Volume 15, Number 5
 

Advancing palliative care research in sub-Saharan Africa: from Venice to Nairobi

In sub-Saharan Africa, palliative care funding all goes into treatment. Richard A Powell, Julia Downing, Faith Mwangi-Powell, Lukas Radbruch and Richard Harding argue that for progress to be made in care provision, this must be complemented by research

Bisphosphonate infusions for hypercalcaemia of malignancy

Elizabeth Brown and Kath Lambert compare the efficacy and side-effects of different bisphosphonate infusions for treating this life-threatening complication

Book review: Being old is different: person-centred care for old people

Marlis Pörtner may not be a familiar author to many in the UK as her works are published in German (this one is a translation). Perhaps as a result of this, I found this book refreshing and engaging.

Can psychedelic drugs play a role in palliative care?

Ben Sessa believes it is a good thing that, after a 40-year hiatus, international trials are revisiting the role of psychedelic drugs in assisting patients with terminal cancer to explore – and resolve – anxiety-inducing existential issues surrounding their illness

Complementary medicine can benefit palliative care – part 1

In the first of a two-part article looking at the effects of complementary and integrative medicine on common symptoms in palliative care patients with cancer, Moshe Frenkel and Vaishali Shah review studies using them to combat pain and fatigue

Evidence-based medicine and the costs of palliative care

As new drugs and technologies become available, the equitable use of resources will demand their assessment using some measure of cost–benefit analysis. But, argues Paul W Keeley, current methods are simply not suitable, or fair, for use in the palliative care population

Meeting the challenge of palliation beyond cancer

Hospices provide excellent care for people with cancer, but are not set up to meet the needs of the increasing number of patients who die of other diseases. How can palliative care specialists help patients with other advanced illnesses? We can help hospital doctors and GPs identify when their non-cancer patients might benefit from a palliative care approach, and support them to provide top quality end-of-life care in hospitals, care homes and at home. A minority of patients will directly need the services of a specialist palliative care physician or nurse.

Monitoring quality in an acute hospital-based palliative care service in Singapore

Angel Lee, Huei Yaw Wu and Allyn Hum explain how quality assessment and improvement have been made an integral part of their palliative care service provision, and recommend audit tools

Pain management in patients with renal impairment

Although the WHO analgesic ladder is useful for managing pain in patients with end-stage renal disease, it is important to pay careful attention to the choice of drug, the dosage and frequency of administration, says Dylan Harris

Palliative care in long-term settings: a new web resource

At the 10th Congress of the European Association for Palliative Care (EAPC), an initiative was launched on palliative care in long-term settings. Katherine Froggatt and Katharina Heimerl have set up a web resource to facilitate international collaboration and report on the project

The case study masterclass: Case 39 answers. Facing an ethical dilemma

Harry Ford is a 59-year-old man who was diagnosed four years ago with a malignant tumour of the salivary gland with lymph node involvement. He underwent extensive maxillofacial surgery, followed by adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy. A few months ago he had more surgery for local recurrence. He has recently been found to have further recurrence that is invasive and beyond cure. Surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy are not an option. He is widowed, has no children and describes his closest friend as being his sister Morag, who lives 350 miles away on Orkney, an island north of mainland Scotland.

The case study masterclass: Case 40. A lung cancer patient with caring responsibilities making hospitalisation difficult

You are a qualified community nurse and have been asked to visit Mrs Weir, known as Meg, who was diagnosed with lung cancer three months previously. She has been attending the hospital cancer centre for investigations and, following a confirmed diagnosis of lung cancer, has been attending for chemotherapy treatment. Since her diagnosis, Mrs Weir has not required any input from the community staff. Her son, who lives a few hundred miles away, has spoken to her GP by phone, as he is concerned and believes that she is more unwell than she says. The GP has requested that you visit her to assess the situation.