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Advance Care Planning In Cancer Patient - Caregiver Dyads, Natasha Michael

Theses

For many, a cancer diagnosis signals death's inevitability and elicits much existential concern. In the quest for life prolongation, many are offered or seek life-sustaining treatments, fail to appreciate a declining trajectory and lack the opportunity to seek information or plan meaningfully for their future.

Advance care planning (ACP) provides an avenue for patients and their caregivers to plan for future care. ACP is defined ‘as a process that supports adults at any age or stage of health in understanding and sharing their personal values, life goals and preferences regarding future medical care’ and is a key quality indicator in …

Nurses’ Perceptions Of Using Volunteer Support In Health Care Settings: A Systematic Scoping Review, Kate Crookes, Rosemary Saunders, Vivien Kemp, Olivia Gallagher, Manonita Ghosh, Caroline Bulsara, Karen Gullick, Bev O'Connell

IHR Papers and Journal Articles

Aims

To understand nurses’ perceptions of volunteer support in health care settings.

Background

Increasingly, volunteers provide specialised support to health care service users, requiring volunteers and nurses to work closely together. However, little is known about nurses’ perceptions of volunteer support.

Methods

A scoping review was conducted following the PRISMA-ScR checklist. A mixed-methods convergent integrative approach was taken guided by the JBI framework. Quantitative data were transformed into qualitative data for synthesis and descriptive thematic analysis. Six databases were searched (CINHAL+, EMBASE, PubMed, Scopus, PsycInfo, ProQuest Health and Medical Collection) on 24 January 2022 using terms related to nurses, perceptions, …

Effectiveness Of Online Communication Skills Training For Cancer And Palliative Care Health Professionals: A Systematic Review, Melissa N. Berg, Irene Ngune, Penelope Schofield, Lisa Grech, Ilona Juraskova, Michelle Strasser, Zoe Butt, Georgia K.B Halkett

Nursing Papers and Journal Articles

Objective: To determine the reported effect of online communication skills training (CST) on health professional (HP) communication skills and patient care outcomes in cancer and palliative care.

Methods: Primary research published in English between January 2003 and April 2019 was identified in bibliographic databases including Medline, Embase and Proquest (Prospero: CRD42018088681). An integrated mixed-method approach included studies describing a CST intervention and its effect, for cancer or palliative care HPs, delivered online or blended with an online component. Included studies' outcomes were categorised then findings were stratified by an evaluation framework and synthesised in an effect direction plot. Risk of …

Factors Influencing Nurse Spiritual Care Practices At The End Of Life: A Systematic Review, Rita Mascio, Megan Best, Sandra Lynch, Jane Phillips, Kate Jones

IES Papers and Journal Articles

Objectives: The aim was to identify determinants of nurse spiritual/existential care practices toward end-of-life patients. Nurses can play a significant role in providing spiritual/existential care, but they actually provide this care less frequently than desired by patients.

Methods: A systematic search was performed for peer-reviewed articles that reported factors that influenced nurses’ spiritual/existential care practices toward adult end-of-life patients.

Results: The review identified 42 studies and included the views of 4,712 nurses across a range of hospital and community settings. The most frequently reported factors/domains that influenced nurse practice were patient-related social influence, skills, social/professional role and identity, intentions …

Clinically Significant Depressive Symptoms Are Prevalent In People With Extremely Short Prognoses - A Systematic Review, Wei Lee, Marley Pulbrook, Caitlin Sheehan, Slavica Kochovska, Sungwon Chang, Annmarie Hosie, Elizabeth Lobb, Deborah Parker, Brian Draper, Meera R. Agar, David Currow

Nursing Papers and Journal Articles

Context: Currently, systematic evidence of prevalence of clinically significant depressive symptoms in people with extremely short prognoses is not available to inform its global burden, assessment, and management.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of clinically significant depressive symptoms in people with advanced life-limiting illnesses and extremely short prognoses (range of days to weeks).

Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis (random effects model) were performed (PROSPERO: CRD42019125119). MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and CareSearch were searched for studies (1994-2019). Data were screened for prevalence of clinically significant depressive symptoms (assessed using validated depression-specific screening tools or diagnostic criteria) of adults with advanced …

How Is Chaplaincy Marginalised-By Our Faith Communities And By Our Institutions And Can We Change It?, Jeffrey Cohen

Medical Papers and Journal Articles

This paper reviews the issues confronting chaplaincy/spiritual care in the 21st century. It looks at how faith communities are changing their view of chaplaincy as well how institutions respond. The paper looks at two qualitative studies and what can be learned from them in confronting the questions raised at the beginning. It concludes with the question of how the evidence base can be expanded to make chaplaincy/spiritual care more relevant over the next few years.

Physician-Assisted Suicide And Euthanasia: Emerging Issues From A Global Perspective, Charles L. Sprung, Margaret Somerville, Lukas Radbruch, Nathalie Steiner Collet, Gunnar Duttge, Jefferson P. Piva, Massimo Antonelli, Daniel P. Sulmasy, Willem Lemmens, E Wesley Ely

Medical Papers and Journal Articles

Medical professional societies have traditionally opposed physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia (PAS-E), but this opposition may be shifting. We present 5 reasons why physicians shouldn’t be involved in PAS-E. 1. Slippery slopes: There is evidence that safeguards in the Netherlands and Belgium are ineffective and violated, including administering lethal drugs without patient consent, absence of terminal illness, untreated psychiatric diagnoses, and nonreporting; 2. Lack of self-determination: Psychological and social motives characterize requests for PAS-E more than physical symptoms or rational choices; many requests disappear with improved symptom control and psychological support; 3. Inadequate palliative care: Better palliative care makes most patients …

Managing 'Shades Of Grey': A Focus Group Study Exploring Community-Dwellers’ Views On Advance Care Planning In Older People, N Michael, C O'Callaghan, E Sayers

Medical Papers and Journal Articles

Background: Community-dwelling consumers of healthcare are increasing, many aging with life-limiting conditions and deteriorating cognition. However, few have had advance care planning discussions or completed documentation to ensure future care preferences are acted upon. This study examines the awareness, attitudes, and experiences of advance care planning amongst older people and unrelated offspring/caregivers of older people residing in the community.

Methods: Qualitative descriptive research, which included focus groups with older people (55+ years) and older people’s offspring/caregivers living in an Australian city and surrounding rural region. Data was analysed using an inductive and comparative approach. Sampling was both convenience and purposive. …

“Life Within The Person Comes To The Fore”: Pastoral Workers’ Practice Wisdom On Using Arts In Palliative Care, Clare O'Callaghan, Libby Byrne, Eleni Cokalis, David Glenister, Margaret Santilli, Rose Clark, Therese Mccarthy, Natasha Michael

Medical Papers and Journal Articles

Background: Pastoral care (also chaplaincy, spiritual care) assists people to find meaning, personal resources, and connection with self, others, and/or a higher power. Although essential in palliative care, there remains limited examination of what pastoral workers do. This study examined how pastoral workers use and consider the usefulness of art-based modalities.

Methods: Qualitative research was used to examine the practice wisdom (tacit practice knowledge) of pastoral workers experienced in using visual arts and music in palliative care. Two focus groups were conducted. Thematic analysis was informed by grounded theory.

Results: Six pastoral workers shared information. Three themes emerged. First, pastoral …

The Impact Of The Carer Support Needs Assessment Tool (Csnat) In Community Palliative Care Using A Stepped Wedge Cluster Trial, Samar Aoun, Gunn Grande, Denise Howting, Kathleen Deas, Chris Toye, Lakkhina Troeung, Kelli Stajduhar, Gail Ewing

Medical Papers and Journal Articles

Family caregiving towards the end-of-life entails considerable emotional, social, financial and physical costs for caregivers. Evidence suggests that good support can improve caregiver psychological outcomes. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the impact of using the carer support needs assessment tool (CSNAT), as an intervention to identify and address support needs in end of life home care, on family caregiver outcomes. A stepped wedge design was used to trial the CSNAT intervention in three bases of Silver Chain Hospice Care in Western Australia, 2012-14. The intervention consisted of at least two visits from nurses (2-3 weeks apart) …