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Francis ME, Mohindra P, Mooney-Doyle K. Exploring Dyad-Based Communication During Cancer: A Pilot Study. Cancer Nurs 2023; 46:E384-E393. [PMID: 36480331 DOI: 10.1097/ncc.0000000000001145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND For patients and intimate partners, the challenge of advanced cancer is often compounded by difficulties in effectively communicating about disease treatment. Relevant evidence-based data are limited, in part because of limitations in understanding the dynamics of dyad-based communication. OBJECTIVES This pilot study targeted development/feasibility testing of a practical model for assessment of these dynamics in a small group of cancer patients and their intimate partners, with a focus on communication before/after cancer diagnoses, including end-of-life discussions. METHODS A descriptive phenomenological design was based on the Bodenmann systemic-transactional model of dyadic coping and on semistructured interviews with 7 dyads. Qualitative data analysis used the Colaizzi 7-step method for narrated text interpretation and identification of emergent themes. RESULTS Patients (median age, 59 years; median intimate partner age, 52 years) had been given a diagnosis of cancer 0 to 6 months before enrollment and were receiving active therapy during participation. Of 534 significant statements analyzed, 2 emergent themes were identified: (1) vulnerable communication during advanced cancer is influenced by preexisting dynamics and complicated by balancing hope/positivity and uncertainty/fear, and (2) communications about end-of-life issues are emotional and influenced by dyad member perceptions about death. A study with a broader racial/demographic representation is planned. CONCLUSION It is feasible to study dyad communication in the advanced cancer setting, and preliminary data suggest the importance of these dynamics in expression of clinical preferences. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE Structured interviews with dyads during advanced cancer care can be used to identify specific challenges and inform improved support approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martha E Francis
- Author Affiliations: School of Nursing, University of Maryland (Drs Francis and Mooney-Doyle); and Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Maryland School of Medicine (Dr Mohindra), Baltimore
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Kyota A, Kanda K, Senuma M, Tsukagoshi N, Futawatari T, Kondo Y. The perception of life and death in patients with end-of-life stage cancer: A systematic review of qualitative research. Eur J Oncol Nurs 2023; 66:102354. [PMID: 37586291 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejon.2023.102354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Revised: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE This study aims to clarify the perceptions on life and death among patients with the end-of-life stage cancer through a systematic review. METHODS The search strategy combined MeSH terminology with free text searches, and was applied to the PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, and ICHUSHI (Japan Medical Abstracts Society) databases covering from 2010 to 5/2022. To ensure the quality of the research included, the Critical Appraisal Skills Program Qualitative Studies Checklist was used. Data relating to the perceptions of life and death of patients with the end-of-life stage cancer was extracted and analyzed with reference to qualitative meta-synthesis methods. RESULTS Ultimately, 50 studies were included. Five themes were derived based on the perceptions of life and death of patients with the end-of-life stage cancer: despair, making sense of death, how to live the rest of life, special feelings for loved ones, and fluctuation. By making sense of death in their own way, and reconciling it with their current situation, patients with the end-of-life stage cancer, even in despair over their impending death, look ahead into the future and their surroundings and consider how they would live the remaining time they have. During this time, the special feelings they have for their loved ones make an impact. CONCLUSIONS An important new finding from this study lies in the fact that the patients' desire to live as ordinary people who were not patients were expressed as a face that they hid from their families. Further research is needed in low-income countries/regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayumi Kyota
- Department of Nursing, Gunma University Graduate School of Health Sciences, 3-39-22 Showa-machi, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-8514, Japan.
| | - Kiyoko Kanda
- Niigata College of Nursing, 240 Shinnan-cho, Joetsu, Niigata, 943-0147, Japan.
| | - Maiko Senuma
- Department of Nursing, Gunma University Graduate School of Health Sciences, 3-39-22 Showa-machi, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-8514, Japan.
| | - Noriko Tsukagoshi
- Department of Nursing, Gunma University Graduate School of Health Sciences, 3-39-22 Showa-machi, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-8514, Japan.
| | - Tamae Futawatari
- Department of Nursing, Gunma University Graduate School of Health Sciences, 3-39-22 Showa-machi, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-8514, Japan.
| | - Yuka Kondo
- Department of Nursing, Gunma University Graduate School of Health Sciences, 3-39-22 Showa-machi, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-8514, Japan.
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Herbst FA, Gawinski L, Schneider N, Stiel S. 'She Can't Support Me Because She's so Old': A Mixed-Methods Study of Support Experiences and Needs in Adult Child-Parent Dyads at the End of Life. OMEGA-JOURNAL OF DEATH AND DYING 2023; 86:1371-1387. [PMID: 33853447 PMCID: PMC9902957 DOI: 10.1177/00302228211008748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Little is known about support experiences and needs in the dyads of (1) terminally ill adult children and their parent caregivers and (2) terminally ill parents and their adult child caregivers. The current study aimed at investigating the experiences and needs of adult children and parents in end of life situations regarding their provision and receipt of support. The study employed a convergent parallel mixed-methods design, combining explorative qualitative interviews with the quantitative self-report Berlin Social Support Scales. Sixty-five patients (dyad 1: 19; dyad 2: 46) and 42 family caregivers (dyad 1: 13; dyad 2: 29) participated in the study (02/2018-11/2019). Results show that ill adult children felt less (well) supported than ill parents. Parent caregivers were often limited in the support they could provide, due to their age and health conditions. Hypotheses were deduced from patients' and family caregivers' notions to inform dyad-specific recommendations for support interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska A. Herbst
- Hannover Medical School, Institute for General Practice, Hanover, Germany,Franziska A. Herbst, Hannover Medical School, Institute for General Practice, Carl-Neuberg-Strasse 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany.
| | - Laura Gawinski
- Hannover Medical School, Institute for General Practice, Hanover, Germany
| | - Nils Schneider
- Hannover Medical School, Institute for General Practice, Hanover, Germany
| | - Stephanie Stiel
- Hannover Medical School, Institute for General Practice, Hanover, Germany
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Pustinger L, Burchill CN, Stetz K, Distelhorst KS. Exploring the Lived Experience of Families Waiting for Surgical Patients: A Qualitative Study. AORN J 2022; 116:34-44. [PMID: 35758742 DOI: 10.1002/aorn.13711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Revised: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Family-centered care is an important aspect of perioperative nursing, especially during the perioperative waiting period that separates patients from their families or significant others. However, there is a lack of understanding on what waiting means to family members or significant others. In this hermeneutic phenomenological study, we explored the lived experiences of family members waiting for surgical patients. We identified a shared experience during waiting that we called a "time to focus on self." We identified five supporting themes that shaped this meaning of waiting: the environment, activities, communication, expectations, and feelings. The perioperative waiting experience may be a necessary time of self-reflection and self-care for family members when responsibilities for loved ones are temporarily on hold. Perioperative nurses can provide family-centered interventions to address the physical and emotional needs of individuals who are waiting and improve their experience.
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Xu T, Qin Y, Ou X, Zhao X, Wang P, Wang M, Yue P. End-of-life communication experiences within families of people with advanced Cancer in China: A qualitative study. Int J Nurs Stud 2022; 132:104261. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2022.104261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Revised: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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Lowers J, Scardaville M, Hughes S, Preston NJ. Comparison of the experience of caregiving at end of life or in hastened death: a narrative synthesis review. BMC Palliat Care 2020; 19:154. [PMID: 33032574 PMCID: PMC7545566 DOI: 10.1186/s12904-020-00660-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background End-of-life caregiving frequently is managed by friends and family. Studies on hastened death, including aid in dying or assisted suicide, indicate friends and family also play essential roles before, during, and after death. No studies have compared the experiences of caregivers in hastened and non-hastened death. The study aim is to compare end-of-life and hastened death caregiving experience using Hudson’s modified stress-coping model for palliative caregiving. Method Narrative synthesis of qualitative studies for caregivers at end of life and in hastened death, with 9946 end-of life and 1414 hastened death qualitative, peer-reviewed research articles extracted from MEDLINE, CINAHL, Web of Science, and PsycINFO, published between January 1998 and April 2020. Results Forty-two end-of-life caregiving and 12 hastened death caregiving articles met inclusion criteria. In both end-of-life and hastened death contexts, caregivers are motivated to ease patient suffering and may put their own needs or feelings aside to focus on that priority. Hastened death caregivers’ expectation of impending death and the short duration of caregiving may result in less caregiver burden. Acceptance of the patient’s condition, social support, and support from healthcare professionals all appear to improve caregiver experience. However, data on hastened death are limited. Conclusion Caregivers in both groups sought closeness with the patient and reported satisfaction at having done their best to care for the patient in a critical time. Awareness of anticipated death and support from healthcare professionals appear to reduce caregiver stress. The modified stress-coping framework is an effective lens for interpreting caregivers’ experiences at end of life and in the context of hastened death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane Lowers
- Emory University, Palliative Care Center, 1821 Clifton Road, Suite 1016, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA.
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Dobrina R, Chialchia S, Palese A. "Difficult patients" in the advanced stages of cancer as experienced by nursing staff: A descriptive qualitative study. Eur J Oncol Nurs 2020; 46:101766. [PMID: 32480281 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejon.2020.101766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2019] [Revised: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 05/02/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSES "Difficult patients", as labelled by staff members, have been studied for their peculiarities in primary care, family and internal medicine, physiotherapy, psychiatry, dermatology, and dentistry. However, no data has been documented on "difficult patients" in hospice care settings. The aim of the study was to address the following research questions: (a) When do nursing staff label a patient suffering from advanced cancer as "difficult" in a hospice care setting? (b) What are the problems that the nursing staff face in dealing with them, and (c) What are the specific strategies that nursing staff adopt in their daily practice to overcome issues and improve their relationship with "difficult patients"? METHODS A qualitative descriptive study design was performed in 2018 and reported according to the COnsolidated criteria for REporting Qualitative research. Three focus groups were conducted in three hospice settings in Northern Italy by involving 10 nurses and six nurses' aides. Three trained researchers performed interviews based on a set of open questions. Qualitative content analysis of the data collected was then performed by the same researchers. RESULTS Participants were labelled "difficult patients" according to three main themes: (1) "Feeling rejected"; (2) "Feeling uncomfortable with the life story experienced by the patient" and (3) "Experiencing the limits of the profession". Participants reported feeling "Frustrated", "Exhausted", "Powerless", "Overwhelmed" or "Embarrassed" when dealing with "difficult patients". Strategies to overcome these issues emerged. CONCLUSIONS As in other settings, hospice care nursing staff perceive some patients as "difficult". However, differently from other contexts, "difficult patients" are perceived as such also due to their relatives, who are perceived, in some cases, as being even more "difficult" than the patients themselves. Nursing staff should be aware of their personal attitudes and emotions in caring for patients perceived as "difficult" in order to identify and timely apply strategies to overcome issues that may compromise the therapeutic relationship and quality of care.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Alvisa Palese
- Department of Medical Science, University of Udine, Udine, Italy.
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Kenny C, Regan J, Balding L, Higgins S, O'Leary N, Kelleher F, McDermott R, Armstrong J, Mihai A, Tiernan E, Westrup J, Thirion P, Walsh D. Dysphagia Prevalence and Predictors in Cancers Outside the Head, Neck, and Upper Gastrointestinal Tract. J Pain Symptom Manage 2019; 58:949-958.e2. [PMID: 31445137 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2019.06.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2019] [Revised: 06/23/2019] [Accepted: 06/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT Dysphagia is usually associated with malignancies of the head, neck, and upper gastrointestinal tract but also occurs in those with tumors outside anatomic swallow regions. It can lead to aspiration pneumonia, malnutrition, reduced quality of life, and psychosocial distress. No studies have yet reliably described dysphagia prevalence in those with malignancies outside anatomic swallow regions. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to establish the prevalence and predictors of dysphagia in adults with solid malignancies outside the head, neck, and upper gastrointestinal tract. METHODS A cross-sectional, observational study using consecutive sampling was conducted. There were 385 participants (mean age 66 ± 12 years) with 21 different primary cancer sites from two acute hospitals and one hospice. Locoregional disease was present in 33%, metastatic in 67%. Dysphagia was screened by empirical questionnaire and confirmed through swallow evaluation. Demographic and clinical predictors were determined by univariate and multivariate binary regression. RESULTS Dysphagia occurred in 19% of those with malignancies outside anatomic swallow regions. Prevalence was 30% in palliative care and 32% in hospice care. Dysphagia was most strongly associated with cough, nausea, and worse performance status. It was also associated with lower quality of life and nutritional difficulties. CONCLUSION Dysphagia was common and usually undiagnosed before study participation. It occurred at all disease stages but coincided with functional decline. It may therefore represent a cancer frailty marker. Oncology and palliative care services should routinely screen for this symptom. Timely dysphagia identification and management may improve patient well-being and prevent adverse effects like aspiration pneumonia and weight loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ciarán Kenny
- Department of Clinical Speech and Language Studies, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland; Academic Department of Palliative Medicine, Our Lady's Hospice & Care Services, Dublin, Ireland; School of Medicine, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland.
| | - Julie Regan
- Department of Clinical Speech and Language Studies, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Lucy Balding
- Department of Palliative Medicine, Our Lady's Hospice & Care Services, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Stephen Higgins
- Department of Palliative Medicine, Our Lady's Hospice & Care Services, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Norma O'Leary
- Department of Palliative Medicine, Our Lady's Hospice & Care Services, Dublin, Ireland
| | | | - Ray McDermott
- Tallaght University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland; Beacon Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Declan Walsh
- Academic Department of Palliative Medicine, Our Lady's Hospice & Care Services, Dublin, Ireland; School of Medicine, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland; Department of Supportive Oncology, Levine Cancer Institute, Atrium Health, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
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López Rangel R, Gómez Ramírez OJ. Experiencia del cuidador familiar de quien fallece por cáncer: un dolor del cual hay que aprender a sobreponerse. AQUICHAN 2018. [DOI: 10.5294/aqui.2018.18.4.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Objetivo: describir la experiencia que tiene durante el momento de la muerte el cuidador de un familiar que falleció por cáncer. Metodología: estudio descriptivo, fundamentado en el enfoque fenomenológico de Husserl con el método de Colaizzi. Los participantes del estudio fueron dieciséis adultos que desempeñaron el rol de cuidador familiar principal por más de seis meses, dentro de un periodo de 8 a 18 meses, antes de realizarse la entrevista a profundidad. Los códigos descriptores y nominales se identificaron y transcribieron entre enero y marzo de 2018. Se realizó una revisión cruzada. Resultados: la experiencia que tuvo durante el momento de la muerte el cuidador de un familiar que falleció por cáncer se construyó a partir de siete temas: el final de una gran batalla; el cuerpo presente y el alma ausente; sentirse incompleto; preguntarse por qué; establecer lo urgente; despedirse, y buscar motivos para seguir viviendo. Conclusiones: para el cuidador de un familiar que ha fallecido por cáncer, afrontar el momento de la muerte genera un dolor indescriptible. En esta experiencia convergen factores sociales, económicos, psicológicos y espirituales, por lo que es necesario superar obstáculos y situaciones inesperadas que, a pesar de su dificultad, obligan a aprender de ellas y a hallar un significado.
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Transforming End-of-Life Care by Implementing a Patient-Centered Care Model: Findings From an Action Research Project. J Hosp Palliat Nurs 2018; 20:531-541. [PMID: 30260814 DOI: 10.1097/njh.0000000000000468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Patient-centered care is valued by health care professionals working in palliative care settings. However, studies have revealed the difficulty of adopting patient-centered care in daily practice and of sharing its meaning within the interdisciplinary team. The aim of this study was to report the process of transforming end-of-life care by implementing a patient-centered model of care in an Italian hospice. An action research process was conducted between June 2012 and June 2014. The following phases were performed: (a) "looking" phase: the diagnosis was established by collecting data through semistructured interviews in the field study and through the administration of the Frommelt Attitude Toward the Care of the Dying Scale Form B-Italian Version; (b) "thinking" phase: staff members, guided by a research team, redesigned practice by identifying priorities in improvements and actions through multiprofessional focus groups; (c) "acting" phase: actions identified in the previous phase were implemented; and (d) "relooking" phase: the same data collection processes used in the looking phase were applied to evaluate the outcomes achieved. Three areas of improvement have been established: (1) symptoms were intensively audited through patient self-reports by using validated tools; (2) patients' family needs were also regularly collected, documented in clinical records, and addressed; (3) patients' family members were involved in the plan of care through support and education. Inpatient hospice health carers in this study were aware of the concept of patient-centered care. However, its actual implementation was lacking. An action research approach helped them to implement expected changes.
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Robinson EL, Hart B, Sanders S. It's okay to talk about death: Exploring the end-of-life wishes of healthy young adults. DEATH STUDIES 2018; 43:389-396. [PMID: 29913114 DOI: 10.1080/07481187.2018.1478913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2017] [Revised: 03/15/2018] [Accepted: 04/08/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Young adults (N = 80) participated in advance care planning (ACP) as part of a death and dying course and submitted reflection papers on their experiences. These papers were analyzed using directed qualitative content analysis methods. Among the findings, participants almost exclusively chose a parent or other family member as a Health Care Agent. Twenty-five percent expressed concern about placing burden on their agent, but felt their advance directives (AD) would ease that burden. For many, previous experiences with death helped shape their wishes. This research has practice implications for recruiting more healthy young adults in completing their AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin L Robinson
- a University of Missouri School of Social Work , Columbia , MO , USA
| | - Becky Hart
- a University of Missouri School of Social Work , Columbia , MO , USA
| | - Sara Sanders
- b University of Iowa School of Social Work , Iowa City , IA , USA
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Kenny C, Gilheaney Ó, Walsh D, Regan J. Oropharyngeal Dysphagia Evaluation Tools in Adults with Solid Malignancies Outside the Head and Neck and Upper GI Tract: A Systematic Review. Dysphagia 2018; 33:303-320. [PMID: 29607447 DOI: 10.1007/s00455-018-9892-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2017] [Accepted: 03/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Dysphagia is often associated with head and neck and upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract cancers. Evidence suggests that those with solid malignancies in other primary sites may also have swallowing difficulties. Timely and accurate identification of dysphagia is important given the impact it has on hydration, medical treatment, nutrition, prognosis, and quality of life. A systematic review was conducted to identify swallow screening, evaluation, and quality of life tools for those with solid malignancies outside the head and neck and upper GI tract. Ten electronic databases, one journal and two published conference proceedings were searched. Following deduplication, 7435 studies were examined for relevance. No tools were validated solely in this cancer population, though some included this group in larger cohorts. Comments are provided on the diagnostic properties and applicability of these tools. In the absence of appropriate diagnostic instruments, the exact prevalence of dysphagia and its impact on clinical and psychosocial well-being remain unknown. Accurate and adequate measurement of therapeutic intervention is also compromised. This review establishes the need for validated dysphagia evaluation tools for this clinical population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ciarán Kenny
- Academic Department of Palliative Medicine, Our Lady's Hospice & Care Services, Harold's Cross, Dublin 6W, Ireland.
- School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland.
| | - Órla Gilheaney
- Department of Clinical Speech and Language Studies, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Declan Walsh
- Academic Department of Palliative Medicine, Our Lady's Hospice & Care Services, Harold's Cross, Dublin 6W, Ireland
- School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
- School of Medicine & Medical Science, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Julie Regan
- Department of Clinical Speech and Language Studies, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
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Delgado-Guay MO, Rodriguez-Nunez A, De la Cruz V, Frisbee-Hume S, Williams J, Wu J, Liu D, Fisch MJ, Bruera E. Advanced cancer patients' reported wishes at the end of life: a randomized controlled trial. Support Care Cancer 2016; 24:4273-81. [PMID: 27165052 DOI: 10.1007/s00520-016-3260-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2016] [Accepted: 05/03/2016] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Conversations about end-of-life (EOL) wishes are challenging for many clinicians. The Go Wish card game (GWG) was developed to facilitate these conversations. Little is known about the type and consistency of EOL wishes using the GWG in advanced cancer patients. METHODS We conducted a randomized controlled trial to assess the EOL wishes of 100 patients with advanced cancer treated at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. The purpose of this study was to determine the EOL wishes of patients with advanced cancer and to compare patients' preference between the GWG and List of wishes/statements (LOS) containing the same number of items. Patients were randomized into four groups and completed either the GWG or a checklist of 35 LOS and one opened statement found on the GWG cards; patients were asked to categorize these wishes as very, somewhat, or not important. After 4-24 h, the patients were asked to complete the same or other test. Group A (n = 25) received LOS-LOS, group B (n = 25) received GWG-GWG, group C (n = 26) received GWG-LOS, and group D (n = 24) received LOS-GWG. All patients completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) for adults before and after the first test. RESULTS Median age (interquartile range = IQR): 56 (27-83) years. Age, sex, ethnicity, marital status, religion, education, and cancer diagnosis did not differ significantly among the four groups. All patients were able to complete the GWG and/or LOS. The ten most common wishes identified as very important by patients in the first and second test were to be at peace with God (74 vs. 71 %); to pray (62 vs. 61 %); and to have family present (57 vs. 61 %). to be free from pain (54 vs. 60 %); not being a burden to my family (48 vs. 49 %); to trust my doctor (44 vs. 45 %); to keep my sense of humor (41 vs. 45 %); to say goodbye to important people in my life (41 vs. 37 %); to have my family prepared for my death (40 vs. 49 %); and to be able to help others (36 vs. 31 %). There was significant association among the frequency of responses of the study groups. Of the 50 patients exposed to both tests, 43 (86 %) agreed that the GWG instructions were clear, 45 (90 %) agreed that the GWG was easy to understand, 31 (62 %) preferred the GWG, 39 (78 %) agreed that the GWG did not increase their anxiety and 31 (62 %) agreed that having conversations about EOL priorities was beneficial. The median STAI score after GWG was 48 (interquartile range, 39-59) vs. 47 (interquartile range, 27-63) after LOS (p = 0.2952). CONCLUSION Patients with advanced cancer assigned high importance to spirituality and the presence/relationships of family, and these wishes were consistent over the two tests. The GWG did not worsen anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marvin O Delgado-Guay
- Department of Palliative Care and Rehabilitation and Integrative Medicine , Unit 1414, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
| | - Alfredo Rodriguez-Nunez
- Programa de Medicina Paliativa y Cuidados Continuos, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Vera De la Cruz
- Department of Palliative Care and Rehabilitation and Integrative Medicine , Unit 1414, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Susan Frisbee-Hume
- Department of Palliative Care and Rehabilitation and Integrative Medicine , Unit 1414, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Janet Williams
- Department of Palliative Care and Rehabilitation and Integrative Medicine , Unit 1414, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Jimin Wu
- Department of Biostatistics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Diane Liu
- Department of Biostatistics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Eduardo Bruera
- Department of Palliative Care and Rehabilitation and Integrative Medicine , Unit 1414, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX, 77030, USA
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