The unmet needs of family members of patients with progressive neurological disease in the Czech Republic

In vitro models for neuropathic pain phenotypic screening in brain therapeutics

The discovery of brain therapeutics faces a significant challenge due to the low translatability of preclinical results into clinical success. To address this gap, several efforts have been made to obtain more translatable neuronal models for phenotypic screening. These models allow the selection of active compounds without predetermined knowledge of drug targets. In this review, we present an overview of various existing models within the field, examining their strengths and limitations, particularly in the context of neuropathic pain research. We illustrate the usefulness of these models through a comparative review in three crucial areas: i) the development of novel phenotypic screening strategies specifically for neuropathic pain, ii) the validation of the models for both primary and secondary screening assays, and iii) the use of the models in target deconvolution processes.

Informal care in Huntington's disease: Assessment of objective-subjective burden and its associated risk and protective factors

BACKGROUND

Because of the genetic transmission of Huntington's disease (HD), informal caregivers (ICs, i.e., non-professional caregivers) might experience consecutive and/or concurrent caregiving roles to support several symptomatic relatives with HD over their life. Additionally, some ICs might be HD carriers. However, whether family burden of care is associated with specific factors in HD remains poorly studied.

OBJECTIVE

To provide a quantitative view of the IC burden and identify associated factors.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional assessment of home-dwelling symptomatic HD individuals (from REGISTRY and Bio-HD studies) and their primary adult ICs, including the HD individual's motor, cognitive, behavioral, functional Unified Huntington's Disease Rating Scale score; IC objective burden (quantification of IC time in activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living and supervision, using the Resource Utilization in Dementia instrument), IC subjective burden (Zarit Burden Inventory), and ICs' social economic functioning and use of professional home care.

RESULTS

We included 80 ICs (mean [SD] age 57 [12.9] years, 60% women) in charge of 80 individuals with early to advanced stage HD (mean age 56 [12.6] years, 51% men). The mean hours of informal care time was high: 7.3 (7.9) h/day (range 0-24); the mean professional home care was 2.8 (2.8) h/day (range 0.1-12.3). This objective burden increased with higher functional loss of the HD individual and with more severe cognitive-behavioral disorders. The mean subjective burden (35.4 [17.8], range 4-73) showed a high level since the earliest stage of HD; it was associated with HD duration (mean 9.2 [4.7] years) and with aggressive symptoms in individuals (44% of cases). The burden was partially related to the multiplex caregiving status (19%). Protective factors lowering the IC burden included the absence of financial hardship (57%), a strong social network (16%) and keeping active on the job market outside home (46%).

CONCLUSIONS

The objective-subjective burden of ICs related to changing patterns of neuro-psychiatric symptoms and mitigating environmental characteristics around the HD individual-caregiver dyads.

What does it mean to be the main caregiver to a terminally ill family member in Lithuania?: A qualitative study

Introduction

Family caregivers are a great resource for providing dignified end-of-life care for terminally ill patients. Framed from the perspective of role theory and the relational nature of providing and receiving care, study objectives were as follows: (1) to capture caregivers’ understanding of the process of taking on the role of main caregiver, (2) to conceptualize their understanding of the functions that they assume while being the main caregivers, and (3) to understand how they experienced the consequences they confronted.

Methods

The research team employed the methodological strategy of descriptive thematic analysis using a semi-structured interview guide. The sample consisting of 33 family caregivers was recruited using purposeful and snowball sampling strategies in 2020. Interview data was analyzed using content-driven inductive thematic analysis.

Results

The data analysis revealed four main themes that structure the process of becoming the main care giver of a terminally ill family member and the meaning of the caregiver role: (1) inaccessibility and mistrust of public care services for persons with terminal illness, (2) moral obligations and responsibilities of immediate family and friends, (3) cultural traditions, (4) the caregiver feels responsible for everything. The themes describe the social role of family caregiver in social context, address the process of taking on the role of caregiver and living with systemic corruption.

Conclusions

Recognition of caregiving experiences is essential in planning better systems, in direct practice and in confronting corruption. The study suggests the need for open communication, accessibility of quality services, and the recognition of caregivers as care-team members. The larger implication is that the increasing numbers of distressed caregivers and aging populations can be considered as public health populations, and thus addressable through public health methods.

"Should WE Stand Together?": A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effectiveness of family-based interventions for adults with chronic physical diseases

Family support has been identified as an important factor for the psychological adjustment of patients with chronic physical conditions. This study aimed to systematically review and conduct a meta-analysis of studies comparing the effectiveness of family-based versus patient-oriented interventions for chronic physical conditions. The search was performed between April 12 and April 29, 2021, on Web of Science (all databases included), Scopus, PsycINFO, and CENTRAL. Thirteen RCTs were included. The results favored family-based interventions for various patient outcomes related to pain, distress, self-efficacy, social and emotional function, coping, the welfare of the domestic environment, capacity to mobilize social support, and sexual relationships with medium to large effect sizes (Cohen's d range: 0.45-0.90). This type of intervention also decreased family members' anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and distress, improving search and presence of meaning in life, social support, the support provided to the patient, and sexual relationships with medium to very large effect sizes (Cohen's d range: 0.58-2.76). The meta-analytical findings suggested that the patients' (k = 12, d = 0.34; 95% CI = 0.13-0.55, I²  = 74%, p < 0.01) and family members' (k = 4, d = 0.68; 95% CI = 0.08-1.27, I²  = 88%, p < 0.01) psychosocial outcomes significantly improved with family-based interventions compared with patient-oriented interventions. The meta-analysis of patients' self-efficacy showed a medium-size effect (d = 0.64; k = 3; I²  = 19%). The results suggest a trend toward the beneficial effects of family-based interventions, but more research is needed with higher quality RCTs to confirm this hypothesis.

Communication About End of Life for Patients Living With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Scoping Review of the Empirical Evidence

Background: Communication about end of life, including advance care planning, life-sustaining therapies, palliative care, and end-of-life options, is critical for the clinical management of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients. The empirical evidence base for this communication has not been systematically examined. Objective: To support evidence-based communication guidance by (1) analyzing the scope and nature of research on health communication about end of life for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; and (2) summarizing resultant recommendations. Methods: A scoping review of empirical literature was conducted following recommended practices. Fifteen health-related and three legal databases were searched; 296 articles were screened for inclusion/exclusion criteria; and quantitative data extraction and analysis was conducted on 211 articles with qualitative analysis on a subset of 110 articles that focused primarily on health communication. Analyses summarized article characteristics, themes, and recommendations. Results: Analysis indicated a multidisciplinary but limited evidence base. Most reviewed articles addressed end-of-life communication as a peripheral focus of investigation. Generic communication skills are important; however, substantive and sufficient disease-related information, including symptom management and assistive devices, is critical to discussions about end of life. Few articles discussed communication about specific end-of-life options. Communication recommendations in analyzed articles draw attention to communication processes, style and content but lack the systematized guidance needed for clinical practice. Conclusions: This review of primary research articles highlights the limited evidence-base and consequent need for systematic, empirical investigation to inform effective communication about end of life for those with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. This will provide a foundation for actionable, evidence-based communication guidelines about end of life. Implications for research, policy, and practice are discussed.

Informing patients with progressive neurological disease of their health status, and their adaptation to the disease

BACKGROUND

Progressive neurological diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, significantly interfere with patients' lives, and those of their families. The aim of the research was to establish whether the extent of the information on patients' health conditions, and the way patients learn this information from doctors affect their adaptation to chronic and progressive diseases.

METHODS

Qualitative methodology was used for a total of 52 participants (patients with progressive neurological diseases, their family members, and health and social workers). Data were collected using individual, in-depth interviews and focus groups. Analysis of data for interpretation, conceptualization, and re-integration was performed by open, axial, and selective coding.

RESULTS

It was determined that adequate information about patients' health status, and the use of coping strategies are related to their adaptation to their disease, and consequently, to their quality of life. The participants often considered the extent of the information provided, and the way they were informed to be inadequate. Receiving the diagnosis, the progression of the disease, and the end of life were found to be the most burdensome.

CONCLUSION

Our results show that Czech neurologist should develop better communication skills, particularly for informing patients with progressive neurological diseases. Open communication, emotional support, and support in selecting effective coping strategies can help patients adapt more readily to their disease, and improve their quality of life.