Working at the Intersection of Palliative End-of-Life and Mental Health Care: Provider Perspectives.

Working at the Intersection of Palliative End-of-Life and Mental Health Care: Provider Perspectives. J Palliat Care. 2020 Aug 18;:825859720951360 Authors: Park T, Hegadoren K, Workun B Abstract OBJECTIVE: Palliative, end-of-life care (PEOLC) providers are poorly resourced in addressing the needs of patients with mental health challenges, and the dying experiences of this cohort-particularly those with a comorbid, chronic and persistent mental illness (CPMI)-are poorly documented. We sought to explore the experiences of PEOLC providers with regard to caring for patients with mental health challenges, and gather insights into ways of improving accessibility and quality of PEOLC for these patients. METHOD: Twenty providers of PEOLC, from different disciplines, took part in semi structured interviews. The data were coded and analyzed using a reflexive, inductive-deductive process of thematic analysis. RESULTS: The most prominent issues pertained to assessment of patients and differential diagnosis of CPMI, and preparedness of caregivers to deliver mental health interventions, given the isolation of palliative care from other agencies. Among the assets mentioned, informal relationships with frontline caregivers were seen as the main support structure, rather than the formal policies and procedures of the practice settings. Strategies to improve mental health care in PEOLC centered on holistic roles and interventions benefi...
Source: Journal of Palliative Care - Category: Palliative Care Tags: J Palliat Care Source Type: research