End of Life Care Horizon Scanning Bulletin Volume 8 Issue 8

Results of a national survey of support to adult care homes in England: A specialist palliative care provider perspective

Source: The National Council for Palliative Care 

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Date of publication: August 2017

Publication type: Report

In a nutshell: This report is the first study at a national level of specialist palliative care support to care homes. It combines quantitative and qualitative approaches to give insights into the challenges faced by care homes and specialist palliative care services supporting them to provide high quality end of life care. It also provides examples of good practice and recommendations for future work.

Length of publication: 49 pages

 

Supporting carers to manage pain medication in cancer patients at the end of life: A feasibility trial

Source: Palliative Medicine

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Date of publication: July 2017

Publication type: Journal Article

In a nutshell: This article discusses a nurse-led intervention to help carers with medication management, and evaluated its use in routine practice.  The Cancer Carers’ Medicines Management (CCMM) intervention addresses carers’ beliefs, knowledge and skills and promotes self-evaluation of competence. It centres on a structured conversational process between a nurse and carer.  The research showed that the CCMM intervention compared favourably with current practice as it offered a more systematic and comprehensive approach to supporting carer management of pain medicines.

Length of publication: 11 pages

A qualitative inquiry into the barriers and facilitators to achieving home death

Source: BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care  [E-pub ahead of print]  doi: 10.1136/bmjspcare-2016-001260

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Date of publication: July 2017

Publication type: Journal Article

In a nutshell:  Multiple barriers and facilitators to achieving death at home were identified in this study. Of particular significance was the identification of the fear and stigma associated with death among doctors, patients and their families serving as a barrier to home death, not previously identified in the literature. Additionally, the importance of social networks and resource provision were highlighted as key in influencing patient death at home.

Length of publication: 1 page

Some important notes: Please contact your local NHS Library for the full text of the article. Follow this link to find your local NHS Library.

 

St Catherine’s Hospice education programme improves end of life care in the community

Source: eHospice

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Date of publication: August 2017

Publication type: News Item

In a nutshell: The Community Transform programme was delivered by clinical educators from St Catherine’s Hospice to staff working in primary care and nursing and residential homes.  The aim is that better joined-up working between health and social care workers such as GPs, district nurses and the Clinical Nurse Specialists leads to a better service for patients and avoids inappropriate admissions to hospital.

Length of publication: 1 page

 

Implementing the compassion intervention, a model for integrated care for people with advanced dementia towards the end of life in nursing homes: a naturalistic feasibility study

Source: BMJ Open  Jun 2017, 7 (6) e015515

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Date of publication: June 2017

Publication type: Journal Article

In a nutshell:  Many people with dementia die in nursing homes, but quality of care may be suboptimal.  The article discusses a theory-driven ‘Compassion Intervention’ to enhance end-of-life care in advanced dementia.  The Intervention prompted improvements in advance care planning, pain management and person-centred care.

Length of publication: 16 pages

New book about LGBTQ-inclusive hospice care is relevant to all patients

Source: eHospice

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Date of publication: July 2017

Publication type: Book review

In a nutshell:  This book covers LGBTQ issues but is relevant for all patients, whatever their characteristics or background, offering something for all professionals in hospice and palliative care.

Length of publication: 1 page

Some important notes: For more information about the book visit Harrington Park Press

 

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