"A Soft Death": Perceptions and Attitudes Toward Palliative Care in Senegal.

Background And Objectives: Palliative care (PC) is a specialty medical service that aims to address the bio-psycho-social-spiritual needs of patients with serious illnesses and their care partners. Despite the value of PC, its expansion in Sub-Saharan Africa has been uneven and particularly underdeveloped in Senegal due to variability in access to training resources and funding. This study sought to understand the current landscape of PC services in Senegal and the barriers and opportunities in its growth.

Non-pharmacologic interventions for the prevention of delirium in the intensive care unit: An integrative review.

Background: Delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU) is associated with increased mortality, longer hospital stays, and increased odds of institutionalization after discharge. Delirium is a significant complication that occurs frequently in ICU yet lacks a standardized treatment protocol. Because of the limited effective pharmacologic treatments available for the management of delirium, non-pharmacologic interventions such as early mobilization, earplugs and blinds at night, music and natural sunlight during the day, continuous reorientation, and increased visitation and family participation are essential to integrate into the treatment plan for the management of delirium in the ICU.