Since end-stage renal disease leads to a variety of problems such as disability,reduced quality of life,and mental and psychological disorders,it has become a serious public health problem around the globe.Renal palliative care integrates palliative care philosophy in the care for patients with end-stage renal disease.As a planned,comprehensive,patient-centered care,renal palliative care focuses on the patient's symptoms and needs,aiming to reduce the suffering throughout the course of the disease,including but not limited to end-of-life care.This study reports the palliative care practice for a patient on maintenance dialysis in the Blood Purification Center of Peking Union Medical College Hospital and reviews the present situation of palliative care in end-stage renal disease.
Humans ; Palliative Care/psychology* ; Quality of Life ; Kidney Failure, Chronic/therapy* ; Terminal Care/psychology* ; Renal Dialysis/psychology*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to categorize adult's subjectivity of their attitudes towards life sustaining treatment, and thereby understand the differences among these life sustaining treatment types using Q methodology. METHODS: Q-methodology, which provides a method of analyzing the subjectivity of each item, was used. Thirty selected Q-statements received from 52 adults were classified into a shape of normal distribution using a 7 point scale. The collected data was analyzed using a QUANL pc program. RESULT: Four types of attitudes toward life sustaining treatment were identified. Type I is called one's autonomy type. Type II is called potentiality of resuscitation type. Type III is called DNR (Do not resuscitation) type. Type IV is calledone's effort type. CONCLUSION: The results of the study indicate that different approaches of life support care programs are recommended based on the four types of life sustaining treatment attitudes among Korean adults.
Adult ; *Attitude to Death ; Humans ; *Life Support Care/psychology ; Middle Aged ; Q-Sort ; Terminal Care/psychology ; Withholding Treatment

INTRODUCTIONUnderstanding personhood or "what makes you, you" is pivotal to the provision of person-centred care. Yet the manner that personhood is conceived amongst patients varies significantly. This study aims to investigate conceptions of personhood in a multiracial, multicultural, multireligious setting.

MATERIALS AND METHODSA mixed-methods study was conducted at National Cancer Centre Singapore, from January 2013 to April 2013. We used a validated questionnaire where English-speaking oncology patients rated the importance of 26 features of "personhood" on a 10-point Likert scale from 0 to 9, with 9-points being extremely important. This was followed by a semi-structured interview. Analysis of transcripts using the Grounded Theory revealed original data that inspired novel ideas about the nature of personhood, which precipitated a further study in April 2014.

RESULTSOur initial study of 100 patients revealed that personhood is conceived in a unique and novel manner. To study this, we interviewed a further 40 patients using a supplemental question to our original questionnaire. Our data affirmed our initial findings and evidenced a change in conceptions of personhood.

CONCLUSIONOur evidence supports the Ring Theory of Personhood, which suggests that personhood is defined by innate, individual, relational, societal elements. It also evidences that personhood is temporally and contextually sensitive allowing for better appreciation of the evolving goals of care that frequently occur at end-of- life. Most importantly, this study reminds healthcare professionals on the importance of "treating persons" and looking beyond familial interests in maintaining the interests and dignity of the patient.

Cultural Diversity ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Language ; Neoplasms ; psychology ; therapy ; Palliative Care ; Patient-Centered Care ; Personhood ; Singapore ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Terminal Care

Over the years there has been a great deal of controversy on the effect of vitamin C on cancer. To investigate the effects of vitamin C on cancer patients' health-related quality of life, we prospectively studied 39 terminal cancer patients. All patients were given an intravenous administration of 10 g vitamin C twice with a 3-day interval and an oral intake of 4 g vitamin C daily for a week. And then we investigated demographic data and assessed changes in patients' quality of life after administration of vitamin C. Quality of life was assessed with EORTC QLQ-C30. In the global health/quality of life scale, health score improved from 36+/-18 to 55+/-16 after administration of vitamin C (p=0.001). In functional scale, the patients reported significantly higher scores for physical, role, emotional, and cognitive function after administration of vitamin C (p<0.05). In symptom scale, the patients reported significantly lower scores for fatigue, nausea/vomiting, pain, and appetite loss after administration of vitamin C (p<0.005). The other function and symptom scales were not significantly changed after administration of vitamin C. In terminal cancer patients, the quality of life is as important as cure. Although there is still controversy regarding anticancer effects of vitamin C, the use of vitamin C is considered a safe and effective therapy to improve the quality of life of terminal cancer patients.
Terminal Care ; *Quality of Life ; Neoplasms/psychology ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Humans ; Female ; Ascorbic Acid/*administration & dosage ; Aged ; Adult

PURPOSE: This study done to identify the experiences of families caring for patients with terminal cancer. The question was, "What is the caregiving experience of a family who has a member with terminal cancer?" METHODS: Grounded Theory was applied and in-depth interviews were done with 11 family members. Interviews were recorded with the interviewees' consent and were transcribed and analyzed. Participants' relationships to patients were 6 spouses, 4 daughters, and 1 mother. The ages of the participants were between 32 and 62, with an average of 47.5. RESULTS: The study showed "enduring with bonds" as the main category and the main factor affecting this category was the "patients' diagnosis of terminal cancer." The caregiving experience was divided into four stages: shock, confusion, struggle, and acceptance. Mediating factors were relationship with the patient, intimacy with the patient, social support, communication, and trust. Conclusively, participants underwent internal maturity, and changes occurred in family and social and personal life. CONCLUSION: The families took care of the patients with responsibility and love. The study results should help with the understanding of a family with a member with terminal cancer and should be used to develop nursing, mediating, and consulting programs for these caregivers.
Adult ; Caregivers/*psychology ; Communication ; Female ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasms/pathology ; Social Support ; *Terminal Care ; Terminally Ill

INTRODUCTIONThis study explored and compared the differences in attitudes toward end-of-life care among patients, relatives and healthcare professionals, including doctors and nurses.

METHODSWe performed a descriptive study on a cross-section of the population of a tertiary hospital in Singapore. Data was collected using a questionnaire survey involving 50 participants from each of the four groups of patients, relatives, doctors and nurses.

RESULTSFamily members were the most commonly nominated surrogate decision-makers by the patient group (76%) and the majority of the relative group (74%) felt comfortable deciding on end-of-life care for their loved ones. However, the patient and relative groups differed significantly in their preferences on end-of-life care options, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) (p = 0.001), intubation (p = 0.003), nasogastric tube feeding (p < 0.001) and the use of antibiotics (p = 0.023). Doctors, nurses and relatives demonstrated differences in preference between end-of-life care for themselves and for their loved ones, especially with regard to the use of nasogastric tube feeding. There was also a difference between patients and doctors in their decisions on CPR (p < 0.001) and intubation (p = 0.008).

CONCLUSIONThis study demonstrated the importance of early planning for end-of-life care. This must be initiated proactively by healthcare professionals to engage patients in a culturally sensitive manner to discuss their preferences, in order to facilitate open communication between the patient and family.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Attitude of Health Personnel ; Attitude to Health ; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ; psychology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Decision Making ; Family ; psychology ; Female ; Health Personnel ; psychology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Terminal Care ; psychology ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: This study was done to develop and test a palliative care program based on home care nursing. METHODS: A quasi-experimental design was employed. Changes in the variables were evaluated to test effects of the developed program. Participants were patients with terminal cancer and their families receiving home care nursing from six hospitals (experimental group: 24 and control group: 22). Data collection was conducted from February to October, 2006. Chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, t-test, Mann-Whitney U test and repeated measures ANOVA were used to analyse the data. RESULTS: Hypothesis 1, the experimental group receiving this program will experience less pain (severe, average, weak pain) than the control group, was supported. Hypothesis 2, the experimental group will have less symptom experience than the control group, was supported. Hypothesis 3, the experimental group will have higher QOL than the control group, was supported and the last hypothesis 4, family burden in the experimental group will be less than the control group, was supported. CONCLUSION: The home care nursing based palliative program developed in this study was found to be an effective program to reduce patient pain and symptom experience, to improve patient QOL and to decrease family burden.
Aged ; Demography ; Family/psychology ; Female ; Home Care Services, Hospital-Based ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasms/*nursing/psychology/therapy ; Pain/therapy ; Palliative Care/*methods ; Patient Satisfaction ; Program Evaluation ; Quality of Life ; Terminal Care

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to conceptualize and clarify a concept of "preparatory grief" in terminal cancer patients. METHOD: A hybrid model of concept development was applied to develop a concept of preparatory grief, which included a field study carried out in Busan, Korea. Participants of this study were 8 cancer patients. RESULTS: On the basis of our literature, research and clinical experience, the concept of preparatory grief emerged as a complex phenomenon playing an important role in five areas; physical, emotional, interpersonal, religious, and transcendental dimensions. Two new attributes were defined through a field phase; trust of the post-mortal world and a serene state of mind. Indicators reflected attitudes of sadness, worry, regret, capability to adapt and hope. The results of preparatory grief were loss of energy and interest, emotional chaos, contemplation, taciturnity and restoration. CONCLUSIONS: Differentiating among preparatory grief and other symptoms in cancer patients is essential because of therapeutic implications. Understanding preparatory grief is necessary in order to manage cancer patients for promoting quality of life so that its application may have a positive impact on the patient's life.
Adaptation, Psychological ; Aged ; *Concept Formation ; Counseling/*methods ; Female ; *Grief ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Neoplasms/nursing/*psychology ; Quality of Life ; *Terminal Care

PURPOSE: There has been very little study on the associations between patient's symptoms themselves and family caregiver (FC)'s depression in the palliative phase. This cross-sectional study was to investigate the relationship between symptom features of terminally ill cancer patients and their FC's depression. METHODS: We performed a multicenter survey using the MD Anderson symptom inventory and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. A total of 293 patient-FC pairs were recruited from seven tertiary medical centers. A multivariate regression analysis was applied for identifying the relevant factors associated with FC depression and for estimating adjusted depression score of FCs. RESULTS: Among various psychosocial factors, low FC quality of life, low social support, spouse, and more caregiving time were significantly associated with FCs' depression. According to the presence of FCs' depression, there were significant differences in some symptom characteristics of patients. Even after adjusting for the relevant confounders, depression scores were lower in FCs caring for patients who had negative symptoms (loss of appetite, P=0.005; drowsiness, P=0.024; and dry mouth, P=0.043) than in FCs caring for patients who had not. FCs caring for patients with severe appetite loss had lower depression scores than those with not severe one (P=0.039). CONCLUSION: Our result suggests that patient's symptom characteristics might be helpful when evaluating a FC's depression.
Anxiety ; Appetite ; Caregivers* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Depression* ; Humans ; Mouth ; Psychology ; Quality of Life ; Sleep Stages ; Spouses ; Symptom Assessment ; Terminal Care ; Terminally Ill*

Hope is essential in the face of terminal cancer. Generally in Western societies, patients and their families prefer their doctor to engage them in transparent, realistic, authoritative, empathic and open communication about the diagnosis and prognosis of cancer but this topic is not well studied in the Asian context. With the exponential increase in information about cancer and the many permutations in cancer treatment, rational and otherwise, the doctor-patient relationship is even more critical in planning the best treatment strategy and also in rendering both particular and general hope in the patient's war against cancer. Overall, the majority of drugs tested against cancer have failed to reach the market, and those that have, only provide modest benefits, several major therapeutic breakthroughs notwithstanding. Commoditised medicalisation of the dying process ingrained into the contemporary consciousness can potentially create unrealistic or false hope, therapeutic nihilism and a drain on the resources of both the patient and society. These factors can also detract from the dignity of dying as an acceptable natural process. Hope cannot be confined only to focusing merely on the existential dimension of improving survival through technological intervention. Psychosocial and, where appropriate, spiritual interventions and support also play major roles in relieving suffering and providing hope to the patient. Hope cannot be a victim of misinformation from self-interested external parties, nor be an obsession with just buying promises of extending survival time without sufficient regard for quality of life and achieving a good death.
Attitude to Death ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Physician-Patient Relations ; ethics ; Prognosis ; Spirituality ; Terminal Care ; ethics ; methods ; psychology ; Truth Disclosure ; ethics