Reiki is often used but not well studied in children. Yet, this gentle, light-touch therapy promotes relaxation and is appropriate for those receiving palliative care. This quasi-experimental pre-post mixed-methods 1-group pilot study examined the feasibility and acceptability of Reiki therapy as a treatment for children aged 7 to 16 years receiving palliative care. During the study, we recorded recruitment, retention, data collection rates, and percent completion of the intervention. Structured interviews with the mothers and verbal children were conducted to elicit their experience. Qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Twenty-one parent-child dyads agreed to participate and signed consent, whereas 16 completed the study (including verbal [n = 8] and nonverbal [n = 8] children). Themes included “feeling better,” “hard to judge,” and “still going on.” Mothers and children were generally positive regarding the experience of receiving Reiki therapy. Children reported they “felt really relaxed,” and mothers stated, “It was a good experience” and “She was relaxed afterward.” The results of this pilot study show that Reiki was feasible, acceptable, and well-tolerated. Most participants reported it was helpful. Reiki therapy may be a useful adjunct with traditional medical management for symptoms in children receiving palliative care.
BACKGROUND: This study aims to measure the effect of guided imagery and hand massage on self-rated wellbeing and pain for palliative care patients.
METHODS: This study adopted a quasi-experimental one-group pre-test post-test design. The sample consisted of n = 20 adult palliative care patients who received one session of guided imagery and hand massage. Self-reported levels of wellbeing and pain were measured on a scale of 0-10 before and after the intervention. Results were analyzed using a one-tailed sign test in SPSS Software.
RESULTS: The intervention elicited a statistically significant improvement in self-reported levels of wellbeing (p = .029) and pain (p = .001). Feedback from participants showed the intervention was helpful and relaxing.
CONCLUSION: The intervention had an immediate positive effect on wellbeing and pain among palliative care patients. Considering the promising results of this pilot study, guided imagery and hand massage should be studied further in the palliative care setting.
Providing person-centred end-of-life care at home and in care homes during the COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging. These challenges extend beyond the interpersonal communication barriers created by wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) for infection control. Visors and facemasks make it harder to hear soft voice tones or read facial expressions, which are key tools in empathetic communication. Traditional models of care, based on predominantly face-to-face multidisciplinary clinical consultations, have been radically overhauled in the UK and other countries worse affected by the pandemic (Antunes et al, 2020; Costantini et al, 2020). The unprecedented rapid adoption of technology, including video and telehealth consultations, alongside virtual ward rounds and online team meetings, reduces infection risks and may have the advantage of enabling faster access to clinical advice (Powell et al, 2020). However, concerns that health professional home visits would reduce has led to an increased focus on care provision by family members, including, potentially, the administration of end-of-life care medications (Antunes et al, 2020; Johnson et al, 2020). The pandemic has imposed massive stress on care resources, and the changes in healthcare service delivery after COVID-19 look set to be substantial (Antunes et al, 2020; Kasaraneni, 2020). New models of care delivery have also created opportunities for nurses supporting people in community settings to develop their role and skills
BACKGROUND: Pastoral care in an acute hospital setting necessarily includes some bereavement support for families of patients who die. Termed universal bereavement support, an important component of such support is provision of educational information to assist bereaved people struggling with grief. This project aimed to understand, from the perspective of those attending, the value of providing a memorial service for remembering a loved one and whether the education provided at the service successfully met the requirement of a universal bereavement support strategy.
METHODS: A qualitative study, comprising a semistructured telephone interview with memorial service attendees was undertaken. Data were audio recorded, transcribed and analysed thematically.
RESULTS: Twenty-nine attendees participated. Three themes provided insights into attendees' perceptions. The first theme encapsulated the value of remembering and celebrating the life of the deceased; the second theme focused on 'finding our way through the grief process' including the value of the educational materials ; and the third theme identified appreciation for the hospital in providing care to those bereaved.
CONCLUSION: The memorial service provides a valued universal bereavement support strategy and such support strategies are an important part in the process of grieving for many attendees.
Oncology patients frequently use herbal and other forms of complementary medicine, often without the knowledge of oncologists, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals responsible for their care. Oncology healthcare professionals may lack the knowledge needed to guide their patients on the safe and effective use of herbal medicinal products, a number of which have potentially harmful effects, which include direct toxicity and negative herb-drug interactions. The current review addresses the prevalence and expectations of oncology patients from herbal medicine, as well as evidence for the beneficial or harmful effects of this practice (potential and actual), especially when the herbal products are used in conjunction with anticancer agents. Models of integrative oncology care are described, in which open and effective communication among oncologists, pharmacists, and integrative physicians on the use of herbal medicine by their patients occurs. This collaboration provides patients with a nonjudgmental and multidisciplinary approach to integrative medicine, echoing their own health-belief models of care during conventional cancer treatments. The role of the integrative physician is to facilitate this process, working with oncologists and pharmacists in the fostering of patient-centered palliative care, while ensuring a safe and effective treatment environment. Case scenario: W. is a 56 year old female artist who was recently diagnosed with localized hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. Following lumpectomy and sentinel node dissection, she is scheduled to begin adjuvant chemotherapy with a regimen which will include adriamycin, cyclophosphamide, and paclitaxel (AC-T protocol). She is worried about developing peripheral neuropathy and its impact on her ability to paint, and she asks about a number of dietary supplements which she heard could prevent this from happening: omega-3, vitamin E, alpha-lipoic acid, and acetyl-l-carnithine. She is concerned, however, that the supplements may negatively interact with her chemotherapy regimen.
Background: Hospital referral regions (HRRs) are often used to characterize inpatient referral patterns, but it is unknown how well these geographic regions are aligned with variation in Medicare-financed hospice care, which is largely provided at home.
Objective: Our objective was to characterize the variability in hospice use rates among elderly Medicare decedents by HRR and county.
Methods: Using 2014 Master Beneficiary File for decedents 65 and older from North and South Carolina, we applied Bayesian mixed models to quantify variation in hospice use rates explained by HRR fixed effects, county random effects, and residual error among Medicare decedents.
Results: We found HRRs and county indicators are significant predictors of hospice use in NC and SC; however, the relative variation within HRRs and associated residual variation is substantial. On average, HRR fixed effects explained more variation in hospice use rates than county indicators with a standard deviation (SD) of 10.0 versus 5.1 percentage points. The SD of the residual error is 5.7 percentage points. On average, variation within HRRs is about half the variation between regions (52%).
Conclusions: The magnitude of unexplained residual variation in hospice use for NC and SC suggests that novel, end-of-life-specific service areas should be developed and tested to better capture geographic differences and inform research, health systems, and policy.
Mains dans les Mains nous dévoile le parcours d’une proche aidante en soins palliatifs et son approche du yoga face au cancer.
[Extrait résumé éditeur]
PURPOSE: To examine the effect of education on nursing personnel's knowledge and attitudes regarding the use of hand massage, breathing techniques, and essential oils with hospice and palliative care patients.
BACKGROUND: Unrelieved, end of life pain is common among hospitalized patients on hospice and palliative care units. Integrative care techniques such as hand massage, breathing techniques, and essential oils can be available to use with these individuals. Nursing personnel are often unaware of other techniques that are not a traditional pharmacology approach to pain.
METHODS: A quasi-experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of an educational intervention on nursing personnel's knowledge and attitudes regarding the use of three integrative care techniques (hand massage, breathing techniques, and essential oils) with hospice and palliative care patients in an acute care setting. Data on knowledge and attitudes were collected pre- and postintervention.
RESULTS: Following the intervention, improvements in nursing personnel's attitudes and knowledge toward the use of the three techniques were found.
CONCLUSION: Results of this study suggest that education of nursing personnel may positively influence knowledge and attitudes toward providing hand massage, breathing techniques, and essential oil for end of life patients.
Agitation is a common, treatable symptom that profoundly impacts quality of life and exacerbates caregiver fatigue in the hospice setting for patients with dementia. The objective of this study was to analyze the efficacy of tailored nonpharmacological interventions for mitigation of unwanted behaviors in the population of patients with behavioral and psychological symptoms in dementia while receiving hospice care. The 4-domain Pittsburgh Agitation Scale (PAS; Motor, Verbal, Aggressive, Resistance to Care) was used for multiple baseline and posttest measurements of agitation. Effectiveness of nonpharmacological interventions was evaluated using analysis of variance for repeated measures for the total PAS score. Motor agitation was the presenting problem with highest-rated severity compared with Verbal, Aggression, and Resistance to Care domains. Analysis of variance demonstrated no difference between baseline referral and pretest total PAS measures (P = .8), but a significant drop in total PAS agitation after intervention (P < .001). The best outcomes, however, were with patients receiving both nonpharmacological and standard pharmacological interventions as opposed to nonpharmacological interventions alone (P = .034). For patients with dementia presenting with behavioral and psychological symptoms, selected nonpharmacological interventions provide significant mitigation of agitation.
INTRODUCTION: Nausea and vomiting are common symptoms for patients with advanced cancer. While there is evidence for acupuncture point stimulation for treatment of these symptoms for patients having anticancer treatment, there is little for when they are not related to such treatment.
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether acupressure at the pericardium 6 site can help in the treatment of nausea and vomiting suffered by palliative care patients with advanced cancer.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Double blind randomised controlled trial-active versus placebo acupressure wristbands. In-patients with advanced cancer in two specialist palliative care units who fitted either or both of the following criteria were approached: Nausea that was at least moderate; Vomiting daily on average for the prior 3 days.
RESULTS: 57 patients were randomised to have either active or placebo acupressure wristbands. There was no difference in any of the outcome measures between the two groups: change from baseline number of vomits; Visual Analogue Scale for 'did acupressure wristbands help you to feel better?'; total number of as needed doses of antiemetic medication; need for escalation of antiemetics.
CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to a previously published feasibility study, active acupressure wristbands were no better than placebo for specialist palliative care in-patients with advanced cancer and nausea and vomiting.
Objectif : Montrer que les unités de soins palliatifs (USP) s’intègrent dans une prise en charge globale du patient en proposant l’accès à de nombreuses techniques non médicamenteuses.
Introduction : Les USP sont des structures spécialisées en soins palliatifs, destinées aux patients les plus complexes. Ces unités proposent l’intervention d’équipes pluridisciplinaires afin de prendre en charge de façon globale le patient. À cette fin, nous pouvons penser que les USP proposent l’accès à des techniques non médicamenteuses. À ce jour, il n’existe pas d’état des lieux de ces pratiques. Le but de notre étude est de faire un état des lieux des pratiques non médicamenteuses dans les USP en France en 2019.
Matériel et méthodes : Nous avons réalisé une analyse descriptive, non exhaustive, proposée à l’ensemble des USP de France. Nous avons analysé le nombre de techniques non médicamenteuses proposées par chaque USP, en fonction du personnel réalisant le soin (intervention d’un personnel extérieur ou membre de l’équipe soignante médicale ou paramédicale).
Résultats : La totalité des 57 USP répondantes propose l’accès à au-moins une technique non médicamenteuse. En moyenne, 8,58 techniques non médicamenteuses sont proposées par USP. Certaines techniques non médicamenteuses sont pratiquées majoritairement par des intervenants extérieurs à l’USP, d’autres techniques par le personnel médical ou paramédical de l’USP, ou sont réalisées de façon mixte.
Discussion : Toutes les USP répondantes proposent l’accès à au-moins une technique non médicamenteuse, de façon multidisciplinaire. La prise en charge des patients est globale car elle prend en compte les symptômes physiques, psychologiques, sociaux et spirituels.
Yoga was developed >5,000 years ago as a comprehensive system of health and well-being for the mind, body, and soul. The word is believed to derive from the Sanskrit root "yuj" meaning to bind, yoke, union, and/or to concentrate one's attention. In health care, it often serves as a complementary mind-body practice, and it is increasingly being integrated into cancer care. It can be performed in the privacy of one's home through DVD or web-based programs or through group practices led by instructors who are often experienced working with students with medical issues. Most published evidence regarding yoga for seriously ill patients involves breast cancer survivors or breast cancer (stages I-IV) patients undergoing cancer treatment with a preserved functional capacity (ECOG <3). There is limited data examining its effectiveness or feasibility in children or for those with terminal cancer.
En 2020, la France expérimente l'utilisation du cannabis médical pour soulager les patients atteints par cinq catégories de maladies : les douleurs chroniques rebelles, l'épilepsie, les cancers, la sclérose en plaques et les soins palliatifs. Le médecin Pascal Douek répond aux questions relatives à cette expérimentation et dresse l'histoire de l'utilisation du cannabis à visée thérapeutique.
Objectives: Comparison of the effects of reflexology and relaxation on pain, anxiety, and depression, and quality of life (QoL) of patients with cancer.
Design: A stratified random sample was selected, using an experimental design.
Location: An outpatient Palliative Care Unit in Attica, Greece.
Subjects: 88 patients suffering with cancer.
Interventions: The sample was randomly divided into two equal groups, a reflexology and a relaxation group. The number of interventions for both groups was six 30-min weekly sessions.
Outcome measures: The Greek Brief Pain Inventory (G-BPI) was used to measure pain, the Greek Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale for screening anxiety and depression, and finally the Short Form Health Survey was used to measure QoL. Measurements of the above tools were taken three times in both groups as follows: preintervention, at fourth and at sixth week of intervention.
Results: Anxiety and depression for both groups exhibited a statistically significant decrease during the observation period (p < 0.001, 2 > 0.25) but at the sixth week, there was a more significant decrease in the reflexology group compared with the relaxation group (p = 0.062, 2 = 0.044 vs. p = 0.005, 2 = 0.096 for anxiety), (p = 0.006, 2 = 0.094 vs. p = 0.001, 2 = 0.138 for depression). QoL physical and mental component measurements were significantly greater for the reflexology group (p < 0.001, 2 = 0.168 and p = 0.017, 2 = 0.071, respectively). The baseline-to-sixth week G-BPI measurements were markedly decreased for the reflexology group (p = 0.207, 2 = 0.020).
Conclusions: Both interventions, relaxation and reflexology, seemed to be effective in decreasing anxiety and depression in patients with cancer. However, reflexology was found to be more effective in improving QoL (physical component) and to have a greater effect on pain management than relaxation.
The aim of supportive cancer care is to actively manage patients' physical, psychologic, and spiritual concerns, independent of prognosis. Complementary and integrative medicine (CIM) is increasingly gaining greater acceptance and support for its beneficial value in supportive cancer care. The utilization of CIM early in the cancer trajectory, during treatment and during survivorship periods, as well as during end of life, addresses a great number of unmet needs that patients affected by cancer raise. In addition, recent research supports the role that CIM has in reducing suffering and distress both physically and emotionally, as well as enhancing well-being in patients affected by cancer and their families. CIM is increasingly seen not only as an adjunctive add-on treatment or perhaps even as a luxury item for the affluent but actually as an important component in supportive cancer care for all patients. It addresses many aspects of care that sometimes are not being addressed with conventional means. With the increase in CIM-related research, as well as the increased clinical experience in oncology programs worldwide, CIM is gradually becoming an essential ingredient in supportive and palliative cancer care. In this narrative review, the authors look systematically at the contribution that CIM has in supportive care in each stage of the cancer trajectory, reflecting the needed role that CIM has in supportive care. The presented data will provide a sampling of the available clinical research for each of the broad stages being described.
Background: Medical staff may have difficulties in using conventional medicine to manage symptoms among terminally ill patients, including adverse effects of the treatment. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is regarded as a complementary or alternative medicine, and has been increasingly used in the field of palliative medicine in recent years. This study aimed to investigate the experiences of and attitudes toward using TCM among palliative care professionals, and to provide preliminary information about its use in palliative care.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey study conducted in eight inpatient hospice wards in Taiwan between December 2014 and February 2016. The questionnaire was self-administered, and was analyzed with descriptive statistics including Pearson’s Chi-square test and Fisher’s exact test.
Results: A total of 251 palliative care professionals responded to the questionnaire, of whom 89.7% and 88.9% believed that the use of TCM could improve the physical symptoms and quality of life in terminally ill patients, respectively. Overall, 59.8%, of respondents suggested that TCM had rare side effects, and 58.2% were worried that TCM could affect the liver and kidney function of patients. In total, 89.7% and 88.0% of professionals agreed there were no suitable clinical practice guidelines and educational programs, respectively, for TCM use in palliative care.
Conclusions: Most of the respondents agreed there was insufficient knowledge, skills-training, and continuing education on the use of TCM in terminally ill patients in Taiwan. These results show that to address patient safety considerations, guidelines about use of TCM in palliative care should be established.
BACKGROUND: The paucity of empirical research examining complementary medicine (CM) use in palliative care in France compared with other countries results in a gap in scientific knowledge. This study aims to describe the frequency and the cause of palliative care patients consulting with a CM clinician along with the conventional physicians.
METHODS: This study is an observational cross-sectional survey conducted in three palliative care centres in Lyon, France, between July 2017 and May 2018: two tertiary hospitals and one palliative care unit in a private hospital. Inpatients and outpatients visiting the palliative care clinics with a primary diagnosis of cancer were invited to participate in the study. Using a 19-item paper-based survey instrument, we collected data on the participants' personal characteristics, health service utilisation and attitudes towards CM.
RESULTS: From the 138 participants meeting the inclusion criteria, 100 (72.4%) were included in the study. On average, they were 62.9 years old (SD 12.4) and the majority were women (60%). The primary cancer site was mostly colorectal (29.0%), breast (15.0%) and gynaecological (11.0%). The most commonly visited CM clinician was the aromatherapist (72.7%), recording more than six consultations (78.1%) for symptom management (21.9%). Visits to an osteopath were reported by 28.6% of patients, and 45.8% of osteopathy users reported visiting an osteopath more than six times for symptom management (62.5%). Participants visiting a naturopath (15.3%) reported less than four visits and indicated symptom management as the most common reason (76.9%).
CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show a substantial proportion of palliative care patients visit CM clinicians and primarily seek symptom management from CM clinical care.
Les soins palliatifs demandent de plus en plus de compétences médicales, soignantes, humaines et éthiques, afin d’asseoir leur légitimité dans des domaines de plus en plus pointus de la médecine – réanimation, néonatalogie, cancérologie, gériatrie – ainsi que dans la diversité des prises en charge, y compris au domicile ou en EPHAD.
Dans ce contexte de développement des formations et d’élargissement des champs de compétences de la pratique palliative, cette 5e édition du manuel offre :
-les indispensables connaissances thérapeutiques ;
-les outils, à destination des professionnels en vue d’acquérir une compétence clinique pour la rencontre et l’accompagnement humain, psychique et relationnelle de la personne malade ;
-une contextualisation de la pratique des soins palliatifs dans leur dimension sociale, sanitaire et politique ;
-des jalons pédagogiques pour le développement des soins palliatifs dans leur dimension pédagogique et de recherche.
Objective: To examine the association between physical activity and the reported use of complementary medicine by patients with breast and gynecological cancer referred or self-referred to a complementary/integrative medicine (CIM) consultation within a palliative care context.
Methods: Retrospective observational study analyzing the medical files of patients referred to a CIM consultation provided within a specialized integrative oncology clinic for demographic and cancer-related parameters; participation in physical exercise and activities; and current use of nonconventional medical practices. Quality of life (QoL) outcomes were assessed during the initial CIM consultation by using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) tool.
Results: Among the 162 patient files examined, participation in physical activities was reported in 152, of whom 83 were identified as active and 69 inactive according to the American Cancer Society guidelines. A logistic multivariate regression model showed that physical activity was associated with higher rates of herbal/dietary supplement use for noncancer-related outcomes (odds ratio = 7.21, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.6–32.46, p = 0.01); more frequently reported use of acupuncture for cancer-related outcomes (odds ratio = 7.79, 95% CI 1.93–31.5, p = 0.004); and lower ESAS scores for well-being (odds ratio = 0.77, 95% CI 1.0.65–0.92, p = 0.004), indicating better QoL.
Conclusion: Physical activity was found to be associated with a greater use of CIM (specifically herbal/dietary supplement use and acupuncture) in patients with breast and gynecological cancer during oncology treatment. Further research is needed to explore whether CIM use and physical activity are influenced by patients' health-belief models of care, and whether the CIM consultation can promote physical activity among these patients.
Objectives: This study was conducted before an evidence review on Traditional and Complementary Medicine (TCM) to update the clinical practice guidelines (CPGs): "Deciding palliative and end-of-life (P/EoL) care for people with diabetes." The aim was to frame the PICO (population/problems, interventions/comparisons, and outcomes), ascertain their importance, and identify other modifying factors for grading recommendations.
Design: A systematic scoping review mapped information about diabetes P/EoL problems and outcomes, TCM use, provision, benefits and risks, and stakeholder preferences and values. Thirteen electronic databases were searched in 2017/18 until no new information was identified. Relevant data were extracted, rated for quality, directness, and relevance, and synthesized using triangulation methods. Excluded was diabetes prevention or treatment, as this is not an important P/EoL problem.
Results: Of the 228 included articles, except for diabetes P/EoL problems, insufficient direct evidence led to data being extrapolated from either adults with diabetes or any P/EoL diagnosis. The findings affirmed that caring for people with diabetes in need of P/EoL care is complex due to multiple fluctuating needs that are influenced by the P/EoL trajectories (stable, unstable, deteriorating, terminal, or bereaved), multimorbidity, and difficult-to-manage chronic and acute problems. The only problem specific to diabetes P/EoL care, was unstable glycemia. Over 50 TCM interventions commonly used by patients and/or provided by services were identified, of which, many might simultaneously address multiple problems and 18 had been appraised in systematic reviews. Physical and psychologic symptom reliefs were most often evaluated; however, these were only one aspect of a "good death." Other important outcomes were the quality and location of care, personal agency, relationships, preparations for the dying process, spirituality, and affirmation of the whole person. Other important modifying factors included opportunity costs, affordability, availability, preferences, cultural appropriateness, and alignment with beliefs about the meaning of illness and death.
Conclusions: There is a role for TCM in the multidisciplinary holistic P/EoL care of people with diabetes. Due to the paucity of evidence specific to this population, the generalizability of some of these results is broader and the updated CPG will also need to consider indirect evidence from other patient groups. Along with recommendations about indications for TCM use, the CGP should provide guidance on ceasing unnecessary interventions, reducing polypharmacy and managing unstable glycemia is required. Before ceasing a TCM, a broader risk-benefit analysis is recommended, as unlike many conventional therapies, there may be multiple benefits warranting its continuation.