End-of-Life: Patientinnen und Patienten rechtzeitig einbinden

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 308-309
Author(s):  
Tanja Zimmermann
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Advance Care Planning ◽  
Intensive Therapy ◽  
Solid Tumours ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Care Planning ◽  
Do Not Resuscitate ◽  
Ethics Policy ◽  
Advance Care

<b>Background:</b> Decisions to limit treatment (DLTs) are important to protect patients from overtreatment but constitute one of the most ethically challenging situations in oncology practice. In the Ethics Policy for Advance Care Planning and Limiting Treatment study (EPAL), we examined how often DLT preceded a patient’s death and how early they were determined before (T1) and after (T2) the implementation of an intrainstitutional ethics policy on DLT. <b>Methods:</b> This prospective quantitative study recruited 1.134 patients with haematological/oncological neoplasia in a period of 2×6 months at the University Hospital of Munich, Germany. Information on admissions, discharges, diagnosis, age, DLT, date and place of death, and time span between the initial determination of a DLT and the death of a patient was recorded using a standardised form. <b>Results</b>: Overall, for 21% (n = 236) of the 1.134 patients, a DLT was made. After implementation of the policy, the proportion decreased (26% T1/16% T2). However, the decisions were more comprehensive, including more often the combination of ‹Do not resuscitate› and ‹no intense care unit› (44% T1/64% T2). The median time between the determination of a DLT and the patient’s death was similarly short with 6 days at a regular ward (each T1/T2) and 10.5/9 (T1/T2) days at a palliative care unit. For patients with solid tumours, the DLTs were made earlier at both regular and palliative care units than for the deceased with haematological neoplasia. <b>Conclusion:</b> Our results show that an ethics policy on DLT could sensitise for treatment limitations in terms of frequency and extension but had no significant impact on timing of DLT. Since patients with haematological malignancies tend to undergo intensive therapy more often during their last days than patients with solid tumours, special attention needs to be paid to this group. To support timely discussions, we recommend the concept of advance care planning.

scholarly journals Late decisions about treatment limitation in patients with cancer: empirical analysis of end-of-life practices in a haematology and oncology unit at a German university hospital

ESMO Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. e000950
Author(s):  
Katja Mehlis ◽  
Elena Bierwirth ◽  
Katsiaryna Laryionava ◽  
Friederike Mumm ◽  
Pia Heussner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Advance Care Planning ◽  
Solid Tumours ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Care Planning ◽  
Do Not Resuscitate ◽  
Treatment Limitation ◽  
Ethics Policy ◽  
Advance Care

BackgroundDecisions to limit treatment (DLTs) are important to protect patients from overtreatment but constitute one of the most ethically challenging situations in oncology practice. In the Ethics Policy for Advance Care Planning and Limiting Treatment study (EPAL), we examined how often DLT preceded a patient’s death and how early they were determined before (T1) and after (T2) the implementation of an intrainstitutional ethics policy on DLT.MethodsThis prospective quantitative study recruited 1.134 patients with haematological/oncological neoplasia in a period of 2×6 months at the University Hospital of Munich, Germany. Information on admissions, discharges, diagnosis, age, DLT, date and place of death, and time span between the initial determination of a DLT and the death of a patient was recorded using a standardised form.ResultsOverall, for 21% (n=236) of the 1.134 patients, a DLT was made. After implementation of the policy, the proportion decreased (26% T1/16% T2). However, the decisions were more comprehensive, including more often the combination of ‘Do not resuscitate’ and ‘no intense care unit’ (44% T1/64% T2). The median time between the determination of a DLT and the patient’s death was similarly short with 6 days at a regular ward (each T1/T2) and 10.5/9 (T1/T2) days at a palliative care unit. For patients with solid tumours, the DLTs were made earlier at both regular and palliative care units than for the deceased with haematological neoplasia.ConclusionOur results show that an ethics policy on DLT could sensitise for treatment limitations in terms of frequency and extension but had no significant impact on timing of DLT. Since patients with haematological malignancies tend to undergo intensive therapy more often during their last days than patients with solid tumours, special attention needs to be paid to this group. To support timely discussions, we recommend the concept of advance care planning.

Attitude and Barriers in Palliative Care and Advance Care Planning in Nonmalignant Chronic Lung Disease: Results From a Danish National Survey

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 232-235
Author(s):  
Anita Rath Sørensen ◽  
Kristoffer Marsaa ◽  
Thomas Skovhus Prior ◽  
Elisabeth Bendstrup
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Lung Disease ◽  
Advance Care Planning ◽  
Clinical Skills ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Organizational Level ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Care Planning ◽  
Chronic Lung Diseases ◽  
Advance Care

Introduction: Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and interstitial lung disease have a significant burden of symptoms. Many are not offered palliative care (PC). Our aim was to investigate the attitudes to and barriers for PC among physicians. Method: A web-based survey was conducted among members of the Danish Respiratory Society. The questionnaire included contextual (gender, age, clinical experience, type of center, patient caseload) and outcome questions (knowledge and use of statements for PC and advance care planning [ACP], practice of communication about end-of-life decisions, practice for referral to PC, barriers regarding structural surroundings, clinical skills, and organization). Results: One hundred fifty-six (45%) physicians responded. Median age was 40 - 49 years and 55% were female. Fifty-two percent were specialists; 71% worked at a university hospital. The majority of physicians (60%) reported barriers for discussions about PC and ACP; 63% reported lack of time, 52% lack of multidisciplinary staff settings, 63% reported the unpredictability of the prognosis, and 20% insufficient awareness of patient’s culture, religion, or spirituality. Fewer specialists than nonspecialists reported barriers toward ACP. The majority had knowledge of guidelines in PC and ACP, but only a minority used these in daily clinical practice. Conclusion: The attitude toward PC and ACP conversations was positive and implementation was regarded as important, but only a minority performed these conversations in practice. Main barriers were lack of time and staff. Palliative care guidelines were known but only scarcely used. Structural changes at the organizational level to improve access to palliation for patients with nonmalignant chronic lung diseases are needed.

Different Associations Between Inpatient or Outpatient Palliative Care and End-of-Life Outcomes for Hospitalized Patients With Cancer

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan C. Yeh ◽  
Arielle R. Urman ◽  
Robert J. Besaw ◽  
Laura E. Dodge ◽  
Kathleen A. Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
End Of Life ◽  
Advance Care Planning ◽  
Hospital Length ◽  
Hospitalized Patients ◽  
Hospital Length Of Stay ◽  
Care Planning ◽  
Do Not Resuscitate ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
Advance Care

PURPOSE Palliative care (PC) improves outcomes in advanced cancer, and guidelines recommend early outpatient referral. However, many PC teams see more inpatient than outpatient consults. We conducted a retrospective study of hospitalized patients with cancer to quantify exposure to inpatient and outpatient PC and describe associations between PC and end-of-life (EOL) quality measures. METHODS We identified all decedents admitted to an inpatient oncology unit in 1 year (October 1, 2017-September 30, 2018) and abstracted hospitalization statistics, inpatient and outpatient PC visits, and EOL outcomes. Descriptive statistics, univariate tests, and multivariate analysis evaluated associations between PC and patient outcomes. RESULTS In total, 522 decedents were identified. 50% saw PC; only 21% had an outpatient PC visit. Decedents seen by PC were more likely to enroll in hospice (78% v 44%; P < .001), have do-not-resuscitate status (87% v 55%; P < .001), have advance care planning documents (53% v 31%; P < .001), and die at home or inpatient hospice instead of in hospital (67% v 40%; P < .01). Decedents seen by PC had longer hospital length-of-stay (LOS; 8.4 v 7.0 days; P = .03), but this association reversed for decedents seen by outpatient PC (6.3 v 8.3 days; P < .001), who also had longer hospice LOS (46.5 v 27.1 days; P < .01) and less EOL intensive care (6% v 15%; P < .05). CONCLUSION PC was associated with significantly more hospice utilization and advance care planning. Patients seen specifically by outpatient PC had shorter hospital LOS and longer hospice LOS. These findings suggest different effects of inpatient and outpatient PC, underscoring the importance of robust outpatient PC.

Demenz aus palliativmedizinischer Perspektive: warum ein krankheitsspezifisches Advance Care Planning wichtig ist

2018 ◽  
Vol 75 (2) ◽  
pp. 105-111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ralf J. Jox ◽  
Francesca Bosisio ◽  
Eve Rubli Truchard
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Advance Care Planning ◽  
Care Planning ◽  
Advance Care ◽  
Menschen Mit Demenz

Zusammenfassung. Die Palliative Care muss sich im Zuge des demographischen Wandels vieler Gesellschaften rund um den Globus tiefgreifend wandeln. Sie muss mehr und mehr mit der Geriatrie zusammenarbeiten und geriatrische Expertise integrieren. Eine der zentralen Herausforderungen Geriatrischer Palliative Care ist die ethisch angemessene Therapieentscheidung für Menschen, die nicht mehr urteilsfähig sind. Nachdem der bisherige Ansatz herkömmlicher Patientenverfügungen erwiesenermassen enttäuscht hat, wird aktuell, gerade auch in deutschsprachigen Ländern, das systemische Konzept des Advance Care Planning (ACP) verfolgt. In diesem Artikel wird zunächst ACP mit seinen Zielen, Elementen und Effekten vorgestellt. Sodann wird gezeigt, weshalb es für Menschen mit Demenz eines adaptierten ACP-Programms bedarf und was ein solches demenzspezifisches ACP beinhalten muss.

scholarly journals The Role of Advance Care Planning in Cancer Patient and Caregiver Grief Resolution: Helpful or Harmful?

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 1977
Author(s):  
Francesca Falzarano ◽  
Holly G. Prigerson ◽  
Paul K. Maciejewski
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Family Caregivers ◽  
Advance Care Planning ◽  
Care Planning ◽  
Do Not Resuscitate ◽  
Prospective Longitudinal Study ◽  
Advance Care ◽  
Grief Resolution ◽  
Caregiver Grief ◽  
Prospective Longitudinal

Cancer patients and their family caregivers experience various losses when patients become terminally ill, yet little is known about the grief experienced by patients and caregivers and factors that influence grief as patients approach death. Additionally, few, if any, studies have explored associations between advance care planning (ACP) and grief resolution among cancer patients and caregivers. To fill this knowledge gap, the current study examined changes in grief over time in patients and their family caregivers and whether changes in patient grief are associated with changes in caregiver grief. We also sought to determine how grief changed following the completion of advance directives. The sample included advanced cancer patients and caregivers (n = 98 dyads) from Coping with Cancer III, a federally funded, multi-site prospective longitudinal study of end-stage cancer care. Participants were interviewed at baseline and at follow-up roughly 2 months later. Results suggest synchrony, whereby changes in patient grief were associated with changes in caregiver grief. We also found that patients who completed a living will (LW) experienced increases in grief, while caregivers of patients who completed a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order experienced reductions in grief, suggesting that ACP may prompt “grief work” in patients while promoting grief resolution in caregivers.

Communication around palliative care principles and advance care planning between oncologists, children with advancing cancer and families

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erica C. Kaye ◽  
Cameka Woods ◽  
Kendall Kennedy ◽  
Srilakshmi Velrajan ◽  
Melanie Gattas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Advance Care Planning ◽  
Care Planning ◽  
Advance Care

Welche Relevanz hat Advance Care Planning für die pädiatrische Intensivstation?

intensiv ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (02) ◽  
pp. 99-106
Author(s):  
Simone Keller
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Advance Care Planning ◽  
Care Planning ◽  
Advance Care

Advance Care Planning hat in der Palliative Care einen hohen Stellenwert. Dabei werden Wünsche und Bedürfnisse von Patienten und deren Familien erfasst, Therapieziele und Maßnahmen für den Krankheitsverlauf und das Lebensende frühzeitig diskutiert und festgehalten. Bei der Betreuung von kritisch kranken Kindern auf der Intensivstation sind Kommunikation und Entscheidungsfindungsprozesse von großer Wichtigkeit, und sie stellen hohe Anforderungen an das Behandlungsteam. Der folgende Beitrag zeigt den Nutzen und die positiven Aspekte von Advance Care Planning, auch für das Setting der Intensivstation.

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