Literature Review

[Germany] Benefits and challenges of recording biographical audiobooks by incurably ill parents to their children: A semi-structured interview studyPalliative Care & Social Practice; by Anja Greinacher, Sophia Enders, Lars Buschhorn, Beate Ditzen, Bernd Alt-Epping; 10/25The aim of this study is to identify positive and negative effects of a personal family audiobook recording on incurably ill patients with underage children, suggestions for improving the implementation, and feasibility in parallel with somatic treatment. Especially at an advanced stage of the disease and at a young age, the confrontation with one’s own illness is often not successful without taking one’s personal life story into account.There was evidence that the audiobook strengthened coping strategies; the concept of generativity seems particularly important. Nevertheless, the process was described as exhausting and challenging.

[India and worldwide] IAPC’s infographic of the month: ‘Preparing palliative care teams for a humanitarian crisis.’ ehospice; by IAPC and PallCHASE; 11/1/25 The Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPC) and the Palliative Care in Humanitarian Aid Situations and Emergencies (PallCHASE) have collaborated to bring out a ‘Special Series’ of infographics focusing on palliative care in humanitarian situations. This collaboration reflects the joint vision of both organisations to promote palliative care awareness and education across the world. The 4th infographic from this special series focuses on the concept of ‘Preparing Palliative Care Teams for a Humanitarian Crisis.’

Spain proposes major expansion of bereavement and palliative care leave Spanish News Today; 10/21/25 The Spanish Ministry of Labour has presented a draft Royal Decree that would significantly extend the amount of paid leave workers can take following the death of a close relative or when caring for a loved one receiving palliative care. Under the proposal, employees would see their bereavement leave increased from the current two days to ten working days in the event of the death of a spouse, common-law partner, child, parent, sibling, grandparent, or grandchild. One of the most important changes is flexibility: these ten days would not need to be taken consecutively.Editor's Note: For ongoing bipartisan advocacy for bereavement leave legislation throughout the United States, visit Evermore.org/advocacy.

[UK] Adopting the lens of the COM-B behaviour change model to qualitatively explore and understand public health implications of young adults' attitudes towards death-talkBMC Public Health; by Catrin Morgan-Duggan, Joanna Brooks, Lisa Graham-Wisener, Christine Rowland; 10/25The topic of death and dying holds universal significance, yet societal norms often discourage open discussions, leading to a culture of death-denial. The analysis revealed four key themes which collectively illustrate the complex interplay between individual attitudes and broader cultural influences in shaping how young adults perceive and discuss death and dying. The themes highlighted how internal and external factors affect the ability and willingness of young adults to engage in meaningful discussions about death. Factors such as social stigma, fear of causing distress, and a lack of communication skills were identified as significant barriers. Conversely, the recognition of the importance of death-talk, personal experiences with bereavement, and a supportive social environment were found to facilitate these discussions.

[Netherlands] Treatment satisfaction with nonoperative management of suspected hip fractures in nursing home patients with a Do-Not-Hospitalize directive: A prospective case series (NONU-HIP)Journal of Palliative Care; by Sverre A I Loggers, Romke Van Balen, Jeroen Steens, Hanna C Willems, Pamela Riezebos, Anja Wagenaar-Huisman, Michael H J Verhofstad, Esther M M Van Lieshout, Pieter Joosse; 9/25Some nursing home residents opt to forgo hospital admission in case of a suspected hip fracture due to the poor prognosis. This study assesses treatment satisfaction and quality of life in nursing home residents with a suspected hip fracture and a do-not-hospitalize directive. This study showed that nonoperative management of suspected proximal femoral fractures in nursing home patients that opted to forgo hospital admission, results in high treatment satisfaction, high quality of dying with good symptom control, and predictable short-term mortality rates. 

Uruguay's legislature votes to legalize euthanasia, a first for South America CBS News; by Associated Press; 10/16/25 Uruguay's senate passed a law decriminalizing euthanasia on Wednesday, putting the South American nation among a handful of other countries where seriously ill patients can legally obtain help to end their lives. It makes Uruguay the first country in predominantly Catholic Latin America to allow euthanasia via legislation. Colombia and Ecuador have decriminalized the practice through Supreme Court decisions. ... Fierce debates and spirited activism around the practice has gripped the region in recent years. ... The law, which moved forward in fits and starts over the last five years, cleared its final hurdle on Wednesday as 20 out of 31 senators voted in favor. 

[Finland] Management of dyspnea with high-flow nasal air or fan-A randomized controlled crossover trialJournal of Pain and Symptom Management; by Sirpa Leivo-Korpela, Heidi A Rantala, Lauri Lehtimäki, Reetta P Piili, Hannele Hasala, Tarja Korhonen, Juho T Lehto; 9/25[This study aimed to] assess the effect and feasibility of HFNT [high-flow nasal therapy] with air compared to fan therapy in relieving dyspnea among non-hypoxemic patients with incurable cancer. The effect of airflow through HFNT or fan on dyspnea did not differ in non-hypoxemic patients with advanced cancer. Both therapies seemed to give slight relief on dyspnea without significant adverse events. Thus, the choice between HFNT with air or fan should be made according to the patient´s preferences.

[Global] Top designs revealed in buildner’s Fourth Annual Hospice – Home for the Terminally Ill competition ArchDaily; 10/13/25 Buildner has announced the results of its fourth annual Hospice - Home for the Terminally Ill international architecture ideas competition. This global call for ideas continues to explore how architecture can support end-of-life care with empathy, dignity, and contextual sensitivity. The competition invited architects and designers to move beyond clinical requirements and envision spaces that offer emotional warmth, social connection, and a profound sense of place. ... An international jury reviewed the submissions for their design clarity, emotional resonance, and architectural depth. 

[Italy] The implantable cardioverter-defibrillators at the end of life: A double-edged sword of a life-saving technologyTrends in Cardiovascular Medicine; by Giacomo Mugnai, Davide Genovese, Luca Tomasi, Alessia Gambaro, Flavio Ribichini; 9/25Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) are critical for preventing sudden cardiac death, but their function poses a significant challenge in palliative care, where goals shift from life prolongation to comfort. A substantial percentage of patients receive painful, futile shocks in their final days, causing significant distress. This review synthesizes evidence on the impact of these shocks and underscores the gap between clinical practice and patient-centered care. Key barriers to timely ICD deactivation include clinician discomfort, patient misconceptions, and systemic flaws like fragmented care and absent institutional protocols. This review argues for a paradigm shift towards proactive, interdisciplinary care, calling for structured communication, routine advance care planning, and the integration of palliative cardiology models to ensure this life-saving technology does not compromise a dignified death.

[South Africa] Capturing the comfort and care of palliative care this World Hospice and Palliative Care Day Good Things Guy, South Africa; by Nothando Mthembu; 10/7/25 It’s said that a picture is worth a thousand words, and it is upon this very adage that the Association of Palliative Care Centres (APCC) of South Africa has launched a powerful photographic campaign to capture the dignity, comfort and support that patients facing life-threatening illness receive and deserve through the provision of palliative healthcare services. With the hope of showcasing the impact of palliative care through real-life stories and images, the ‘Through the Palliative Care Lens’ campaign aligns with the theme for World Hospice and Palliative Care Day 2025 (WHPCD2025): ‘Universal Access to Palliative Care’.

[Spain] Mapping palliative care for people living with advanced cancer in phase 1 clinical trials: A scoping reviewPalliative Medicine; by Diego Candelmi, Alazne Belar, Carla Zapata Del Mar, Ana Landa-Magdalena, Anna Vilalta-Lacarra, Mariano Ponz-Sarvisé, Carlos Centeno; 9/25This review highlights the unique needs of patients and caregivers in Phase 1 Cancer Clinical Trials and the complexities of integrating palliative care. Key results revealed patients' limited life expectancy, high symptom burden, distress and unmet spiritual needs [and]... patients were reluctant to seek prognostic information or engage in end-of-life discussions, complicating advance care planning. End-of-life care involved frequent unscheduled hospital admissions, hospital deaths and late hospice-care referrals. Caregivers experienced significant distress, while healthcare professionals faced barriers to integrating palliative care. Palliative care interventions varied widely in approaches, settings and outcomes.Assistant Editor's note: This article discusses how palliative care could benefit patients that are enrolled in phase 1 clinical trials for cancer. Traditionally, it has not been common practice for palliative care programs to serve these kinds of patients and their loved ones. This represents an opportunity for the expansion of much needed palliative care services.  

[India] Cancer cachexia: A meta-analysis of prevalence, outcomes, and interventionsSaudi Journal of Medicine; by Dr Sharique Ahmad, Dr Saeeda Wasim; 8/25Cancer cachexia, also known as cancer wasting, is a debilitating metabolic syndrome characterized by progressive weight loss, skeletal muscle atrophy, and systemic inflammation that cannot be fully reversed with standard nutritional support. It represents a distinct clinical entity, separate from malnutrition, due to its unique pathophysiology involving tumor-hostinteractions, cytokine-driven catabolism, and alterations in energy metabolism. This meta-analysis demonstrates that cancercachexia is highly prevalent, particularly in pancreatic and lung cancers, and strongly predicts poor survival and reduced treatment tolerance. Its high prevalence and significant impact highlight the urgent need for early recognition and systematic management in oncology practice.

[United Kingdom] 2 in 5 hospices planning to make cuts this year ehospice; by Hospice UK; 9/24/25 Data from Hospice UK reveals that as many as 2 in 5 hospices are planning to make cuts this year. With demand for services rising fast, the stark reality of insufficient funding leaves hospices with no option but to shrink services just as they should be expanding. Toby Porter, CEO of Hospice UK says: “Hospices are on the brink. Recent short-term funding for hospices in England, Scotland and Wales has been a genuine help, but as costs continue to snowball and demand keeps rising hospices can’t keep up and many are making or considering cuts.