This study aimed to investigate factors associated with analgesic use of morphine in end-of-life care. French general practitioners (GPs) and oncologists (N = 719) were asked whether they would prescribe morphine as first-line therapy to patients with terminal lung cancer suffering from dyspnea associated with cough and great anxiety. Overall, 54 percent of oncologists and 40 percent of GPs stated that they would prescribe morphine in the presented case. This prescriptive attitude correlated with physicians' age, professional background, communication skills, and attitude toward terminally ill patients. The findings of this study indicate that improving analgesic use of opioids in end-of-life care is not only a matter of enhancing technical skills acquired through training or experience but also a matter of improving communication and empathy between physicians and patients.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.5055/jom.2005.0008 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Relationship Between Perilesional Skin Condition and Survival in Terminally Ill Patients with Pressure Ulcers.
Medicina (Kaunas)
January 2025
SONEV Research Group, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Catholic University of Valencia San Vicente Mártir, 46001 Valencia, Spain.
In the context of palliative care, the aim is to alleviate suffering and improve quality of life, with particular attention to PUs, which have a significant impact on quality of life and survival. This study examines the relationship between perilesional skin condition and survival in terminally ill patients with pressure ulcers (PUs). A descriptive and observational study was conducted in two hospitals in Valencia with a sample of 100 terminally ill patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSPING Block Analgesia in Non-Operative Management of Proximal Femur Fractures in Older Adults Living with Frailty: A Retrospective Cohort Study.
Geriatrics (Basel)
January 2025
Department of Pain Medicine and Palliative Care, Amphia Hospital, 4818 CK Breda, The Netherlands.
: Spinal Phenol IN Glycerol (SPING) block is a novel palliative pain treatment for the non-operative management of proximal femur fractures (PFFs) in older adults living with frailty. Effective pain management that aligns with patient preferences and minimizes opioid use is critical in this setting. This study evaluated the patient, safety, and process outcomes of SPING block in this population.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUpper arm movements in the last days of life: A new possible sign of impending death.
Palliat Support Care
January 2025
Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Coimbra, Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
One of the most crucial stages of palliative care is the last days and hours of life, which require special attention and knowledgeable identification of clinical signs described as signs of impending death (SID). Our case series of 11 patients receiving home palliative care describes bilateral hypoactive, stereotyped upper arm movements (scratching of the head, forehead, and nose) that were previously unknown or described, often accompanied by SID.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDemographic influences on Lithuanian physicians' attitudes toward medical assistance in dying: a cross-sectional study.
Front Psychiatry
January 2025
The Centre for Health Ethics, Law and History, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Health Sciences, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania.
Background: The topic of end-of-life decisions is important due to aging populations and the rising number of terminal illnesses like cancer. As more people experience suffering, the ethical, medical, and legal debates of these decisions become significant to healthcare policy. Understanding medical professionals' attitudes is critical for shaping responsible practices and legislation surrounding end-of-life care.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!