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Sayin Kasar K, Yildirim Y, Bulut U. Comfort Level in Caregivers of Palliative Care Patients and Affecting Factors: What Should We Know? OMEGA-JOURNAL OF DEATH AND DYING 2023; 86:1461-1472. [PMID: 33990159 DOI: 10.1177/00302228211014779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Caregivers are an important source of support for patients in palliative care. Comfort is an important concept in nursing care for both patients and their families, and nurses aim to increase comfort. The aim of the study was to determine the comfort level and influencing factors in caregivers of palliative care patients. The research sample consisted of 102 caregivers related to palliative care patients. The data were obtained with an Individual Information Form, the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) and the End of Life Comfort Scale (Caregiver/Family). The study was conducted in the palliative care clinic of Aksaray University Training and Research Hospital between October 2018 and April 2019. There was a significant relationship between the total comfort score of the caregivers and the patient's performance status, the caregivers' age, their economic situation, the length of the caregiving period and receiving help in care (social support) (p < 0.05). Providing comfort is an important function and challenge for holistic nursing care, as comfort is a lifelong need in health and disease. Caregivers in the risk group should be aware of this issue and necessary precautions should be taken.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kadriye Sayin Kasar
- Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aksaray University, Aksaray, Turkey
| | | | - Ulku Bulut
- Family Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Aksaray University, Aksaray, Turkey
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Ramstad ES, Thegen LS, Guldin MB, Neergaard MA, Nielsen MK. Experiencing Missing Contact With Professionals and Long Term Bereavement Outcome. J Pain Symptom Manage 2023; 65:38-46. [PMID: 36115501 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2022.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT The Danish health care system provides palliative care for terminally ill patients and their family caregivers. However, initiatives to support family caregivers are not systematically organized. OBJECTIVES We aimed to examine the association between self-reported experience of missing contact to health care professionals involved in palliative care, and symptoms of grief and depression three years post-loss. METHODS We conducted a prospective population-based survey of 3635 family caregivers to terminally ill patients. At six months follow-up, the caregivers reported whether they missed contact to the general practitioner, home care nurse, hospital staff, and/or palliative care team. Associations between missing contact and symptoms of prolonged grief (Prolonged-Grief-13) and depression (Beck Depression Inventory-II) three years after bereavement were analyzed with multivariable logistic regression analysis. RESULTS We found that an experience of missing contact with health care professionals six months after bereavement was significantly associated with symptoms indicative of prolonged grief disorder and depression after three years. The strongest association was found for missing contact with the general practitioner with an adjusted OR = 4.0 (95%CI: 1.9;8.3) for prolonged grief and an adjusted OR = 5.2 (95% CI: 3.4;7.9) for depression. CONCLUSION Experiencing missing contact with health care professionals shortly after bereavement was associated with adverse psychological reactions. Family caregivers may benefit from bereavement support to prevent further complications. A proactive approach with assessment of support needs and risk of complications early during the patient's illness trajectory may target support at those who needs it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilie Stendahl Ramstad
- Research Unit for General Practice (E.S.R, L.S.T, M.G, M.K.N), Aarhus, Denmark; Aarhus University (E.S.R, L.S.T).
| | - Laura Sabroe Thegen
- Research Unit for General Practice (E.S.R, L.S.T, M.G, M.K.N), Aarhus, Denmark; Aarhus University (E.S.R, L.S.T)
| | - Mai-Britt Guldin
- Research Unit for General Practice (E.S.R, L.S.T, M.G, M.K.N), Aarhus, Denmark
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Lenger MK, Neergaard MA, Guldin MB, Nielsen MK. Poor physical and mental health predicts prolonged grief disorder: A prospective, population-based cohort study on caregivers of patients at the end of life. Palliat Med 2020; 34:1416-1424. [PMID: 32830615 PMCID: PMC7543026 DOI: 10.1177/0269216320948007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The health of caregivers can be affected during end-of-life caregiving. Previous cross-sectional studies have indicated an association between poor health status and prolonged grief disorder, but prospective studies are lacking. AIM To describe physical and mental health status in caregivers of patients at the end of life, and to investigate whether caregivers' health status during caregiving predict prolonged grief disorder. DESIGN A population-based prospective survey was conducted. Health status was measured in caregivers during caregiving (SF-36), and prolonged grief disorder was assessed 6 months after bereavement (Prolonged Grief-13). We calculated mean scores of health status and explored the association with prolonged grief disorder using logistic regression adjusted for age, gender and education. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS The health in caregivers of patients granted drug reimbursement due to terminal illness in Denmark in 2012 was assessed during caregiving and 6 months after bereavement (n = 2125). RESULTS The SF-36 subscale 'role-physical' concerning role limitations due to physical health, the 'mental health' component score, and all 'mental health' subscales showed significantly worse health in the participants than in the general population. Both poor physical health (adjusted OR: 1.05 (95% CI: 1.04-1.07)) and poor mental health (adjusted OR: 1.09 (95% CI: 1.07-1.11)) predicted prolonged grief disorder. CONCLUSION Caregivers scored lower on one physical subscale and all mental health measures than the general population. Prolonged grief disorder was predicted by poor physical and mental health status before bereavement. Future research is needed on the use of health status in systematic assessment to identify caregivers in need of support.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Mai-Britt Guldin
- Research Unit for General Practice, Aarhus, Denmark
- Palliative Care Unit, Department of Oncology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Mette Kjaergaard Nielsen
- Research Unit for General Practice, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
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Grief symptoms and primary care use: a prospective study of family caregivers. BJGP Open 2020; 4:bjgpopen20X101063. [PMID: 32522749 PMCID: PMC7465574 DOI: 10.3399/bjgpopen20x101063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2020] [Accepted: 01/27/2020] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Family caregivers to patients who are severely ill have high use of primary health care and psychotropic medication. However, it remains sparsely investigated whether healthcare services target the most vulnerable caregivers. AIM This study aimed to examine associations between family caregivers' grief trajectories of persistent high-grief symptom level (high-grief trajectory) versus persistent low-grief symptom level (low-grief trajectory), as well as early contacts with GPs or psychologists and the use of psychotropic medication. DESIGN & SETTING A population-based cohort study of family caregivers (n = 1735) in Denmark was undertaken. METHOD The Prolonged Grief-13 (PG-13) scale measured family caregivers' grief symptoms at inclusion (during the patient's terminal illness), 6 months after bereavement, and 3 years after bereavement. Multinomial regression was used to analyse register-based information on GP consultations, psychologist sessions, and psychotropic medication prescriptions in the 6 months before inclusion. RESULTS A total of 1447 (83.4%) family caregivers contacted their GP, and 91.6% of participants in the high-grief trajectory had GP contact. Compared with family caregivers in the low-grief trajectory, family caregivers in the high-grief trajectory had ≥4 face-to-face GP consultations (odds ratio [OR] = 2.6; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.3 to 5.0), more GP talk therapy (OR =4.4; 95% CI = 1.9 to 10.0), and more psychotropic medication, but not significantly more psychologist sessions (OR = 1.7; 95% CI = 0.5 to 6.6). CONCLUSION Family caregivers in the high-grief trajectory had more contact with their GP, but their persisting grief symptoms suggest that primary care interventions for family caregivers should be optimised. Future research is warranted in such interventions and in the referral patterns to specialised mental health care.
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Busquet-Duran X, Jiménez-Zafra EM, Manresa-Domínguez JM, Tura-Poma M, Bosch-delaRosa O, Moragas-Roca A, Galera Padilla MC, Martin Moreno S, Martínez-Losada E, Crespo-Ramírez S, López-Garcia AI, Torán-Monserrat P. Describing Complexity in Palliative Home Care Through HexCom: A Cross-Sectional, Multicenter Study. J Multidiscip Healthc 2020; 13:297-308. [PMID: 32256078 PMCID: PMC7090197 DOI: 10.2147/jmdh.s240835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2019] [Accepted: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Complexity has become a core issue in caring for patients with advanced disease and/or at the end-of-life. The Hexagon of Complexity (HexCom) is a complexity assessment model in the process of validation in health-care settings. Our objective is to use the instrument to describe differences in complexity across disease groups in specific home care for advanced disease and/or at the end-of-life patients, both in general and as relates to each domain and subdomain. METHODS Cross-sectional study of home care was conducted in Catalonia. The instrument includes 6 domains of needs (clinical, psychological/emotional, social/family, spiritual, ethical, and death-related), 4 domains of resources (intrapersonal, interpersonal, transpersonal, and practical), and 3 levels of complexity (High (H), Moderate (M), and Low (L)). Interdisciplinary home care teams assessed and agreed on the level of complexity for each patient. RESULTS Forty-three teams participated (74.1% of those invited). A total of 832 patients were assessed, 61.4% of which were cancer patients. Moderate complexity was observed in 385 (47.0%) cases and high complexity in 347 (42.4%). The median complexity score was 51 for cancer patients and 23 for patients with dementia (p<0.001). We observed the highest level of complexity in the social/family domain. Patients/families most frequently used interpersonal resources (80.5%). CONCLUSIONS This study sheds light on the high-intensity work of support teams, the importance of the social/family domain and planning the place of death, substantial differences in needs and resources across disease groups, and the importance of relationship wellbeing at the end-of-life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xavier Busquet-Duran
- Home Care Program, Support Team, PADES Granollers, Vallès Oriental Primary Health Care Services, Catalan Institute of Health, Barcelona, Spain
- Multidisciplinary Research Group on Health and Society (GREMSAS), Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Nursing, University Foundation of Bages (FUB), University of Vic. Central University of Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Eva Maria Jiménez-Zafra
- Home Care Program, Support Team, PADES Granollers, Vallès Oriental Primary Health Care Services, Catalan Institute of Health, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Josep Maria Manresa-Domínguez
- Multidisciplinary Research Group on Health and Society (GREMSAS), Barcelona, Spain
- Metropolitan Nord Unit of Research Support, University Institute of Research in Primary Care (IDIAP) Jordi Gol, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Nursing, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Magda Tura-Poma
- Home Care Program, Support Team, PADES Granollers, Vallès Oriental Primary Health Care Services, Catalan Institute of Health, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Anna Moragas-Roca
- Home Care Program, Support Team, PADES Granollers, Vallès Oriental Primary Health Care Services, Catalan Institute of Health, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria Concepción Galera Padilla
- Home Care Program, Support Team, PADES Granollers, Vallès Oriental Primary Health Care Services, Catalan Institute of Health, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Susana Martin Moreno
- Home Care Program, Support Team, PADES Granollers, Vallès Oriental Primary Health Care Services, Catalan Institute of Health, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Emilio Martínez-Losada
- Home Care Program, Support Team, PADES Granollers, Vallès Oriental Primary Health Care Services, Catalan Institute of Health, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Ana Isabel López-Garcia
- Home Care Program, Support Team, PADES Granollers, Vallès Oriental Primary Health Care Services, Catalan Institute of Health, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pere Torán-Monserrat
- Multidisciplinary Research Group on Health and Society (GREMSAS), Barcelona, Spain
- Metropolitan Nord Unit of Research Support, University Institute of Research in Primary Care (IDIAP) Jordi Gol, Barcelona, Spain
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Tarberg AS, Kvangarsnes M, Hole T, Thronæs M, Madssen TS, Landstad BJ. Silent voices: Family caregivers' narratives of involvement in palliative care. Nurs Open 2019; 6:1446-1454. [PMID: 31660172 PMCID: PMC6805263 DOI: 10.1002/nop2.344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2019] [Revised: 06/06/2019] [Accepted: 07/01/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM To explore how family caregivers experience involvement in palliative care. DESIGN A qualitative design with a narrative approach was used. METHODS Purposive sampling and narrative interviews were conducted. Eleven bereaved family caregivers for patients with cancer receiving palliative care were interviewed in Mid-Norway between November 2016-May 2017. RESULTS We identified four themes related to family caregivers' experiences of involvement in the early, middle, terminal and bereavement phases of palliative care: (a) limited involvement in the early phase; (b) emphasis on patient-centred care in the middle phase; (c) lack of preparation for the dying phase; and (d) lack of systematic follow-up after death. Family caregivers experienced low level of involvement throughout the palliative pathway. CONCLUSION The involvement of family caregivers in palliative care may not be proportional to their responsibilities. The needs of family caregivers should be addressed in nursing education to give nurses competence to support family caregivers in providing home-based care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anett Skorpen Tarberg
- Helse Møre og Romsdal Hospital TrustÅlesundNorway
- European Palliative Care Research Centre (PRC), Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health SciencesNorwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)TrondheimNorway
| | - Marit Kvangarsnes
- Helse Møre og Romsdal Hospital TrustÅlesundNorway
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Institute of Health Sciences ÅlesundNorwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)ÅlesundNorway
| | - Torstein Hole
- Helse Møre og Romsdal Hospital TrustÅlesundNorway
- Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medicine and Health SciencesNorwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)TrondheimNorway
| | - Morten Thronæs
- European Palliative Care Research Centre (PRC), Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health SciencesNorwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)TrondheimNorway
- Cancer Clinic, St. Olav HospitalTrondheim University HospitalTrondheimNorway
| | - Torfinn Støve Madssen
- Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medicine and Health SciencesNorwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)TrondheimNorway
| | - Bodil J. Landstad
- Department of Health SciencesMid Sweden UniversityÖstersundSweden
- Levanger HospitalNord‐Trøndelag Hospital TrustLevangerNorway
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Oechsle K. Current Advances in Palliative & Hospice Care: Problems and Needs of Relatives and Family Caregivers During Palliative and Hospice Care-An Overview of Current Literature. Med Sci (Basel) 2019; 7:medsci7030043. [PMID: 30871105 PMCID: PMC6473856 DOI: 10.3390/medsci7030043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2018] [Revised: 03/01/2019] [Accepted: 03/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Palliative and hospice care aims to improve quality of life of patients’ relatives, but still little is known about their specific problems and needs. We present a comprehensive literature update. Narrative review to present an expert overview of peer-reviewed, English-written original research publications and reviews on psychosocial and existential problems, supportive needs as well as interventions for relatives during the patients’ disease trajectory published between January 2017 and November 2018. A total of 64 publications were included. Relatives report high rates of psychological and existential distress, burden and psychological morbidity during the total disease trajectory of the patient. In addition, relatives report an alarmingly high number of unmet needs with information being the central issue. Relatives’ problems and needs are part of complex systems influenced by various socio-demographic factors and patient–relatives-interactions and dependency between different psychological phenomena. First support interventions for relatives during disease trajectory have proven feasible and secondary data from randomized studies suggest beneficial effects of providing early palliative care also for relatives. Relatives should be addressed to a still larger extent in the daily practice of palliative and hospice care, thus further research to reveal more detailed systematic information is needed to improve relatives’ psychological burden and quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karin Oechsle
- Palliative Care Unit, Department of Oncology, Hematology and BMT, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany.
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Bush RA, Pérez A, Baum T, Etland C, Connelly CD. A systematic review of the use of the electronic health record for patient identification, communication, and clinical support in palliative care. JAMIA Open 2018; 1:294-303. [PMID: 30842998 PMCID: PMC6398614 DOI: 10.1093/jamiaopen/ooy028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives Globally, healthcare systems are using the electronic health record (EHR) and elements of clinical decision support (CDS) to facilitate palliative care (PC). Examination of published results is needed to determine if the EHR is successfully supporting the multidisciplinary nature and complexity of PC by identifying applications, methodology, outcomes, and barriers of active incorporation of the EHR in PC clinical workflow. Methods A systematic review using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The data sources PubMed, CINAL, EBSCOhost, and Academic Search Premier were used to identify literature published 1999–2017 of human subject peer-reviewed articles in English containing original research about the EHR and PC. Results The search returned 433 articles, 30 of which met inclusion criteria. Most studies were feasibility studies or retrospective cohort analyses; one study incorporated prospective longitudinal mixed methods. Twenty-three of 30 (77%) were published after 2014. The review identified five major areas in which the EHR is used to support PC. Studies focused on CDS to: identify individuals who could benefit from PC; electronic advanced care planning (ACP) documentation; patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) such as rapid, real-time pain feedback; to augment EHR PC data capture capabilities; and to enhance interdisciplinary communication and care. Discussion Beginning in 2015, there was a proliferation of articles about PC and EHRs, suggesting increasing incorporation of and research about the EHR with PC. This review indicates the EHR is underutilized for PC CDS, facilitating PROMs, and capturing ACPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth A Bush
- Beyster Institute of Nursing Research, Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science, University of San Diego, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Alexa Pérez
- Beyster Institute of Nursing Research, Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science, University of San Diego, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Tanja Baum
- Beyster Institute of Nursing Research, Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science, University of San Diego, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Caroline Etland
- Beyster Institute of Nursing Research, Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science, University of San Diego, San Diego, California, USA.,Education, Department of Research and Professional Practice, Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center, Sharp Healthcare System San Diego, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Cynthia D Connelly
- Beyster Institute of Nursing Research, Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science, University of San Diego, San Diego, California, USA
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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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