Hospices

PURPOSE: The aim of the present work was to evaluate the availability of acupuncture in UK hospices and specialist palliative care services and to identify any barriers to the use of acupuncture in these settings, to determine the characteristics of available acupuncture services and of practitioners providing acupuncture, and to determine awareness of the evidence base for the use of acupuncture in palliative care. METHODS: An online questionnaire with an invitation to participate was circulated by email to 263 hospices and specialist palliative care services in the UK.

The ongoing extension of the average human lifespan in most parts of the world forecasts an unprecedented number of aging adults developing Alzheimer's disease or related dementia. Behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia, commonly referred to as agitated behaviours, are estimated to occur in over 80% of patients and are typically treated using antipsychotic medications, posing significant morbidity and mortality risks. An evidence-based protocol known as individualized music (IM) offers a non-pharmacological intervention to reduce agitation.

We present a body of evidence for love medicine, originating in the shamanic physical/spiritual healing arts, embodying end-of-life (EOL) palliation through relationships of loving, artful witness between caregivers and receivers.

A small clinical supervision group consisting of five hospice nurses met together in their workplace 1 h weekly for 12 weeks. Issues concerning professional practice were examined with the help of a researcher (A.J.) who acted as facilitator. At the end of the group's life A.J. asked all nurses to complete a questionnaire related to the workplace and 12 identified helpful factors. Two weeks later the hospice nurses were interviewed in group format and asked to consider the reasons for their choice of answers.

BACKGROUND: This project was conducted to investigate whether the concerns that researchers have about including terminally ill patients in research were shared by a sample of terminally ill patients. METHODS: Twenty-two patients admitted to a hospice participated in semistructured interviews; 18 patients had advanced malignant disease and 13 were women; their ages ranged from 28 to 93 years. The interview transcripts were analysed for common themes and particular attention was paid to the reasons patients gave for their views. RESULTS: All the patients wanted to participate in research.

In all, 162 British hospice volunteers completed the Inventory of Motivations for Hospice Palliative Care Volunteerism (IMHPCV) of Claxton-Oldfield, Wasylkiw, Mark, and Claxton-Oldfield.(1) The IMHPCV taps into 5 different categories of motives for becoming a hospice palliative care volunteer: altruism, civic responsibility, leisure, self-promotion, and personal gain. Altruistic motives were the most influential reasons for choosing to join hospice; personal gain motives were the least influential reasons for becoming a hospice volunteer.

Hypnosis is presented as a valuable and frequently neglected resource for many patients with chronic and terminal illness. Particular attention is given herein to the use of hypnosis in attaining relaxation, overcoming insomnia, helping the patient achieve pain relief, and, most particularly, teaching the patient to work with relatives and other persons close to them, as caregivers in a special relationship that can be a very important source of relief to the patient. A brief overview of indications, contraindications, errors, and safeguards is given.

There is evidence that hypnotherapy may have an application in the palliative care setting by relieving stress and helping patients to cope with their illness and the prospect of dying. It may also be of benefit to health professionals working in this sometimes stressful field. This article reports on the audit of a pilot hypnotherapy service for patients, carers and staff at a specialist palliative care unit. The audit explored the demand for hypnotherapy, the practicalities of providing the service and identified benefits as perceived by the clients and the therapist.

PURPOSE: To assess the use of complementary and alternative medicine in hospice care in the state of Washington. METHODS: Hospices offering inpatient and outpatient care in Washington State were surveyed by phone interview. RESULTS: Response rate was 100%.

PURPOSE: Although there has been an increase in the use of CT (Complementary Therapy) in Europe, little is known about CT available in Italian hospices. The present study is aimed at assessing the diffusion and typologies of CT used to treat chronic pain in Italian hospices. METHODS. An online survey was e-mailed to a regional sample of 16 hospices, which included questions on common CT used to treat malignant or nonmalignant chronic pain, and the barriers to their utilization. RESULTS: The response rate was 81%. Only 5 hospices (38%) offered CT with conventional treatment.