Facing death alone and in isolation: A phenomenological study with survivors of COVID-19.

During the early waves of COVID-19, many patients had to be isolated, with some dying alone in hospitals. Understanding the psychological impact of isolation during a potentially life-threatening disease and identifying coping mechanisms can inform future care protocols. This qualitative study aimed to explore the experiences of COVID-19 survivors isolated in hospitals.

Nomenclature in Palliative and Kidney Supportive Care: Not Just at the End-of-Life.

The multidimensional view of disease is fundamental in the care of complex diseases such as chronic kidney disease (CKD). It is appropriate to define and unify concepts that allow the different professionals involved in care to provide a multidisciplinary approach tailored to the needs of each individual. Given the increasing incidence of CKD worldwide and the fact that the disease may progress at different rates, there is a need to establish personalized, comprehensive approaches for each patient and their families at an earlier stage.

The Wish to Hasten Death in Patients With Life-Limiting Conditions. A Systematic Overview.

Context: A systematic review of the wish to hasten death among people with life-limiting conditions was published in 2011. Since then, other reviews and primary studies have been published that have added to knowledge regarding the conceptual definition, aetiology and assessment of the wish to hasten death.

Objectives: To provide an updated synthesis of the literature on the wish to hasten death in people with life-limiting conditions.

Antitumoral Agent-Induced Constipation: A Systematic Review.

Background: Constipation is a common symptom in patients receiving antitumoral treatment. The mechanisms underlying antitumoral agent-induced constipation (ATAIC) are poorly defined. This systematic review aimed to analyze and synthesize the available information related to the prevalence, etiology, and treatment of ATAIC.

Polypharmacy and Reversible Drug Induced QT Prolongation in a Patient with Advanced Cancer: Case Report.

QT prolongation is related to the development of ventricular arrhythmias such as Torsade de Pointes (TdP) that can lead to sudden cardiac death. Several drugs used in the treatment of patients with advanced cancer may induce QT prolongation due to their interference with cardiac ion channels. Some patients may be at higher risk if predisposing factors are present.

Development of a Guide to Multidimensional Needs Assessment in the Palliative Care Initial Encounter (MAP).

Context: Ensuring patient-centered palliative care requires a comprehensive assessment of needs beginning in the initial encounter. However, there is no generally accepted guide for carrying out this multidimensional needs assessment as a first step in palliative intervention.

Objectives: To develop an expert panel-endorsed interview guide that would enable proactive and systematic Multidimensional needs Assessment in the Palliative care initial encounter (MAP).

Episodic breathlessness in patients with cancer: definition, terminology, clinical features - integrative systematic review.

Purpose: Breatlessness flares directly impair quality of life of patients with cancer. The aim of this review was to analyse and synthesise the available information related to its terminology, definition and clinical features in patients with cancer.

Methods: Integrative systematic review according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines.

Optimization of monocyte gating to quantify monocyte subsets for the diagnosis of chronic myelomonocytic leukemia.

Background: The presence of >94% classical monocytes (MO1, CD14++/CD16-) in peripheral blood (PB) has an excellent performance for the diagnosis of chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML). However, the monocyte gating strategy is not well defined. The objective of the study was to compare monocyte gating strategies and propose an optimal one.

Participatory action research intervention for improving sleep in inpatients with cancer.

Aim: To design and implement a plan to improve oncohaematological patients' sleep.

Background: The hospital environment can compromise inpatients' sleep, negatively impacting on health outcomes and patient satisfaction.

Design And Method: The improvement plan was designed in collaboration with 18 professionals, 3 patients and 3 accompanying relatives.

Proactive and systematic multidimensional needs assessment in patients with advanced cancer approaching palliative care: a study protocol.

Introduction: The benefits of palliative care rely on how healthcare professionals assess patients' needs in the initial encounter/s; crucial to the design of a personalised therapeutic plan. However, there is currently no evidence-based guideline to perform this needs assessment. We aim to design and evaluate a proactive and systematic method for the needs assessment using quality guidelines for developing complex interventions.

Definition of Episodic Dyspnea in Cancer Patients: A Delphi-Based Consensus among Spanish Experts: The INSPIRA Study.

Background: Episodic dyspnea is an increasingly recognized phenomenon that occurs frequently in patients with cancer. Although numerous definitions have been proposed to describe episodic dyspnea, to date, no common widely accepted definition in Spanish has yet emerged. Without a clear well-accepted definition, it is difficult to design rigorous clinical trials to evaluate candidate treatments for this emerging entity and to compare outcomes among studies.

Have We Improved Pain Control in Cancer Patients? A Multicenter Study of Ambulatory and Hospitalized Cancer Patients.

Background: Pain in cancer patients is recognized as a major health problem, yet few studies of both inpatient and outpatient populations have been carried out.

Objective: The study objective was to assess the frequency, type, and characteristics of pain in adult cancer patients, including both inpatients and outpatients.

Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 1064 adult cancer patients (437 outpatients and 627 inpatients) from 44 hospitals and/or long-term-care centers in Catalonia, Spain.