Literature Search - Issue No. 17 (July 2024)

The primary focus of this literature search is selected articles, etc., on key issues in end-of-life care for which the full text is available online. Added, however, are a few noteworthy articles, etc., but for which access to the full text is available only with a subscription or for a one-time fee for the article in question.1 Also listed are a few postings of special interest on key websites that serve the hospice and palliative care communities-at-large, and selected news media reports. The next listing will be published in approximately four to six weeks.

Articles of particular interest.

Libraries in educational institutions and medical centres may have a subscription to the journal in question and hold a photocopying licence, which may facilitate cost-effective access.

Access to Care

  1. ‘Accessibility to palliative care services in Colombia: An analysis of geographic disparities,’ BMC Public Health. Posted online 21 June 2024. Full text
  2. ‘Health care providers’ perspectives on the need for palliative care in Upper Egypt: A descriptive exploratory study including children and adult patients,’ BMC Palliative Care. Posted online 15 June 2024. Full text
  3. ‘Uncovering the gaps of palliative care in Pakistan,’ Cancer Clinics Journal, 2024;3(2):1018. Full text

Website Postings of Interest: ‘Overcoming barriers to palliative care,’ eHospice (International), 1 July 2024; ‘Improving access to palliative care,’ eHospice (International), 26 June 2024.

News Media Reports of Interest: ‘No palliative care for 98% of Stage-IV cancer patients in India,’ The New Indian Express, 1 July 2024;‘The palliative care challenge facing universal healthcare in South Africa,’ George Herald, 27 June 2024; ‘Push for paediatric palliative care in Luxembourg,’ Luxembourg Times, 24 June 2024; ‘Children with cancer and rare diseases and palliative care: In Italy only 15% of young patients have access,’ World Stock Market, 13 June 2024.

Policy & Practice

  1. ‘Palliative, hospice, and end-of-life care special issue introductory editorial,’ Patient Education & Counseling Innovation (U.S.). Posted online 4 July 2024. Full text

    Related:

    1.2 ‘Integrating curative and palliative care: It can be done,’ Medscape (U.S.). Posted online 13 June 2024. Full text

  2. ‘Prevalence, trends, and specialized palliative care utilization in Taiwanese children and young adults with life-limiting conditions between 2008 and 2017: A nationwide population-based study,’ Archives of Public Health (Taiwan). Posted online 3 July 2024. Full text
  3. ‘Palliative care national plan implementation through stakeholder analysis,’ BMC Palliative Care (Colombia). Posted online 1 July 2024. Full text

    Related:

    3.2 ‘Evaluation of the concept of value-based healthcare applied to an integrated palliative care program in Colombia,’ Value in Health Regional Issues. Accessed online 11 June 2024. Abstract (w. Introduction, Section Snippets, References, etc.)

  4. ‘Nurse shortages mean patients are “dying alone” – Royal College of Nursing survey,’ Nursing Times (U.K.). Posted online 1 July 2024. Full text
  5. ‘Concise review of end of life and palliative care in neuromuscular pathologies: Still a long pathway ahead,’ Acta Myol (Italy). Posted online 30 June 2024. Full text
  6. ‘Regional hospice and palliative care networks worldwide: Scoping review,’ BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care (Germany). Posted online 27 June 2024. Full text
  7. ‘Experiencing and enduring patient distress: The distress of palliative care patients and its emotional impact on physicians in training,’ BMC Medical Education (France). Posted online 26 June 2024. Full text

    Related:

    7.2 ‘Moral distress and pediatric palliative care,’ Children (U.S.). Posted online 21 June 2024. Full text

    7.3 ‘Compassion fatigue in palliative care: Exploring its comprehensive impact on geriatric nursing well-being and care quality in end of life,’ Geriatric Nursing. Posted online 6 June 2024. Abstract (w. Introduction, Section Snippets, References, etc.).

    N.B. Contributing authors from Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

  8. ‘Factors influencing deprescribing in primary care for those towards the end of life: A qualitative interview study with patients and healthcare practitioners,’ Palliative Medicine (The Netherlands). Posted online 25 June 2024. Full text
  9. ‘Comparison of the perception of palliative care by healthcare professionals in some countries around the world: A systematic review,’ Annals of Palliative Medicine (Brazil). Posted online 24 June 2024. Full text
  10. ‘“Beyond the reach of palliative care”: A qualitative study of patient and public experiences and anticipation of death and dying,’ Qualitative Health Research (U.K.). Posted online 21 June 2024. Full text

    Related:

    10.2 ‘Small steps, big vision: Using multi-stage qualitative research to develop a grab-and-go guide to support utilisation of the Ambitions for Palliative & End of Life Care framework,’ BMC Palliative Care (U.K.). Posted online 14 June 2024. Full text

    N.B. Ambitions for Palliative and End of Life Care website

  11. ‘The context of care as a supporting axis for comfort in a palliative care unit,’ Palliative Care & Social Practice (Portugal). Posted online 12 June 2024. Full text
  12. ‘Quality of palliative and end-of-life care: A qualitative study of experts’ recommendations to improve indicators in Quebec,’ BMC Palliative Care (Canada). Posted online 10 June 2024. Full text
  13. ‘Impact of a prospective feedback loop aimed at reducing non-beneficial treatments in older people admitted to hospital and potentially nearing the end of life. A cluster stepped-wedge randomised controlled trial,’ Age & Ageing (Australia). Posted online 9 June 2024. Full text
  14. ‘Availability and stability of palliative care for family members of terminally ill patients in an integrated model of health and social care,’ BMC Palliative Care (China). Posted online 5 June 2024. Full text

Education & Training

  1. ‘Assessing pediatric resident needs in grief and bereavement education,’ Journal of Pain & Symptom Management (U.S.). Posted online 3 July 2024. Abstract (w. Introduction, Section Snippets, References, etc.)

    Related:

    1.2 ‘Effectiveness of an interdisciplinary pediatric and neonatal palliative care simulation program in India,’ Clinical Simulation in Nursing. Posted online 2 July 2024. Abstract (w. Introduction, Section Snippets, References, etc.)

    1.3 ‘Self-assessed educational needs of Chinese pediatric clinicians regarding pediatric palliative care: A cross-sectional investigation,’ Children (China). Posted online 12 June 2024. Full text

    1.4 ‘Knowledge of pediatric residents about concepts and teaching of palliative care during postgraduate studies,’ Residência Pediátrica (Brazil), 2024;14(2):1-6. Full text

  2. ‘Death and dying in pharmacy learners: A critical review,’ Currents in Pharmacy Teaching & Learning (U.S.). Posted online 1 July 2024. Abstract (w. Introduction, Section Snippets, References, etc.)

    Related:

    2.2 ‘Safely gaining experience in death and dying: Simulation in palliative care and end-of-life education,’ Currents in Pharmacy Teaching & Learning (U.S.). Posted online 14 June 2024. Abstract (w. Introduction, Section Snippets, References, etc.)

  3. ‘Effective use of role-modeling videos for end-of-life education,’ Journal of Professional Nursing (U.S.). Posted online 30 June 2024. Full text
  4. ‘Outpatient training during hospice and palliative medicine fellowship: A national survey,’ Journal of Pain & Symptom Management (U.S.). Posted online 29 June 2024. Abstract (w. Introduction, Section Snippets, References, etc.)
  5. ‘Developing palliative care skills in undergraduate allied health students using an interprofessional simulation-based learning experience,’ Health Professional Education (Australia). Posted online 28 June 2024. Full text (click on pdf icon)

    Related:

    5.2 ‘Palliative care education in undergraduate medical and nursing programs in Colombia: A cross-sectional analysis,’ BMC Palliative Care. Posted online 13 June 2024. Full text

  6. ‘Attitudes toward death among health care professionals in the Balkan region,’ Current Oncology (Serbia). Posted online 12 June 2024. Full text

Website Posting of Interest: ‘Supporting the journey home: The process of co-designing an education program to strengthen palliative care capacity in First Nations communities,’ eHospice (Canada), 19 June 2024.

Essential Medicines

  1. ‘Opioid access among advanced cancer patients in low- and middle-income countries in Asia,’ Journal of Pain & Symptom Management. Posted online 2 July 2024. Abstract (w. Introduction, Section Snippets, References, etc.)

    N.B. Contributing authors from Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam.

  2. ‘Analysis of opioid analgesics consumption in Africa: A longitudinal study from a 20-year continental perspective,’ The Lancet Global Health, 2024;12(7):E1120-1128. Full text

    N.B. The study encompassed 57 African countries; contributing authors from Denmark, France, Morrocco, Rwanda and Switzerland.

    Related:

    1. ‘Analysis of opioid analgesic consumption in Africa,’ The Lancet Global Health, 2024;12(7): E1075-E1076. Full text

Website Postings of Interest: ‘Shortages of critical pain relief continue – advice to clinicians,’ Palliative Care Australia, 26 June 2024; ‘New national core community palliative care medicines list,’ Palliative Care Australia, 17 June 2024.

Research (Issues)

  1. ‘Hidden from sight – from the closet to the paywall: A rapid evaluation of restricted and monetized access to LGBTQ+ inclusive palliative, end-of-life, and bereavement care research,’ Journal of Pain & Symptom Management. Posted online 27 June 2024. Abstract (w. Introduction, Section Snippets, References, etc.)

    N.B. Contributing authors from the U.K. and the U.S.

  2. ‘Understanding barriers and facilitators to palliative and end-of-life care research: A mixed method study of generalist and specialist health, social care, and research professionals,’ BMC Palliative Care (U.K.). Posted online 24 June 2024. Full text
  3. ‘Co-design use in palliative care intervention development: A systematic review,’ Journal of Pain & Symptom Management. Posted online 22 June 2024. Abstract (w. Introduction, Section Snippets, References, etc.)

    N.B. Contributing authors from Canada and the U.S.

  4. ‘Development of the TIFFIN recommendations for co-producing palliative and end-of-life care research with individuals with lived experience of homelessness: A qualitative study,’ Palliative Medicine (U.K.). Posted online 19 June 2024. Full text

    N.B. TIFFIN = Transparency, Importance of engagement and rapport, Facilitating equitable involvement via person centred approach, Financial recognition of involvement, Involvement and growth through a trauma-informed approach, and Navigating institutional resistance and attitudes. Download Marie Curie report

  5. ‘Naming racism as a root cause of inequities in palliative care research: A scoping review,’ BMC Palliative Care (Canada). Posted online 10 June 2024. Full text
  6. ‘How to conduct research in palliative care? A perspective from Italy,’ Annali dell'Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 2024;60(1):64-71. Full text (click on pdf icon)

Research (Call for Papers)

  1. ‘Palliative sedation,’ BMC Palliative Care. Submission deadline 20 March 2025:

Research (Protocols)

  1. ‘Patients’ and caregivers’ perception of multidimensional and palliative care in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: Protocol of a German multicentre study,’ Neurological Research & Practice (Germany). Posted online 4 July 2024. Full text
  2. ‘Improving patients’, carers’ and primary care healthcare professionals’ experiences of discharge communication from specialist palliative care to community settings: A protocol for a qualitative interview study,’ BMC Palliative Care (U.K.). Posted online 20 June 2024. Full text

Of Related Interest

Assisted Dying Practices

  1. ‘Words matter: Why distinguishing medical aid in dying from suicide should matter to a consultation/liaison psychiatrist,’ Journal of Academy of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry (U.S.). Posted online 2 July 2024. a href="https://bit.ly/3RNfBE0">Abstract (w. Introduction, Section Snippets, References, etc.)

    Related:

    1.2 ‘Between medicine, humanities and the law: Compiling a living archive of assisted dying,’ Medical Humanities. Posted online 27 June 2024. Full text

    N.B. Contributing authors from Canada and Switzerland.

    1.3 ‘When medical assistance in dying is not a last resort option: Survey of the Canadian public,’ BMJ Open (Canada). Posted online 23 June 2024. Full text

    1.4 ‘Patients’ and caregivers’ suggestions for improving assisted dying regulation: A qualitative study in Australia and Canada,’ Health Expectations. Posted online 19 June 2024. Full text

    1.5 ‘For, against, and beyond: Healthcare professionals’ positions on medical assistance in dying in Spain,’ BMC Medical Ethics. Posted online 14 June 2024. Full text

    1.6 ‘Importance of investigating vulnerabilities in health and social service provision among requestors of medical assistance in dying,’ The Lancet Regional Health (Canada). Posted online 12 June 2024. Full text

    N.B. See special issue of ‘Literature Search’ on assisted dying practices

News Media Report of Interest: ‘Euthanasia’s forgotten casualty: Palliative care,’ The Catholic Register (Canada), 13 June 2024.

Pediatric Palliative Care

  1. ‘The spiritual dimension of parents’ experiences caring for a seriously ill child: An interview study,’ Journal of Pain & Symptom Management (The Netherlands). Posted online 2 July 2024. Full text

    Related:

    2.2 ‘The home-based experiences of palliative and hospice care for children and caregivers (EXPERIENCE) measure: Evaluation of psychometric properties,’ Journal of Pain & Symptom Management. Posted online 26 June 2024. Full text

    N..B. Contributing authors from Canada and the U.S.

    2.3 ‘Pediatric palliative care: What the general pediatrician needs to know,’ Contemporary Pediatrics (U.S.). Posted online 14 June 2024. Full text

    2.4 ‘Differences in the knowledge, attitudes, and needs of caregivers and healthcare providers regarding palliative care: A cross-sectional investigation in pediatric settings in China,’ BMC Nursing. Posted online 6 June 2024. Full text

    2.5 ‘An evolutionary concept analysis of pediatric hospice and palliative care,’ Journal of Hospice & Palliative Care (Korea). Posted online 1 June 2024. Full text

    2.6 ‘Pediatric palliative care: A place for hope,’ Missouri Medicine (U.S.), 2024;121(3):204-205. Full text

    Website Postings of Interest: ‘Children’s hospice services under threat as National Health Service funding falls,’ 1Together For Short Lives (U.K.), 19 June 2024; ‘Development of national paediatric palliative care training manual for doctors and nurses in Nepal,’ eHospice, 14 June 2024.

    1. ‘Short Lives Can’t Wait: Children’s Hospice Funding in 2024,’ Together For short Lives, June 2024.

News Media Report of Interest: ‘A difficult, necessary reality: We need a pediatric palliative care strategy in Ontario,’ The Hamilton Spectator (Canada), 11 June 2024.

Cultural & Linguistic Diversity

  1. ‘Culturally centered palliative care: A framework for equitable neurocritical care,’ Neurocritical Care (U.S.). Posted online 2 July 2024. Full text

    Related:

    3.2 ‘“I tried to get into their shoes and their culture”: Care worker experiences in cultural end-of-life care: Interpretative phenomenological analysis,’ Journal of Clinical Nursing (Australia). Posted online 17 June 2024. Full text

    Website Posting of Interest: ‘Increasing diversity: Why and how?’ Hospice UK (U.K.), 10 June 2024.

    News Media Report of Interest: ‘Aged and palliative care services adapt for migrant communities,’ SBS News (Australia), 4 July 2024.

COVID-19

  1. ‘The first casualty of COVID-19 for patients nearing death was human dignity: Understanding the experience of palliative care patients during the COVID-19 pandemic’ Death Studies (Canada). Posted online 1 July 2024. Full text

Critical/Intensive Care

  1. ‘Factors associated with quality-of-dying-and-death classes among critically ill patients,’ JAMA Network Open (Taiwan). Posted online 1 July 2024. Full text

    Related:

    5.2 ‘Interprofessional interventions and factors that improve end-of-life care in intensive care units: An integratory review,’ Enfermería Intensiva. Posted online 22 June 2024. Abstract (w. Introduction, Section Snippets, References, etc.)

    N.B. Contributing authors from Columbia and Spain.

    5.3 ‘Racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic differences in critical care near the end of life: A narrative review,’ Critical Care Clinics (U.S.). Posted online 12 June 2024. Section Snippets, First Page Preview, References, etc.

    5.4 ‘The whole is more than the sum of its parts: Critical care and palliative care,’ Advanced Critical Care, 2024;35(2):110-111 (U.S.). Full text

Internal Medicine

  1. ‘Palliatív betegellátás belgyógyászati osztályon (Palliative care in a department of internal medicine),’ Orv Hetil (Hungary). Posted online 30 June 2024. Full Hungarian text (w. English language abstract)

Aged, Long-Term & Residential Care

  1. ‘The effectiveness of palliative care interventions in long-term care facilities: A systematic review,’ Journal of Personalized Medicine (Taiwan). Posted online 28 June 2024. Full text

    Related:

    7.2 ‘Estimating potential palliative care needs for residential aged care: A population-based retrospective cohort study,’ Australasian Journal on Ageing (Australia). Posted online 24 June 2024. Full text

    7.3 ‘Physicians’ understandings and experience of advance care planning in Norwegian nursing homes: A qualitative study,’ BMC Palliative Care (Norway). Posted on 24 June 2024. Full text

    7.4 ‘Number of palliative care nurse home visits and duration of palliative care associated with domains of the Good Death Inventory: A national survey of bereaved family caregivers in a middle income country,’ International Journal of Nursing Studies Advances (Kazakhstan). Posted online 15 June 2024. Full text

    7.5 ‘End-of-life care in German and Dutch nursing homes: A cross-sectional study on nursing home staff’s perspective in 2022,’ Archives of Public Health (Germany & The Netherlands). Posted online 14 June 2024. Full text

    7.6 ‘Challenges in recognizing and discussing changes in a resident’s condition in the palliative phase: Focus group discussions with nursing staff working in nursing homes about their experiences,’ BMC Palliative Care (The Netherlands). Posted online 10 June 2024. Full text

The Surprise Question

  1. ‘The Surprise Question and clinician-predicted prognosis: Systematic review and meta-analysis,’ BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care (U.K.). Posted online 26 June 2024. Full text

Place of Death

  1. ‘“It turned out right for both of us”: A qualitative study about a preference for home death and actual place of death,’ Death Studies (Norway). Posted online 25 June 2024. Full text

Socioeconomic Status

  1. ‘The Cost of Dying Exhibition: Public, professional and political reactions to a visual exhibition depicting experiences of poverty at the end of life,’ Medical Humanities (U.K.). Posted online 24 June 2024. Full text

Care Planning & Serious Illness Conversations

  1. ‘Providing clarity: Communicating the benefits of palliative care beyond end-of-life support,’ Palliative Care & Social Practice (U.S.). Posted online 24 June 2024. Full text

    Related:

    11.2 ‘Tools for tomorrow: A scoping review of patient-facing tools for advance care planning,’ Palliative Care & Social Practice (U.S.). Posted online 24 June 2024. Full text

    11.3 ‘Advance care planning in 2024 and beyond – hoping for harmony amidst cacophony,’ JAMA Network Open (U.S.). Posted online 18 June 2024. Full text

    11.4 ‘How to talk about dying? The development of an evidence-based model for communication with patients in their last days of life and their family caregivers,’ PEC Innovation (Switzerland). Posted online 18 June 2024. Full text

    11.5 ‘Clinicians’ experiences implementing an advance care planning pathway in two Canadian provinces: A qualitative study,’ BMC Primary Care (Canada). Posted online 15 June 2024. Full text

    11.6 ‘Serious illness communication tool for palliative care fellows: Development, implementation, and lessons learned,’ American Journal of Hospice & Palliative Medicine (U.S.). Posted online 13 June 2024. Full text

    Website Postings of Interest: ‘A model to develop the hospice volunteer workforce to capture informal conversations,’ eHospice (U.K.), 18 June 2024; ‘Conversations sur les maladies graves: Être entendu et vu,’ eHospice (Canada), 13 June 2024.

End-of-Life Care in Remote & Rural Areas

  1. ‘Exploring the “citizen organization”: An evaluation of a regional Australian community-based palliative care service model,’ Palliative Care & Social Practice (Australia). Posted online 24 June 2024. Full text

    Related:

    12.2 ‘Healthcare professionals’ experiences of video consultations in palliative care in rural areas: An intervention study in community care,’ BMC Health Services Research (Sweden). Posted online 17 June 2024. Full text

Oncology

  1. ‘End-of-life care needs in cancer patients: A qualitative study of patient and family experiences,’ BMC Palliative Care (Spain). Posted online 21 June 2024. Full text

    Related:

    News Media Report of Interest: ‘Top oncologists say everyone with advanced cancer needs early palliative care. Here are 6 things to know,’ ABC News (U.S.), 20 June 2024.

Palliative Sedation

  1. ‘Report on palliative sedation medication usage: A survey of palliative care experts in eight European countries,’ BMC Palliative Care. Posted online 20 June 2024. Full text

    N.B. Contributing authors from Belgium, Germany, Hungary, Italy, The Netherlands, Romania, Spain, and the U.K.

Technology

  1. ‘AI mortality predictor enhances end-of-life care and palliative support,’ Targeted Therapies in Oncology (U.S.). Posted online 20 June 2024. Full text

    Related:

    15.2 ‘Robotic animal use among older adults enrolled in palliative or hospice care: A scoping review and framework for future research,’ Robotics. Posted online 14 June 2024. Full text

    N.B. Contributing authors from Canada and the U.S.

    15.3 ‘Enhancing professional quality of life in palliative care through a virtual training program,’ Medical Education. Posted online 12 June 2024. Full text

    N.B. Contributing authors from Ecuador and Spain.

Underserved & Vulnerable Populations

  1. ‘Adapting the serious illness conversation guide for unhoused older adults: A rapid qualitative study,’ BMC Palliative Care (U.S.). Posted online 17 June 2024. Full text

Grief & Bereavement

  1. ‘Supporting the grieving child and family: Clinical report,’ Pediatrics (U.S.). Posted online 17 June 2024. Full text

    Related:

    17.2 ‘Bereaved pupil support in schools: Teacher training,’ BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care (U.K.). Posted online 14 June 2024. Full text

HIV

  1. ‘Palliative care in patients with advanced HIV disease,’ HIV Nursing Matters (South Africa), 2024;June:32-39. Full text

Community & Home-Based Palliative Care

  1. ‘Homecare workers needs and experiences in end-of-life care: Rapid review,’ BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care (U.K.). Posted online 15 March 2024. Full text

Website Postings of Interest

Asia-Pacific

  1. ‘The future of the care economy,’ eHospice (Australia), 12 June 2024.

    N.B. Prof. David Currow’s lecture begins at approximately the 28:00 minute mark in the video.

    Related:

    1.2 ‘All too little, all too late: Improving Australia’s end-of-life experience,’ Inside Ageing, 14 June 2024.

Europe

  1. ‘Challenging traditional views of hospice,’ eHospice (U.K.), 19 June 2024.

    Related:

    2.2 ‘Moving forward – a time for new leadership in hospice and palliative care,’ eHospice, (U.K.), 12 June 2024.

International

  1. ‘End-of-Life Care Behind Bars: A new web resource,’ eHospice, 30 May 2024.

Selected News Media Reports

Europe

  1. ‘The hospice as a sacred place,’ The New Statesman (U.K.), 21 June 2024.

North America

  1. ‘Jimmy Carter’s long stay in hospice dispels myths about end-of-life care,’ United Press International (U.S.), 24 June 2024.