Online education in palliative care - A national exploratory multimethod study.

Background: With an increased number of people living with multiple progressive diseases, online education courses have been created to address the growing need for competence in palliative care. However, there is limited knowledge about the form and content of these courses, or of participants' experiences. This study aims to map the status, content, and evaluation of online palliative care courses in Sweden.

Patients' Experiences of Person-Centered Care in the Context of Allogenic Stem Cell Transplantation.

Studies addressing patients' experiences of person-centered care (PCC) in the context of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) are scarce; hence, this study aimed to explore patients' experiences of PCC, and its associations with individual characteristics and health-related quality of life, in the context of allogeneic stem cell transplantation. It is a cross-sectional survey study, in patients who had undergone an allo-HSCT at one center in Sweden. The PCC instrument for outpatient care in rheumatology (PCCoc/rheum) was used.

Dismantle and rebuild: the importance of preparedness and self-efficacy before, during and after allogeneic haematopoietic cell transplantation.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to explore patients' experiences of being prepared for allogenic haematopoietic cell transplantation and to explore their perceived self-efficacy and preparedness for self-care after allogenic haematopoietic cell transplantation.

Methods: Nine participants, who recently underwent allo-HCT, were interviewed regarding their views on preparedness, self-efficacy and self-care. The interviews were analysed using inductive qualitative content analysis.

Patient experiences of randomised placebo-controlled trial participation during end-of-life palliative cancer care.

Background: Performing clinical trials in palliative cancer care is known to be challenging.

Objective: This study aimed to explore how patients with advanced cancer experienced their participation in a randomised, placebo-controlled trial while receiving palliative cancer care at end of life.

Method: A descriptive design with a qualitative approach was used.

Postgraduate nursing students' experiences with simulation-based learning in palliative care education: A qualitative study.

Aim: The aim of this study was to explore postgraduate palliative care nursing students' experiences with simulation-based learning focusing on communication skills, as a learning method in palliative care education.

Background: Communication is one of several important competencies in palliative care and found to be challenging. Developing appropriate communication skills in palliative care requires education and practice.

Teaching to prepare undergraduate nursing students for palliative care: nurse educators' perspectives.

Background: Education in palliative care for undergraduate nursing students is important for the competence of general nurses. Newly graduated nurses have reported challenges in coping with their own emotions when encountering dying persons. They express a wish for more education before they graduate, particularly in psychosocial and existential areas, such as having difficult conversations and supporting grieving persons.

Simulation-based learning in palliative care in postgraduate nursing education: a scoping review.

Background: Nurses require advanced competence in palliative care, but they face wide variations in education and a shortage in opportunities for clinical placement. Simulation-based learning (SBL) can enable students to develop clinical skills, critical thinking and confidence. No scoping reviews to date have mapped the use of SBL in palliative care within postgraduate nursing education.

Nursing as a balancing act in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation -nurses' experiences through participation in workshops.

Purpose: Registered nurses have a key role in supporting patients during the trajectory of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT). However, the circumstances for performing nursing are not previously outlined therefore the purpose of this study was to explore the conditions for nursing care in allo-HCT.

Method: An explorative design, inspired by Experienced based co-design was used to gather experiences, thoughts and visions of nursing care in allo-HCT by means of workshops.

Symptom Burden and Recovery in the First Year After Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation.

Background: Patients are affected by various symptoms after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) that can affect recovery. Research has mainly focused on symptom occurrence; thus, little is known about patients' overall symptom burden.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine patient-reported symptom burden in the first year after allo-HSCT and whether a high symptom burden 4 months after allo-HSCT predicts recovery, that is, general health and sick leave, 1 year after transplantation.

Sex Differences in the Effect of Vitamin D on Fatigue in Palliative Cancer Care-A Post Hoc Analysis of the Randomized, Controlled Trial 'Palliative-D'.

In the randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial 'Palliative-D', vitamin D treatment of 4000 IE/day for 12 weeks reduced opioid use and fatigue in vitamin-D-deficient cancer patients. In screening data from this trial, lower levels of vitamin D were associated with more fatigue in men but not in women. The aim of the present study was to investigate possible sex differences in the effect of vitamin D in patients with advanced cancer, with a specific focus on fatigue.

Home care assistants' attitudes and perceptions of caring for people at the end of life in their homes in Sweden.

The ageing population is increasing worldwide, with older people often having multimorbidity and a need for help with activities and personal care. Home Care Assistants (HCAs) are central to the provision of care in the home. They meet older people approaching the end of life and their relatives.

Teaching about death and dying-A national mixed-methods survey of palliative care education provision in Swedish undergraduate nursing programmes.

Background: In coming decades, the number of people affected by illnesses who need palliative care will rise worldwide. Registered Nurses are in a central position in providing this care, and education is one of the necessary components for meeting coming requirements. However, there is a lack of knowledge about palliative care in undergraduate nursing education curricula, including the extent of the education provided and the related pedagogical methods.

Living in limbo: Meanings of living with fecal incontinence as narrated by women after treatment for pelvic cancer.

Purpose: After pelvic radiotherapy, individuals suffer from loose stools and defecation urgency, often resulting in fecal incontinence (FI). Women who have been treated for pelvic cancer report FI as one of the most troubling symptoms, yet they avoid seeking healthcare due to shame and stigmatization. There is a lack of knowledge concerning women's lived experiences of FI in daily life after pelvic radiotherapy.

Fatigue in Cancer Patients in Palliative Care-A Review on Pharmacological Interventions.

Fatigue is one of the most distressing symptoms experienced by cancer patients. The suggested biological mechanism for cancer related fatigue (CRF) includes immune activation triggered by tumor tissue or by anticancer treatment but other mechanisms have also been proposed. Previous large meta-analysis of interventions on fatigue focuses mostly on patients early in the disease trajectory, with only one tenth of included studies performed in palliative cohorts.

Registered nurses and undergraduate nursing students' attitudes to performing end-of-life care.

Registered Nurses (RNs) are in the immediate position to provide End-of-life (EOL) care and counselling for patients and families in various settings. However, EOL-care often creates feelings of uncertainty and inadequacy linked to inexperience, lack of education, and attitude. To identify and describe factors associated with RNs' attitudes towards EOL-care, and to identify whether and how these attitudes differ from undergraduate nursing students' (UNSs) attitudes, a descriptive and comparative, quantitative study was performed.

Vitamin D and Fatigue in Palliative Cancer: A Cross-Sectional Study of Sex Difference in Baseline Data from the Palliative D Cohort.

Fatigue is one of the most distressing symptoms in patients with advanced cancer. Previous studies have shown an association between low vitamin D levels and fatigue. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between vitamin D levels and self-assessed fatigue in cancer patients admitted to palliative care, with focus on possible sex differences.

Development and Psychometric Evaluation of a New Short Version of the Swedish Frommelt Attitudes Toward Care of the Dying Scale.

Background: The Frommelt Attitudes Toward Care of the Dying (FATCOD) is widely used as a measure of attitudes toward care of dying patients. However, poor factor structure and item redundancy have been reported across the literature.

Objective: A short version of the questionnaire is needed, to facilitate effective assessments of the attitudes of those caring for dying patients.

Leadership in specialist palliative home care teams: A qualitative study.

Aim: The aim of this study was to describe team leaders' experiences of facilitators and barriers of leadership in specialist palliative home care teams.

Background: For effective teamwork in specialist palliative care, leadership is crucial; however, defining and agreeing on what leadership comprises may be challenging. In palliative care, teamwork is recognized as imperative for multiprofessional perspectives to meet dying patients' and families' needs.

Using Cards to Facilitate Conversations About Wishes and Priorities of Patients in Palliative Care.

To avoid discomfort, health care professionals may hesitate to pursue conversations about end of life with patients. Certain tools have the potential to facilitate smoother conversations in this matter. The objective was to explore the experiences of patients in palliative care in using statement cards to talk about their wishes and priorities.

Caring for older people with dementia reliving past trauma.

Background: The occurrence of behavioural changes and problems, and degree of paranoid thoughts, are significantly higher among people who have experienced extreme trauma such as during the Holocaust. People with dementia and traumatic past experiences may have flashbacks reminding them of these experiences, which is of relevance in caring situations. In nursing homes for people with dementia, nursing assistants are often the group of staff who provide help with personal needs.

Does the Time Trade-Off Method Reflect Health-Related Quality of Life? A Mixed-Methods Analysis of Preference Measures 10 Years After Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.

Objective: To investigate if the time trade-off (TTO) method reflects health-related quality of life (HRQoL) 10 years after an aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH).

Methods: A cross-sectional study with a mixed-methods approach was used to follow up 208 patients treated for aSAH. Data were collected with intramethod mixing; the quantitative data consisted of the EQ-5D-3L instrument and a TTO question, and the qualitative data comprised motivations to the TTO answer.

Dog handlers' experiences of therapy dogs' impact on life near death for persons with dementia.

Background:: Persons with dementia may have severe physical and psychological symptoms at the end of life. A therapy dog used in their care can provide comfort and relieve their anxiety. The dog handler guides the dog during the interaction with the patient.

Team type, team maturity and team effectiveness in specialist palliative home care: an exploratory questionnaire study.

To meet complex needs in persons and families within specialist palliative care, care team members are expected to work together in performing a comprehensive assessment of patient needs. Team type (how integrated team members work) and team maturity (group development) have been identified as components in team effectiveness and productivity. The aim of the study reported in this paper was to identify team types in specialist palliative care in Sweden, and to explore associations between team type, team maturity and team effectiveness in home care teams.

Actions helping expressed or anticipated needs: Patients with advanced cancer and their family caregivers' experiences of specialist palliative home care teams.

Patients with advanced cancer and family caregivers in palliative care face physical, psychological, social and existential challenges, much of the time home alone. Specialist palliative home care team services can be instrumental for sense of security in an uncertain situation. The aim of this study was to describe patients' and family caregivers' experiences of specialist palliative home care team actions that are identified by the participants as helping or hindering interventions.

Undergraduate nursing students' transformational learning during clinical training.

Background: Undergraduate nursing students encounter patients at the end of life during their clinical training. They need to confront dying and death under supportive circumstances in order to be prepared for similar situations in their future career.

Aim: To explore undergraduate nursing students' descriptions of caring situations with patients at the end of life during supervised clinical training.