Palliative & Supportive Care最新文献

Objectives: Existential distress is a debilitating condition in end-of-life cancer patients. The Psycho-existential Symptom Assessment Scale (PeSAS) was developed to screen psycho-existential symptoms in palliative care, but limited research has examined its use. This study aimed to implement the Italian version of the PeSAS in palliative care services and to evaluate changes in healthcare providers' (HCPs) competence after experiential training. It also aimed to estimate the frequency of psycho-existential symptoms and explore the scale structure using network analysis.

Methods: Two-hour experiential workshops were conducted in 5 Italian palliative care services by a clinical psychologist specialized in psycho-oncology and palliative care. Training covered psycho-existential distress, role-play, and feedback. Pre- and post-workshop questionnaires assessed clinicians' self-efficacy in evaluating physical, psycho-existential, and suicidal symptoms, managing distress, and providing psychosocial support. Patient cross-sectional data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, t-tests, chi-square tests, and exploratory graph analysis.

Results: One hundred one clinicians from 3 services participated. Significant results were found in HCPs' self-efficacy, with the largest effect in assessing suicidal symptoms (Cohen's d = 0.54), followed by managing distress (d = 0.47) and evaluating psycho-existential symptoms (d = 0.40). Of 210 patients screened, 194 were included. PeSAS scores were strongly associated with Hopelessness (strength = 1.30) and depression (1.18), while being trapped by illness (-1.64) and wishing to die (-1.12) had weaker associations.

Significance of results: The Italian PeSAS is feasible for integration into palliative care. Strong associations highlight targets for interventions, while weaker associations suggest the need for additional approaches. PeSAS enhances HCPs' ability to address the psycho-existential needs in end-of-life care.

Objectives: This study aims to examine the awareness, attitudes, and acceptability of medical aid in dying (MAiD) among healthcare professionals in Pakistan, a predominantly Muslim country where cultural and religious values heavily influence medical ethics and end-of-life decisions.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted online among 70 healthcare professionals, including physicians, nurses, and allied health workers in Pakistan. Data were collected via a structured, self-administered online questionnaire assessing knowledge, attitudes, and willingness to participate in MAiD-related actions. Descriptive and correlational analyses were conducted to identify patterns and associations.

Results: Participants demonstrated moderate knowledge about MAiD (M = 17.13, SD = 3.42) and moderate support for its legalization (M = 18.89, SD = 4.99). However, levels of negative attitudes (M = 32.21, SD = 6.11) and legal and ethical concerns (M = 24.73, SD = 3.66) were high. Behavioral willingness to engage in MAiD-related actions remained low (M = 2.42, SD = 3.38), with limited intent to assist (M = 0.39), refer (M = 0.64), or approve physician-assisted MAID (M = 0.81). A significant negative correlation emerged between knowledge and support for legalization (r = - .25, p = .037), while no significant associations were observed between knowledge and willingness to participate in MAiD. Gender and profession did not significantly influence attitudes or willingness.

Significance of results: While Pakistani healthcare professionals display a conceptual understanding of MAiD, their readiness to participate remains low, primarily due to ethical, legal, and religious concerns. These findings highlight the need for creating awareness regarding MAiD and for providing culturally sensitive education, structured training in palliative care, and the development of clear legal frameworks to guide end-of-life decision-making in Muslim-majority contexts.

Introduction: Cancer patients may suffer negative consequences; however, they also report positive aspects of psychological adjustment, such as posttraumatic growth. One of the most widely used instruments for measuring this is the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI).

Objectives: Cross-cultural adaptation and Mexican validation of the PTGI-X in the palliative oncology population.

Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted in 2 phases: the first involved translation and cross-cultural adaptation (expert judgment/piloting), and the second involved validation of the scale. In the latter, the sample comprised 236 advanced-stage oncology patients, and the following analyses were performed: 1) items under the classical test theory, 2) discrimination and internal consistency indices, 3) confirmatory factor analysis, and 4) convergent and divergent validity.

Results: Discrimination coefficients (pBis) ranging from 0.32 to 0.72 were obtained from the translated and adapted version. Cronbach's alpha was 0.94. The 5-factor theoretical model was assumed; the confirmatory factor analysis yielded a scaled χ² of 749.01 (df = 265; χ²/df = 2.83), CFI = 0.93, TLI = 0.93, RMSEA = 0.088, and SRMR = 0.065. Bivariate correlations were employed, showing moderate positive associations between the scale factors (r = 0.60 and 0.79) and low-magnitude positive correlations between the factors of posttraumatic growth and perception of quality of life (r = 0.14 and 0.18).

Significance of results: The PTGI-X-Mx showed satisfactory psychometric properties in patients with advanced oncological disease receiving palliative care.

Objectives: End-of-life dreams and visions (ELDVs) and delirium frequently occur near death but differ in core features. Clinical differentiation becomes challenging when they co-occur. This case report illustrates the interplay between ELDVs and delirium, examines the limits of current diagnostic criteria in mixed cases, and outlines a nuanced approach to distinction.

Methods: We report the case of an elderly Brazilian woman with metastatic cancer who exhibited both ELDVs and delirium. Mental status was serially assessed using the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM). ELDV accounts were prospectively triangulated across patient, family, and clinician reports to enhance reliability and contextual understanding.

Results: The patient's experiences showed ELDV hallmarks - vivid, realistic encounters with deceased relatives, biographical relevance, and preparatory themes - yet many were affectively distressing and occurred alongside fluctuating attention and consciousness consistent with delirium. CAM effectively identified delirium but could not, on its own, distinguish ELDVs within delirious states. When co-occurring, ELDVs often emerged during "windows of lucidity" marked by preserved autobiographical context, intact recall with subsequent coherent narration, and insight, despite intense emotional valence. Distress alone was not discriminatory, probably being shaped by psychosocial and cultural factors. These observations indicate the need to supplement CAM with qualitative and phenomenological criteria, including content, vividness, biographical meaning, insight, cultural fit, and acuity/recall.

Significance: To our knowledge, this is the first case to map evolving end-of-life mental status using serial CAM while prospectively documenting ELDVs via triangulated reports. The findings highlight the complexity of differentiating co-occurring ELDVs and delirium and challenge the sufficiency of CAM alone. An integrated approach - combining CAM screening with structured ELDV assessment - may prevent misclassification and support holistic, dignified palliative care. As a single case in an underexplored domain, these insights require confirmation in larger, prospective studies to assess generalizability.