Palliative Care Article Summary
Palliative care nursing is becoming a specialty in the field of medicine aimed at improving the quality of life in hospitalized individuals while alleviating suffering. There are many challenges experienced with the provision of palliative care services to the patients. One of the challenges identified is lack of skills and knowledge among healthcare providers. It is observed that patients have little effort in seeking palliative care due to the challenge affecting healthcare providers. This paper provides evidence from peer-reviewed journals on the relevance of palliative care, and any research conducted that can aid in improving skills of nurses proving palliative care services to patients.
Article 1
Sekse, R. J. T., Hunskår, I., & Ellingsen, S. (2018). The nurse’s role in palliative care: A qualitative meta‐synthesis. Journal of clinical nursing, 27(1-2), e21-e38.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jocn.13912
Aim of the study: The study aimed at exploring how nurses across various health systems describe their role in providing palliative care services to patients with life-threatening illnesses.
Design: A qualitative meta-analysis study.
Setting: Online search engines.
Method: Online search of articles on palliative care written from 2000 to 2015.
Analysis: Articles were analyzed and findings tabulated.
Key Findings: Five major roles of nurses were identified. Being available, being a coordinator, standing in demanding situations, doing what is needed and being attentively present were the roles identified.
Recommendations: Nurses need to be trained to gain skills of providing individually tailored palliative care to patients and relatives.
Explanation: This research acknowledges that nurses need knowledge, support, guidance, and training to fulfill their roles in palliative care service provision.
Article 2
Al-Hajery, M., Al-Mutairi H., & Ayed A. (2018). Perception, Knowledge and Barriers to End of Life Palliative Care among Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care Physicians. Journal of Palliative Care and Medicine 8: 326.
Objective: The study objective was to determine knowledge, perception, and barriers affecting palliative care in pediatric intensive care physicians.
Design: A quantitative survey research.
Setting: Pediatric intensive care units in Kuwait.
Method: A survey was conducted between November 2016 and December 2016.
Analysis: Descriptive analysis was done using STATA version 14.
Key Findings: Cultural and religious constraints and insufficient knowledge were major barriers to providing palliative care.
Recommendations: Improved implementation strategies are required to address the barriers to palliative care service provision.
Explanation: This study discusses how lack of training, knowledge, and support for nurses hinders the provision of palliative care to patients. These barriers are also explained in the project, and the recommendations from this research apply to the project.
Article 3
Ramsey, R. J. M., & Matt, S. B. (2016). Policy Review and Recommendations: Palliative Care for Pediatric Patients in the United States of America. Journal of Community & Public Health Nursing.
Purpose: The project functions to call attention to the deficiencies in palliative care approaches in the United States.
Design: Qualitative meta-analysis study.
Setting: Data from US, UK, Canada Na Belgium.
Method: The onion research paradigm.
Analysis: Data collected from the countries analyzed to come up with the gap in the US.
Key Findings: The quality of palliative care services in the US is low compared to other developed nations.
Recommendations: More healthcare providers need to understand the value of palliative care and focus on research.
Explanation: The research finds out that palliative care services in the US are low and training for healthcare providers should be initiated.
Article 4
Namasivayam, P., Lee, S., O’connor, M., & Barnett, T. (2014). Caring for families of the terminally ill in Malaysia from palliative care nurses’ perspectives. Journal of clinical nursing, 23(1-2), 173-180.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jocn.12242/full
Aim: To describe the challenges faced by nurses during provision of palliative care services.
Design: Qualitative study.
Setting: Home and in-patient care facilities in Malaysia from 2007-2009.
Method: Interviews and focused group discussions.
Analysis: Statistical analysis was done using tables and graphs. Key issues were then identified.
Key Findings: The major problem identified was the different expectations of patient care with families that hindered service provision.
Recommendations: Formal palliative education inclusive of family care should be given to nurses.
Explanation: The study acknowledged that family education on palliative care is important because it helps in coping. Findings suggest that nurses have less knowledge on family care regarding palliative care services and this can be promoted through nursing education.
Article 5
Bhatnagar, S., & Patel, A. (2018). Effectiveness of the certificate course in essentials of palliative care program on the knowledge in palliative care among the participants: A cross-sectional interventional study. Indian Journal of Palliative Care, 24(1), 86. http://www.jpalliativecare.com/article.asp?issn=0973-1075;year=2018;volume=24;issue=1;spage=86;epage=92;aulast=Bhatnagar
Aim: The study aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of a certificate course in palliative care nursing.
Design: Qualitative cross sectional study.
Setting: Medical school, India.
Method: Questionnaires were used to collect the response of the participants.
Analysis: Data was entered into Microsoft Excel chart and interpreted accordingly.
Key Findings: The knowledge of the participants on palliative care improved after sessions of teaching as compared to previous results.
Recommendations: More palliative care educational programs should be included all over the country to increase awareness and skills on palliative care service provision.
Explanation: The research proves that educating healthcare providers on palliative care improves their knowledge. Likewise, my project aims at educating nurses on palliative care to improve their skills.
Article 6
Kirby, E., Broom, A., & Good, P. (2014). The role and significance of nurses in managing transitions to palliative care: a qualitative study. British Medical Journal open, 4(9), e006026.
Aim: The study aimed at exploring hospital-based nurse’s thoughts on the transition to palliative care and their role in facilitating more effective palliative care.
Design: Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews.
Setting: Health service environments in Australia.
Method: Interview method was used to obtain information from the nurses.
Analysis: Systematic thematic content analysis was done using NVivo 9 software.
Key Findings: It was observed that nurses have a big role in the transition to palliative care. It was also observed that nurses have difficulties in balancing emotional and interprofessional relationships during service provision.
Recommendations: Nursing staff requires emotional support and nursing education to better their services in palliative care nursing and transition.
Explanation: The study acknowledges that transition to palliative care nursing is difficult. Relevant nursing education and support are needed to better the services offered to patients.
Article 7
Namasivayam, P., Lee, S., O’connor, M., & Barnett, T. (2014). Caring for families of the terminally ill in Malaysia from palliative care nurses’ perspectives. Journal of clinical nursing, 23(1-2), 173-180.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jocn.12242/full
Aim: The study aimed at identifying ethical issues related to palliative care nursing in nursing homes.
Design: Qualitative design using a cross-sectional survey.
Setting: Nursing homes in the UK.
Method: A survey instrument on ethical issues in palliative care for nursing homes was developed.
Analysis: 201 responses were analyzed and recorded in frequency scales. Factors common in the scales were then selected.
Key Findings: Resident autonomy, competency, and provision of quality care were identified as key factors in the provision of palliative care services.
Recommendations: Nurses should be aware of the ethical principles governing palliative care services. Nursing education on palliative care ethics is crucial in promoting the service.
Explanation: This research demonstrates that the ethical principles governing palliative care nursing have added value to the life of patients. Nursing education on these principles will promote care and acceptance of the services by the patients.
Article 8
Alvarado V., & Liebig B. (2016). Inter-Professional Collaboration between Family Doctors and Nurses at the End of Life; Challenges of Community-Based Palliative Care in Switzerland. Journal of Community & Public Health Nursing 2:124.
Aim: To determine the challenges of inter-professional collaboration in community-based palliative care.
Design: Quantitative design using an explorative method.
Setting: French, Italian and German speaking language regions in Switzerland during 2013/2014 period.
Method: 24 Group discussions were held with 91 doctors and 72 nurses using semi-structured guidelines.
Analysis: Qualitative content analysis was used and the data sorted using computer software Atlas/ti.
Key Findings: Different professional values regarding palliative care and dying can cause a disturbance in collaboration between doctors and nurses affecting care delivery to the patients.
Recommendations: The article recommends interpersonal training and education programs for palliative care providers.
Explanation: This research indicates that interpersonal relationships between doctors and nurses can affect the quality of care provided to patients. Therefore, training and education are needed for the team to offer quality services.
References
Al-Hajery, M., Al-Mutairi H., & Ayed A. (2018). Perception, Knowledge and Barriers to End of Life Palliative Care among Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care Physicians. Journal of Palliative Care and Medicine 8: 326.
Alvarado V., & Liebig B. (2016). Inter-Professional Collaboration between Family Doctors and Nurses at the End of Life; Challenges of Community-Based Palliative Care in Switzerland. Journal of Community & Public Health Nursing 2:124.
Bhatnagar, S., & Patel, A. (2018). Effectiveness of the certificate course in essentials of palliative care program on the knowledge in palliative care among the participants: A cross-sectional interventional study. Indian Journal of Palliative Care, 24(1), 86.
Kirby, E., Broom, A., & Good, P. (2014). The role and significance of nurses in managing transitions to palliative care: a qualitative study. British Medical Journal open, 4(9), e006026.
Namasivayam, P., Lee, S., O’connor, M., & Barnett, T. (2014). Caring for families of the terminally ill in Malaysia from palliative care nurses’ perspectives. Journal of clinical nursing, 23(1-2), 173-180.
Namasivayam, P., Lee, S., O’connor, M., & Barnett, T. (2014). Caring for families of the terminally ill in Malaysia from palliative care nurses’ perspectives. Journal of clinical nursing, 23(1-2), 173-180.
Ramsey, R. J. M., & Matt, S. B. (2016). Policy Review and Recommendations: Palliative Care for Pediatric Patients in the United States of America. Journal of Community & Public Health Nursing.
Sekse, R. J. T., Hunskår, I., & Ellingsen, S. (2018). The nurse’s role in palliative care: A qualitative meta‐synthesis. Journal of clinical nursing, 27(1-2), e21-e38.
