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Washington KT, Van Vleck ML, Becker TD, Demiris G, Oliver DP, Tatum PE, Benson JJ, Cagle JG. Adapting an Intervention to Address Barriers to Pain Management in Hospice: Formative Research to Inform EMPOWER-D for Dementia Caregivers. Palliat Med Rep 2024; 5:238-246. [PMID: 39044760 PMCID: PMC11262577 DOI: 10.1089/pmr.2024.0024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Nearly half of more than 1.7 million older Americans who receive hospice care each year have a primary or comorbid diagnosis of dementia. Pain is often undertreated in this patient population owing to myriad factors, including unmet informational needs among family caregivers. Objective We sought to inform the adaptation of a pain education intervention for hospice family caregivers to the context of dementia by eliciting feedback on the educational content covered in adapted intervention materials. Design We conducted a multimethod, formative research study to inform the adaptation of an existing, evidence-based intervention. Setting/Subjects The study included a purposively recruited sample (n = 33) of hospice professionals (n = 18) and family caregivers (n = 15) from across the United States. Measurements Participants quantitatively rated the importance of each of the eight pain concerns presented in the adapted intervention materials (1 = not important to 3 = very important) and provided qualitative feedback via Zoom interview on the acceptability, clinical accuracy, and potential benefits of the adapted content. We analyzed quantitative data via descriptive statistics and qualitative data via content analysis. Results Participants rated the adapted educational content as highly important (rangemean = 2.56-3.00), particularly regarding concerns about caregivers' pain assessment, communicating with the hospice team about pain, and addressing misinformation regarding pain medication outcomes. Participants also provided suggestions to strengthen specific educational messages to improve comprehension and uptake. Conclusions Findings support the continued development and testing of the adapted intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karla T. Washington
- Division of Palliative Medicine, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Morgan L. Van Vleck
- The Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Todd D. Becker
- Department of Surgery, Division of Public Health Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - George Demiris
- Department of Biobehavioral Health Sciences, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Debra Parker Oliver
- Division of Palliative Medicine, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish College, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Paul E. Tatum
- Division of Palliative Medicine, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Department of Veterans Affairs, VA St. Louis Health Care System, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Jacquelyn J. Benson
- Division of Palliative Medicine, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - John G. Cagle
- University of Maryland School of Social Work, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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Becqué YN, Rietjens JAC, van der Heide A, Witkamp E. Failed implementation of a nursing intervention to support family caregivers: An evaluation study using Normalization Process Theory. J Adv Nurs 2024. [PMID: 38884574 DOI: 10.1111/jan.16261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
AIM To evaluate the failed implementation of the Carer Support Needs Assessment Tool Intervention for family caregivers in end-of-life care, within a trial context using Normalization Process Theory (NPT). DESIGN An evaluation study was conducted to learn lessons from our trial, which was not successful due to the low number of participants. The evaluation study utilized various data sources, including published data from interviews and questionnaires, and unpublished data derived from emails and conversation notes. METHODS Data were retrospectively collected. Thematic analysis was conducted guided by the NPT framework. This framework emphasizes that successful implementation of an intervention relies on its 'normalization', consisting of four constructs: coherence, cognitive participation, collective action and reflexive monitoring. RESULTS Coherence (sense making): Nurses felt the intervention could contribute to their competence in assessing family caregivers' needs, but some were unsure how it differed from usual practice. Cognitive participation (relational work): Nurse champions played a crucial role in building a community of practice. However, sustaining this community was challenging due to staff turnover and shortages. Collective action (work done to enable the intervention): Nurses felt the Carer Support Needs Assessment Tool training enabled them to improve their support of family caregivers. However, contextual factors complicated implementation, such as being used to a patient rather than a family-focused approach and a high workload. Reflexive monitoring (appraisal of the intervention): Positive experiences of the nurses with the intervention motivated them to implement it. However, the research context made nurses hesitant to recruit family caregivers because of the potential burden of participation. CONCLUSION Although the intervention demonstrated potential to assist nurses in providing tailored support to family caregivers, its integration into daily practice was not optimal. Contextual factors, such as a patient-focused approach to care and the research context, hampered normalization of the intervention. IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION AND/OR PATIENT CARE Assessing and considering contextual factors that may influence implementation of a complex care intervention is needed. The NPT provided a valuable framework for evaluating the implementation process in our study. IMPACT What problem did the study address? This evaluation study analysed the factors that promoted or hindered the implementation of a nursing intervention to support family caregivers in end-of-life care. What were the main findings? Both the intervention and the intervention training have potential and value for nurses in providing tailored support to family caregivers. However, the implementation faced challenges due to organizational factors and the research context, including recruitment. Where and on whom will the research have an impact? This insight is valuable for all stakeholders involved in implementing complex nursing interventions, including researchers, nurses and funders. REPORTING METHOD This study has adhered to the relevant EQUATOR guidelines: Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research (SRQR). PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION There was no patient or public involved. TRIAL REGISTRATION The trial was prospectively registered on the Dutch Trial Register (NL7702).
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Affiliation(s)
- Yvonne N Becqué
- Research Centre Innovations in Care, Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Judith A C Rietjens
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Design, Organisation and Strategy, Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Agnes van der Heide
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Erica Witkamp
- Research Centre Innovations in Care, Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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Midlöv EM, Lindberg T, Skär L. Relative's suggestions for improvements in support from health professionals before and after a patient's death in general palliative care at home: A qualitative register study. Scand J Caring Sci 2024; 38:358-367. [PMID: 38258965 DOI: 10.1111/scs.13239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The efforts of relatives in providing palliative care (PC) at home are important. Relatives take great responsibility, face many challenges and are at increased risk of poor physical and mental health. Support for these relatives is important, but they often do not receive the support they need. When PC is provided at home, the support for relatives before and after a patient's death must be improved. This study aimed to describe relatives' suggestions to improve the support from health professionals (HPs) before and after a patient's death in general PC at home. METHODS This study had a qualitative descriptive design based on the data from open-ended questions in a survey collected from the Swedish Register of Palliative Care. The respondents were adult relatives involved in general PC at home across Sweden. The textual data were analysed using thematic analysis. RESULTS The analysis identified four themes: (1) seeking increased access to HPs, (2) needing enhanced information, (3) desiring improved communication and (4) requesting individual support. CONCLUSIONS It is important to understand and address how the support to relatives may be improved to reduce the unmet needs of relatives. The findings of this study offer some concrete suggestions for improvement on ways to support relatives. Further research should focus on tailored support interventions so that HPs can provide optimal support for relatives before and after a patient's death when PC is provided at home.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elina Mikaelsson Midlöv
- Department of Health, Faculty of Engineering, Blekinge Institute of Technology, Karlskrona, Sweden
- Department of Care Science, Faculty of Health and Society, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Terese Lindberg
- Department of Health, Faculty of Engineering, Blekinge Institute of Technology, Karlskrona, Sweden
| | - Lisa Skär
- Faculty of Health Science, Kristianstad University, Kristianstad, Sweden
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Kasdorf A, Voltz R, Strupp J. Dying at home: What is needed? Findings from a nationwide retrospective cross-sectional online survey of bereaved people in Germany. Palliat Support Care 2024:1-9. [PMID: 38533612 DOI: 10.1017/s1478951524000440] [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: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES According to the "Last Year of Life in Cologne" study, 68% of patients with a serious and terminal illness wanted to die at home, but 42% died in hospital. Only 1 in 5 died at home. Most people want to spend their last days and hours at home, but the reality is that this is not always possible. Recommendations are needed on how best to support families to enable people to die at home - if this is their preferred place of death. Our aim was to identify the factors that make it possible for people to die at home and to analyze factors of dying at home. METHODS Germany-wide quantitative cross-sectional online survey of bereaved adult relatives. RESULTS The needs of 320 relatives of patients who wished to die at home were explored. Of these, 198 patients died at home and 122 did not. In the last 3 months of life, caregivers needed support in managing out-of-hours care (p < 0.001), financing (p = 0.012), preparing and organizing home care (both p < 0.001), communicating with the patient and medical staff (p = 0.012 and p = 0.009, respectively), and pain management (p < 0.001). Relatives whose next of kin did not die at home had higher needs, suggesting that these factors are key to home care of the dying. SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS The process of dying at home begins long before the actual dying phase. To minimize caregiver burden and improve symptom management, advanced home care plans are needed, with ongoing reassessment of family preferences and abilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alina Kasdorf
- Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department of Palliative Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Raymond Voltz
- Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department of Palliative Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Center for Health Services Research, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Dusseldorf (CIO ABCD), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Julia Strupp
- Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department of Palliative Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
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Leclerc-Loiselle J, Gendron S, Daneault S. Nursing activities for health promotion in palliative home care: an integrative review. Palliat Care Soc Pract 2024; 18:26323524241235191. [PMID: 38487793 PMCID: PMC10938613 DOI: 10.1177/26323524241235191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Palliative care in community contexts is undergoing significant change as a result of public policy and new models of care, which link health promotion principles with palliative care practices. These models support the creation of partnerships between formal care structures and the communities in which care is provided. Given the central role of nurses in the institutional delivery of palliative care, particularly in the home, it is important to provide a systematic description of the activities of nurses that fall within the principles of health promotion. The objective was to describe the diverse range of nursing activities for health promotion that are provided in the palliative home care setting. This is an integrative review. Fifty-five studies listed in the MEDLINE, CINAHL and EMBASE databases, and published between 1999 and December 2022, were identified. Data analysis and presentation of the results were guided by Kellehear's Health-Promoting Palliative Care (HPPC) model. Six themes were identified to describe nursing activities for health promotion in the context of palliative home care: creating a meaningful relationship, supplying medical information, promoting self-care throughout the trajectory, providing emotional support, involving professional or community services and supporting change. The findings point to nurses focusing more on the individual context and on direct care. The relationship with communities in which they work remains unidirectional. However, some HPPC principles are relevant to nursing activities through the contextualization of nurses' actions and their moral responsibility to work towards the respect of patient's values. Being poorly described, how nurses can truly engage their practice towards health-promoting principles, such as the enhancement of support and control over their lives for people living with serious illness, still requires further empirical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jérôme Leclerc-Loiselle
- School of Nursing, Université de Sherbrooke, 150, Pl. Charles-Le Moyne, L1-7730, Longueuil, QC J4K 0A8, Canada
- Faculty of Nursing, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Réseau québécois de recherche en soins palliatifs et de fin de vie (RQSPAL), Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Sylvie Gendron
- Faculty of Nursing, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Serge Daneault
- Department of Family and Emergency Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Research centre of Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Integrated University Health and Social Services Centre of Centre-Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada Réseau québécois de recherche en soins palliatifs et de fin de vie (RQSPAL), Québec, QC, Canada
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Abbaszadeh R, Jabbarzadeh Tabrizi F, Seyedrasooli A, Ghahramanian A, Bagheriyeh F, Dickens G. A Cross-Sectional Comparative Study of Nurses' and Family Members' Perceptions on Priority and Satisfaction in Meeting the Needs of Family Members at the Emergency Department. J Emerg Nurs 2024; 50:215-224. [PMID: 37978980 DOI: 10.1016/j.jen.2023.10.003] [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: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Family members experience considerable physiological, psychological, and emotional pressure when accompanying a critically ill relative in the emergency department. The culture and context of care influence the needs of the family, and a thorough understanding of these needs by health care professionals is essential to providing patient- and family-centered care. This study aimed to compare nurses' and family members' perceptions of the priorities of family member needs and their satisfaction with meeting those needs in the emergency department. METHODS A comparative, cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted. Participants were 140 family members of patients receiving care and 122 nurses working in the emergency department in hospitals of Tabriz University of Medical Science, in Iran. The data were collected through Critical Care Family Needs Inventory-ED and analyzed with SPSS Statistics software. RESULTS Family members rated their care needs as significantly greater than did nurses (129.45 [31.5] vs 124.45 [24.8], P = .003). Families rated their needs as having been met significantly less than the nurses estimated (103.6 [17.6] vs 110.8 [19.61], P < .05). DISCUSSION The perceived importance of the patient's family's needs differed from the viewpoints of the patient's family members and the nurses. In addition, emergency nurses overestimated the extent to which family members' needs were met compared with family members. To more adequately gauge and meet the needs of family members, nurses need to acquire more knowledge about patient family needs in the emergency department.
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Che SL, Leong SM, Lau WS, Tam KI. Reliability and Validation Study of Advance Care Planning Practice Scale among Health and Social Care Professionals. Healthcare (Basel) 2024; 12:200. [PMID: 38255087 PMCID: PMC10815370 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12020200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 12/31/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Advance care planning (ACP) is a crucial process in clinical practice, enabling individuals to articulate their care preferences and goals, with significant implications for future healthcare. However, ACP practice of health and social care professionals (HSCPs) concerning patients, or their family members are rarely explored. The objective of the study was to adapt and validate a four-item scale assessing ACP practices of HSCPs toward patients or their family members. The ACP Practice Scale was evaluated through a cross-sectional online survey administered to HSCPs in Macao, assessing its factor structure, validity, and reliability. Based on a sample of 186 valid responses, the ACP Practice Scale demonstrated satisfactory levels of validity and reliability among HSPCs in Macao. The four-item scale explained 65.87% of the variance in ACP practice and exhibited strong internal consistency, with Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega coefficients of 0.82. Furthermore, item factor loadings ranged from 0.71 to 0.90. The ACP Practice Scale provides reliable and valid measurements of ACP practice among HSCPs. This instrument can help to enhance our understanding of ACP practices in clinical settings and support the advancement of advance care planning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sok-Leng Che
- Nursing and Health Education Research Centre, Kiang Wu Nursing College of Macau, Macao SAR, China;
| | - Sok-Man Leong
- Education Department, Kiang Wu Nursing College of Macau, Macao SAR, China;
| | - Wing-Sze Lau
- Lar de Cuidados de Ká Hó da Federação das Associações dos Operários de Macau, Estr. de Nossa Sra. de Ka Ho, Macao SAR, China
| | - Kuai-In Tam
- Education Department, Kiang Wu Nursing College of Macau, Macao SAR, China;
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Sørstrøm AK, Ludvigsen MS, Kymre IG. Home care nurses facilitating planned home deaths. A focused ethnography. BMC Palliat Care 2023; 22:175. [PMID: 37940911 PMCID: PMC10634003 DOI: 10.1186/s12904-023-01303-4] [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: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Home care nurses provide complex palliative care for patients who want to die in their own homes. This study aimed to explore home care nurses' facilitation of planned home death to better understand nursing practices. METHODS Data were collected between March 2019 and March 2020 using participant observations and semi-structured interviews. In addition, the number of planned home deaths was recorded. The analysis was guided by Roper and Shapira`s framework on focused ethnography. RESULTS Twenty home care nurses (three men) in eight home care areas in two Norwegian municipalities met the inclusion criteria. Eight home deaths were registered, seven participatory observations were performed, and 20 semi-structured interviews were completed. Home care nurses find facilitating planned home deaths to be rewarding work, to the point of going above and beyond. At the same time, they describe facilitating planned home deaths as demanding work due to organizational stressors such as staff shortages, heavy workloads, and time restraints. While they tend to patients' needs, they also express concern for the wellbeing of the next of kin. They find it challenging to juggle the needs of the patients with the needs of next of kin, as these are not always correlated. CONCLUSION Home care nurses are pushing the boundaries of their practice when facilitating planned home deaths while compensating for a fragile system by going above and beyond for patients and their next of kin. Providing insights into the work of home care nurses providing palliative care in patients' homes can impact recruiting and retaining nurses in the workforce and influence local practices and policies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mette Spliid Ludvigsen
- Faculty of Nursing and Health Sciences, Nord University, Bodø, Norway
- Department of Clinical Medicine - Randers Regional Hospital, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
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Wu YH, Hsieh HY, Kuo YL, Wu CY. The experiences and needs of nurses providing home-based palliative care: A qualitative meta-synthesis. J Palliat Care 2023; 38:490-502. [PMID: 35642265 DOI: 10.1177/08258597221105167] [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] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Objective(s): We conducted a qualitative meta-synthesis of qualitative studies on nurses' experiences when caring for palliative patients to (1) identify the needs of nurses and (2) describe their experiences to provide more in-depth information. Methods: Qualitative articles published in English from 2000 to 2022 were identified from several databases through a searching strategy. Authors screened through the title, abstract, and full text of relevant studies. Articles were read repeatedly and discussed. The thematic analysis methodology was adopted to analyze the data. Results: Of 967 articles, 22 were included in our review. Notions reflecting community nurses providing palliative home care were clustered into four themes: (1) nature of community-based palliative nursing, (2) teamwork, (3) relationship with patient and family, and (4) resources. Findings also suggest establishing a sound support system, strengthening palliative education, and creating more decisive referral criteria and systems. Conclusions: The growing need for palliative home care has become challenging for community health care systems. Our study summarized various aspects of nurses providing home-based palliative care. The findings provide information for health care and education settings to improve home care systems and recruit more staff to meet the needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Hsuan Wu
- Department of Family Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung,Taiwan
| | - Hui-Ya Hsieh
- Department of Specialist Nurse and Surgical Nurse Practitioner Office, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung,Taiwan
| | - Yu-Ling Kuo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung,Taiwan
| | - Chien-Yi Wu
- Department of Family Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung,Taiwan
- Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung,Taiwan
- Research Center for Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung,Taiwan
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Mikaelsson Midlöv E, Lindberg T, Sterner T, Skär L. Support given by health professionals before and after a patient's death to relatives involved in general palliative care at home in Sweden: Findings from the Swedish Register of Palliative Care. Palliat Support Care 2023:1-8. [PMID: 37746762 DOI: 10.1017/s1478951523001323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES General palliative care (PC) is provided more at home, leading to increased involvement of relatives. Although support for relatives is a fundamental component of PC, there are deficiencies in the support provided to relatives when general PC is provided at home. This study aimed to describe the support provided by health professionals before and after a patient's death to relatives involved in general PC at home. METHODS A cross-sectional register study was implemented, with data from the Swedish Register of Palliative care. The sample consisted of 160 completed surveys from relatives who had been involved in general PC at home, with 160 related surveys answered by health professionals. Only the questions about support to relatives were used from the surveys. RESULTS The findings showed that although many relatives appear to receive support in general PC at home, not all relatives receive optimal support before or after a patient's death. The findings also indicated differences in whether relatives received some support before and after a patient's death depending on the type of relative. There were also differences in responses between health professionals and relatives regarding if relatives received counseling from a doctor about whether the patient was dying. SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS There is potential for improvements regarding support for relatives, especially after a patient's death, which has been confirmed in previous studies. The differences in whether relatives received support before and after a patient's death depending on the type of relative highlight the need for future research on how to support different types of relatives before and after a patient's death when general PC is provided at home.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elina Mikaelsson Midlöv
- Faculty of Engineering, Department of Health, Blekinge Institute of Technology, Karlskrona, Sweden
- Faculty of Health and Society, Department of Care Science, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Terese Lindberg
- Faculty of Engineering, Department of Health, Blekinge Institute of Technology, Karlskrona, Sweden
| | - Therese Sterner
- Faculty of Health and Society, Department of Care Science, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Lisa Skär
- Faculty of Engineering, Department of Health, Blekinge Institute of Technology, Karlskrona, Sweden
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Larocque S, Rietze L, Heale R. Helping the helpers: Understanding information and support needs of caregivers in underserved communities. DEATH STUDIES 2023; 48:361-370. [PMID: 37427573 DOI: 10.1080/07481187.2023.2230551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
Informal caregivers caring for patients at the end of life in rural geographic areas may have inadequate support due to insufficient community-based palliative care services. We conducted a parallel mixed-methods study to understand informal caregivers' unmet supportive, educational, and informational needs living in rural areas with limited community-based palliative care services. Forty-four caregivers of loved ones that died at home between December 2017 and September 2020 completed the Carer Support Needs Assessment Tool (CSNAT) and 14 caregivers were interviewed. Using a parallel mixed analysis, results showed that caregiver distress was associated with unmet information needs about how to accurately assess and manage pain levels and identify signs and symptoms of end-of-life. Caregivers needed more support related to available, knowledgeable, and well-trained home health care providers, accessible equipment, 24-hour respite care, accessible grief counseling, and a central triage contact number for community support.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvie Larocque
- School of Nursing, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lori Rietze
- School of Nursing, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
| | - Roberta Heale
- School of Nursing, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
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Keyvanloo Shahrestanaki S, Rafii F, Ashghali Farahani M, Najafi Ghezeljeh T, Amrollah Majdabadi Kohne Z. Contributing factors involved in the safety of elderly people with chronic illness in home healthcare: a qualitative study. BMJ Open Qual 2023; 12:e002335. [PMID: 37451802 PMCID: PMC10351293 DOI: 10.1136/bmjoq-2023-002335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Patients receiving home care are often elderly people with chronic illnesses that increasingly experience patient safety barriers due to special care needs. OBJECTIVE The present study was conducted to determine the factors involved in the safety of elderly patients with chronic illnesses receiving home care. METHODS A qualitative study with a conventional content analysis method was conducted in home care agencies of Tehran, Iran from August 2020 to July 2022. For data generation, semistructured interviews were conducted with 11 nurses, 2 nurse assistants, 1 home care inspector (an expert working at the deputy of treatment) and 3 family caregivers. Moreover, four observational sessions were also held. Data analysis was done using the five-step Graneheim and Lundman method. RESULTS According to the results, the facilitators of the safety of the elderly patients with chronic illnesses included the family's participation, nurse's competence, efficiency of the home care agency management and patient's participation in patient safety. The barriers to patient safety included problems created by the family, nurse's incompetence, inefficiency of the home care agency, patient's prevention of patient safety, home care setting limitations and health system limitations. CONCLUSION The majority of the factors involved in the safety of elderly patients with chronic diseases receiving home care had dual roles and could serve as a double-edged sword to guarantee or hinder patient safety. Identification of the facilitators and barriers can assist nurses and the healthcare system in planning and implementing patient safety improvement programmes for elderly patients with chronic illnesses.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Forough Rafii
- Professor, Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Iran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mansoureh Ashghali Farahani
- Professor, Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Iran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
| | - Tahereh Najafi Ghezeljeh
- Professor, Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Iran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
- Professor, Cardiovascular Nursing Research Center, Rajai Cardiovascular Medical and Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Hoffstädt HE, Boogaard JA, Tam MC, van Bodegom-Vos L, Stoppelenburg A, Hartog ID, van der Linden YM, van der Steen JT. Practice of Supporting Family Caregivers of Patients with Life-Threatening Diseases: A Two-phase Study Among Healthcare Professionals. Am J Hosp Palliat Care 2023; 40:633-643. [PMID: 36436831 PMCID: PMC10240656 DOI: 10.1177/10499091221123006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Although support for family caregivers is an essential component of palliative care, routine provision of such support is often lacking. To improve support for family caregivers, we assessed current practice and influencing factors as perceived by healthcare professionals. Methods: A two-phase study was conducted including a survey exploring healthcare professionals' practice of supporting family caregivers in Western urbanized Netherlands in 2017, and focus groups exploring facilitators and barriers to supporting family caregivers in 2018. Focus group data were thematically analyzed with deductive coding based on the COM-B system. Results: Of the 379 survey respondents (response 11%), 374 were eligible (physicians, 28%; nurses, 64%; nurse assistants, 9%). The respondents practiced in academic hospitals (52%), general hospitals (31%), nursing homes (11%) and hospices (5%). They reported to always (38%), most of the time (37%), sometimes (21%) or never (5%) provide support to family caregivers during the illness trajectory. Respondents reported to always (28%), sometimes (39%), or never (33%) provide support after death. Four focus group discussions with 22 healthcare professionals elicited motivational facilitators and barriers to supporting family caregivers (e.g., relationship with family caregivers, deriving satisfaction from supporting them), and factors related to capability (e.g., (lacking) conversational skills, knowledge) and opportunity (e.g., (un)availability of protocols and time). Conclusions: Support for family caregivers, especially after the patient's death, is not systematically integrated in working procedures of healthcare professionals. The barriers and facilitators identified in this study can inform the development of an intervention aiming to enhance support for family caregivers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hinke E. Hoffstädt
- Center of Expertise of Palliative Care, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Jannie A. Boogaard
- Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Marcella C. Tam
- Center of Expertise of Palliative Care, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Leti van Bodegom-Vos
- Biomedical Data Sciences, Section Medical Decision Making, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Arianne Stoppelenburg
- Center of Expertise of Palliative Care, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organization (IKNL), Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Iris D. Hartog
- Center of Expertise of Palliative Care, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organization (IKNL), Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Yvette M. van der Linden
- Center of Expertise of Palliative Care, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organization (IKNL), Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jenny T. van der Steen
- Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Primary and Community Care, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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Tawil Y, Bodas M, Shaulov A, Ziv A, Kaplan G, Velan B. Agencies Displayed by Patients, Medical Teams, and Caregivers at the End of Life from the Perspectives of Family Members - A Qualitative Study. OMEGA-JOURNAL OF DEATH AND DYING 2023:302228231166736. [PMID: 36989510 DOI: 10.1177/00302228231166736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
Background: End-of-life (EoL) Care is challenging for terminally-ill patients and their caregivers. This research is aimed to examine the relational agencies of the patients, the caregivers, and the medical teams in the context of EoL care, with a particular emphasis on the caregivers. Methods: This study is based on the qualitative analysis of interviews with 12 individuals who were closely supported a loved one to their death from a terminal illness. Results: Information collected revealed several agency-related themes. Family caregivers are significant entities in managing the 'case' of a seriously ill individual. At the final or more advanced stages of the EoL process, caregivers gradually shift from a supportive role to being active agents, but not always backed by the necessary experience, knowledge, or the requisite emotional resilience. Conclusions: Based on recognizing their agentic proactivity, a clear and elaborate articulation of the family caregivers' roles is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoel Tawil
- The Gertner Institute for Epidemiology and Health Policy Research, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
| | - Moran Bodas
- The Gertner Institute for Epidemiology and Health Policy Research, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
- The Department of Emergency and Disaster Management, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Adir Shaulov
- Department of Hematology, Hadassah Medical Center and Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Arnona Ziv
- The Gertner Institute for Epidemiology and Health Policy Research, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
| | - Giora Kaplan
- The Gertner Institute for Epidemiology and Health Policy Research, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
| | - Baruch Velan
- The Gertner Institute for Epidemiology and Health Policy Research, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
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Konlan KD, Im S, Afaya A. End of life decisions and preference of place of death among geriatric and chronic disease patients: A scoping review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NURSING STUDIES ADVANCES 2022; 4:100108. [PMID: 38745625 PMCID: PMC11080430 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijnsa.2022.100108] [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: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Geriatric and chronic disease patients and families consider the nature, time, and place of death because issues related to the end of life are rarely discussed. This study assessed the end of life decisions and preferences among geriatric and chronic disease patients. Methods There was an in-depth search in five electronic databases (PubMed Central, CINAHL, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus) using the population, concept, and context, framework. A matrix was developed, discussed, accepted, and used for data extraction. Convergent synthesis and thematic data analysis technique were adopted for the analysis. The reporting of findings was done in accordance with the JBI and PRISMA guidelines for reviews. Results From the data analysis, home-based end of life care was intuitive and included home visits, telephone follow-up, and patient-initiated services. The key themes that emerged from our analysis that sought to influence end end of life decisions were 1) approach to home-based end of life care, 2) patient and family characteristics, 3) clinical characteristics of the patient, 4) health care provider factors, 5) satisfaction and care rendered to the patient and family, 6) family preference of the place of death, 7) collaboration between multidisciplinary teams of care, and 8) challenges associated with the home-based end of life care. The personal characteristics of the nurse (age, personal and work experience, nursing perspective, and competence) and conducting a home visit influenced patient and family end of life decision. Multidisciplinary care teams (nurses and palliative care specialists) were important in delivering effective end-of-life services. Conclusion To support patients in making informed decisions, they must be educated on expected outcomes and implications, adverse impacts of decisions, and the emotional influence on the bereaved family. It is important that divergent technological methods are leveraged to provide essential care to patients nearing the end of life at home. Advancing the quality of end of life care techniques through home visiting will improve the feeling of patients and families about the dying process. Tweetable abstracts End-of-life preferences warrants that, divergent technological methods are leveraged to provide care to patients nearing the end of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kennedy Diema Konlan
- Mo- Im Kim Nursing Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Nursing, 50-1, Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 03722, Korea
- Department of Public Health Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana
| | - Seah Im
- Sahmyook University, College of Nursing., 815, Hwarang-ro, Nowon-gu, Seoul, 01795, Korea
| | - Agani Afaya
- Yonsei University College of Nursing., 50-1, Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 03722, Korea
- Department Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana
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Ferragamo T, Pituch KJ, Sorkin T, Simon N, Lindley LC, Weaver MS. A Narrative Review of Pediatric Respite Care Initiatives in the United States. J Hosp Palliat Nurs 2022; 24:E172-E182. [PMID: 35470307 DOI: 10.1097/njh.0000000000000867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Families of children receiving palliative care depict lack of respite services as a top unmet need. Although the benefits of access to respite services are notable, little is known on a state-by-state basis about respite provision or funding. The study objective was to conduct a national evaluation of pediatric respite care programs to identify and describe how states provide and fund respite care for children. The study approach adhered to the Scale for the Assessment of Narrative Review Articles quality standards using multiple data sources including engagement with the existing literature, content analyses of public-facing websites, and conversations with 40 stakeholders from 15 states. States offered respite services in a variety of ways: Medicaid waivers used to fund respite care, state-funded programs that provide respite, and philanthropy-based respite facilities. This narrative review revealed the creativity involved in different settings to improve respite access, staffing, and reimbursement. Suggestions to address the unmet respite needs of families included establishing a respite home, improving Medicaid reimbursement, expanding Medicaid waiver eligibility, providing a respite benefit through Medicaid, implementing nursing workforce initiatives, and centralizing staffing databases.
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