- Clinical science
Overview of palliative medicine
Abstract
Palliative medicine is a comprehensive, interdisciplinary approach to medical care that aims to relieve suffering and provide optimal quality of life in patients with serious or life-threatening illnesses. Crucial components of palliative medicine include symptom relief (e.g., pain management, treatment of nausea), assistance in the organization of nursing and social services, and psychological support of patients and their families. Palliative care has been shown to improve patient symptoms and quality of life, decrease hospital admissions, and reduce bereavement among family members. Accordingly, if a patient desires or meets criteria for palliative care referral, it should be initiated as quickly as possible.
Basics
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Key elements of palliative care
- Symptom relief, particularly sufficient analgesia
- Assistance in the organization of adequate, needs-based care
- Support regarding social services
- Psychological support of patients and their families
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Members of a palliative care team
- Physicians (including palliative care specialists)
- Nurses
- Social workers
- Psychologists
- Chaplains
- Pharmacists
References:[1]
Overview of last stages of life (according to Jonen-Thielemann)
Phase | Survival prognosis | Characteristics |
---|---|---|
Rehabilitation | Several months to years |
|
Preterminal | Weeks to months |
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Terminal | A few days to weeks |
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Final | Imminent death (within hours) |
|
Symptoms and symptom control
Drug therapy for symptom control depends on:
- Individual assessment and periodic reassessment of symptoms
- Exclusion of potential drug interactions
- Thorough evaluation of side effects
Oral administration is the route of choice in palliative medicine!
Main symptoms in palliative patients | Treatment |
---|---|
Pain |
|
Gastrointestinal symptoms |
|
Pulmonary symptoms |
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Psychological symptoms |
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Final phase |
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Note: Some of the listed drugs are not approved for the indication, application, or dosage mentioned above. However, experts recommend the off-label use of these drugs because of the observed benefits for palliative patients. |
Pain concepts in palliative care
In palliative medicine, pain is not only understood according to its quality, but also as different pain concepts:
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Total pain
- Holistic understanding of pain in palliative medicine, including physical, emotional, social, and spiritual distress (e.g., sorrow, anxiety, despair)
- Mixed pain: Peripheral pain and neuropathic pain occur simultaneously.
- Emotional pain: describes the influence of emotions on pain
- 60–90% of oncological patients experience tumor pain, which may be caused by:
References:[1][2][3]
Outcome measurement in palliative medicine
The health care system measures the outcome (quality of results) of medical treatment and its influence on the current and future health of patients and their quality of life. Outcome measurements may be subgrouped into general and specific measurements. General outcome measurements assess, for instance, the physical and psychological aspects of an illness, while specific outcome measurements focus on the evaluation of symptoms, clinical situations, or patient populations.
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Common outcome measurements in palliative medicine
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Numeric rating scale (NRS) and visual analog scale (VAS): one-dimensional, scales are based on self-reported data: NRS scale 0–10, VAS scale 0–100
- E.g., report of pain level, level of respiratory distress, nausea, quality of life, satisfaction, stress
- Karnofsky performance status scale (KPS, Karnofsky performance scale index), palliative performance status (PPS), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status
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Numeric rating scale (NRS) and visual analog scale (VAS): one-dimensional, scales are based on self-reported data: NRS scale 0–10, VAS scale 0–100
Psychosocial models
Basics of communication with palliative patients
- Be honest
- Use open-ended questions
- Routinely assess patient understanding
- Deliver bad news by setting; the stage and delivering the news in an empathetic yet compreshensible manner
- Have a clear follow-up in plan in place to facilitate better communication between provider and patient
- Understand that patients' desires can differ from those of family members.
The five stages of dying according to Kübler-Ross (1970)
The five stages of dying describe typical emotional and behavioral patterns of terminally ill patients (as well as their family members) during the final stages of their lives. The five stages may occur in sequence, simultaneously, or repeatedly.
- Denial
- Anger
- Bargaining
- Depression
- Acceptance of approaching death
The NURSE model according to Back (2007)
The NURSE model is a roadmap for practitioners to address and respond to the emotions of patients empathetically.
N | Name | Name the patient's emotions |
U | Understand | Express understanding for the patient's emotions |
R | Respect | Respect the patient for coping with the situation |
S | Support | Offer support |
E | Explore | Explore the emotions |
SPIKES protocol according to Baile (2000) for breaking bad news
The SPIKES protocol is based on empirical data and guidelines and helps practitioners to break bad news to patients.
S | Setting | Setting up the interview and arranging for some privacy; involvement of significant others; avoidance of interruptions; providing information about the time frame of the interview to the patient |
P | Perception | Determination of the patient's perception of the situation; open-ended questions; patients are asked to explain illness/therapy/prognosis in their own words |
I | Invitation | Obtaining patient's invitation to talk about certain topics; offering opportunities to talk at a later point of time |
K | Knowledge | Warning the patient that bad news/prognosis is coming before giving knowledge and information; avoidance of technical terms; use of short and precise sentences; avoidance of excessive bluntness |
E | Emotions | Identification of emotional triggers and addressing the patient's emotions with empathic responses (nonverbal communication) |
S | Summary | Summary and strategy planning (treatment options, prognosis, next consultation, offering palliative support, inquiring about patient's needs and wishes) |
Dealing with anger and verbal attacks using the CALM model (according to Schweickhardt and Fritzsche, 2007)
The CALM model helps practitioners to mediate between practitioner and patient when discussing emotionally challenging topics (de-escalation), and to continue the relationship in a constructive manner.
C | Contact | Staying calm and objective; admitting potential mistakes; acknowledgement of the patient's difficult situation |
A | Appoint | Sympathy for the patient's emotions and naming them (NURSE model) |
L | Look ahead | Naming of the prime and shared objective; clarification of the mutual relationship |
M | Make a decision | Offering an “agreement” to the patient to avoid the cause of the anger next time; offering alternatives and time for reflection |
References:[1][4]
Hospice
Definition
- Type of palliative care specifically given to patients at the end of life
- Goal: preserve the dignity of patients during the final stages of life
Who is eligible for hospice care?
- Estimated life expectancy < 6 months
- The patient (and family) has made the decision to stop curative or life-preserving treatment in order to maximize quality of life.
This does not mean all treatment should be withdrawn! Antibiotics, for example, can still be given if the patient develops an infection!
Where does hospice care take place?
- Patients can receive hospice care at home, in a skilled nursing facility, or at a hospital.
- Home hospice services may consist of regular nursing visits, assistance with activities of daily living (e.g., cooking, cleaning, bathing, etc.), or support for home medical equipment (e.g., hospital beds, walkers, bedside commodes, etc.).
- Hospice care in a hospital or nursing facility may be indicated if the patient's pain or symptoms require more specialized care.
- Services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
References:[5]