Validity and reliability of the integrated palliative care outcome scale (IPOS) in Korea: a multicenter study of terminally ill cancer patients.

Background: The Integrated Palliative care Outcome Scale (IPOS) is a key tool for assessing the quality of palliative care using patient-reported outcomes. This study aimed to culturally adapt and translate the IPOS to Korean and verify its psychometric properties for use in palliative care settings.

Methods: The IPOS was translated and culturally adapted, followed by validation in 119 terminally ill cancer patients and 28 healthcare providers across six Hospice and Palliative Care Units from September 2023 to January 2024.

Decreased aggressive care at the end of life among advanced cancer patients in the Republic of Korea: a nationwide study from 2012 to 2018.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the trends of aggressive care at the end-of-life (EoL) for patients with advanced cancer in Korea and to identify factors affecting such care analyzing nationwide data between 2012 to 2018.

Methods: This was a population-based, retrospective nationwide study. We used administrative data from the National Health Insurance Service and the Korea Central Cancer Registry to analyze 125,350 patients aged 20 years and above who died within one year of a stage IV cancer diagnosis between 2012 and 2018.

Changes in the treatment rate of patients newly diagnosed with stage IV cancer near the end of life from 2012 to 2017 in Korea.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate changes in the cancer treatment rate among patients newly diagnosed with stage IV cancer using socio-demographic and clinical subgroups in a nationwide cohort of Korean patients.

Methods: This retrospective, national-level study used the Korea Central Cancer Registry (KCCR), which is linked to the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) database, from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2017. The records of patients newly diagnosed with stage IV of the 5 cancers with the highest cancer-related mortality rate were identified to analyze changes in the treatment rate.

Analgesic Efficacy of Melatonin: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trials.

Previous systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials have reported controversial findings regarding the effects of melatonin on pain reduction. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of melatonin on pain among adults using a meta-analysis of randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials (RDBPCTs). PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, and the bibliographies of relevant articles were searched up to February 2020.

Associations Between the Intention to Use Early Palliative Care, Sources of Information, and Attitudes Toward a Good Death in Korean Adults.

Context: Providing hospice and palliative care (HPC) early in the course of care for patients with life-threatening illness is important for improving patient quality of life. However, little literature exists for factors affecting to the intention to use early palliative care (EPC) of general population.

Objectives: This study aimed to identify the sources of information about HPC, investigate whether they affect intention to use HPC and EPC, and examine the relationship between the components of a good death and the intention to use HPC and EPC.

Effectiveness of home hospice care: a nationwide prospective observational study.

Purpose: Many assert the need for home hospice care. However, limited research has shown its effectiveness. The authors of this study thus evaluated the effectiveness of a home hospice care pilot project regarding (1) early enrollment in hospice care, (2) efficient use of inpatient hospice resources, and (3) enabling terminally ill patients to stay at their preferred place of care.

Changes of End of Life Practices for Cancer Patients and Their Association with Hospice Palliative Care Referral over 2009-2014: A Single Institution Study.

Purpose: In Korea, hospice palliative care (HPC) provision for cancer patients has increased recently. However, whether end of life (EoL) care practices have improved along with the development of HPC is unclear. We intended to investigate the changes in EoL care practices and their association with HPC referral.

Factors Related with Utilizing Hospice Palliative Care Unit among Terminal Cancer Patients in Korea between 2010 and 2014: a Single Institution Study.

Background: Establishing and designating specialized hospice palliative care units (HPCUs) has been an important part of national policy to promote hospice palliative care in Korea in the recent decade. However, few studies have sought to identify patterns and barriers for utilizing HPCU over the period of national policy implementation. We aimed to investigate factors related with utilizing HPCU for terminal cancer patients after consultation with a palliative care team (PCT).

Outpatient Palliative Care and Aggressiveness of End-of-Life Care in Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer.

Background: Palliative care in outpatient setting has been shown to promote better symptom management and transition to hospice care among patients with advanced cancer. Nevertheless, specialized palliative care is rarely provided at cancer centers in Korea. Herein, we aimed to assess aggressiveness of end-of-life care for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer according to the use of outpatient palliative care (OPC) at a single cancer center in Korea.

Do Korean Doctors Think a Palliative Consultation Team Would Be Helpful to Their Terminal Cancer Patients?

Purpose: Hospice and palliative care services (HPC) are not commonly utilized in Korea; however, palliative care teams (PCTs) have been found to be effective at addressing the shortcomings in HPC. In this study, we attempted to outline unmet palliative care needs of terminal cancer patients and the potential benefits of PCTs as perceived by doctors in Korea.

Materials And Methods: We surveyed 474 doctors at 10 cancer-related academic conferences from June to November 2014 with a self-report questionnaire to assess their perceptions of end-of-life care needs and the expected effects of PCTs on caring for terminal cancer patients.

Prospective Validation of the Objective Prognostic Score for Advanced Cancer Patients in Diverse Palliative Settings.

Context: Prognostication is an essential part of palliative care to aid decision making and negotiate goals of care. The Objective Prognostic Score (OPS) is an easy-to-use prognosticating tool to predict survival among far-advanced cancer patients in palliative care units (PCUs) in Korea.

Objectives: This study aimed to prospectively validate the OPS for advanced cancer patients in the palliative care teams (PCTs), PCUs, and home-based palliative care (HPC) in Japan.

Prevalence and Associated Factors of Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms Among Bereaved Family Members of Cancer Patients in Korea: A Nation-Wide Cross-Sectional Study.

Bereaved family members of cancer patient are at risk of having psychological problems such as anxiety and depression. However, prevalence and associated factors of anxiety and depressive symptoms among this population have not been explored in Korea.We conducted a nation-wide cross-sectional questionnaire survey of 3522 bereaved family members of cancer patients who died at 44 hospice palliative care unit (HPCU) in Korea in 2012.

Terminal Versus Advanced Cancer: Do the General Population and Health Care Professionals Share a Common Language?

Purpose: Many end-of-life care studies are based on the assumption that there is a shared definition of language concerning the stage of cancer. However, studies suggest that patients and their families often misperceive patients' cancer stages and prognoses. Discrimination between advanced cancer and terminal cancer is important because the treatment goals are different.

Caregiver burden, patients' self-perceived burden, and preference for palliative care among cancer patients and caregivers.

Objective: Recently, caregiver burden (CB) has emerged as an important issue in the area of palliative medicine. However, patients' feelings related to being a burden to their families (i.e.

Perceived timeliness of referral to hospice palliative care among bereaved family members in Korea.

Purpose: We aimed to explore the perceived timeliness of referral to hospice palliative care unit (HPCU) among bereaved family members in Korea and factors associated therewith.

Methods: Cross-sectional questionnaire survey was performed for bereaved family members of patients who utilized 40 designated HPCUs across Korea. The questionnaire assessed whether admission to the HPCU was "too late" or "appropriate" and the Good Death Inventory (GDI).

Evaluation of the National Train-the-Trainer Program for Hospice and Palliative Care in Korea.

Background: To evaluate the effectiveness of the National Train-the-Trainers Program for Hospice and Palliative Care Experts (TTHPC) sponsored by the National Cancer Center of Korea between 2009 and 2012. This program was developed to improve the teaching skills of those in the field of hospice and palliative care (HPC).

Materials And Methods: Training was offered in eight 1-day sessions between 2009 and 2012.

Knowledge, practices, and perceived barriers regarding cancer pain management among physicians and nurses in Korea: a nationwide multicenter survey.

Purpose: Medical professionals' practices and knowledge regarding cancer pain management have often been cited as inadequate. This study aimed to evaluate knowledge, practices and perceived barriers regarding cancer pain management among physicians and nurses in Korea.

Methods: A nationwide questionnaire survey was administered to physicians and nurses involved in the care of cancer patients.

Developing competencies for multidisciplinary hospice and palliative care professionals in Korea.

Purpose: Competency-based assessment helps to improve performance and to standardize education programs for hospice and palliative care professionals. This paper aims to report the process and results of developing the hospice and palliative care competencies by multidisciplinary experts in Korea.

Methods: The competency development task force team of Korean hospice and palliative care professionals was comprised of seven physicians, four nurses, two social workers, and two clergy.

Efficacy of pain education in cancer patients: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Purpose: Patient education has been considered as one of the important strategies to improve cancer pain control. However, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have reported inconsistent findings on this issue. This study aims to evaluate the overall efficacy of pain education on improving pain management in cancer patients by using a meta-analysis of RCTs.

Factors that affect quality of dying and death in terminal cancer patients on inpatient palliative care units: perspectives of bereaved family caregivers.

Context: There is an increasing use of palliative care units (PCUs) for the treatment of terminally ill cancer patients. Thus, it is important to evaluate the care and quality of life of terminally ill cancer patients treated in PCUs so that improvements can be made. Limited research has investigated the quality of dying and death in PCUs.