European Journal of Palliative Care - 2014


Comment: Palliative care and oncology: the case for early integration
Tiina Saarto
pp 109-109
As cancer incidence is forecast to rise significantly across Europe in the next decades, there will be an increased need for palliative care. For example, in Finland, the number of new cancer cases is expected to increase by 29% by 2020.
The use of action research as a methodology in healthcare research
Jo Hockley and Min Stacpoole
pp 110-114
What is action research and how can it be used as a methodology in healthcare research? Jo Hockley and Min Stacpoole tell us more, using the example of a study on the use of the Namaste Care programme in nursing home residents.
Euthanasia and assisted suicide: view of the Polish Association for Palliative Medicine and Polish Psycho-oncology Society
Wojciech Leppert, Krystyna de Walden Galuszko, Jadwiga Pyszkowska and Mikolaj Majkowicz
pp 115-118
The next country to feature in our series on assisted suicide across Europe is Poland, with a paper by Wojciech Leppert, Krystyna de Walden Galuszko, Jadwiga Pyszkowska and Mikolaj Majkowicz that presents the point of view of the Polish Association for Palliative Medicine and the Polish Psycho-oncology Society.
Case study masterclass 74: Withdrawing non-invasive ventilation in a patient with motor neurone disease
Andrew Jenks
pp 119-120
Ruth is a 78-year-old retired teacher. Her husband died five years ago and she lives in a large bungalow with her son Shaun, who is in his 40s. There is no other family. Until recently, Ruth led an active life, volunteering in a local charity shop and painting watercolours. About 18 months ago, she started to experience difficulties with fine motor skills.
Case study masterclass 73 answers: Treatment-induced oral mucositis in a patient with oropharyngeal cancer
Brendan McCann
pp 121-121
Improving care for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease – a small pilot project in Scotland
Irene Stevens, Jacquelyn Chaplin, Alison Freeman and Scott Davidson
pp 122-126
A patient-held record including an anticipatory care plan was tested in nine patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. Irene Stevens, Jacquelyn Chaplin, Alison Freeman and Scott Davidson share the results.
The influence of childhood trauma upon dying
Caroline Worsfold
pp 127-129
Psychoanalytical probing of the early life of a patient may enable end-of-life care practitioners to help patients find greater peace and understanding, argues Caroline Worsfold, using case studies of three patients from St Benedict’s Hospice in the UK.
Meaning of life in nurses caring for patients at the end of life
Georgeana Gama, Filipe Barbosa and Margarida Vieira
pp 130-135
Nurses caring for patients at the end of life are heavily exposed to death. Finding meaning in their own lives will help them cope, as well as enhance their personal and professional development. Georgeana Gama, Filipe Barbosa and Margarida Vieira report on a survey of 360 nurses in Portugal.
WISH forum: a five-step plan of action for improving end-of-life care
Josie Mitchell
pp 136-137
At the World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH) in Qatar in December 2013, experts discussed global health problems, including how to improve end-of-life care worldwide. Josie Mitchell gives us a glimpse of the recommendations on end-of-life care.
The feasibility of using goal attainment scaling in an acute oncology setting
Nimisha Panchmatia and Catherine Urch
pp 138-143
Can goal attainment scaling (GAS) be used in hospital inpatients with advanced cancer? Twelve patients undergoing occupational therapy on two London wards participated in a study using GAS. Here, Nimisha Panchmatia and Catherine Urch report on the results.
Galilee: creating a palliative care unit in Greece
Aliki Tserkezoglou and Elisabeth Patiraki
pp 144-147
Based near Athens, Galilee has provided home care since March 2010 and day care since November 2011. Aliki Tserkezoglou and Elisabeth Patiraki describe the challenges involved in setting up this independent palliative care unit, the first of its kind in Greece.
A new EAPC Task Force will investigate hospice volunteering in Europe
Leena Pelttari, Anna H Pissarek and Ros Scott
pp 148-149
Volunteers bring a unique quality to palliative care and help to meet rising demand for care. How can their involvement be further developed? An EAPC Task Force has been created to explore this question, as Leena Pelttari, Anna H Pissarek and Ros Scott explain.
Do tertiary cancer centres need 24-hour access to specialist palliative care?
Owen J Pooley, Agnes Noble, Ann Griffiths and Alison Coackley
pp 150-152
National guidance in the UK recommends that out-of-hours specialist palliative care advice should be available to healthcare practitioners caring for patients at the end of life. Owen J Pooley, Agnes Noble, Ann Griffiths and Alison Coackley investigate staff attitudes to an informal arrangement for such advice at a UK tertiary cancer centre.
European insight: Palliative care in Catalonia: advances and challenges
Miquel Domènech i Mestre, Elena Camell i Ilari, Rosor Llorens i Garangou, Josep Maria Martinez i Barriuso and Josep Porta i Sales
pp 153-155
The Catalonian-Balearic Palliative Care Society endeavours to develop and promote palliative care in the Spanish autonomous regions of Catalonia and the Balearic Islands. With close links to the Catalonia WHO demonstration project for palliative care implementation, it has achieved a lot since its creation in 1989.