Literature Search: Issue No. 2 (May 2023)

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 two months.

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. ‘Access to Palliative Care In Canada,’ Canadian Institute for Health Information. Posted online 27 April 2023. Download
  2. ‘International Children’s Palliative Care Network Impact Report, March 2023.’ Posted on the Network’s website 27 April 2023. Download
  3. ‘Proposal for improving access to palliative care by enhancing primary care services in an upper middle-income country,’ eCancer. Accessed online 28 April 2023. Full text
  4. ‘Surgery: A crucial ally for universal palliative care access,’ The Lancet (Global Health), 2023;11(5):E650-E652. Full text
  5. ‘Greater focus needed on palliative care for disability community,’ Palliative Care Australia. Posted online 12 April 2023. Full text 

    Related:

    5.2 ‘Palliative and end-of-life care for people with disability,’ North and West Metropolitan Region Palliative Care Consortium (Melbourne, Australia), April 2023. Download

  6.  ‘Access to hospice and palliative care is lacking in many low- and middle-income countries,’ Oncology Nursing News. Posted online 6 April 2023. Full text

    Related:

    6.2 ‘Effect of training on physicians’ palliative care-related knowledge and attitudes in Vietnam,’ Journal of Pain & Symptom Management. Posted online 21 April 2023. Full text

    6.3 ‘“I am a human”: A process evaluation of a nurse-led community-based, palliative care program in Liberia, West Africa,’ Journal of Hospice & Palliative Nursing. Posted online 12 April 2023. Abstract

    6.4 ‘Benefits of integrating palliative care: A qualitative exploration of the perspectives of palliative care providers in a tertiary health facility in Ghana,’ Palliative Care & Social Practice. Posted online 29 March 2023. Full text

    6.5 ‘Nurse-led adult palliative care models in low- and middle-income countries: A scoping review,’ Journal of Advanced Nursing. Posted online 25 March 2023. Full text

    6.6 ‘A statistical model for early recognition of patients requiring transfer to palliative care,’ Journal of the College of Physicians & Surgeons Pakistan, 2023:33(3):261-265. Full text

  7. ‘Palliative care delivery systems and integration with palliative care teams,’ Seminars in Radiation Oncology, 2023;33(2):211-217. Full text
  8. ‘Cross-national differences in wealth inequality in health services and caregiving used near the end of life,’ The Lancet (eClinicalMedicine). Posted online 16 March 2023. Full text
  9. ‘Ambitions for Palliative and End-of-Life Care: Mapping examples of use of the framework across England,’ Research Square (Preprint). Posted online 14 March 2023. Full text 

    Related:

    9.2 ‘Realising the ambitions: Insights from how people understand, interpret and implement the Ambitions Framework for Palliative and End of Life Care,’ The Open University (U.K.). Posted online 21 March 2023. Full text

    9.3 ‘Small steps, big vision: Grab and Go Guide to support the realisation of the Ambitions for Palliative and End-of-Life Care,’ The Open University. (Marie Curie-funded research project). Posted online 1 March 2023. Full text

Education & Training 

  1. ‘Interprofessional primary palliative care: Do the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Essentials prepare nurses for collaborative practice?’ Journal of Professional Nursing, 2023;46(May-June):197-204. Abstract (w. highlights) 

    Related:

    1.2 ‘Understanding primary palliative nursing education in undergraduate nursing programs,’ Journal of Professional Nursing, 2023;46(May-June):205-212. Abstract (w. highlights)

    1.3 ‘Nursing students’ experiences with patient death and palliative and end-of-life care: A systematic review and meta-synthesis,’ Nurse Education in Practice, 2023;May:103625. Full text

    1.4 ‘Empathy in nursing students: A scoping review,’ Journal of Holistic Nursing. Posted online 11 April 203. Abstract (w. references)

    1.5 ‘Training oncology nurses on primary palliative care may improve end-of-life care and spur creation of advance directives for patients with cancer,’ The ASCO Post. Posted online 6 April 2023. Full text

    1.6 ‘Exploring how undergraduate BSc (Hons) nursing (child) students learn about end-of-life care through simulation: A descriptive case study,’ International Journal of Practice-based Learning in Health & Social Care, 2023;11(1):78-91. Full text (click on pdf icon)

    1.7 ‘Simulation-based learning in palliative care in postgraduate nursing education: A scoping review,’ BMC Palliative Care. Posted online 29 March 2023. Full text

    1.8 ‘Assessment of the competence of nurses in taking care of a dying patient in Poland,’ Journal of Cancer Education. Posted online 27 March 2023. Full text

    1.9 ‘The relationship between eHealth literacy and palliative care knowledge, attitudes, and practice among nurses: A cross-sectional study,’ BMC Nursing. Posted online 21 March 2023. Full text

  2. ‘Training surgeons to optimize communication and symptom management in patients with life-limiting conditions: Systematic review,’ BJS Open. Posted online 25 April 2023. Full text
  3. ‘Palliative medicine in children and adolescents online courses,’ Paliativos Sin Fronteras. Posted on eHospice 3 April 2023. Full text 

    Related:

    3.2 ‘Primary palliative care for pediatric residents: A curricular framework and pilot,’ Academic Pediatrics. Posted online 17 March 2023. Abstract (w. references)

    Call for papers: ‘Pediatric palliative care,’ BMC Palliative Care (Springer Nature Group). Submission deadline 10 February 2024.

  4. ‘A novel education system to create customized primary palliative care curricula for training programs,’ American Journal of Hospice & Palliative Medicine. Posted online 23 April 2023. Full text
  5. ‘Death education for palliative care: A European project for university students,’ BMC Palliative Care. Posted online 21 April 2023. Full text 

    Related:

    5.2 ‘Palliative care teaching in the new internal medicine curriculum: Project ECHO – an innovative approach to postgraduate education,’ BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care. Posted online 7 April 2023. Abstract

    5.3 ‘Evaluation of a palliative care longitudinal curriculum for medical students using the Context-Input-Process-Product Model,’ American Journal of Hospice & Palliative Medicine. Posted online 21 March 2023. Full text

    5.4 ‘Teaching clinical communication skills in postgraduate medical education with particular emphasis on palliative medicine,’ Palliative Medicine in Practice. Posted online 16 March 2023. Full text (click on pdf icon)

    5.5 ‘A novel serious illness communication curriculum improves neurology residents’ confidence and skills,’ Journal of Palliative Medicine. Posted online 23 March 2023. Abstract

  6. ‘Caring spiritually: A study on spiritual care training in a hospice setting,’ Journal of Hospice & Palliative Nursing. Posted online 11 April 2023. Abstract 

    Call for papers: ‘Spirituality in palliative care,’ BMC Palliative Care (Springer Nature Group). Submission deadline 31 August 2023.

  7. ‘Mindfulness and compassion training on daily work with patients and within the multiprofessional palliative care team: a retrospective self-assessment study,’ BMC Palliative Care. Posted online 10 April 2023. Full text
  8. ‘Palliative Education & Care for the Homeless (PEACH): A model of outreach palliative care for structurally vulnerable populations,’ Healthcare Quarterly, 2023;26(1):24-80. Abstract
  9. ‘Role modelling in professional identity formation: A systematic scoping review,’ BMC Medical Education. Posted online 29 March 2023. Full text
  10. ‘Advancing palliative care systematically using education through a grassroots coalition,’ Palliative Medicine Reports. Posted online 22 March 2023. Letter to the Editor
  11. ‘Outcome measures in palliative care training interventions: A systematic review of trial-based studies,’ Annals of Palliative Medicine, 2023;12(2):399-417. Full text

Essential Medicines

  1. ‘Medical school students’ knowledge of pain and palliative care: An observational study,’ Journal of Biosciences & Medicines, 2023;11(4):39-49. Full text
  2. ‘A scoping review on the availability and utilization of essential opioid analgesics in Sub-Saharan Africa,’ American Journal of Surgery. Posted online 27 March 2023. Full text
  3. ‘Map of Pain Medication in Latin America: Current state and perspectives,’ Future Medicine. Posted online 27 March 2023. Abstract
  4. ‘IAHPC’s statement to the 66th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs.’ Posted on eHospice 21 March 2023. Full texty

    N.B. An application for the inclusion of fentanyl citrate to the World Health Organization (WHO) Model List of Essential Medicines for cancer breakthrough pain had been submitted to WHO. In response to this application, the IAHPC submitted a letter to WHO listing the reasons as to why the Association oppose this application.

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Policy

  1. ‘Precision palliative care as a pragmatic solution for a care delivery problem,’ Journal of Clinical Oncology. Posted online 21 April 2023. Full text 

    Related:

    1.2 ‘The systemic challenges of non-palliative care professionals caring for end-of-life patients: A lived experience study,’ Palliative & Supportive Care. Posted online 18 April 2023. Abstract (w. references)

    1.3 ‘Inclusion of palliative and end-of-life care in health strategies aimed at integrated care: A documentary analysis,’ Health Open Research. Accessed online 29 March 2023. Full text

    1.4 ‘How can the priorities of older, frail patients and their carers be used to inform policy and practice at the end of life? Insights from qualitative research across multiple settings,’ BMJ Open. Posted online 21 March 2023. Full text

    1.5 ‘Palliative care management committees: A model of collaborative governance for primary healthcare,’ Public Health Action. Posted online 21 March 2023. Full text (click on download icon)

    1.6 ‘End-of-life in the operational functioning of public healthcare: Ethical and legal issues,’ Acta Biomed, 2023; Vol. 94, N. 2: e2023110. Full text

  2. ‘Emergency medical services: The next linking asset for public health approaches to palliative care?’ Palliative Care & Social Practice. Posted online 13 April 2023. Full text

    Related:

    2.2 ‘Emergency medical services care of adult hospice patients: A position statement and resource document of National Association of Emergency Medical Services Physicians and American Academy of Hospice & Palliative Medicine,’ Prehospital Emergency Care. Posted online 24 March 2023. Full text

  3. ‘The Worldwide Hospice Palliative Care Alliance launches the Universal Health Care Advocacy Guide,’ Worldwide Hospice Palliative Care Alliance. Posted online 7 April 2023. Download guide
  4. ‘Closing the health equity gap in palliative care: The time for action is now,’ Palliative Medicine. Posted online 3 April 2023. Full texty

    N.B. ‘Equity-oriented palliative care,’  Palliative Medicine. 2023;37(4):424-656. Contents page of special issue

    Call for papers: ‘Equity and diversity in palliative care,’ BMC Palliative Care (Springer Nature Group). Submission deadline 30 September 2023

  5. ‘How states can embed palliative care in healthcare reform initiatives,’ National Academy for State Health Policy (U.S.). Posted online 27 March 2023. Full text

    Related:

    5.2 ‘Kansas Palliative Care: 5-Year State Plan 2022-2027,’ Kansas Department of Health & Environment. Accessed 3 April 2023. Download

Research

  1. ‘Lessons learned from the Last Gift study: Ethical and practical challenges faced while conducting HIV cure-related research at the end of life,’ Journal of Medical Ethics. Posted online 20 April 2023. Full text
  2. ‘Opportunities and challenges in involving people with lived experience of inclusion health as co-researchers in palliative and end of life research: A rapid review and thematic synthesis,’ Research Involvement & Engagement. Posted online 20 April 2023. Full text 

    Related:

    2.2 ‘Patient and public involvement in research: The need for budgeting patient and public involvement staff costs in funding applications,’ Research Involvement & Engagement. Posted online 25 March 2023. Full text

    2.3 ‘What about me? The researcher's challenges and proposed solutions for dealing with death during data collection involving older adults: A scoping review,’ Health Sciences Review. Posted online 24 March 2023. Full text

    2.4 ‘Protecting seriously ill populations during pragmatic clinical trials,’ Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. Posted online 22 March 2023. Abstract

  3. ‘Improving palliative care and medical assistance in dying practice in Canada: How patients-partners could contribute to continuing medical education,’ Palliative Medicine Reports. Posted online 21 April 2023. Full text  

    Related:

    3.2 ‘What do health care professionals want to know about assisted dying? Setting the research agenda in New Zealand,’ BMC Palliative Care. Posted online 10 April 2023. Full text

    3.3 ‘Should palliative care teams be involved in medical assisted dying?’ Journal of Pain & Symptom Management. Posted online 16 April 2023. Abstract (w. “section snippets”)

  4. ‘Application of instrumental variable analysis in pediatric end-of-life research: A case study,’ Western Journal of Nursing Research. Posted online 25 March 2023. Abstract (w. references) 

    Call for papers: ‘Pediatric palliative care,’ BMC Palliative Care (Springer Nature Group). Submission deadline 10 February 2024.

  5. ‘Evaluation of an intensive workshop on research methods in supportive oncology,’ Palliative & Supportive Care. Posted online 22 March 2023. Full text
  6. ‘Training the next generation of delivery science researchers: 10-year experience of a post-doctoral research fellowship program within an integrated care system,’ Learning Health Systems. Posted online 21 March 2023. Full text
  7. ‘“For want of a nail”: Developing a transparent approach to retroduction and early initial programme theory development in a realist evaluation of community end-of-life care services,’ International Journal of Social Research Methodology. Posted online 12 March 2023. Full text
  8. ‘Strengthening aging research through dissemination and implementation science methods,’ The Gerontologist,’ 2023;63(3): 401-404. Full text. 

    N.B. Contents page of a special issue of the journal

Of Related Interest

  1. ‘The emotional effects on professional interpreters of interpreting palliative care conversations for adult patients: A rapid review,’ Palliative Medicine. Posted online 24 April 2023. Full text
  2. ‘“The palliative care ambulance”: A qualitative study of patient and caregiver perspectives of an ambulance service,’ Palliative Medicine. Posted online 24 April 2023. Full text
  3. ‘Core roles and responsibilities of physicians in hospice care: A statement by and for U.S. hospice and palliative care physicians,’ Journal of Palliative Medicine. Posted online 21 April 2023. Full text
  4.  ‘Report from the Third International Last Aid Conference: Cultural diversity in palliative care,’ Palliative Care & Social Practice. Posted online 20 April 2023. Full text 

    Related:

    4.2 ‘Cultural considerations at end-of-life for people of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds: A critical interpretative synthesis,’ Journal of Clinical Nursing. Posted online 6 April 2023. Full text

    4.3 ‘Muslim patients in the U.S. confronting challenges regarding end-of-life and palliative care: The experiences and roles of hospital chaplains,’ BMC Palliative Care. Posted online 27 March 2023. Full text

    4.4 ‘The palliative care needs of British Muslims during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond,’ University College London, University of Leeds, Muslim Council of Britain, and Marie Curie. Posted online 17 March 2023. Download report

    Call for papers: ‘Equity and diversity in palliative care,’ BMC Palliative Care (Springer Nature Group). Submission deadline 30 September 2023

  5. ‘Palliative care social work: “This is proper social work, this is what I trained to do,” Community Care (U.K.). Posted online 13 April 2023. Full Text
  6. ‘A shelter from the abyss: Exploring Cicely Saunders’ vision of hospice care through the concept of worldview,’ Palliative Care & Social Practice. Posted online 31 March 2023. Full text
  7. ‘The impact of COVID-19 on palliative care social work: An online survey by a European Association of Palliative Care Task Force,’ Palliative Medicine. Posted online 10 April 2023. Full text 

    Related:

    7.2 ‘The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on processes, resource use and cost in palliative care,’ BMC Palliative Care. Posted online 6 April 2023. Full text

    7.3 ‘Perspectives across Canada about implementing a palliative approach in long-term care during COVID-19,’ BMC Palliative Care. Posted online 30 March 2023. Full text

    7.4 ‘The challenges for health professionals delivering palliative care in the community during the COVID-19 pandemic: An integrative review,’ BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care. Posted online 27 March 2023. Full text

    7.5 ‘Pandemic delay: Social implications and challenges for palliative care,’ Palliative Care & Social Practice. Posted online 21 March 2023. Full text

    7.6 ‘Opinion and sentiment analysis of palliative care in the era of COVID-19,’ Healthcare. Posted online 14 March 2023. Full text

  8. ‘Palliative care in severe mental illnesses,’ BMC Palliative Care. Posted online 30 March 2023. Full texty/42LOjSh

    Call for papers: ‘Palliative care in severe mental illnesses,’ BMC Palliative Care (Springer Nature Group). Submission deadline 31 October 2023.

  9.  ‘Effectiveness of home-based end-of-life care,’ British Journal of Community Nursing. Accessed online 8 Aril 2023. Full text 

    Related:

    9.2 ‘A global exploration of palliative community care literature: An integrative review,’ Journal of Clinical Nursing. Posted online 14 April 2023. Abstract

    9.3 ‘The emotional experience of caring for children in pediatric palliative care: A qualitative study among a home-based interdisciplinary care team,’ Children. Posted online 9 April 2023. Full text

    9.4 ‘Characteristics of good home-based end-of-life care: Analysis of 5-year data from a nationwide mortality follow-back survey in England,’ British Journal of General Practice. Posted online 3 April 2023. Full text

    9.5 ‘Dying at home for people experiencing financial hardship and deprivation: How health and social care professionals recognise and reflect on patients’ circumstances,’ Palliative Care in Social Practice. Posted online 31 March 2023. Full text

    9.6 ‘Increasing the chance of dying at home: Roles, tasks and approaches of general practitioners enabling palliative care: A systematic review of qualitative literature,’ BMC Primary Care. Posted online 23 March 2023. Full text

    9.7 ‘“The beauty and the less beautiful”: Exploring the meanings of dying at “home” among community and practitioner representatives and advocates across Canada,’ Palliative Care in Social Practice. Posted online 14 March 2023. Full text

    Experiences of being a severely ill parent of dependent children receiving care at home: Hopes and challenges

    Palliative & Supportive Care | Online – 29 March 2023 – Field notes revealed several challenging situations for parents with severe illness. A major issue was how to find ways to talk to their children about their illness and prognosis. The parents expressed guilt for being unable to fulfill their roles as parents and partners. Existing family conflicts had escalated with the illness, according to some parents. Despite being affected by illness, parents tried to have hope, if only for small things – such as a period of ordinary family life. Abstract (w. references)

  10. ‘End-of-life care for transgender older adults,’ Global Qualitative Nursing Research. Posted online 23 March 2023. Full text
  11. ‘Save lives and relieve suffering: The twin imperatives of humanitarian response and the role of palliative care,’ Frontiers in Oncology. Accessed 20 March 2023. Full text 

    Related:

    11.2 ‘End-of-life care in natural disasters including epidemics and pandemics: A systematic review,’ BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care. Posted online 17 March 2023. Abstract

    11.3 ‘Providing person-centered palliative care in conflict-affected populations in the Middle East: What matters to patients with advanced cancer and families including refugees?’ Frontiers in Oncology. Posted online 27 March 2023. Full text

  12. ‘Inviting the patient to talk about a conversation they had with another healthcare practitioner: A way of promoting discussion about disease progression and end of life in palliative care interactions,’ Health Communication. Published online 12 March 2023. Full text

Call for Papers

  1. ‘Spirituality in palliative care,’ BMC Palliative Care (Springer Nature Group). Submission deadline 31 August 2023
  2. ‘Equity and diversity in palliative care,’ BMC Palliative Care (Springer Nature Group). Submission deadline 30 September 2023
  3. ‘Primary palliative care,’ Palliative Medicine (Sage). Submission deadline 2 October 2023
  4. ‘Palliative care in severe mental illnesses,’ BMC Palliative Care (Springer Nature Group). Submission deadline 31 October 2023
  5. ‘Pediatric palliative care,’ BMC Palliative Care (Springer Nature Group). Submission deadline 10 February 2024
  6. ‘Palliative care to improve quality of life for cancer patients,’ International Journal of Environmental Research & Public Health (MDPI – Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute). Submission deadline 15 March 2024.

Selected News Media Reports

  1. ‘British ex-nun who ended suffering for thousands by inventing cheap oral morphine fights opioid pushback,’ Microsoft Start (formerly MSN). Posted online 27 April 2023. Full text
  2. ‘Across China: Beijing accelerates building of palliative care service system,’ Xinhua News Agency. Posted online 8 April 2023. Full text
  3. ‘What we get wrong about death, according to end-of-life workers,’ HuffPost Life (U.S.). Posted online 6 April 2023. Full text
  4.  ‘Assembling the palliative care puzzle,’ Niagara This Week (Canada). Posted online 6 April 2023.  Full text 

    Related:

    4.2 ‘Hospice care shut out of Ontario budget,’ The Catholic Register (Canada). Posted online 29 March 2023. Full text

  5. ‘France prioritises bill to boost end-of-life care following citizens’ report,’ Radio France Internationale. Posted online 3 April 2023. Full text
  6. ‘Inside one hospice as struggling sector faces turning the dying away,’ The Sunday Times (U.K.). Posted online 26 March 2023. Full text