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Oncologists communicating with patients about assisted dying
Purpose of review Across all jurisdictions in which assisted dying is legally permissible, cancer is the primary reported underlying diagnosis. Therefore, oncologists are likely to be asked about assisted dying and should be equipped to respond to inquiries or requests for assisted dying. Because Medical Assistance in Dying was legalized in Canada in 2016, it is a relatively new end-of-life practice and has prompted the need to revisit the academic literature to inform communication with patients about assisted dying. Recent findings We reviewed applicable literature published in the past 5 years, pertaining to assist...
Source: Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care - January 29, 2019 Category: Palliative Care Tags: COMMUNICATION IN CANCER: ITS IMPACT ON THE EXPERIENCE OF CANCER CARE: Edited by Elie Isenberg-Grzeda and Janet Ellis Source Type: research

Cancer and fertility: optimizing communication between patients and healthcare providers
This article reviews the status of guidelines and recommendations for communication between patients with cancer and healthcare providers (HCPs) concerning fertility issues. Recent findings The timing, the type of information provided, and the openness of HCPs can all affect how patients with cancer perceive discussions regarding fertility concerns and preservation. In addition, whether such discussions occur is associated with intrinsic factors, such as age and sex of the patients as well as HCP's knowledge level. It has also been found that the patients have different needs for information regarding fertility preserva...
Source: Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care - January 29, 2019 Category: Palliative Care Tags: COMMUNICATION IN CANCER: ITS IMPACT ON THE EXPERIENCE OF CANCER CARE: Edited by Elie Isenberg-Grzeda and Janet Ellis Source Type: research

Communication in cancer: its impact on the experience of cancer care: communicating with the angry patient and the patient in denial
Purpose of review This review aims to describe the recent literature on communication between cancer care clinicians and angry patients and patients in denial. Recent findings Clinicians had improved perceived self-efficacy in responding to patient anger after completing anger management training, with a focus on reframing anger as a normative response to unmet needs. Psychosocial and mindfulness programmes for cancer patients were found to be useful for modifying anger response to stressors. Existing clinician communication guidelines may not meet the complex needs of adolescents and individuals with anger-prone pers...
Source: Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care - January 29, 2019 Category: Palliative Care Tags: COMMUNICATION IN CANCER: ITS IMPACT ON THE EXPERIENCE OF CANCER CARE: Edited by Elie Isenberg-Grzeda and Janet Ellis Source Type: research

Communication skills training for healthcare professionals in oncology over the past decade: a systematic review of reviews
Purpose of review Effective communication in cancer care requires complex communication skills of healthcare professionals (HCPs), which can be advanced by communication skills training (CST). The number of empirical studies on CST has grown steadily over the last decade. However, controversies on CST abound. The aim of this review of reviews is to summarize evidence for the effectiveness of CST in oncology as well as for effective CST features (intensity, format and content) and to synthesize the current opinion on CST. Recent findings The evidence synthesized from multiple reviews supported the effect of CST on HCPs...
Source: Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care - January 29, 2019 Category: Palliative Care Tags: COMMUNICATION IN CANCER: ITS IMPACT ON THE EXPERIENCE OF CANCER CARE: Edited by Elie Isenberg-Grzeda and Janet Ellis Source Type: research

Editorial: Communication in cancer
No abstract available (Source: Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care)
Source: Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care - January 29, 2019 Category: Palliative Care Tags: COMMUNICATION IN CANCER: ITS IMPACT ON THE EXPERIENCE OF CANCER CARE: Edited by Elie Isenberg-Grzeda and Janet Ellis Source Type: research

The role of splanchnic congestion and the intestinal microenvironment in the pathogenesis of advanced heart failure
Purpose of review Right-sided heart failure, which is often present in the setting of advanced heart failure, is associated with cardiac cachexia, the cardiorenal syndrome, and adverse outcomes. Improved understanding of venous congestion of the splanchnic circulation, which may play a key role in the pathogenesis of right-sided heart failure, could lead to novel therapeutics to ameliorate heart failure. Here we provide an overview of right-sided heart failure, splanchnic hemodynamics, fluid homeostasis, and the intestinal microenvironment. We review recent literature to describe pathophysiologic mechanisms and possible ...
Source: Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care - January 29, 2019 Category: Palliative Care Tags: CARDIAC AND CIRCULATORY PROBLEMS: Edited by James M. Beattie Source Type: research

The lived experience of breathlessness for people diagnosed with heart failure: a qualitative synthesis of the literature
Purpose of review The experience of breathlessness in patients with heart failure is understudied. This review was aimed at evaluating the most recent qualitative findings regarding the experience of breathlessness in persons diagnosed with heart failure. Recent findings A literature search was conducted using Pubmed, Psycinfo, BNI, Cinahl and Google Scholar including studies on breathlessness experience in patients with heart failure, published between 2017 and 2018. Only three studies were identified, and findings were categorized into five themes: acknowledgment of breathlessness, prevailing consequences of breathl...
Source: Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care - January 29, 2019 Category: Palliative Care Tags: CARDIAC AND CIRCULATORY PROBLEMS: Edited by James M. Beattie Source Type: research

Structural heart disease: one valve does not fit all
This article highlights the work that has been done to facilitate decision-making in this challenging patient population. Recent findings Patient selection is of paramount importance as TAVR remains a costly intervention. Currently, our gold standards for preprocedural patient evaluation are inadequate. Apropos, several objective tools are being developed to help clinicians evaluate frailty. Giving patients a more accurate postprocedure prognosis allows them to make informed decisions on whether this intervention is appropriate for their respective goals. Summary In order for us to fully embrace shared decision-makin...
Source: Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care - January 29, 2019 Category: Palliative Care Tags: CARDIAC AND CIRCULATORY PROBLEMS: Edited by James M. Beattie Source Type: research

Can a complex adaptive systems perspective support the resiliency of the heart failure patient – informal caregiver dyad?
Purpose of review A holistic palliative approach for heart failure care emphasizes supporting nonprofessional informal caregivers. Informal caregivers play a vital role caring for heart failure patients. However, caregiving negatively affects informal caregivers’ well being, and in turn heart failure patients’ health outcomes. This opinion article proposes that complex adaptive systems (CAS) theory applied to heart failure models of care can support the resiliency of the heart failure patient – informal caregiver dyad. Recent findings Heart failure care is enacted within a complex system composed of patients, th...
Source: Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care - January 29, 2019 Category: Palliative Care Tags: CARDIAC AND CIRCULATORY PROBLEMS: Edited by James M. Beattie Source Type: research

Māori: living and dying with cardiovascular disease in Aotearoa New Zealand
This article provides an informed perspective on cardiovascular disease (CVD) and palliative care need among Māori New Zealanders. High Māori CVD risk factors will contribute to a sharp increase in older Māori deaths which has implications for health and palliative care service provision. Recent findings CVD is New Zealand's leading cause of premature deaths and disability among Māori. A projected rise in older Māori deaths within the next 30 years will require increased palliative care. However, accessing palliative care and obtaining and understanding information can be challenging for families who are already of...
Source: Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care - January 29, 2019 Category: Palliative Care Tags: CARDIAC AND CIRCULATORY PROBLEMS: Edited by James M. Beattie Source Type: research

Editorial: Culture, treatment paradigms, and advanced heart failure
No abstract available (Source: Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care)
Source: Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care - January 29, 2019 Category: Palliative Care Tags: CARDIAC AND CIRCULATORY PROBLEMS: Edited by James M. Beattie Source Type: research

Editorial introductions
No abstract available (Source: Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care)
Source: Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care - January 29, 2019 Category: Palliative Care Tags: EDITORIAL INTRODUCTIONS Source Type: research

Managing anaemia in bone marrow failure syndromes
Purpose of review Anaemia is a common haematological presentation in patients with bone marrow failure, yet a challenging condition to treat. As anaemia has a direct impact on the patient's symptoms, managing anaemia in the common bone marrow failure conditions, such as myelodysplastic syndrome will help to improve the quality of life. This review discusses the available treatment options and the benefit of improving the haemoglobin level. Recent findings Managing anaemia effectively has shown to improve the patient outcome, yet treatment option remain limited. Recently, activin inhibitors such as Luspatercept have sh...
Source: Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care - November 2, 2018 Category: Palliative Care Tags: BLOOD, BONE MARROW AND LYMPHATICS: Edited by Christopher Dalley Source Type: research

Hemato-oncology and palliative care teams: is it time for an integrated approach to patient care?
Purpose of review Integrated palliative care for those with advanced solid tumors yields significant benefits in patient and caregiver outcomes. However, most palliative care clinical trials have excluded patients with hematologic malignancies. There is growing interest in whether integrated palliative care may yield similar benefits in hematologic malignancy patients and caregivers, but there has been little direct evidence of benefit in this population. This review summarizes new data on palliative care issues in hematologic malignancies, published in the preceding 12 months. Recent findings Most newly published evi...
Source: Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care - November 2, 2018 Category: Palliative Care Tags: BLOOD, BONE MARROW AND LYMPHATICS: Edited by Christopher Dalley Source Type: research

How should we assess patient-reported outcomes in the onco-hematology clinic?
Purpose of review The improvement of clinical outcomes in hematologic malignancies has paved the way for a more systematic patient-reported outcomes (PROs) assessment in routine clinical practice. PROs help to narrow the gap between patients’ and healthcare professionals’ view of patient health and treatment success. This review outlines key aspects of planning and performing PRO assessments in daily routine such as the selection of PRO instruments, electronic PRO data collection, and the presentation and interpretation of PRO results. Recent findings A substantial body of literature has demonstrated that careful ...
Source: Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care - November 2, 2018 Category: Palliative Care Tags: BLOOD, BONE MARROW AND LYMPHATICS: Edited by Christopher Dalley Source Type: research