Breathlessness (aka dyspnea) is difficult to manage in palliative care.

Researchers in the UK reviewed and ranked the most effective nonpharmacological strategies. (more…)

Researchers at the University of British Columbia, in Vancouver, compared acupuncture to nurse-led supportive care in patients with incurable cancer. (more…)

Patients with advanced cancer frequently use CAM.

Researchers at the University of Toronto, in Canada, examined the use of CAM and implications for patient care. (more…)

The conventional view of family caregivers highlights their burdens.

Researchers from Singapore found that caregivers may also find “meaning and enrichment in their caregiving journey.” (more…)

Patients with metastatic non–small-cell lung cancer have substantial symptoms and may receive aggressive care at the end of life.

Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital, in Boston, report improvement with earlier initiation of palliative care. (more…)

Researchers at Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, in the UK compared the relationship between religious faith and controversial decisions during care of dying patients. (more…)

This Cochrane review examined the effects of music therapy on end-of-life care. (more…)

Many people believe it “increases the patients’ emotional distress.”

To the contrary, researchers from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston report, “such conversations can actually lead to improved quality of life — both for patients and their loved ones.” (more…)

Medical News Today reports on this study in the journal, Psychological Science.

Apparently, “older people who spent at least 14 hours a week taking care of a disabled spouse lived longer than others” who spent less time or no time, according to researchers at the University of Michigan. (more…)

GeriPal is rethinking advanced care planning (ACP).

Rather than focusing on making prespecified decisions, ACP should help patients and their families make the best possible in-the-moment decisions. (more…)

Gabriela Kaplan is an oncology clinical nurse specialist at Trinitas Regional Medical Center in Elizabeth, New Jersey. She specializes in end-of-life care.

Here’s just a small part of her Medscape interview. (more…)

Researchers from the VA Connecticut Healthcare System, in West Haven tell us, “Outpatient palliative care can provide significant benefits to seriously ill patients, but several barriers to appropriate referrals remain.”

Will grandma’s doctor consider outpatient palliative care for her? (more…)

Of the many symptoms experienced by those at the end of life, pain is one of the most common, feared, and often undertreated,

Dr. Perry Fine from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City reviews the treatment options, including CAM. Here’s a summary. (more…)

 Massage is a popular adjunct to cancer palliation.

And, Prof. Ernst says “the evidence is encouraging. (more…)

Another result from Tuesday’s US election — 63% of voters in Michigan approved of letting people who are ill grow their own pot. (more…)

 The authors review current palliative medicine, hospice, and end-of-life research. (more…)

 Researchers from the Calvary Health Care Bethlehem in Melbourne, Australia studied the effectiveness of a single music therapy session in reducing anxiety among terminally ill patients. (more…)

 Small studies suggest that massage therapy may relieve pain and other symptoms.

Here are results from a large study. (more…)

Two white physicians simply sat for a time and respectfully and attentively conversed about end-of-life care with 23 terminally ill Black patients at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta Georgia. Almost every patient willingly brought up spirituality.

In their article based on this experience they conclude that to understand and show respect for patients’ spiritual views in the context of the patient doctor relationship are keys to providing excellent palliative care.

Here are some quotes from their experience.

(more…)

If the state of Washington is any indication, CAM therapies play a significant role in hospice care.

Survey results presented during the North American Research Conference on Complementary & Integrative Medicine reveal that more than a dozen different CAM therapies are offered through hospice care in Washington, with massage, music therapy, and energy healing used most often.

(more…)