2014; Volume 15, No 3, March
IAHPC book reviews
By Dr. Roger Woodruff
Palliative Care book of the month
POTENTIAL AND POSSIBILITY: REHABILITATION AT THE END OF LIFE
Physiotherapy in Palliative Care
J. Taylor, R. Simader and P. Nieland (Eds.)
Elsevier (Urban & Fischer, München), 2013
193 pp
ISBN 978-0-7020-5027-5
RRP £ 38.78, $US – not listed at Amazon.com
I have never questioned the importance of the role of the physiotherapist in palliative care, but this is the first textbook I have seen dealing with the role of physiotherapy in palliative and end-of-life care. Published in both English and German, it deals with all aspects of the physiotherapist´s role and also provides a good overview of palliative care.
There are sections dealing with respiratory symptoms and breathlessness, fatigue and weakness, lymphedema, fear and anxiety, dementia, the terminal phase, and paediatric palliative care. There are many case examples as well as lots of lists and diagrams, which make the information more available. There is also a system of red (for things to watch out for or be cautious about) and green (outlining helpful strategies) boxes, which I thought was helpful.
The book is very much patient-centred and the goals of care are realistic. The section on the psycho-social aspects of end-of-life care is worthy of being read by more than just physiotherapists. It would be a worthy addition to the bookshelf in any palliative care service and help the rest of us better understand the many useful roles for physiotherapy in palliative and end-of-life care.
Other Reviews
COUNSELING INDIVIDUALS WITH LIFE-THREATENING ILLNESS. 2e
Kenneth J. Doka
Springer Publishing, 2014
302 pp
ISBN 978-0-8261-9581-4
RRP $ US 55.30, £ 46.20
Dr. Doka, M.Div., Ph.D., is professor of gerontology at the Graduate School of the College of New Rochelle in New York. His citation says he has published 27 books, mostly to do with death and dying.
The book opens with a general and historical introduction to counselling individuals with a life-threatening illness, followed by chapters on the sensitivities, skills, responses and understandings needed for such work. Then there are chapters on counselling in the different phases of the illness—diagnostic, chronic, terminal, and bereavement. There is a section on meaning-making strategies, including Chochinov´s dignity therapy. Doka provides a well-organised discussion of the permutations and combinations of the myriad of other psychosocial and spiritual matters that affect the clinical situation and therefore any counselling. The back cover informs me that a significant change in this second edition is to do with concurrent care (which I presume is to do with having good palliative care before all disease-oriented options are exhausted, rather than a black and white transition to palliative care), but I couldn´t find it listed in the table of contents or the index.
This book would provide a very good introduction to the psychosocial and spiritual domains for any doctor or nurse coming into palliative care. It provides a lot of information, mixed with some distilled wisdom, as well as a solid grounding about how to relate to these patients and their families in a patient-centred way.
COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES IN NURSING. 7e
Ruth Lindquist, Mariah Snyder and Mary Fran Tracy (Eds.)
Springer Publishing, 2014
555 pp
ISBN 978-0-8261-9612-5
RRP $US 75.00, £ 56.53
Complementary and alternative therapies are increasingly popular and this book provides an informative and up-to-date introduction to the more commonly used treatments.
The coverage is comprehensive and is divided into mind-body-spirit therapies (imagery, music, humour, yoga, biofeedback, meditation, prayer, journaling, storytelling and animal-assisted therapy), manipulative and body-based therapies (massage, tai chi, relaxation and exercise), natural products (aromatherapy, herbal medicines, functional foods and nutraceuticals), and energy therapies (light, healing touch, reiki, acupressure, reflexology and magnet therapies).
Each topic is set out with a general description and a definition, a section on the scientific basis, what is involved in doing the intervention, measurements of outcomes, and precautions. The problem is that there are so many different ways of performing some of these interventions, which makes objective assessment of outcomes difficult, if not impossible. Whilst the scientific evidence, such that it is, is quoted, there is no critical attempt to assess the different techniques or the quality and power of the clinical trials referenced; Cho´s Evidence-Based Non-Pharmacological Therapies for Palliative Cancer Care, Springer 2013, reviewed here last year, is perhaps more rigorous.
I was interested in the initial chapters that have to do with presence, therapeutic listening, and creating optimal healing environments, three crucial elements that I think underpin much of what we see in alternative medicine. And there were bits where I struggled, such as the use of healing touch that involves no touch; despite its reported booming popularity, I´m still out on that one.
ONWARDS AND UPWARDS
Strategies for Grieving and Supporting
Maureen Meredith
2013
12 pp
RRP: $AU 10 + postage, from www.onwardsandupwards.net.au
This pamphlet is to help the bereaved and those who support them, written by someone who has negotiated a number of deaths in her own family, including that of her son. The information provided is practical and is usefully presented in lists. I liked her advice to the bereaved about protecting their personal space, and to the supporters not to trample on that space. Have a look at www.onwardsandupwards.net.au
Roger Woodruff, MD (Australia)
February 2013
Dr. Woodruff is a Lifetime Member of the IAHPC Board and Past Chair. His bio may be found here.
Note for authors and publishers: If you wish to have your book reviewed, please send to:
Dr Roger Woodruff
IAHPC Bookshop Editor
210 Burgundy St, Suite 9
Heidelberg, Victoria 3084
AUSTRALIA
Note: Review copies become property of IAHPC and are not returned to the author. Only palliative care related books which are previously approved will be reviewed. Due to the large number of requests, we can´t provide exact dates of when books will be reviewed.
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