Palliative Care News and Research

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Palliative care is an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problem associated with life-threatening illness, through the prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification and impeccable assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, physical, psychosocial and spiritual.

Repeated listening to favorite music induces beneficial brain plasticity in Alzheimer’s patients

Researchers at the University of Toronto and Unity Health Toronto have demonstrated that repeated listening to personally meaningful music induces beneficial brain plasticity in patients with mild cognitive impairment or early Alzheimer's disease.

9 Nov 2021

‘Covid hit us over the head with a two-by-four’: Addressing ageism with urgency

Earlier this year, the World Health Organization announced a global campaign to combat ageism — discrimination against older adults that is pervasive and harmful but often unrecognized.

5 Nov 2021

What are the risk factors for severe disease in children hospitalized for SARS-CoV-2 infection?

A new preprint describes an effort to describe the risk factors for severe COVID-19 in children.

2 Nov 2021

Daily use of cannabidiol oil may shrink lung tumors

It may be worth exploring further the use of cannabidiol ('CBD') oil as a potential lung cancer treatment, suggest doctors in BMJ Case Reports after dealing with a daily user whose lung tumor shrank without the aid of conventional treatment.

15 Oct 2021

$94 million PCORI funding to support the next phase of PCORnet and new colorectal cancer study in older adults

The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute Board of Governors today approved $61.3 million for a slate of several infrastructure projects that will support the activities of eight Clinical Research Networks to implement the next phase of PCORnet, the National Patient-Centered Clinical Research Network.

29 Sep 2021

Many cancer survivors continue to suffer long-term burdensome symptoms, study shows

Previous standards of cancer follow-up care and support may no longer meet current needs as improvements in screening practices, early diagnosis and treatment of cancer have put long-term survival beyond five years following diagnosis within reach for more than half of patients in Europe.

20 Sep 2021

New protocol for donning and doffing personal protective equipment during home visits

Researchers describe a protocol for donning and doffing personal protective equipment in home settings for health care professionals who must interact with patients potentially infected with COVID-19. This protocol addresses gaps in COVID-19 related guidelines, specifically the process of donning and doffing PPE during home visits while supplementing PPE guidelines and protocols. To create the protocol, the researchers used an interactive, rapid-prototyping approach.

17 Sep 2021

INCB, UNODC and WHO call on governments to facilitate access to controlled medicines in emergencies

Recognizing World Humanitarian Day 2021, the International Narcotics Control Board, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the World Health Organization once again call on governments to facilitate access to medicines containing controlled substances in emergency settings, including during pandemics and the increasing number of climate-related disasters.

10 Sep 2021

'Do not resuscitate' decision recorded for only 1 in 5 very sick older patients, study finds

Only around 1 in 5 very sick older patients has a 'do not resuscitate' decision recorded at the time of their emergency admission to hospital, reveals a study at one large UK hospital and published online in the journal BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care.

8 Sep 2021

Most countries in the world fail to address dementia challenge

Only a quarter of countries worldwide have a national policy, strategy or plan for supporting people with dementia and their families, according to the WHO's 'Global status report on the public health response to dementia', released today.

4 Sep 2021

Growing use of mechanical circulatory support causes moral distress among clinicians

The growing use of mechanical circulatory support (MCS) may contribute to high levels of moral distress for clinicians who regularly care for critically ill patients receiving the aggressive but life-sustaining therapy, according to a study in American Journal of Critical Care.

1 Sep 2021

‘My time to live’: Through novel program, kidney patients get palliative care, dialysis ’til the end

After a decade of living with chronic kidney disease, Vonita McGee knows her body is wearing out.

30 Aug 2021

Study finds comparatively less marijuana use in cancer patients than the general public

Last month, three states – Virginia, South Dakota, and Connecticut – joined the ranks of more than a dozen others that have legalized marijuana – also known as cannabis – for recreational use. Yet, despite these changing laws and growing social acceptance of the drug, a new study finds that use is still lower among cancer patients.

13 Aug 2021

Organizational readiness found to be main driver for good quality end-of-life care in hospitals

How prepared and engaged a hospital is to provide end-of-life care is pivotal to the quality of care provided, a new Flinders University study has found.

8 Jul 2021

Patients' socioeconomic status can influence the medical assistance in dying

In Canada, low-income hospital patients under palliative care are less likely to receive medical assistance in dying compared to those who are high income, according to a study published in British Medical Journal Open (BMJ Open).

1 Jul 2021

Study estimates end-of-life decisions for newborns in Flanders

Extremely ill newborns often present parents and doctors with very complex medical challenges and difficult ethical issues.

17 Jun 2021

Most Americans may have inadequate understanding of palliative care

The majority of surveyed Americans had an inadequate understanding of palliative care, and frequency of health care utilization was one determinant of knowledge.

5 Jun 2021

Study reveals prevalence of multimorbidity among people using methamphetamine

People who use methamphetamine are more likely to have health conditions, mental illness, and substance use disorders than people who do not use the drug, according to a new study by researchers at the Center for Drug Use and HIV/HCV Research (CDUHR) at NYU School of Global Public Health.

3 Jun 2021

Methamphetamine users more susceptible to have medical, mental, and substance use issues

People who use methamphetamine are nearly twice as likely to have medical multimorbidity, and over three times as likely to have a mental illness.

2 Jun 2021

New app focuses on supporting patients with life-limiting illnesses in Ethiopia

The Ayzot app is a collaboration between Surrey, the University of Strathclyde, Hospice Ethiopia, the Federal Ministry of Health and Hello Doctor Ethiopia, an Ethiopian-based software company run by Dr Yohans Wodaje.

13 May 2021