Emotional disclosure in palliative care: A scoping review of intervention characteristics and implementation factors.

Background: Emotional disclosure is the therapeutic expression of emotion. It holds potential as a means of providing psychological support. However, evidence of its efficacy in palliative settings is mixed.

Quality of life in primary sclerosing cholangitis: a systematic review.

Background: Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a rare bile duct and liver disease which can considerably impact quality of life (QoL). As part of a project developing a measure of QoL for people with PSC, we conducted a systematic review with four review questions. The first of these questions overlaps with a recently published systematic review, so this paper reports on the last three of our initial four questions: (A) How does QoL in PSC compare with other groups?, (B) Which attributes/factors are associated with impaired QoL in PSC?, (C) Which interventions are effective in improving QoL in people with PSC?.

Identification and evaluation of observational measures for the assessment and/or monitoring of level of consciousness in adult palliative care patients: A systematic review for I-CAN-CARE.

Background: The use of observational measures to assess palliative care patients' level of consciousness may improve patient care and comfort. However, there is limited knowledge regarding the validity and reliability of these measures in palliative care settings.

Aim: To identify and evaluate the psychometric performance of observational level of consciousness measures used in palliative care.

Supportive and palliative care in people with cirrhosis: International systematic review of the perspective of patients, family members and health professionals.

Background & Aims: People with cirrhosis have unmet needs, which could benefit from a palliative care approach. Developing effective services needs to be based on evidence from those with personal experience. This review aims to explore; patient and family perspectives of perceived needs including communication; health professionals' perspectives on delivery of care and improving palliative care between specialities.

Cancer-Related Fatigue in Adolescents and Young Adults After Cancer Treatment: Persistent and Poorly Managed.

Cancer-related fatigue is the most prevalent and distressing symptom experienced by adolescents and young adults (AYAs). An electronic survey was undertaken to ascertain current fatigue management and perceptions of its effectiveness. Eighty-five percent of responders (68/80) experienced fatigue, and it was worse more than 1 year after cancer treatment ended, compared to <1 year (p = 0.

The under reporting of recruitment strategies in research with children with life-threatening illnesses: A systematic review.

Background: Researchers report difficulties in conducting research with children and young people with life-limiting conditions or life-threatening illnesses and their families. Recruitment is challenged by barriers including ethical, logistical and clinical considerations.

Aim: To explore how children and young people (aged 0-25 years) with life-limiting conditions or life-threatening illnesses and their families were identified, invited and consented to research published in the last 5 years.

The changing nature of end of life care.

Good end of life care (EOLC) for patients with incurable cancer is becoming a greater priority for oncologists in recent years. Frameworks such as the Liverpool Care Pathway (LCP) have often been helpful in guiding good care at the end of life. However, in the past year, the LCP has been phased out of use in the United Kingdom (UK), following concerns that it was poorly implemented.

Patients' reports or clinicians' assessments: which are better for prognosticating?

Background: The Prognosis in Palliative care Scale (PiPS) predicts survival in advanced cancer patients more accurately than a doctor's or a nurse's estimate. PiPS scores are derived using observer ratings of symptom severity and performance status. The purpose of this study was to determine whether patient-rated data would provide better prognostic estimates than clinician observer ratings.

Cancer fatigue and its impact on patients: knowledge within the cancer care team.

Previous papers reported on the magnitude of fatigue as a problem for cancer patients and the growing recognition by patients, carers and health care professionals of the impact of cancer fatigue on quality of life. This paper presents findings from a United Kingdom survey of the knowledge of cancer fatigue and its impact on patients amongst cancer nurses, radiographers, haematologists and oncologists. We discuss how the context and chronology of care may influence differences in this knowledge between cancer care team members.