Search results for " PAI."
showing 10 items of 3604 documents
Time expenditure in patient-related care provided by specialist palliative care nurses in a community hospice service
2004
Although the importance of specialist palliative care in home care programmes for terminally ill patients is well known, German community hospice services did not begin to employ nurses who had specialized in palliative care until the early 1990s. The general tasks of these nurses are sufficiently well defined, but no comprehensive data of their daily workload are available in Germany to date. The present article examines time expenditure in direct patient-related care at the community-based hospice service in Mainz, Germany, by analysing time registration sheets concerning 351 patients who received care from January 2000 until December 2002. Fifty-five per cent of care time spent on each …
Space for intuition - the 'Surprise'-Question in haemato-oncology: Qualitative analysis of experiences and perceptions of haemato-oncologists.
2019
Background: Early integration of palliative care can improve outcomes for people with cancer and non-cancer diagnoses. However, prediction of survival for individuals is challenging, in particular in patients with haematological malignancies who are known to have limited access to palliative care. The ‘Surprise’-Question can be used to facilitate referral to palliative care. Aim: To explore experiences, views and perceptions of haemato-oncologists on the use of the ‘Surprise’-Question in the haemato-oncology outpatients clinics of a university hospital in Germany. Design: A qualitative study using individual semi-structured interviews transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically based on …
Factors influencing place of death in Germany.
2011
Abstract Context Knowledge about factors influencing the place of death may be very useful for the planning of public health strategies to improve the situation of terminally ill patients. Objectives The aim of our study was to determine where people died in the German federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate in 2008. We further wanted to detect which factors had an influence on the place of death. Methods Our cross-sectional survey was based on a random sample of 5000 inhabitants of Rhineland-Palatinate who had died between May 25, 2008 and August 24, 2008. Relatives of these randomly drawn deceased persons were interviewed by means of a written survey. Results After removing duplicates, 4967…
Analgesic effects of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in cancer pain due to somatic or visceral mechanisms.
1999
The role of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is well established in the treatment of cancer pain. This class of drugs is considered particularly effective in pain due to somatic mechanisms, although proof of this observation is lacking. To ascertain whether NSAIDs are more effective in specific nociceptive forms of cancer pain, they were administered alone or added to opioids in 32 patients with a sole pain mechanism, somatic pain due to bone metastases (17 patients) or visceral pain (15 patients), respectively. Pain intensity, mean doses of opioids used, and symptoms were recorded after starting NSAID. A significant reduction in pain intensity was found at 3, 7, and 14 days. N…
Patients' and relatives' perceptions about intravenous and subcutaneous hydration.
2005
Hydration during palliative care is a controversial topic. Most of the arguments are based on anedoctal reports that have not been substantiated with scientific data. Given that the choice is problematic from a clinical perspective, preferences of patients and family should dictate whether intravenous fluids are administered. The aim of this study was to evaluate patient and family perceptions about hydration and two modes of providing hydration. Fifty-four consecutive patients admitted to an acute pain relief and palliative care unit who required hydration completed a questionnaire regarding their perceptions on hydration and modes of hydration. Similarly, the principal family carer was ch…
Prevalence of opioid-related dysuria in patients with advanced cancer having pain.
2010
The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of opioid-induced dysuria in patients with advanced cancer having pain and to evaluate the possible factors associated. A consecutive sample of cancer patients admitted to an acute pain relief and palliative care unit during 8 months was surveyed. Most patients (147, 86.5%) were receiving opioids at admission. The mean age was 65.1 (SD 12.2) and 106 patients were males. Twenty-five patients presented with dysuria at admission (of which 22 were taking opioids, 14.9%). Eleven patients were inserted a bladder catheter at admission for urine monitoring and 18 patients had urinary incontinence. During admission, 31 patients presented dysuria (19…
Are Repeated Self-Reports of Psychological Variables Feasible for Patients Near the End of Life at a Palliative Care Unit?
2018
Patient-reported outcome (PRO) measurement is crucial to assess the benefit of psychotherapeutic interventions. Is repeated assessment of psychometric self-report data possible, as inpatient palliative care patients suffer from physical and psychological symptoms? What is the self-perceived strain caused by the assessment? Objective The main objective of this study was to investigate the feasibility of a repeated comprehensive psychometric self-assessment of inpatient palliative care patients. Secondary objectives were the PROs of the psychometric assessment.We conducted a prospective cohort study. Patients admitted to our palliative care unit (PCU) were reviewed for eligibility within 72 h…
Validation of the German Version of the Quality of Dying and Death Questionnaire for Informal Caregivers (QODD-D-Ang).
2015
Abstract Context The quality of dying and death (QOD) influences end-of-life care for patients and their relatives. To the best of our knowledge, there are currently no validated standard instruments for evaluating the QOD of patients in palliative care units (PCUs) in Germany. Objectives This study aimed to validate the German version of the multidimensional questionnaire "Quality of Dying and Death" for informal caregivers (QODD-Deutsch-Angehorige [QODD-D-Ang]) and provide a detailed report on its validity and reliability. Methods The QODD was forward/backward translated following the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer guidelines. Data collected in two German palli…
Cancer pain management in an oncological ward in a comprehensive cancer center with an established palliative care unit
2013
Abstract BACKGROUND: This survey was performed to draw information on pain prevalence, intensity, and management from a sample of patients who were admitted to an oncologic center where a palliative care unit (PCU) has been established for 13 years. METHODS: Cross-sectional survey in an oncological department performed 1 day per month for six consecutive months. RESULTS: Of the 385 patients, 69.1, 19.2, 8.6, and 3.1 % had no pain, mild, moderate, and severe pain, respectively. Inpatients and patients with a low Karnofsky score showed higher levels of pain intensity (p < 0.0005). One hundred twenty-eight patients with pain or receiving analgesics were analyzed for pain management index (PMI)…
Dying in Germany--unfulfilled needs of relatives in different care settings.
2012
Abstract Context The integration of family members in the dying process and the recognition of their special needs are important factors for the development of high-quality palliative care. Objectives This study aimed to explore important needs and personal experiences of relatives at the end of life, and to detect differences in these needs and experiences for various care settings. Methods Our cross-sectional survey was based on a random sampling of 5000 inhabitants of Rhineland-Palatinate (Germany) who died between May 25 and August 24, 2008. Relatives of these randomly drawn deceased persons were interviewed by a written survey. Results A total of 1378 questionnaires were completed (res…