scholarly journals Comparison of two measures for Complicated Grief: Brief Grief Questionnaire (BGQ) and Inventory of Complicated Grief (ICG)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naoko Igarashi ◽  
Maho Aoyama ◽  
Masaya Ito ◽  
Satomi Nakajima ◽  
Yukihiro Sakaguchi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Diagnostic Criteria ◽  
Correlation Coefficient ◽  
Multiple Scales ◽  
Complicated Grief ◽  
Cutoff Score ◽  
Palliative Care Units ◽  
Two Measures ◽  
Spearman’S Correlation

Abstract Objective No prior studies have used a single sample of bereaved families of cancer patients to compare multiple scales for assessing Complicated Grief. Here, we compare the two measures. Methods We sent a questionnaire to the bereaved families of cancer patients who had died at 71 palliative care units nationwide. Results The analysis included 3173 returned questionnaires. Prevalence of Complicated Grief was 7.8% by Brief Grief Questionnaire (with a cutoff score of 8) and 15.5% for Inventory of Complicated Grief (with a cutoff score of 26). The Spearman’s correlation coefficient between the Brief Grief Questionnaire and the Inventory of Complicated Grief was 0.79, and a ceiling effect was seen for the distribution of the Brief Grief Questionnaire scores. Although 6.4% of respondents scored both 8 or higher on the Brief Grief Questionnaire and 26 or higher on the Inventory of Complicated Grief, only 1.4% scored both 8 or higher on the Brief Grief Questionnaire and <26 on the Inventory of Complicated Grief. In contrast, 9.1% scored <8 on the Brief Grief Questionnaire but 26 or higher on the Inventory of Complicated Grief. Conclusion The prevalence of Complicated Grief was estimated to be higher by the Inventory of Complicated Grief than by the Brief Grief Questionnaire in this sample. Patients with severe Complicated Grief might be difficult to discriminate their intensity of grief by the Brief Grief Questionnaire. Once the diagnostic criteria of Complicated Grief are established, further research, such as optimization of cutoff points and calculations of sensitivity and specificity, will be necessary.

Differences among institutions in the prevalence of and indications for urinary catheterization of advanced cancer patients at palliative care units: A multicenter prospective cohort study (EASED)

2021 ◽  
pp. 026921632198956
Author(s):  
Takahiro Higashibata ◽  
Takayuki Hisanaga ◽  
Shingo Hagiwara ◽  
Miho Shimokawa ◽  
Ritsuko Yabuki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Advanced Cancer ◽  
Urinary Catheterization ◽  
Urinary Catheters ◽  
Advanced Cancer Patients ◽  
Appropriate Use ◽  
Palliative Care Units ◽  
Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study ◽  
Multicenter Prospective Cohort

Background: Studies on the appropriate use of urinary catheters for cancer patients at the end of life are limited. Aim: To clarify the differences among institutions in the prevalence of and indications for urinary catheterization of advanced cancer patients at palliative care units. Design: Pre-planned secondary analysis of a multicenter, prospective cohort study; East-Asian collaborative cross-cultural Study to Elucidate the Dying process (EASED). Setting/participants: This study enrolled consecutive advanced cancer patients admitted to palliative care units between January and December 2017. The final study group comprised 1212 patients from 21 institutions throughout Japan. Results: Out of the 1212 patients, 380 (31.4%; 95% confidence interval, 28.7%–34.0%) underwent urinary catheterization during their palliative care unit stay, and the prevalence of urinary catheterization in patients who died at palliative care units by institution ranged from 0.0% to 55.4%. When the 21 participating institutions were equally divided into three groups according to the institutional prevalence of catheterization, patients with difficulty in moving safely, exhaustion on movement, and restlessness or agitation were more likely to be catheterized in institutions with a high prevalence of catheterization than in those with a low or moderate prevalence ( p < 0.008, p = 0.008, and p < 0.008, respectively). Conclusion: This study revealed that the institutional prevalence of urinary catheterization in advanced cancer patients at palliative care units widely varied. Further studies are needed to establish the appropriate use of urinary catheters, especially in patients with difficulty in moving safely, exhaustion on movement, and restlessness or agitation.

Development of a spiritual pain assessment sheet for terminal cancer patients: Targeting terminal cancer patients admitted to palliative care units in Japan

2006 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 179-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
KEIKO TAMURA ◽  
KAORI ICHIHARA ◽  
EIKO MAETAKI ◽  
KEIKO TAKAYAMA ◽  
KUMI TANISAWA ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Pain Assessment ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Terminal Cancer ◽  
Philosophical Perspective ◽  
Terminal Cancer Patients ◽  
Assessment Sheet ◽  
Palliative Care Units

Objective: This research explores the potential benefit of a spiritual pain assessment sheet to clinical practice. With spiritual pain defined as “pain caused by extinction of the being and meaning of the self,” the spiritual pain assessment sheet was developed by Hisayuki Murata from his conceptual framework reflecting the three dimensions of a human being as a being founded on temporality, a being in relationship, and a being with autonomy. The assessment sheet was developed from reviews of the literature and examinations from a philosophical perspective on the structure of spiritual pain.Methods: Patients admitted to palliative care units in Japan were interviewed using the assessment sheet. The responses were analyzed qualitatively. The usefulness of the assessment sheet and the burden placed on the patients by its use were also investigated.Results: The spiritual pain elucidated by the assessment sheet was the same as that revealed in the earlier research of Morita. The patients reported that they did not find the use of the assessment sheet a burden, and more than half reported that it was useful. The burden of the assessment sheet on the subjects was thus determined to be low. Positive feedback on the assessment sheet was also received from the nurses who conducted the patient interviews, who said the assessment sheet made it easier to talk with the patients about their spiritual pain.Significance of research: The research results indicate that the spiritual pain assessment sheet provided an appropriate assessment of spiritual pain among terminal cancer patients, showing that such a sheet could be used as an assessment tool in the future.

scholarly journals The efficacy of specialised rehabilitation using the Op-reha Guide for cancer patients in palliative care units: protocol of a multicentre, randomised controlled trial (JORTC-RHB02)

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nanako Nishiyama ◽  
Yoshinobu Matsuda ◽  
Noriko Fujiwara ◽  
Keisuke Ariyoshi ◽  
Shunsuke Oyamada ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Randomised Controlled Trial ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Group Performance ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Care Group ◽  
Terminal Cancer ◽  
Terminal Cancer Patients ◽  
Palliative Care Units ◽  
Randomised Controlled

Abstract Background Although rehabilitation is recommended for terminal cancer patients, the specific components and methods of such programs are poorly documented. No studies to date have examined the effectiveness of rehabilitation for terminal cancer patients. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of a new intervention for rehabilitation therapists, using the Op-reha Guide (Guide to Optimal and Patient-Centred Rehabilitation Practice for Patients in Palliative Care Units [PCUs]) in rehabilitation practice. This guide consists of recommended actions and attitudes for rehabilitation therapists and aims to optimise therapists’ actions according to the patient’s needs and condition. It shares goals with terminal cancer patients to maintain their activities of daily living (ADL). Methods This study uses a multicentre, prospective, randomised controlled trial (RCT) design with two parallel groups in PCUs where specialised rehabilitation will be routinely performed for terminal cancer patients by rehabilitation therapists. Participants will be randomised (1:1) to intervention (the Op-reha Guide) and control groups (usual rehabilitation). We will then conduct an observational study in PCUs that do not perform specialised rehabilitation for terminal cancer patients; this will be considered the usual care group, and the efficacy of usual rehabilitation will be quantitatively evaluated. Inclusion criteria are hospitalisation in PCU, European Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status of 2 or 3, and clinical estimation of life expectancy of 3 weeks or more. Patients with severe symptom burden will be excluded. We hypothesise that the Op-reha Guide will be more effective in maintaining the ADL of terminal cancer patients hospitalised in PCUs than usual rehabilitation. The primary endpoint is defined as the change in (total) modified Barthel Index from baseline to Day 22. Quality of life will be a secondary endpoint. In total, 135 patients will be recruited from 16 Japanese sites between July 2019 and December 2021. Discussion This will be the first trial to evaluate the efficacy of specialised rehabilitation for terminal cancer patients hospitalised in PCUs, and will contribute to the evidence on the efficacy of implementing rehabilitation for terminal cancer patients. Trial registration UMIN-CTR, UMIN000037298 R000042525 (date of registration 7 July 2019).

Assessing quality of end-of-life hospital care in a southern European regional health service

2005 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 464-470 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Aldasoro ◽  
Adelina Pérez Alonso ◽  
Laureano Ribacoba ◽  
Santiago Esnaola ◽  
Maite Olaizola ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Quality Of Care ◽  
End Of Life ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Hospital Care ◽  
Symptom Control ◽  
Hospital Services ◽  
Palliative Care Units ◽  
Clinical Records

Objectives:During the final period of life, patients with cancer in the Basque Country are given treatment in different types of hospital care. This study compared the quality of care according to the type of care in one of the autonomous communities in Spain.Methods:A retrospective study was carried out of cancer patients who died in conventional hospital services, home hospitalization services, and palliative care units. In addition to hospital stay and readmission number, variables based on the recommendations of Spanish Society for Palliative Care were studied.Results:End-of-life was diagnosed in 57 percent of a sample of 486 patients, 3 days before death (median). The use of symptom control scales was only documented in the clinical records of eight patients. Sociofamily evaluation was not found. Patients in conventional hospital services were less frequently diagnosed with end-of-life and agony and were significantly different from the rest in the reasons for admission, symptoms assessed, drugs used, administration routes, and dosage forms. Pain was evaluated in 50 percent of the patients and was better controlled in palliative care units. Patients not diagnosed with agony (52 percent) were more frequently not given specific treatment.Conclusions:End-of-life in cancer patients was diagnosed too late. The quality of care in palliative care units and by home hospitalization service was better than that in conventional hospitalization. Nevertheless, there were areas for improvement in the three modalities of care.

scholarly journals CHALLENGES AMONG CANCER PATIENTS THAT MAY INFLUENCE RECOVERY OUTCOMES IN PALLIATIVE CARE UNITS IN NAIROBI AND NYERI COUNTIES

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-52
Author(s):  
Joyce Wang’ombe ◽  
Beatrice Kathungu
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Health Insurance ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Group Psychotherapy ◽  
Financial Burden ◽  
Insurance Fund ◽  
Unique Contribution ◽  
Spiritual Support ◽  
Insurance Cover ◽  
Palliative Care Units

Purpose: This study sought to establish challenges among cancer patients that may influence recovery outcomes in palliative care units in Nairobi and Nyeri Counties. Methodology: The study adopted a correlation research design. The target population were the cancer patients, attending treatment at the three palliative care units in Nairobi and Nyeri Counties. Systematic random sampling technique was used in the study to obtain a sample of 96 participants. Semi structured questionnaires were used to collect data. Data was analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics, namely Pearson Moment Correlation Coefficient(r). Findings: Result showed that, majority of the respondents indicated participating in the programs available at the palliative care institutions, which included; group psychotherapy (91.7%), spiritual support (91.7%) and programs on coping skills (91.7). Others (22.6%) participated in programs such as performing chorals, knitting and board games. The results also showed that 82.1% and 78.6% of the respondents noted that they experienced challenges of being isolated and lacking finances respectively. 50% of the respondents had a challenge in coping with the condition, while 2.4% experienced challenges in adhering to drugs .These findings were not unusual considering that most of the patients were newly diagnosed with cancer and for some respondent’s metastasis had set in. Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy Patients facing challenges receiving palliative care could adopt group psychotherapy, including cognitive-behavioral, informational, non-behavioral, social support, and using unusual treatments such as music and art therapy to curb cancer. Administrators and medical staff in the palliative care units should create awareness and encourage the attending patients to source for a health insurance cover e.g.  National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to cater for the cancer disease both outpatient and incase of hospitalization. This will ease the financial burden of cancer on the patient, family and community.

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