services assisted the participants to navigate the health
care system. Some participants did not understand the value of palliative care,
highlighting the need for general practitioners to conduct early
conversations about this with their patients. Education is needed to build
capacity within the primary palliative care workforce, confirming the
importance of timely referrals to a specialist palliative care practitioner
if pain or symptom control is not effectively managed. Conclusion Providing palliative and end-of-life care in the home is an exhausting and
emotionally draining role for unpaid, primary carers. Multiple supports are
needed to sustain primary carers, as they play an essential role in the
primary health care system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth M Miller
- School of Health, Federation University Australia - Gippsland Campus, Churchill, VIC, Australia
| | - Joanne E Porter
- School of Health, Federation University Australia - Gippsland Campus, Churchill, VIC, Australia
| | - Rebecca Peel
- School of Health, Federation University Australia - Gippsland Campus, Churchill, VIC, Australia
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Gatsios D, Antonini A, Gentile G, Konitsiotis S, Fotiadis D, Nixina I, Taba P, Weck C, Lorenzl S, Lex KM, Paal P. Education on palliative care for Parkinson patients: development of the "Best care for people with late-stage Parkinson's disease" curriculum toolkit. BMC MEDICAL EDUCATION 2021; 21:538. [PMID: 34696752 PMCID: PMC8547059 DOI: 10.1186/s12909-021-02964-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 08/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Palliative care education among all stakeholders involved in the care of patients with late-stage Parkinson's disease is not adequate. In fact, there are many unmet educational and training needs as confirmed with a targeted, narrative literature review. METHODS To address these needs we have developed the "Best Care for People with Late-Stage Parkinson's Disease" curriculum toolkit. The toolkit is based on recommendations and guidelines for training clinicians and other healthcare professionals involved in palliative care, educational material developed in recent research efforts for patients and caregivers with PD and consensus meetings of leading experts in the field. The final version of the proposed toolkit was drafted after an evaluation by external experts with an online survey, the feedback of which was statistically analysed with the chi-square test of independence to assess experts' views on the relevance and importance of the topics. A sentiment analysis was also done to complement statistics and assess the experts positive and negative sentiments for the curriculum topics based on their free text feedback. RESULTS The toolkit is compliant with Kern's foundational framework for curriculum development, recently adapted to online learning. The statistical analysis of the online survey, aiming at toolkit evaluation from external experts (27 in total), confirms that all but one (nutrition in advanced Parkinson's disease) topics included, as well as their objectives and content, are highly relevant and useful. CONCLUSIONS In this paper, the methods for the development of the toolkit, its stepwise evolution, as well as the toolkit implementation as a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), are presented. The "Best Care for People with Late-Stage Parkinson' s disease" curriculum toolkit can provide high-quality and equitable education, delivered by an interdisciplinary team of educators. The toolkit can improve communication about palliative care in neurological conditions at international and multidisciplinary level. It can also offer continuing medical education for healthcare providers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitrios Gatsios
- Department of Neurology, Medical School, University of Ioannina, GR-45110, Ioannina, Greece.
- Unit of Medical Technology and Intelligent Information Systems, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.
| | - Angelo Antonini
- Parkinson and Movement Disorders Unit, Study Center for Neurodegeneration, Department of Neuroscience, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Giovanni Gentile
- Parkinson and Movement Disorders Unit, Study Center for Neurodegeneration, Department of Neuroscience, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Spyridon Konitsiotis
- Department of Neurology, Medical School, University of Ioannina, GR-45110, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Fotiadis
- Unit of Medical Technology and Intelligent Information Systems, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
- Department of Biomedical Research, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Irini Nixina
- Unit of Medical Technology and Intelligent Information Systems, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Pille Taba
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Institute of Clinical Medicine|, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
- Clinic of Neurology, Tartu University Hospital, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Christiane Weck
- University Hospital Agatharied, Hausham, Germany
- Palliative Care Research Hub, WHO Collaborating Centre at the Institute of Nursing Science and Practice, Paracelsus Medical University in Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Stefan Lorenzl
- University Hospital Agatharied, Hausham, Germany
- Palliative Care Research Hub, WHO Collaborating Centre at the Institute of Nursing Science and Practice, Paracelsus Medical University in Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Katharina Maria Lex
- Palliative Care Research Hub, WHO Collaborating Centre at the Institute of Nursing Science and Practice, Paracelsus Medical University in Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Piret Paal
- Palliative Care Research Hub, WHO Collaborating Centre at the Institute of Nursing Science and Practice, Paracelsus Medical University in Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
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Miller EM, Porter JE. Understanding the Needs of Australian Carers of Adults Receiving Palliative Care in the Home: A Systematic Review of the Literature. SAGE Open Nurs 2021; 7:2377960820985682. [PMID: 33718605 PMCID: PMC7925947 DOI: 10.1177/2377960820985682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Caring for someone at home requiring palliative care is an ominous task. Unless the current support systems are better utilised and improved to meet the needs of those carers, the demand for acute hospital admissions will increase as the Australian population ages. The aim of this review was to examine the needs of unpaid carers who were caring for adults receiving palliative care in their home in Australia. Methods: A systematic review of the literature was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) Guidelines between 2008–2020. Results: Only Australian papers were selected due to the intent to understand carers’ needs in the Australian context and 17 papers made up the final data set. Four themes emerged: 1) Perceived factors influencing caregiving; 2) Perceived impact and responses to caregiving; 3) Communication and information needs; and 4) Perceptions of current palliative support services and barriers to uptake. Conclusion: Carers reported satisfaction and positive outcomes and also expressed feeling unprepared, unrecognised, stressed and exhausted.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Joanne E Porter
- School of Health, Federation University Australia, Churchill, Australia
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Hepgul N, Wilson R, Yi D, Evans C, Bajwah S, Crosby V, Wilcock A, Lindsay F, Byrne A, Young C, Groves K, Smith C, Burman R, Chaudhuri KR, Silber E, Higginson IJ, Gao W. Immediate versus delayed short-term integrated palliative care for advanced long-term neurological conditions: the OPTCARE Neuro RCT. HEALTH SERVICES AND DELIVERY RESEARCH 2020. [DOI: 10.3310/hsdr08360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background
Palliative care is recommended to help meet the needs of patients with progressive non-cancer conditions, such as long-term neurological conditions. However, few trials have tested palliative care in this population.
Objectives
To determine the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of short-term integrated palliative care in improving symptoms, improving patient- and caregiver-reported outcomes and reducing hospital use for people severely affected by long-term neurological conditions.
Design
Pragmatic, randomised controlled, multicentre, fast-track trial, with an embedded qualitative component and surveys.
Setting
Seven UK centres (South London, Nottingham, Liverpool, Cardiff, Brighton, Ashford and Sheffield) with multiprofessional palliative care teams and neurology services.
Participants
People living with multiple sclerosis, idiopathic Parkinson’s disease, motor neurone disease, multiple system atrophy or progressive supranuclear palsy, with unresolved symptoms and/or complex psychosocial needs. The qualitative study involved patients, caregivers and health-care staff.
Interventions
Participants were randomised to receive short-term integrated palliative care, delivered by multiprofessional teams, immediately or after a 12-week wait (standard care group).
Main outcome measures
The primary outcome was a combined score of eight symptoms measured by the Integrated Palliative care Outcome Scale for Neurological conditions 8 symptom subscale (IPOS Neuro-S8) at 12 weeks. Secondary outcomes included patients’ other physical and psychological symptoms, quality of life (EuroQol-5 Dimensions, five-level version), care satisfaction, caregiver burden, service use and cost, and harms. Data were analysed using multiple imputation, generalised linear mixed models, incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (threshold was the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence £20,000 per quality-adjusted life-year) and cost-effectiveness planes. Qualitative data were analysed thematically.
Results
We recruited 350 patients and 229 caregivers. There were no significant between-group differences for primary or secondary outcomes. Patients receiving short-term integrated palliative care had a significant improvement, from baseline to 12 weeks, on the primary outcome IPOS Neuro-S8 (–0.78, 95% confidence interval –1.29 to –0.26) and the secondary outcome of 24 physical symptoms (–1.95, 99.55% confidence interval –3.60 to –0.30). This was not seen in the control group, in which conversely, care satisfaction significantly reduced from baseline to 12 weeks (–2.89, 99.55% confidence interval –5.19 to –0.59). Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios were smaller than the set threshold (EuroQol-5 Dimensions index score –£23,545; IPOS Neuro-S8 –£1519), indicating that the intervention provided cost savings plus better outcomes. Deaths, survival and hospitalisations were similar between the two groups. Qualitative data suggested that the impact of the intervention encompassed three themes: (1) adapting to losses and building resilience, (2) attending to function, deficits and maintaining stability, and (3) enabling caregivers to care.
Conclusions
Our results indicate that short-term integrated palliative care provides improvements in patient-reported physical symptoms at a lower cost and without harmful effects when compared with standard care.
Limitations
Outcome measures may not have been sensitive enough to capture the multidimensional changes from the intervention. Our surveys found that the control/standard and intervention services were heterogeneous.
Future work
Refining short-term integrated palliative care and similar approaches for long-term neurological conditions, focusing on better integration of existing services, criteria for referral and research to improve symptom management.
Trial registration
Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN18337380.
Funding
This project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Services and Delivery Research programme and will be published in full in Health Services and Delivery Research; Vol. 8, No. 36. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nilay Hepgul
- Cicely Saunders Institute of Palliative Care, Policy & Rehabilitation, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Rebecca Wilson
- Cicely Saunders Institute of Palliative Care, Policy & Rehabilitation, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Deokhee Yi
- Cicely Saunders Institute of Palliative Care, Policy & Rehabilitation, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Catherine Evans
- Cicely Saunders Institute of Palliative Care, Policy & Rehabilitation, King’s College London, London, UK
- Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust, Brighton, UK
| | - Sabrina Bajwah
- Cicely Saunders Institute of Palliative Care, Policy & Rehabilitation, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Vincent Crosby
- Department of Palliative Medicine, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK
| | - Andrew Wilcock
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | | | - Anthony Byrne
- Marie Curie Palliative Care Research Centre, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Carolyn Young
- Department of Neurology, The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK
| | | | - Clare Smith
- Department of Palliative Care, Ashford and St. Peter’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Surrey, UK
| | - Rachel Burman
- Department of Palliative Care, King’s College Hospital, London, UK
| | - K Ray Chaudhuri
- National Parkinson Foundation Centre of Excellence, King’s College Hospital and King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Eli Silber
- Department of Neurology, King’s College Hospital, London, UK
| | - Irene J Higginson
- Cicely Saunders Institute of Palliative Care, Policy & Rehabilitation, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Wei Gao
- Cicely Saunders Institute of Palliative Care, Policy & Rehabilitation, King’s College London, London, UK
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Bužgová R, Kozáková R, Juríčková L. The unmet needs of family members of patients with progressive neurological disease in the Czech Republic. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0214395. [PMID: 30908542 PMCID: PMC6433266 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0214395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2018] [Accepted: 03/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Caring for patients with a progressive neurological disease (PND) causes stress that may impact on the state of health as well as the quality of life of the caring family. OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to explore the unmet needs of the family members of patients with PND in advanced stages. METHODS Grounded theory (constructivist approach) was used to conceptualize the patterns of unmet care needs. Data collection methodology involved focus groups (n = 4) and interviews, in which a total of 52 people participated (patients, family members, and professionals). RESULTS Based on the data analysis, three domains (family situation, role of the caregiver, and professional help) were identified, which illustrate the unmet needs. In particular, lack of information about the disease and available support available resulted in a deterioration mutual understanding between the patient, family, and the medical staff; also increased stress for the caregiver, and lowered quality of life for the caring family. CONCLUSION Family members expect health workers to provide them with support, which includes informing them about the possible help available from the health and social welfare systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Radka Bužgová
- Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of medicine, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Radka Kozáková
- Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of medicine, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Lubica Juríčková
- Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of medicine, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
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Luckett T, Agar M, DiGiacomo M, Ferguson C, Lam L, Phillips J. Health status of people who have provided informal care or support to an adult with chronic disease in the last 5 years: results from a population-based cross-sectional survey in South Australia. AUST HEALTH REV 2019; 43:408-414. [DOI: 10.1071/ah17289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2017] [Accepted: 03/01/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Objective
The aim of the present study was to compare the health status of South Australians with recent experience of caring for an adult with chronic disease with non-carers drawn from the same population.
Methods
Data were collected via the South Australian Health Omnibus, an annual population-based, cross-sectional survey. Respondents were asked whether they had provided care or support in the last 5 years to someone with cancer, heart disease, respiratory disease, mental illness, neurological disease or dementia. Health status was measured using the Short Form-12 version 1 (SF-12) physical and mental component scale summary scores (PCS and MCS respectively), with poor health status defined as ≥0.5 standard deviation below the normative mean. Logistic regression explored characteristics associated with poor health status.
Results
Of 3033 respondents analysed, 987 (32.5%) reported caring experience. Poor PCS and MCS were associated with carer status, lower-than-degree-level education, employment status other than employed and annual household income less than A$60000. Being Australian born was a protective factor for PCS, whereas factors protective for MCS were being married or in a de facto relationship and age ≥65 years.
Conclusions
Providing care or support in the last 5 years is independently associated with poorer health status, but not with the magnitude found in studies of current carers. Future research should explore health status recovery after completion of the caring role, and investigate whether relationships between health and socioeconomic status differ for carers versus non-carers.
What is known about the topic?
Population-based survey studies in Australia and overseas have consistently found that informal carers have worse health status than non-carers.
What does this paper add?
Including recent as well as current carers in a population-based sample was associated with less effect on health status compared with studies focused on current carers only. This finding is consistent with the possibility that health status recovers during the 5 years after caring.
What are the implications for practitioners?
Support for Australian carers is warranted to ensure their continuing contributions to society and return to productivity after their caring role is completed.
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Bereavement support for family caregivers: The gap between guidelines and practice in palliative care. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0184750. [PMID: 28977013 PMCID: PMC5627900 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0184750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2017] [Accepted: 08/30/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Standards for bereavement care propose that support should be matched to risk and need. However, studies in many countries demonstrate that palliative care services continue to adopt a generic approach in offering support to bereaved families. Objective To identify patterns of bereavement support in palliative care services based upon the experience of bereaved people from a population based survey and in relation to clinical practice guidelines. Design An anonymous postal survey collected information from clients of six funeral providers in four Australian states (2014–15), 6 to 24 months after the death of their family member or friend, with 1,139 responding. Responses from 506 bereaved relatives of people who had terminal illnesses were analysed. Of these, 298 had used palliative care services and 208 had not. Results More people with cancer (64%) had received palliative care in comparison to other illnesses such as heart disease, dementia and organ failure (4–10%). The support for family caregivers before and after their relative’s death was not considered optimal. Only 39.4% of the bereaved reported being specifically asked about their emotional/ psychological distress pre-bereavement, and just half of the bereaved perceived they had enough support from palliative care services. Half of the bereaved had a follow up contact from the service at 3–6 weeks, and a quarter had a follow-up at 6 months. Their qualitative feedback underlined the limited helpfulness of the blanket approach to bereavement support, which was often described as “not personal” or “generic”, or “just standard practice”. Conclusions Timeliness and consistency of relationship is crucial to building rapport and trust in the service’s ability to help at post-bereavement as well as a focus on the specific rather than the generic needs of the bereaved. In light of these limitations, palliative care services might do better investing their efforts principally in assessing and supporting family caregivers during the pre-bereavement period and developing community capacity and referral pathways for bereavement care. Our findings suggest that bereavement support in Australian palliative care services has only a tenuous relationship with guidelines and assessment tools, a conclusion also drawn in studies from other countries, emphasizing the international implications of our study.
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van Vliet LM, Gao W, DiFrancesco D, Crosby V, Wilcock A, Byrne A, Al-Chalabi A, Chaudhuri KR, Evans C, Silber E, Young C, Malik F, Quibell R, Higginson IJ. How integrated are neurology and palliative care services? Results of a multicentre mapping exercise. BMC Neurol 2016; 16:63. [PMID: 27165157 PMCID: PMC4862117 DOI: 10.1186/s12883-016-0583-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2015] [Accepted: 04/29/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients affected by progressive long-term neurological conditions might benefit from specialist palliative care involvement. However, little is known on how neurology and specialist palliative care services interact. This study aimed to map the current level of connections and integration between these services. METHODS The mapping exercise was conducted in eight centres with neurology and palliative care services in the United Kingdom. The data were provided by the respective neurology and specialist palliative care teams. Questions focused on: i) catchment and population served; ii) service provision and staffing; iii) integration and relationships. RESULTS Centres varied in size of catchment areas (39-5,840 square miles) and population served (142,000-3,500,000). Neurology and specialist palliative care were often not co-terminus. Service provisions for neurology and specialist palliative care were also varied. For example, neurology services varied in the number and type of provided clinics and palliative care services in the settings they work in. Integration was most developed in Motor Neuron Disease (MND), e.g., joint meetings were often held, followed by Parkinsonism (made up of Parkinson's Disease (PD), Multiple-System Atrophy (MSA) and Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), with integration being more developed for MSA and PSP) and least in Multiple Sclerosis (MS), e.g., most sites had no formal links. The number of neurology patients per annum receiving specialist palliative care reflected these differences in integration (range: 9-88 MND, 3-25 Parkinsonism, and 0-5 MS). CONCLUSIONS This mapping exercise showed heterogeneity in service provision and integration between neurology and specialist palliative care services, which varied not only between sites but also between diseases. This highlights the need and opportunities for improved models of integration, which should be rigorously tested for effectiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liesbeth M van Vliet
- Department of Palliative Care, Policy and Rehabilitation, Cicely Saunders Institute, King's College London, Bessemer Road, London, SE5 9PJ, UK
| | - Wei Gao
- Department of Palliative Care, Policy and Rehabilitation, Cicely Saunders Institute, King's College London, Bessemer Road, London, SE5 9PJ, UK.
| | - Daniel DiFrancesco
- Department of Palliative Care, Policy and Rehabilitation, Cicely Saunders Institute, King's College London, Bessemer Road, London, SE5 9PJ, UK
| | - Vincent Crosby
- Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Nottingham, UK
| | | | - Anthony Byrne
- Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, Cardiff, UK
| | - Ammar Al-Chalabi
- Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience London, London, UK
| | - K Ray Chaudhuri
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, London, UK.,King's College London, National Parkinson Foundation International Centre of Excellence, London, UK
| | - Catherine Evans
- Department of Palliative Care, Policy and Rehabilitation, Cicely Saunders Institute, King's College London, Bessemer Road, London, SE5 9PJ, UK.,Sussex Community NHS Trust, Brighton, UK
| | - Eli Silber
- King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Carolyn Young
- The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK
| | - Farida Malik
- St Wilfrids Hospice, Eastbourne, UK.,East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, Eastbourne, UK
| | - Rachel Quibell
- Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Irene J Higginson
- Department of Palliative Care, Policy and Rehabilitation, Cicely Saunders Institute, King's College London, Bessemer Road, London, SE5 9PJ, UK.
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10
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Ventura AD, Burney S, Brooker J, Fletcher J, Ricciardelli L. Home-based palliative care: a systematic literature review of the self-reported unmet needs of patients and carers. Palliat Med 2014; 28:391-402. [PMID: 24292156 DOI: 10.1177/0269216313511141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There have been many studies on the unmet needs of palliative care patients and carers from the perspective of bereaved caregivers. However, the unmet needs of palliative care patients and carers from the perspective of current patients and their carers have received little research attention. AIM As home-based services have become one of the main delivery models of palliative care, the aim of this review was to describe, evaluate and summarise the literature on the unmet needs of palliative home care patients and carers. DESIGN The systematic review of qualitative and quantitative studies was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. DATA SOURCES PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, AMED and CareSearch were searched to find empirical studies on the self-reported unmet needs of palliative home care patients and carers. RESULTS Nine qualitative studies, three quantitative studies and three mixed-design studies were identified. The most frequently reported unmet need was effective communication with health-care professionals, the lack of which negatively impacted on the care received by patients and carers. Physical care needs were met, which indicates that the examined palliative home care services were delivering satisfactory care in this domain, but lacking in other areas. CONCLUSIONS The focus therefore should be on improving other aspects of patient care, including communication by health professionals to prevent or reduce suffering in areas such as psychosocial domains. Valid and reliable quantitative measures of unmet needs in palliative care are needed to examine this area more rigorously.
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Lancioni GE, Singh NN, O'Reilly MF, Sigafoos J, D'Amico F, Addante LM, Ferlisi G, Zullo V, Oliva D, Megna M. Technology to help persons with extensive neuro-motor impairment and lack of speech with their leisure occupation and communication. RESEARCH IN DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES 2014; 35:611-618. [PMID: 24472502 DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2014.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2014] [Accepted: 01/02/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
These two studies were aimed at extending the assessment of technology-aided programs to enhance leisure occupation or communication with persons with extensive neuro-motor impairment and lack of speech. Specifically, Study I implemented the program for leisure occupation with two post-stroke patients. Study II implemented the program for communication with two persons affected by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In Study I, a computer system presented the participants with a variety of stimuli. The participants could select/access those stimuli by microswitch activation or could bypass them by abstaining from microswitch responses. In Study II, the participants used a computer-aided telephone system that allowed them to choose via microswitch activation the persons to call. On the computer screen, they also had words and phrases that they could activate during the calls to influence the conversation with the persons called. Data from both studies were largely positive. The post-stroke patients showed high levels of stimulus selection (access) and extended engagement. The patients with ALS were able to make phone calls and to select the words/phrases to influence the conversations. The relevance of technology-aided programs for leisure occupation and communication of persons with extensive multiple disabilities was discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nirbhay N Singh
- Medical College of Georgia, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, USA
| | | | | | - Fiora D'Amico
- S. Raffaele Medical Care Center, Alberobello and Modugno, Italy
| | - Luigi M Addante
- S. Raffaele Medical Care Center, Alberobello and Modugno, Italy
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Shamsaei F, Kermanshahi SMK, Vanaki Z, Hajizadeh E, Holtforth MG, Cheragi F. Health status assessment tool for the family member caregiver of patients with bipolar disorder: development and psychometric testing. Asian J Psychiatr 2013; 6:222-7. [PMID: 23642980 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2012.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2012] [Revised: 11/25/2012] [Accepted: 12/29/2012] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The caregivers' health assessment requires the application of a valid instrument that provided based on their experiences about the health concept. The purpose of this study was to develop and test the psychometric properties of the health assessment tool for family member caregivers' of patients with bipolar disorder. METHODS This study utilized mixed research. The specific validation processes used were: content and face validity, construct validity using factor analysis, reliability and internal consistency using test-retest reliability and Cronbach's alpha correlation coefficient. RESULTS The exploratory factor analysis revealed ten factors: safe life with peace, maintaining physical health, painful emotions, psychological tolerance, maintaining physical-psychological potency, families and relatives support, health care system support, moral-financial support, maintaining social relationships, and worry over the label. The internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) was 95. Test-retest reliability of the questionnaire with interval time of two weeks was 0.93 (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION Family caregivers' health assessment questionnaire with 75 items helped to determine family caregivers' health in different settings such as clinical settings, homes and research environments by health care providers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farshid Shamsaei
- Research Center for Behavioral Disorders & Substance Abuse, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamedan, Iran.
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Aoun SM, Connors SL, Priddis L, Breen LJ, Colyer S. Motor Neurone Disease family carers' experiences of caring, palliative care and bereavement: an exploratory qualitative study. Palliat Med 2012; 26:842-50. [PMID: 21775409 DOI: 10.1177/0269216311416036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Motor Neurone Disease (MND) is a neurodegenerative disease with a sudden onset, a rapid progression, a profile of complex disabilities and fatal consequences. Caring for a person with MND is an unremitting commitment, yet little research has examined the experiences and needs of carers for palliative care and bereavement care. AIM This study explored the experiences of MND family carers, both during their time as carers and following bereavement. Particular attention was paid to the carers' prolonged grief status and to the implications for service delivery, including palliative care. DESIGN A qualitative approach consisted of interviews with 16 bereaved family carers. The Prolonged Grief tool (PG-13) measured the carers' prolonged grief. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS sixteen family carers participated in the study, between one and four years after the death of their spouse from MND in Western Australia. RESULTS The thematic analysis of the interview transcripts revealed five themes - the work of family carers, the change in relationship from spouse to family carer, family caring as a series of losses, coping mechanisms of family carers and supportive and palliative care experiences of family carers. The six participants who met the criteria for prolonged grief disorder accessed palliative care at a later stage in the disease trajectory. CONCLUSIONS The study provided a basis for more research into the role palliative care services has in supporting MND carers before and after the death of their spouse and in particular the provision of more tailored respite and bereavement support.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samar M Aoun
- Western Australian Centre for Cancer and Palliative Care, Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Australia.
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Clinical Implications for Supporting Caregivers at the End-of-Life: Findings and from a Qualitative Study. CONTEMPORARY FAMILY THERAPY 2012. [DOI: 10.1007/s10591-012-9194-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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