BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care | Online – 2 September 2014 – A lot of discussion about palliative care is taking place on Twitter, and the majority of this is positive. Social media presents a novel opportunity for engagement and ongoing dialogue with public and professional groups. A total of 683.5K tweets containing a combination of 13 palliative care terms were analyzed. The tweet volume for all terms increased by 62.3% between 2011-2012 and 2012-2013. The most popular terms include "end-of-life" and "palliative care." Sentiment was high with 89% of tweets rated more positive than all other tweets sent on Twitter during this period. The term 'Liverpool Care Pathway' experienced the highest percentage increase in tweets reaching a peak in July 2013.
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Health Affairs, 2014; 33(9):1612-1619. Provision for end-of-life care around the world is widely variable and often poor, which leads to millions of deaths each year among people without access to essential aspects of care. However, some low- and middle-income countries have improved specific aspects of end-of-life care using innovative strategies and approaches such as international partnerships, community-based programs, and philanthropic initiatives. This article reviews the state of current global end-of-life care and examines how innovation has improved end-of-life care in Nigeria, Uganda, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Jordan. Specifically, we examine how opioids have been made more available for the treatment of pain, and how training and education programs have expanded the provision of care to the dying population. Finally, we recommend actions that policy makers and individuals can take to improve end-of-life care, regardless of the income level in a country.
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Indian Journal of Critical Care Medicine, 2014; 18(9):615-635. The Indian Society of Critical Care Medicine (ISCCM) published its first guidelines on EOLC [end-of-life care] in 2005, which was later revised in 2012. Since these publications, there has been an exponential increase in empirical information and discussion on the subject. The literature reviewed observational studies, surveys, randomized controlled studies, as well as guidelines and recommendations, for education and quality improvement published across the world. The Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPC) also recently published its consensus position statement on EOLC policy for the dying. An expert committee of members of the ISCCM and IAPC was formed to make a joint EOLC policy for the dying patients. Proposals from the chair were discussed, debated, and recommendations were formulated through a consensus process. The members extensively reviewed national and international established ethical principles and current procedural practices. This joint EOLC policy has incorporated the socio-cultural, ethical, and legal perspectives, while taking into account the needs and situation unique to India.
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Journal of the Japan Hospital Association, 2014; (33):35-43. Local governments should do what they can to facilitate the opening of more specialized nursing homes. It is essential to provide hospital beds to elderly patients with the imminent risk of dying to prevent them from isolation deaths because it is a human right to die with dignity. In order to accommodate elderly patients who need extensive medical treatments and to provide an appropriate place for the point of death, more convalescent beds are needed. Collaboration with hospitals, local governments, and integrated community care support centers is the key to solving this problem. More info.
Media Watch is intended as an advocacy and research tool. The weekly report, published by Barry R. Ashpole, a Canadian communications consultant and educator, monitors the literature and the lay press on issues specific to the quality of end-of-life care. It is international in scope and distribution. Each month, this section of the IAHPC will publish an abstract or summary of an article or report of special interest noted in a recent issue of Media Watch (see below).
The current and back issues of the weekly report.
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