Literature Review

All posts tagged with “International News.”



Portugal: Government signs contracts for 3,000 palliative care beds

04/21/25 at 03:00 AM

Portugal: Government signs contracts for 3,000 palliative care beds MacauBusiness.com; by LUSA; 4/18/25 The government on Thursday [4/17/25] signed 90 financing contracts worth €88 million with the private and social sectors to create 3,300 places in the National Network for Integrated Continuing Care (RNCCI). ... The government on Thursday signed 90 financing contracts worth €88 million with the private and social sectors to create 3,300 places in the National Network for Integrated Continuing Care (RNCCI). ... The minister added that “the government’s determination is not to slow down the pace of implementation of the RRP”, emphasising that another 800 contracts will be signed in the coming weeks, in different areas.

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[Australia] Effectiveness of grief camps in supporting bereaved individuals: A systematic review

04/19/25 at 03:05 AM

[Australia] Effectiveness of grief camps in supporting bereaved individuals: A systematic reviewOmega-Journal of Death and Dying; Jingyi Chi, Karolina Krysinska, Karl Andriessen; 3/25Experiencing the death of a loved one is a stressful and disruptive event that can have short-term and long-term detrimental effects on the grief, mental health, and social functioning of the bereaved individuals. Grief camps represent a relatively novel form of support. Narrative synthesis of the study findings indicated a positive impact of grief camps on the grief and psychosocial functioning of bereaved individuals, and participants’ feedback indicated that grief camps are an acceptable intervention. Further research in various locations and across different age groups may broaden our understanding of the effects of grief camps.

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[Netherlands] A care ethical perspective on family caregiver burden and support

04/19/25 at 03:00 AM

[Netherlands] A care ethical perspective on family caregiver burden and supportNursing Ethics; Maaike Haan, Jelle van Gurp, Marianne Boenink, Gert Olthuis; 3/25Family care-when partners, relatives, or other proxies care for each other in case of illness, disability, or frailty-is increasingly considered an important pillar for the sustainability of care systems. Especially in a palliative care context, however, family care can be challenging. Witnessing caregivers' challenges may prompt compassionate nurses to undertake actions to reduce burden by adjusting tasks or activities. The question is then whether self-sacrifice is a problem that nurses should immediately solve. Therefore, we suggest that caregiver experiences should always be interpreted in an explorative dialogue, focused on what caring means to a particular family caregiver. Nurses do not have to liberate family caregivers from the situation but should support them in whatever overwhelms or drives them in standing-by their loved ones until the end.

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German doctor charged with murdering 15 patients

04/17/25 at 03:00 AM

German doctor charged with murdering 15 patients Time.News; Press Release; 4/16/25 ... The accusations against the unnamed 40-year-old doctor are disturbing: administering lethal doses of drugs to terminally ill patients without their knowledge. This raises unsettling questions about the boundaries of medical ethics and the role of healthcare professionals in the lives—and deaths—of their patients. Between September 2021 and July 2024, the doctor allegedly unmasked a hidden danger, killing 12 women and three men, some as young as 25 and others as old as 94. Prosecutors have warned that the total may rise as investigations deepen, with additional exhumations of suspicious deaths planned. ... What makes this case even more sinister is the alleged attempts by the doctor to conceal his actions—setting fire to his patients’ homes to destroy evidence. 

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[China] Asian family members' participation in advance care planning: An integrative review

04/12/25 at 03:05 AM

[China] Asian family members' participation in advance care planning: An integrative reviewPalliative Medicine; Jing-Da Pan, Ka Yan Ho, Gui-Fen Guan, Min-Min Chang, Cui-Rong Tan, Xin-Yan Qiu, Hong-Li Liu, Ke-Lan Lin, Wen-Ting Xu, Shan Pan, Qi Liu, Ting Mao, Katherine Ka Wai Lam, Dong-Lan Ling; 3/25The willingness of Asian family members to participate in advance care planning is high, while their actual engagement remains low. Based on the barriers, facilitators, and Asian family members' roles influencing participation identified in our study, a six-dimensional conceptual model was developed: Asian family members' roles, problem-solving skills, communication, affective responsiveness, affective participation, and controlling behavior in advance care planning. Barriers to effective participation were identified: inadequate advance care planning legislation, insufficient public education, and influences from Confucianism or traditional beliefs. Additionally, filial piety was shown to have a paradoxical effect on Asian family members' participation in advance care planning in Asian countries. 

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[Canada] Care utilization patterns among patients dying with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

04/12/25 at 03:00 AM

[Canada] Care utilization patterns among patients dying with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseCanadian Journal of Respiratory, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine; Aleisha Fernandes, Shuaib Hafid, Anastasia Gayowsky, Tetyana Kendzerska, Aaron Jones, Erin Gallagher, Colleen Webber, James Downar, Sophie Corriveau, Douglas G. Manuel, Sunita Mulpuru, David Da Silva-Krul, Amy Hsu, Peter Tanuseputro, Sarina R. Isenberg, Michelle Howard; 3/25Despite primary care providing majority of outpatient care, inpatient utilization is higher amongst patients who are notaccessing PC [palliative care]. These patients are also more likely to die in an acute setting. This study provides insight into the proportion of care patients are being provided from different specialties as well as the distribution of end-of-life outcomes amongst these patterns of care. Future research will benefit from exploring the association between these different patterns and end-of-life outcomes to identify the most optimal care pattern for improving end-of-life outcomes for patients with ACOPD [advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].

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Global study finds 1 in 5 people with dementia receive no care

04/09/25 at 03:00 AM

Global study finds 1 in 5 people with dementia receive no care McKnights Long-Term Care News; by Donna Shryer; 4/7/25 A comprehensive global study led by Yale School of Public Health researchers has revealed that at least 20% of people living with dementia receive no care helping them with daily living, regardless of their country’s wealth or development status. As the world’s population rapidly ages, this alarming care gap has persisted for years, creating what researchers describe as “a public health crisis.” The study analyzed data from over 10,000 individuals across the United States, England, 18 European nations, Israel and China. [Continue reading ...]

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[Spain] SECPAL and AETSyS will promote the recognition of social workers as health professionals.

04/08/25 at 03:00 AM

[Spain] SECPAL and AETSyS will promote the recognition of social workers as health professionals The Spanish Association of Social Work and Health (AETSyS) and the Spanish Society of Palliative Care (SECPAL); Press Release; 4/4/25The Spanish Association of Social Work and Health (AETSyS) and the Spanish Society of Palliative Care (SECPAL) have announced the signing of a collaboration agreement to promote the recognition of social workers as healthcare professionals in the National Health System (SNS), highlighting their "essential role" in the field of palliative care and in all dimensions of healthcare. ... "We social workers have been working in healthcare for a long time. We are part of the World Health Organization's (WHO) definition of 'health', which integrates the biological, psychological and social. We complete this definition within the teams, addressing the social dimension of health," explained the president of AETSyS, Miguela Arévalo García-Gasco. ... [The] vice-president of Social Work at SECPAL, Alejandro González Peña, ... has stressed that the figure of the social worker in palliative care teams is "indispensable" for providing comprehensive, quality care, ... Editor's note: Further access to this Spanish press release is limited. The title's link goes to a February post, for which you may be able to translate to English via your computer or mobile device.

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[Germany] Do we have a knowledge gap with our patients?-On the problems of knowledge transfer and the implications at the end of life

04/05/25 at 03:05 AM

[Germany] Do we have a knowledge gap with our patients?-On the problems of knowledge transfer and the implications at the end of lifeInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health; Nils Heuser, Hendrik Heers, Martin Gschnell, Fabian Urhahn, Severin Schrade, Christian Volberg; 2/25Cancer patients are often unaware of their exact diagnosis, stage of disease, and prognosis. In the patients observed, it was found that many of them were unaware of their stage of disease, which can have a huge impact on their end-of-life decisions, such as the type of treatment they want. Many patients were also unaware of their own treatment. There is a risk that false hopes of cure may be attached to therapies and that, as a result, patients may be less likely to opt for palliative care with a focus on maintaining quality of life.

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[France] Supportive care needs of childhood, adolescent and young adult cancer survivors: A systematic mixed study review

04/05/25 at 03:00 AM

[France] Supportive care needs of childhood, adolescent and young adult cancer survivors: A systematic mixed study reviewCancer Care Research Online; Baudry, Valentine MS; Bertrand, Amandine MD; Bottichio, Margaux MS; Escot, Noémie MS; Despax, Johanna PhD; Girodet, Magali PhD; Christophe, Véronique PhD; 4/25This literature review shows that CAYA [childhood, adolescent, and young adult] cancer survivors still have SCN [supportive care needs] long after the end of treatment, which is specific to the challenges they face at these developmental stages and may evolve over time. Survivors still report needs related to information, medical care, psychology, sexuality, fertility, and age-specific care. Social life, finance, work, and education needs were also present, but at a lower scale. Future research should clarify these links, to explore the evolution of needs over time, to distinguish specific CAYA subgroups, to examine time since diagnosis or completion of treatment, and to better specify the SCN of child survivors to present relevant results.

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Palliative Care ECHO on health system strengthening: Advancing global collaboration and integration

04/03/25 at 03:00 AM

Palliative Care ECHO on health system strengthening: Advancing global collaboration and integration ehospice; by Mark Stoltenberg, Clayton Richards, Chris Piromalli; 3/24/25The World Health Organization (WHO) Working Group on Palliative Care has introduced an innovative digital initiative utilising the ECHO Model to enhance global collaboration in palliative care. Officially launched on March 5, 2025, this programme will facilitate knowledge exchange and promote best practices for the integration of palliative care into health systems worldwide. The ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) Model connects healthcare professionals globally in virtual communities of practice to support contextualised implementation of best-practice care through mentorship and guided practice.  [Continue reading ...]

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[Canada] Death doulas’ experiences with and perspectives on unusual end-of-life phenomena

03/29/25 at 03:05 AM

[Canada] Death doulas’ experiences with and perspectives on unusual end-of-life phenomenaOmega-Journal of Death and Dying; Stephen Claxton-Oldfield, Madeleine de Ste-Croix Killoran; 2/25In this article, the term ‘unusual end-of-life phenomena’ (EOLP) is used to refer to extraordinary experiences that can happen when someone is approaching death, at the time of death, and after death. Consistent with the results of previous studies involving people who work with the dying (i.e., doctors, nurses, hospice palliative care volunteers, nursing home staff) death doulas had commonly observed or been told about various EOLP in their work supporting people through the dying process. Deathbed visions were the most witnessed and reported EOLP. Death doulas indicated that they were comfortable talking about EOLP with their clients and clients’ families and most or almost all endorsed spiritual or transpersonal explanations for EOLP over scientific or medical ones. Death doulas have an important role to play in normalizing, validating, and educating their clients and clients’ families about EOLP.

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[Switzerland] The use of artificial nutrition at the end-of-life: a cross-sectional survey exploring the beliefs and decision-making among physicians and nurses

03/29/25 at 03:00 AM

[Switzerland] The use of artificial nutrition at the end-of-life: a cross-sectional survey exploring the beliefs and decision-making among physicians and nursesSupport Care Cancer; by Christophe Pala, Claudia Gamond, Steffen Eychmuller, Francois Herrmann, Sophie Pautex; 3/17/25 Background: The use of artificial nutrition in the last month of life raises many concerns for patients, relatives, and healthcare professionals. Conclusion: Whereas decisions on artificial nutrition at the end of life are common they may be mostly guided by physicians and nurses' beliefs, and patients' requests more than by robust evidence. Fostering palliative care education is pivotal. Our results emphasize the need to improve physicians and nurses' awareness of the complex interplay between values and evidence when decisions concerning artificial nutrition are taken.

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[UK] Man to sell his 4,000 books in aid of hospice

03/28/25 at 03:00 AM

[UK] Man to sell his 4,000 books in aid of hospice BBC News; by Emily Coady-Stemp and Jo Burn; 3/26/25 A man has opened a shop to sell his collection of 4,000 books to raise money for the hospice where he is receiving care. Rob McCann, from the Kent village of Sutton Valence, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in July 2023 and given just weeks to live. "Yet here I am, 18 months later, still going strong," he added. He opened Capelli's Books in his village on Tuesday to raise money for the Heart of Kent Hospice. [Continue reading ...]

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[England] Mother, 79, excited to skydive for hospice

03/27/25 at 03:00 AM

[England] Mother, 79, excited to skydive for hospice BBC; by Susie Rack; 3/22/25 A 79-year-old woman planning a skydive to raise funds for a hospice charity that is caring for her friend said she was not "scared at all." Adventure-seeker Shirley Warnes, from Rugby, Warwickshire, who said she loved rock climbing and helicopter rides, described the jump for Myton Hospice as a "bucket-list challenge." ... She has already raised more than £600 for the charity, which supports people with life-limiting illnesses across Coventry and Warwickshire, to thank them for providing respite care for her friend Gordon, who has motor neurone disease.

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[Germany] Web-based educational tools and decision aids for patients with advanced cancer: A systematic review

03/22/25 at 03:55 AM

[Germany] Web-based educational tools and decision aids for patients with advanced cancer: A systematic reviewPatient Education and Counseling; Phoebe Ullrich, Henrike Voß, Laura Unsöld, Michael Thomas, Matthias Villalobos; 2/25In advanced cancer care, patient involvement in decision-making is complex. Web-based solutions are promising because of easy accessibility and dissemination and the ability to adapt information to patients' needs and new treatment developments. Still, only a few evidence-based web-based educational tools and decision aids are available. Filling this gap is essential to empower patients to make informed and goal-concordant treatment decisions.

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[UK] Why we need to consider frailty in the assisted dying debate

03/22/25 at 03:55 AM

[UK] Why we need to consider frailty in the assisted dying debateAge and Aging; Sarah A Hopkins, Annabel Price, Simon N Etkind; 2/25Assisted dying/assisted suicide (AD/AS) is legal or decriminalised in several countries and Bills to legalise it are currently being considered by the UK and Scottish Parliaments. Older adults living with frailty make up an increasing proportion of those who die, yet the possible implications of AD/AS for these individuals are relatively unexplored. Frailty complicates AD/AS in relation to eligibility because of ambiguity over whether frailty constitutes a terminal illness, challenges in accurately predicting prognosis, and difficulty determining reversibility of suffering. Frailty also blurs the distinction between terminal illness and disability, in contrast to the clear-cut language of current proposed legislation where those with a terminal illness are eligible, but those with disability are not. Further consideration is needed regarding eligibility, safeguards in the context of relational autonomy and for those who already feel a burden, and how to mitigate risks of further entrenching ableist and ageist attitudes.

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[Australia] Advance care planning has brought 'comfort and peace' to Annaliese Holland

03/21/25 at 03:00 AM

[Australia] Advance care planning has brought 'comfort and peace' to Annaliese Holland ABC News; by Eva Blandis and Daniel Keane; 3/19/25Young South Australian woman Annaliese Holland, who is preparing for major high-risk surgery, has spoken about the importance of advance care planning. The 25-year-old was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease and terminal illness several years ago. Ms. Holland wants young people to have more open conversations about death and end-of-life care. ... "I say my life is like walking on a field of landmines, not knowing when it will go off,"  she said. While it is a harrowing statement, she is harnessing her situation to help others — Ms. Holland is a strong supporter of advance care planning.

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[International] Healthcare on the brink: Palliative Care Unit and Late Shift

03/18/25 at 03:00 AM

[International] Healthcare on the brink: Palliative Care Unit and Late Shift The 75th Berlin International Film Festival - Part 7, wsws.org; by Martin Nowak and Bernd Reinhardt; 3/16/25 Two films, the drama Late Shift (Heldin) and the documentary Palliative Care Unit (Palliativstation), featured at this year's Berlin International Film Festival, addressed the current situation in German and Swiss hospitals. The sold-out festival screenings reflected the burning public interest in this topic. This is particularly remarkable bearing in mind that Palliative Care Unit has a running time of more than four hours. ... [In the] documentary Palliative Care Unit by Philipp Döring, shot at the Franziskus Hospital in Berlin, ... [the] camera quietly observes the daily routine, staff consultations and the constant empathy of the head of the ward towards employees and seriously ill patients, who usually spend their last weeks here. The very calm, always discreet images emphasise the necessity of sufficient time for care and reflection when making life-critical decisions. ... How can the highest possible quality of life be achieved? The high ethical standard of treating incurable patients as active human beings ... is admirable and makes a lasting impression throughout the film.

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[UK] RCGP shifts to position of neither supporting nor opposing assisted dying

03/17/25 at 03:00 AM

[UK] RCGP shifts to position of neither supporting nor opposing assisted dying RCGP - Royal College of General Pracitioners, London, UK; Press Release; 3/14/25 The Royal College of General Practitioners' Council has voted to move to a position of neither supporting nor opposing assisted dying being legal. The RCGP UK governing Council - elected representatives of the wider College membership – today voted to determine what the College’s stance should be on whether or not assisted dying should be legal:

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[UK] Exploring the challenges experienced by patients and families using palliative and end-of-life care services: A qualitative focus group study

03/15/25 at 03:55 AM

[UK] Exploring the challenges experienced by patients and families using palliative and end-of-life care services: A qualitative focus group studyPalliative and Supportive Care; Gina Kallis, Gary Hodge, Hannah Wheat, Tomasina M Oh, Susie Pearce; 3/25In the UK, access to dignified and compassionate palliative care is increasingly being reported as inadequate. A range of challenges were identified at different stages of the patient and family carer journey near the end-of-life. These included issues related to the delivery of care, such as communication challenges, a lack of out of hours care, and also a lack of personalized care. Patients and families also experienced everyday challenges due to the impact of living with a life-shortening condition and altered family dynamics as family members became carers. There were also some traumatic experiences of death and a sense of abandonment when care could not be accessed. 

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[Canada] Use of feeding tubes among hospitalized older adults with dementia

03/15/25 at 03:55 AM

[Canada] Use of feeding tubes among hospitalized older adults with dementiaJAMA Network Open; Anne-Marie Hartford, MSc; Wenshan Li, PhD; Danial Qureshi, MSc; Robert Talarico, MSc; Stephen G. Fung, MPH; Shirley H. Bush, MBBS; Genevieve Casey, MSc, MBBS; Sarina R. Isenberg, MA, PhD; Colleen Webber, PhD; Peter Tanuseputro, MHSc, MD; 2/25In this cohort study of hospitalized individuals with dementia, feeding tube insertion was not associated with improved survival or postdischarge outcomes. Being male or younger and having swallowing problems and greater functional impairments were associated with increased odds of feeding tube use, while having a do-not-resuscitate directive and living in rural settings were associated with reduced odds. Factors that were (or were not) associated with feeding tube placement were sometimes misaligned with best practice guidelines. Goals of care conversations, alternative intervention options, and improved clinical protocols are recommended. 

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[Multi-cultural] Honouring traditions: Integrating cultural wisdom into palliative care – Saif Mohammed

03/13/25 at 03:00 AM

[Multi-cultural] Honouring traditions: Integrating cultural wisdom into palliative care - Saif Mohammed ehospice; by Saif Mohammed; 3/10/25[Personal Story] ... "Reflecting on this experience, I realize that caregiving is deeply embedded in tradition and culture, a natural extension of communal life." Caregiving is as old as humanity itself. One of the earliest known cases of palliative care dates back 45,000 years to Shanidar 1, a Neanderthal male found in present-day Iraq. His skeletal remains indicated severe injuries, yet he had survived for decades, suggesting that his community had cared for him. This example highlights that palliative care is a deeply human and historical practice, far predating modern medicine. Cultures around the world continue to recognize the importance of caregiving, often embedding it in traditions and religious beliefs. ... In some societies, the emphasis on independence can make caregiving more complex, as patients may refuse assistance to maintain self-sufficiency. ... Palliative care workers must be equipped to understand and respect the cultural traditions of the communities they serve. This requires training in cultural competence, which involves:

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[Ukraine] ‘Support to the end’: Religious sister brings palliative care to unborn babies in Ukraine

03/12/25 at 03:00 AM

[Ukraine] 'Support to the end’: Religious sister brings palliative care to unborn babies in Ukraine The Catholic World; by Hannah Brockhaus; 3/10/25 Since 2020, a pandemic and then an active war have caused untold tragedy for Ukrainians, but these circumstances have also allowed the country to confront death and grief in a way it never did before, according to a religious sister who offers palliative care to unborn children and their families. In Ukraine, “one couldn’t and wouldn’t talk about death before the COVID pandemic,” Sister Giustina Olha Holubets, SSMI, told CNA earlier this month. The more open a society is about death and loss and grief, she said, the easier it is to know how to respond to a family going through the pain of losing a child in the womb or shortly after birth. A Byzantine Catholic and member of the Sister Servants of Mary Immaculate, Holubets has degrees in bioethics, psychology, biology, and genetics. In 2017, she founded the nonprofit organization “Perinatal Hospice – Imprint of Life” in Lyiv, Ukraine, which she currently leads. ...

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[UK] Coming to terms with dying: Advance care planning as a conduit between clinicians, patients, and conversations about death and dying - A qualitative interview study

03/08/25 at 03:55 AM

[UK] Coming to terms with dying: Advance care planning as a conduit between clinicians, patients, and conversations about death and dying - A qualitative interview studyPalliative Medicine; Rowena Jane Eason, Lisa Jane Brighton, Jonathan Koffman, Katherine Bristowe; 2/25Advance care planning elicits multiple complex thoughts, emotions, and behaviours, with responses ranging from the procedural to the profound. Discussions empowered and instilled confidence, promoted openness with relatives, encouraged people to make the most of their time remaining, and sometimes contributed to coming to terms with their mortality. Factors influencing experiences of discussions reflected the complexity and diversity in participants' lives, personalities, and life experiences, with discussions exposing the realities of living with terminal illness. 

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