The following lists palliative care research primarily conducted by Australian research groups. The list is based on application of the CareSearch search filter for palliative care to identify articles held within the PubMed database and corresponding to the strongest evidence. Articles have been selected based on relevance and new articles are added on a weekly basis.
Whilst not an exhaustive list, the aim is to keep the community informed by providing a snapshot of recent research findings and planned studies in the Australian setting.
Tieman J, Nicholls S.
Abstract: Online healthcare information has the potential to improve health outcomes via the widespread, cost-effective translation of research evidence into practice by healthcare professionals and use by consumers. However, comparatively little is known about how healthcare professionals and consumers engage with healthcare websites, or whether the knowledge that is made available through digital platforms is translated into better health outcomes. To realise the potential of such resources, we argue that an evidence-based framework-grounded in a nuanced understanding of how audiences engage with and use information provided by healthcare websites-is needed. The goal of this paper is to outline a case for the development of a best-practice framework that can guide the development of websites that provide healthcare information to clinicians and consumers. In addition to supporting the design of more effective online resources, a common framework for understanding how better health outcomes can be achieved via digital knowledge translation has the potential to significantly improve patient outcomes in the face of a complex, rapidly changing and resource-constrained healthcare landscape.
© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.
Woodford K, Harden S.
No abstract.
Paterson C, Turner M, Hooper ME, Ladbrook E, Macauley L, McKie A.
Background: Children and young people affected by kidney failure experience complexities in their care. Little is known about the unique needs of this young patient population group living with a long-term condition.
Objective: A meta-aggregation of all qualitative studies was conducted to identify experiences of supportive care among children and young people living with kidney failure.
Methods: A systematic review of qualitative studies was conducted following the Joanna Briggs Institute meta-aggregation method. This review has been reported according to the PRISMA statement guidelines. Six electronic databases (CINAHL, Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, Proquest, PsycINFO, and Scopus) were comprehensively searched by an expert systematic review librarian using keywords and subject headings, from inception to September 2022. All studies were accessed using a predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Methodological quality assessment and data extraction performed. Qualitative findings accompanied by illustrative quotes from included studies were extracted and grouped into categories which created the overall synthesised findings.
Results: A total of 34 studies were included in this review representing a total of 613 children and young people affected by kidney failure. There was a total of 190 findings which created 13 categories representing experiences of supportive care. The meta-aggregation developed five synthesised findings namely: 'physical needs', 'information and technology', 'treatment and healthcare', 'social needs' and 'psychological impacts'.
Conclusion: This systematic review identified that children and young people affected by kidney failure can experience a range of unmet supportive care needs in routine clinical services. Kidney failure impacted children and young people's self-identify, social and peer networks, introduced daily practical needs because of inherent physical and psychological burden due to the failure and associated treatments. Despite improvements in the medical management of kidney failure in children and young people, further attention is needed to optimise supported self-management in this young patient group.
© 2023 The Authors. Journal of Renal Care published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of European Dialysis & Transplant Nurses Association/European Renal Care Association.
Stack P, Fischer A, Good P.
Background: Falls are a significant concern in healthcare settings. While comprehensive strategies to prevent falls are employed in hospitals, there is a lack of information regarding falls within inpatient palliative care units.
Method: This retrospective cohort study analysed fall incidence, characteristics and outcomes in a metropolitan inpatient palliative care unit over a 1 year period. Falls were identified using the online incident reporting system and patient characteristics, fall risk assessment and prevention measures were obtained through the electronic patient records.
Results: During the study period, there were 61 falls by 51 patients out of a total of 525 admitted patients. The incidence of falls was 9.7% and the rate of falls was 5.8 falls per 1000 bed days for all admitted patients. Though more than half of falls resulted in no injury, 41% of patients with falls died within a week post-fall. Fall risk assessment was completed for 97% of patients at the time of the fall.
Conclusion: This study contributes to the understanding of falls in inpatient palliative care units. Fall risk assessment and prevention measures did not appear to alter the rate of falls among patients who fell. Fall prevention strategies need to be tailored to meet patient autonomy, end of life goals and maintain healthcare standards.
© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.
Bell RF, Poon P, Good P, Andrew Moore R.
Last updated 30 April 2024