Volume 24, Number 8: August 2023
On My Radar
Barry Ashpole's latest Literature Search highlights several key issues in end-of-life care, such as: access to essential medicines, investment in education & training, racial & ethnic disparities, home-based palliative care, access to palliative care in rural & remote areas, and neuro-palliative care. Also, the integration of palliative care in geriatric medicine is gaining traction. There’s more. A lot more. See the 4th edition for the full list.
Notable: The journal Clinics in Geriatric Medicine has published a special issue (Volume 39, Issue 3) on palliative care for the older adult. The editor's introduction says, "This journal offers a holistic view of how to recognize the palliative care needs of the elderly, as well as provides evidence-based approaches for providing care to this population."
Measuring and Exploring the Barriers to Translating Palliative Care Knowledge into Clinical Practice in Rural and Regional Health-Care Settings. Aregay A, O'Connor M, Stow J, Ayers N, Lee S. Palliative & Supportive Care. Published online June 30, 2023. DOI: 10.1017/S1478951523000755
A qualitative study based on a survey of 173 nurses and interviews with 42 health professionals in a district of Ethiopia showed that changing teaching methods and engaging policymakers are needed to improve palliative care practices and enhance nurses' knowledge. Responses revealed that palliative care is only available to those with HIV. Six barriers were identified, including gaps in training and lack of resources. Despite the country's advanced palliative care policy development (it is a fifth pillar in national health policies), political commitment was low, as the government is focused on curable and preventable diseases.
Perceived Palliative Care Education Needs of GP Trainees: A national study. O'Brien H, Kruger C, Ravindrarsan S, Kely F, Foley T. J Pain Symptom Manage. Published online June 26, 2023. DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2023.06.021
In this, the first multi-site national qualitative study exploring the perceived palliative care educational needs and preferred educational methods of GP trainees, they expressed a unanimous need for experiential palliative care education. Trainees also identified means to address their educational requirements.
An Assessment of Childhood Cancer Care Services in India – Gaps, Challenges and the Way Forward. The Lancet (Regional Health: Southeast Asia). Posted online June 19, 2023. DOI: 10.1016/j.lansea.2023.100235
Childhood cancers are emerging as an essential concern in India where there is lack of a specific programme component or policy to address childhood cancer control. The survey was conducted in 137 tertiary-level and 92 secondary-level hospitals in 26 states and 4 Union Territories. There were gaps in the availability of specialised pediatric oncology care in all the tertiary hospitals. The availability of childhood cancer care services was higher in private and NGO-managed hospitals than in public hospitals.