Spotlight on Publications
Emotional and Relational Dimensions of Family Life in Cancer Contexts
Pain is the most common and distressing symptom for children at the end of life, with management challenges causing significant distress for patients and caregivers. This review aims to identify the existing literature on the use of patient-controlled analgesia for the paediatric palliative care population requiring symptom management at the end of life. The findings highlight the need for nurse clinicians, leaders, researchers, and educators to collaborate in identifying and implementing evidence-based and effective policies. To read more click here.
Authored by Senior Children’s Nurse, Rosemarie Hanna from NI Children’s Hospice/Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, PCRN member Dr Felicity Hasson and PCRN member Dr Esther Beck, and ECRF member Dr Sinead Keeney from Ulster University.
Cancer screening programmes are key public health initiatives designed to reduce morbidity and mortality through early detection. However, although evidence suggests lower screening uptake among adults with intellectual disabilities, the balance of benefits and harms remains unclear. Therefore, this systematic review aims to examine health outcomes (mortality, morbidity) and potential harms of cancer screening in this population. To read more click here.
Authored by PCRN member Dr Martin McMahon Trinity College Dublin, and his colleagues.
Physical restraint is frequently used in intensive care unit patients but is associated with physical and psychological complications, requires evidence-based, multidisciplinary reduction strategies. In intensive care unit settings, many patients are receiving end-of-life care, making patient-centred approaches, symptom management, and minimising distress critical components of daily care practices. This study presents a multidisciplinary, evidence-based physical restraint reduction care bundle that give importance not only physical but also holistic and ethical nursing care in critical and end-of-life contexts. To access the paper, please contact with bertugrul@aiihpc.org.
Authored by AIIHPC Research Support and Knowledge Translation Lead Dr Busra Ertugrul, Prof Dilek Ozden from Dokuz Eylul University, and Prof Koen Milisen from KU Leuven.
Integrated care, as a key approach to providing safe, timely, efficient and community-based care, requires shifting from a disease-focused model to a more holistic view of health and wellbeing. There is an increasing drive to implement new non-professionally affiliated psychosocial support roles within multidisciplinary teams to improve the integrated holistic care for the patient, family and community. This review provides evidence on the factors that affect the implementation, integration and sustainability of new informal psychosocial support roles within multidisciplinary teams. To read more click here. Authored by PCRN member Professor Maria Brenner, from University College Dublin, and her colleagues.
The need for children’s palliative care and end-of-life services is increasing. However, there is limited evidence to inform health and social care professionals about parental preferences for place of end-of-life care for their child. This study explores factors influencing parental decision-making regarding the place of end-of-life care for children with life-limiting conditions, including home, hospital, and hospice settings. To read more click here. Authored by ECRF members Dr Ashleen Crowe, Queen’s University Belfast, Dr Rachel McCauley, Dublin City University, and PCRN members Professor Joanne Reid, Queen’s University Belfast, Dr Gemma Kiernan, Dublin City University, Dr Tracey McConnell, Queen’s University Belfast, Professor Veronica Lambert, Dublin City University, and their colleagues.