Friday 14 November 2008

End of Life Care Strategy: quality markers consultation

End of Life Care Strategy: quality markers consultation
The DH has launched this consultation on quality markers for end of life care, as promised in the End of Life Care Strategy published in July. This document has been developed with help from the SHA Pathway Chairs for the NHS Next Stage Review, who identified the need for a national approach in order to raise the quality of care for people at the end of life. The document is aimed at commissioners, performance managers and providers of end of life care services, from the NHS, voluntary and independent sectors. (DH - publications)

Inoperable esophageal cancer and outcome of palliative care

Inoperable esophageal cancer and outcome of palliative care
Besharat S . ; Jabbari A . ; Semnani S . ; Keshtkar A . ; Marjani J .
World Journal of Gastroenterology
Page: 3725-3728 2008 Vol 14 Part 23

Palliative care

Palliative care
Annals of Oncology
Page: viii254-viii258
2008 VOL 19 SUPP / 8

Call for papers - paediatric care

Theme Issue on Palliative Care , Dying and Bereavement Call for papers
Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine
Page: 1098
Vol 162 ; Part 11 Date: 2008-November
The Archives will publish a "rolling theme issue" this year on palliative care, dying, and bereavement. We are interested in original articles, narrative and systematic reviews, and commentaries that will add to the scientific knowledge about these topics. Such articles might include observational longitudinal studies such as the effects of loss of a family member on children and adolescents; clinical trials examining specific interventions or evaluating different systems of delivering palliative, hospice, or bereavement care; and ethical analyses regarding how we decide on and enact the goals and limits of medical therapy.
Our intent is to bring these issues to the forefront of pediatrics and adolescent medicine, just as they are in the minds of those children and families who are confronted with such loss. We hope the attention of the Archives will advance science and provide help to the physicians dealing with these issues on behalf of their patients and families.
This call for papers will be an ongoing one, and we intend to publish articles on this topic throughout the year as the manuscripts are submitted and accepted. For specific guidelines on manuscript preparation and submission, please consult the author instructions on our Web site at http://www.archpediatrics.com/. Authors should indicate in their cover letter that the manuscript is to be considered for this theme.

Palliative care A patient - centered approach

Palliative care A patient - centered approach
Glare , P . A .
Medical Journal of Australia , The
Page: 400 2008 Vol 189 Part 7

Changes in Physical Function After Palliative Surgery for Metastatic Spinal Tumor

Link to journal
Yamashita, Takayuki ; Aota, Yoichi ; Kushida, Kazuyoshi ; Murayama, Hitoshi et al
Changes in Physical Function After Palliative Surgery for Metastatic Spinal Tumor: Association of the Revised Tokuhashi Score With Neurologic Recovery
Spine. 33(21):2341-2346, October 1, 2008.
Abstract
Study Design. A retrospective study of patients undergoing palliative surgery for metastatic spinal tumors.Objective. To investigate short-term functional recovery and duration of improvement after palliative surgery, to correlate these outcomes with the revised Tokuhashi score, and to examine the relationship between function and neurologic deterioration.Summary of Background Data. The revised Tokuhashi score is a scoring system used to predict life expectancy for patients with metastatic spinal tumors. The relationship between the revised Tokuhashi score and physical functional improvement after palliative surgery has not been examined previously.Methods. The clinical charts of 86 patients were reviewed. The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (ECOG-PS) was used to assess physical function. Each score was documented before surgery and at every month after surgery. The duration of ECOG-PS improvement, defined as the period between surgery and deterioration to the preoperative ECOG-PS grade, was correlated with the revised Tokuhashi score.Results. The ECOG-PS grade improved in 44 (51.1%) patients at 1 month postoperative. When ECOG-PS improvement was found after surgery, it persisted above the preoperative level for an average of 9.3 months. At 1 month postoperative, patients scoring 0 to 8 on the total revised Tokuhashi score had significantly lower ECOG-PS improvement (26 of 55 patients) when compared to patients with higher scores (18 of 27 patients, P <>

Balancing Palliative and Restorative Care Delivery

A New Model for Long - Term Care : Balancing Palliative and Restorative Care Delivery
Thompson , S . ; Oliver , D . P
Journal of Housing for the Elderly 2008 Vol 22 Part 3
Page: 169-194

Pharmaceutical Journal articles

Palliative care should not be forgotten
Pharmaceutical Journal
Page: B40 2008 ; Vol 281 ; Part 7523 ; Supp


UniChem Convention Palliative Care Pharmacists Network
Pharmaceutical Journal
Page: 451-451 2008 Vol 281 Part 7525

Journal of Hospice and Palliative Nursing Vol 10 Part 5 2008

I'll Always Want More : Complex Issues in HIV Palliative Care
Morgan , B . D . ; Kochan , K . A
Page: 265-271
What Are the Potential Factors That Sustain Registered Nurses Who Provide Home - Based Palliative and End - of - Life Care ?
Penz , K .
Page: 295-303
Modes of Participation in the Implementation of an Integrated Palliative Care Network : Viewpoints of the Stakeholders Involved
Morin , D . ; Saint - Laurent , L ; Bresse , M . - P . ; Fillion , L . ; Dallaire , C .
Page: 313-324
Palliative care and the trauma patient.
Cooper Z
page: 262-4

Pain management in palliative care oncology patients

Pain management in palliative care oncology patients
Gavrin , Jonathan ; McMenamin , Erin
Current Pain and Headache Reports
Page: 257-261 Vol 12 ; Part 4 Date: 2008/08/01

Promoting patient - centredness in undergraduate palliative care education

Really good stuff : Promoting patient - centredness in undergraduate palliative care education
Linklater , Gordon T
Medical Education Page: 1126-1127 2008 ; Vol 42 Part 11 Date November 2008