Literature Review

[South Korea] Factors influencing burnout among hospice and palliative care ward nursesJournal of Hospice & Palliative Nursing; by Young-Mi Kim, Chieun Song, Jeoungmin Park; 11/25This study aimed to identify the factors influencing burnout among nurses in hospice and palliative care units. This descriptive correlational study investigated the effects of nursing practice environment, resilience, and nurses' character on burnout among hospice and palliative care ward nurses. The participants were 217 nurses working in hospice wards of 20 institutions selected from the 88 inpatient hospice and palliative care institutions designated by the Ministry of Health and Welfare in South Korea, as of 2021. The results showed that a better nursing practice environment and higher resilience were positively associated with lower burnout. Among hospice and palliative care nurses, being in their 30s and having fewer than 5 years of total clinical experience were associated with higher burnout.

IAHPC photo contest: We have our winners! International Association for Hospice & Palliative Care (IAHPC); 12/18/25 Our members submitted an incredible array of images that expressed moving moments, illustrated challenges, and showed the beauty of palliative care in their daily work. It required four rounds of judging by our five-member panel, plus a Zoom meeting at the end, to narrow the selection of 186 photos sent in and settle on the winners. [View]

[Europe] Muslims often don’t trust palliative care. A new charity aims to change that  Hyphen; by Weronika Stryzyzynska; 12/15/25 Al-Amal, founded by a doctor and a chaplain, is informed by the Muslim view of a good death — something they say is lacking in mainstream care. A new charity to support Muslims navigating palliative care is preparing to launch after Ramadan. As well as providing an emotional support telephone line, Al-Amal will also offer practical advice on accessing culturally and religiously appropriate care.  The Muslim view of what a good death looks like is informed by values beyond the medical. … This can affect the way Muslim patients include their families in the decision-making process or their approach to pain management.

[Canada] Rethinking palliative care through three institutional ethnographic stories of people living with homelessness and life-limiting illnessINQUIRY: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, & Financing; by Courtney R. Petruik, Katrina Milaney; 11/25Fifteen to thirty percent of Canadians have access to palliative care, with even fewer access opportunities for people with experiences of homelessness. Part of a larger study, this paper examines how health and social systems shape the need for community-based palliative and end-of-life care, using 3 stories from clients of the Community Allied Mobile Palliative Partnership (CAMPP). Findings reveal systemic demands like renewing insurance for medical equipment, restrictive housing rules, and standardized hospital protocols that overwhelm capacities of many people with experiences of homelessness. Community-based palliative teams like CAMPP fill critical gaps in mainstream services by tailoring care to complex social realities.

[United Kingdom] Oakhaven Hospice's Santa Dash raises more than £30,000Daily Echo, United Kingdom; by Deb Gayen; 2/9/25 More than 1,160 Santas braved the rain for this year's Oakhaven Santa Dash. The festive 3km fun run through Lymington's streets took place on Sunday, December 7. Oakhaven Hospice's fundraiser has already brought in more than £30,000, with more sponsorships still being added. 

[United Kingdom] Hospice donation a 'no-brainer' after lottery win BBC News; by Patrick Barlow; 12/6/25 A lottery winner who donated thousands of pounds to a hospice after the death of her husband said the decision was a "no-brainer" given the care he received there. Linda Styles, donated £25,000 to the Heart of Kent Hospice, in Aylesford, Kent, after winning £250,000 in the People's Post Code Lottery. Ms Styles' husband, Owen Styles, died in March aged 60 having been cared for at the hospice after being diagnosed with terminal liver cancer six weeks before. 

From WhatsApp chat to worldwide connectionehospice; 11/25/25 When palliative care physician Ros Taylor reflected on the Global Palliative Doctors Network (GPDN) WhatsApp group, her words captured its essence — five guiding principles for a happier life: being connected, staying curious, continuing to learn, giving knowledge and support, and keeping the mind active. These principles lie at the heart of GPDN — a community built on connection, curiosity, and collective growth. What began as a simple WhatsApp chat among doctors has evolved into a global movement that transcends borders and brings together physicians dedicated to improving palliative care worldwide. [Click here for photo]

[United Kingdom] Warning issued as palliative care in England is ‘failing to meet people’s needs’ Independent; by Ella Pickover; 11/27/59 Palliative care services in England are "failing to meet people’s needs", a new parliamentary report has warned. Commissioned by MPs on the House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee, the findings attribute these shortcomings primarily to "insufficient funds" for services providing end-of-life and life-limiting condition care. The report highlighted that bereavement support for loved ones, while "valuable", is "frequently inaccessible". It also noted that palliative care patients and their families are "too rarely given the opportunity to plan effectively for the future". Painting a picture of services under "significant strain", the document cautions that health and care provisions are "ill-equipped" to address end-of-life needs, citing "insufficient" education and training.Editor's Note: Our ongoing distribution of posts from the United Kingdom report financial cuts from the UK government, resulting in insufficient funds to provide adequate staffing, facilities, supplies, and more. Want to learn more? Subscribers can login to your account and use the "Search Articles" field to find other posts, based on keywords you enter.

[Canada] Examining compassion satisfaction and work-related stress within a hospice for the homeless (H4H) organization: Results from a multi-method surveyAmerican Journal of Hospice & Palliative Care; by Celina Carter, Mary Anne Olalia, Justine Giosa; 10/25Communities in Canada have created targeted hospice palliative care strategies such as facility-based hospices for the homeless (H4H) to promote equitable access to care. We developed and administered an anonymous 26-item survey to 104 providers including both staff (eg, nurses, administrators) and volunteers at a facility-based H4H in Ontario. Requests for additional resources to foster workplace wellbeing included educational, process-related, spiritual/psychological, and social supports. Respondents storied that positive workplace wellbeing includes being able to provide quality care, and having supportive relationships, personal fulfillment, and a respectful culture within the workplace. Provider participants were satisfied with their ability to be effective carers, yet chronic multi-level work-related stressors can erode a sense of meaning in H4H work.

[Sweden] Living well with dementia: A qualitative interview study on family caregivers’ call for more person- and family-centered dementia supportBMC Geriatrics; by Pia Bastholm-Rahmner, Katharina Schmidt-Mende, Karin Modig, Monica Bergqvist; 10/25Family members are often the primary caregivers for individuals with dementia, but they face significant challenges in navigating health care and social services, especially as the disease progresses. Many caregivers experience loneliness, social isolation, and stress from sacrificing their own well-being. Three themes were identified [among caregivers]: (1) Struggling with conflicting emotions and social challenges - caregivers reported experiencing stress, physical exhaustion, and emotional strain due to constant availability and the challenges of managing behavioral changes, further intensified by isolation and shrinking social networks, (2) Balancing autonomy in care decisions - caregivers described the paradox of bearing full responsibility for care decisions despite having limited access to information, and, (3) Dependence on home care and nursing homes that are not adapted to needs - caregivers expressed a reliance on home care and nursing homes, yet noted that these services are often ill-equipped to address the specific demands of dementia care. 

[United Kingdom] 'I lie awake wondering how we fund our hospice' BBC News, Manchester, England; by Paul Burnell; 11/18/25 The boss of a large hospice has told how its financial problems are giving her sleepless nights. Rachel McMillan, chief executive of Moya Cole Hospice in Manchester, said it needed £20,000 daily to run it. "It keeps me awake at night - every day it is always a challenge." "The funding model is archaic, it's not fit for purpose," Ms. McMillan said. "We have to raise £20,000 every single day of the year just to keep the doors open."Editor's Note: I trust that you--our readers--can relate. And yet, our US Medicare payments provide much more financial support than UK counterparts. Still, Moya Cole Hospice--in the midst of tough financial decisions--continues to focus on quality care, as demonstrated in their ongoing top quality scores of "Outstanding" for the pattient and family care they provide.

[Australia] Defining the symptoms of personality and behaviour changes in brain tumour patients and their impact on caregiversSupportive Care in Cancer; by Emma McDougall, Haryana M Dhillon, Karin Piil, Lauren J Breen, Anna K Nowak, Sara Nordentoft, Sine Kjærgaard, Georgia K B Halkett; 10/25This study highlights the nuances and complexity in conceptualising personality changes in patients with a brain tumour and the grief, isolation, and safety concerns experienced by carers. Brain tumour-related aggression was identified as a significant concern by both healthcare professionals and carers, lacking clinical guidelines internationally for managing violence and aggression in this population. Future research is required to test interventions and support for safeguarding and risk management for patients and their family members.