Publications by authors named "Shirlyn Huishan Neo"
Article Synopsis
- A novel nurse-led telehealth program was implemented for advanced cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic to monitor symptoms and provide palliative care support.
- The study evaluated various aspects of the program including reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, maintenance, and acceptability over a period from June 2020 to October 2021.
- Results showed a high satisfaction rate among participants, a significant decrease in symptom severity and emergency visits, and a successful adoption rate with 70% of oncologists referring patients to the program.
Purpose: The Accessible Cancer Care to Enable Support for Cancer Survivors (ACCESS) program adopts a multidisciplinary supportive care model with routine distress screening to triage newly diagnosed cancer survivors for additional support on the basis of distress levels. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical impact of ACCESS over 1 year.
Methods: We performed cluster random assignment at the oncologist level in a 1:1 ratio to receive ACCESS or usual care.
Article Synopsis
- The Serious Illness Conversation Guide (SICG) was adapted for English-speaking patients in Singapore due to a lack of cross-cultural studies on it in Asian contexts.
- Participants with advanced illnesses provided feedback through interviews, leading to quantitative and qualitative analysis of their responses regarding the SICG.
- The adaptation emphasized the need for clear, direct language and a supportive, individualized approach in conversations between clinicians and patients, marking a significant first effort in the region.
Background: Screening patients with patient-reported outcome measures allows identification of palliative care concerns. The Integrated Palliative Care Outcome Scale (IPOS) was developed in the United Kingdom for this purpose. Tools developed in another setting might not be readily usable locally.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInfusion of fluids and medications is traditionally performed intravenously. However, venous depletion in patients has led to the quest for vessel health preservation. A safe, effective, acceptable, and efficient alternative is the subcutaneous route.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The Integrated Palliative Care Outcome Scale (IPOS) was developed in the United Kingdom for health assessment in advanced illness.
Objectives: To evaluate the validity and reliability of a culturally adapted IPOS (both patient and staff versions) for heart failure (HF).
Design/setting: We recruited HF patients and staff from a tertiary hospital in Singapore.
Research on different models of palliative care should include evaluation of the patients' experience of care. To understand the patients' experience regarding care received in a consult model versus an integrated palliative care and medical oncology co-rounding model during a hospital admission. Qualitative study using thematic analysis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Multilingual outcome measures are used so that research studies are more generalizable across language contexts.
Objective: To determine the score equivalence of the English and Chinese versions of Brief Assessment Scale for Caregivers (BASC) in Singapore.
Method: Caregivers of patients with advanced cancer completed the BASC in either English or Chinese.
Context: Challenges experienced by patients with the left ventricular assist device (LVAD) and their caregivers during the early period after LVAD implantation are well documented. However, little is known about long-term challenges, supportive care needs, and views toward supportive care of Asian LVAD patients and caregivers.
Objectives: We aimed to explore the experiences of multiethnic Asian LVAD patients and caregivers so as to identify their long-term challenges, supportive care needs, and views toward supportive care.
Background: Family caregivers of patients with advanced cancer have been reported to provide long hours of care and be at risk for poor psychological outcomes. Although research has focused on the nature of caregiving burden, little attention has been paid to identifying protective factors that improve caregiver psychological outcomes.
Aim: We examined the relationship between caregivers' time spent caregiving and the following psychological outcomes: anxiety, depression and caregiving esteem.
Context: Family satisfaction with care is an important quality indicator in palliative care.
Objectives: This study aimed to translate and validate the 10-item Family Satisfaction with End-of-Life Care (FAMCARE) tool.
Methods: Family caregivers of patients with advanced cancer were recruited.
Background: The prevalence and severity of dyspnea increase at the end of life. Many of these patients have difficulty in reporting their symptoms. Accurate surrogate measures are needed for appropriate assessment and treatment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFContext: New models of care that are effective and feasible for widespread implementation need to be developed for the delivery of early palliative care to patients with advanced cancer.
Objectives: The objectives were to determine the feasibility and acceptability of the Enhancing Quality of Life in Patients (EQUIP) intervention, data completion rate of patient-reported outcome measures in the context of the EQUIP trial, and the estimated effect of the EQUIP intervention on quality of life and mood.
Methods: In this pilot randomized phase II trial, eligible patients had newly diagnosed advanced lung cancer and an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0, 1, or 2.
Objective: Our aim was to obtain initial estimates of the effect of a palliative care and medical oncology co-rounding model on hospital length of stay, proportion of patients reviewed by specialist palliative care (SPC), and proportion of patients who were readmitted within 7 and 30 days of hospital discharge.
Background: Earlier timing of palliative care improves patient outcomes, but current consultative models of palliative care service delivery are not feasible for widespread implementation.
Methods: We conducted a pilot pre-post intervention study of a palliative care and medical oncology co-rounding model of care in the inpatient hospital setting.
Introduction: Mentoring relationships are pivotal to the outcome of the mentoring process. This thematic review seeks to study the key aspects of mentoring relationships between senior physicians and junior doctors and/or medical students to inform efforts to improve mentoring programs.
Methods: Literature search was performed on publications across PubMed, ERIC, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, OVID and ScienceDirect databases between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2015 by three independent reviewers.
Background: Although the benefits of palliative care in the outpatient setting are well established, there has been little to support the employing of hospital palliative care services for inpatients with cancer.
Objective: We conducted a systematic literature review to evaluate the effectiveness of palliative care for cancer patients in the acute inpatient hospital setting.
Methods: Two electronic databases-PubMed and CINAHL Plus-were searched for articles published between 1 January 2005 and 28 May 2015.
Background And Objectives: A comparison of metal needles and plastic cannulae (winged and nonwinged) for continuous subcutaneous infusion was done during a quality improvement project to reduce device-induced complications at our hospital. Design, Setting, and Measurements: Data were collected on incidence of site reactions (bruising, swelling, erythema, and blisters); mechanical complications (kinking and dislodgement); device durability; type, and volume of medications; and incidence of needle-stick injuries. All infusion devices used for patients in the Palliative Care Service from February 3 to March 26, 2014 were studied.
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