| 1. |
- Strang, Susann, 1953, et al.
(författare)
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Palliative care in COPD-web survey in Sweden highlights the current situation for a vulnerable group of patients.
- 2013
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Ingår i: Upsala journal of medical sciences. - : Uppsala Medical Society. - 2000-1967 .- 0300-9734. ; 118:3, s. 181-6
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Abstract Background. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common cause of death. Despite the heavy symptom burden in late stages, these patients are relatively seldom referred to specialist palliative care. Methods. A web-based survey concerning medical and organizational aspects of palliative care in COPD was distributed to respiratory physicians in Sweden. There were 93 respondents included in the study. Results. Palliative care issues were regularly discussed with the patients according to a third of the respondents. About half of the respondents worked in settings where established routines for co-operation with palliative units were available at least to some extent. Less than half of the respondents (39%) were aware of current plans to develop palliative care, either as a co-operative effort or within the facility. Palliative care is focused on physical, psychological, social, and existential dimensions, and the proportions of respondents providing support within these dimensions, 'always' or 'often', were 83%, 36%, 32%, and 11%, respectively. Thus, to treat the physical dimensions was perceived as much more obvious than to address the other dimensions. Conclusions. The survey indicates that the priorities and resources for palliative care in COPD are insufficient in Sweden. The data, despite limitations, reveal a lack of established team-work with specialized palliative care units and actual plans for such co-operation.
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| 2. |
- Cavalli-Björkman, Nina, 1970-, et al.
(författare)
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Equal cancer treatment regardless of education level and family support? : A qualitative study of oncologists’ decision-making
- 2012
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Ingår i: BMJ Open. - : BMJ. - 2044-6055. ; 2:4, s. e001248-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: Treatment gradients by socioeconomic status have been observed within cancer care in several countries. The objective of this study was to explore whether patients' educational level and social network influence oncologists' clinical decision-making. Design: Semi-structured interviews on factors considered when deciding on treatment for cancer patients. Interviews were transcribed and analysed using inductive qualitative content analysis. Setting: Oncologists in Swedish university-and non-university hospitals were interviewed in their respective places of work. Participants: Twenty Swedish clinical oncologists selected through maximum-variation sampling. Primary and secondary outcome measures: Elements which influence oncologists' decision-making process were explored with focus on educational level and patients' social support systems. Results: Oncologists consciously used less combination chemotherapy for patients living alone, fearing treatment toxicity. Highly educated patients were considered as well-read, demanding and sometimes difficult to reason with. Patients with higher education, those very keen to have treatment and persuasive relatives were considered as challenges for the oncologist. Having large groups of relatives in a room made doctors feel outnumbered. A desire to please patients and relatives was posed as the main reason for giving in to patients' demands, even when this resulted in treatment with limited efficacy. Conclusions: Oncologists tailor treatment for patients living alone to avoid harmful side-effects. Many find patients' demands difficult to handle and this may result in strong socioeconomic groups being over-treated.
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| 3. |
- Granstam Björneklett, Helena, et al.
(författare)
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A randomised controlled trial of support group intervention after breast cancer treatment : Results on anxiety and depression
- 2012
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Ingår i: Acta Oncologica. - : Taylor & Francis. - 0284-186X .- 1651-226X. ; 51:2, s. 198-207
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BackgroundPrevious studies have demonstrated that between 20 and 30% of women treated for breast cancer have measurable signs of anxiety and depression compared with 6% in a population of healthy women. Depression has been proposed as a predictive factor for recurrence and survival. The aim of the present study was to evaluate if psychosocial support intervention could influence anxiety and depression during the first year after diagnosis.Material and methodsNewly diagnosed breast cancer patients were randomised between April 2002 and November 2007 and stratified by adjuvant chemotherapy. Of 382 eligible patients, 191 + 191 patients were randomised to intervention group or control group, respectively. Control patients were subjected to standard follow-up routines. The Intervention group had support intervention at the Foundation Lustgarden Malardalen. The rehabilitation lasted one week on a residential basis followed by four days of follow-up two months later. We used the Swedish version of the HAD scale with a cut-off value greater than 10 for clinical symptoms of depression and anxiety.ResultsSupport group intervention lowered anxiety over time (p < 0.001) but depression was unaffected (p = 0.610).ConclusionThis prospective randomised trial of support group intervention in a large homogenous group of breast cancer women showed a statistically significant effect on lowering anxiety over time. No statistically significant effect of intervention could be seen on depression.
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| 4. |
- Granstam Björneklett, Helena, et al.
(författare)
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A randomized controlled trial of a support group intervention on the quality of life and fatigue in women after primary treatment for early breast cancer
- 2012
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Ingår i: Supportive Care in Cancer. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0941-4355 .- 1433-7339. ; 20:12, s. 3325-3334
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND:When diagnosed with breast cancer, most women's lives change as well as their perspectives on and appreciation of life. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether psychosocial support intervention could influence health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and fatigue during the first year after diagnosis.MATERIAL AND METHODS:Of 382 patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer, 191 patients were randomized to an intervention group and 191 patients were randomized to a routine control group. The intervention group received support intervention that lasted 1 week on a residential basis, followed by 4 days of follow-up 2 months later. The support intervention included informative educational parts, relaxation training, mental visualization, and nonverbal communication. HRQOL was measured using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ-C30 and QLQ-BR23 questionnaires and fatigue with the Norwegian version of the fatigue scale at baseline and at 2, 6, and 12 months after intervention.RESULT:There was a time-dependent improvement in both functional and symptom scales between baseline and 12 months as measured by the EORTC QLQ-C30 and BR23 questionnaires and there was a decrease in fatigue between baseline and after 2 months with further improvement up to 12 months in both groups, but there were no differences between the intervention and control groups at any point in time.CONCLUSION:HRQOL improves and symptoms of fatigue decrease over time, but we could not see any additional effect from the rehabilitation program in this setting.
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| 5. |
- Granstam Björneklett, Helena, 1962-, et al.
(författare)
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A randomized controlled trial of support group intervention after breast cancer treatment : Results on sick leave, health care utilization and health economy
- 2013
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Ingår i: Acta Oncologica. - : Taylor & Francis. - 0284-186X .- 1651-226X. ; 52:1, s. 38-47
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BackgroundMore than 50% of breast cancer patients are diagnosed before the age of 65. Returning to work after treatment is, therefore, of interest for both the individual and society. The aim was to study the effect of support group intervention on sick leave and health care utilization in economic terms.Material and MethodsOf 382 patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer, 191 + 191 patients were randomized to an intervention group or to a routine control group respectively. The intervention group received support intervention on a residential basis for one week, followed by four days of follow-up two months later. The support intervention included informative-educational sections, relaxation training, mental visualization and non-verbal communication. Patients answered a questionnaire at baseline, 2, 6 and 12 months about sick leave and health care utilization.ResultThere was a trend towards longer sick leave and more health care utilization in the intervention group. The difference in total costs was statistically significantly higher in the intervention group after 12 months (p= 0.0036).Conclusion Costs to society were not reduced with intervention in its present form.
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| 6. |
- Granstam Björneklett, Helena, et al.
(författare)
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Long-term follow-up of a randomized study of support group intervention in women with primary breast cancer
- 2013
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Ingår i: Journal of Psychosomatic Research. - : Elsevier BV. - 0022-3999 .- 1879-1360. ; 74:4, s. 346-353
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background:Despite a fairly good prognosis, many breast-cancer patients suffer from symptoms such as anxiety, depression and fatigue, which may affect health-related quality of life and may persist for several years. The aim of the present study was to perform a long-term follow-up of a randomized study of support group intervention in women after primary breast cancer treatment.Materials and methods:Three hundred and eighty two women with primary breast cancer were randomized to support group intervention or control group, 181 in each group. Women in the intervention group participated in 1 week of intervention followed by 4 days of follow-up 2 months later. This is a long-term follow-up undertaken, in average, 6.5. years after randomization. Patients answered the questionnaires the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer, Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) and the Breast Cancer Module questionnaire (BR23), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD) and the Norwegian version of the fatigue scale (FQ).Results: After adjusting for treatment with chemotherapy, age, marriage, education and children at home, there was a significant improvement in physical, mental and total fatigue (FQ), cognitive function, body image and future perspective (EORTC QLQ C30 and BR23) in the intervention group compared with controls. The proportion of women affected by high anxiety and depression scores were not significantly different between the groups.Conclusion:Support intervention significantly improved cognitive function, body image, future perspective and fatigue, compared with to the findings in the control group.
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| 7. |
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| 8. |
- Karlsson, Marit, et al.
(författare)
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Dying cancer patients' own opinions on euthanasia : An expression of autonomy? A qualitative study.
- 2012
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Ingår i: Palliative Medicine. - London, UK : Sage Publications Ltd.. - 0269-2163 .- 1477-030X. ; 26:1, s. 34-42
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- INTRODUCTION: Deliberations on euthanasia are mostly theoretical, and often lack first-hand perspectives of the affected persons. METHOD: Sixty-six patients suffering from cancer in a palliative phase were interviewed about their perspectives of euthanasia in relation to autonomy. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using qualitative content analysis with no predetermined categories. RESULTS: The informants expressed different positions on euthanasia, ranging from support to opposition, but the majority were undecided due to the complexity of the problem. The informants' perspectives on euthanasia in relation to autonomy focused on decision making, being affected by (1) power and (2) trust. Legalization of euthanasia was perceived as either (a) increasing patient autonomy by patient empowerment, or (b) decreasing patient autonomy by increasing the medical power of the health care staff, which could be frightening. The informants experienced dependence on others, and expressed various levels of trust in others' intentions, ranging from full trust to complete mistrust. CONCLUSIONS: Dying cancer patients perceive that they cannot feel completely independent, which affects true autonomous decision making. Further, when considering legalization of euthanasia, the perspectives of patients fearing the effects of legalization should also be taken into account, not only those of patients opting for it.
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| 9. |
- Karlsson, Marit, et al.
(författare)
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Suffering and euthanasia : a qualitative study of dying cancer patients' perspectives.
- 2012
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Ingår i: Supportive Care in Cancer. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0941-4355 .- 1433-7339. ; 20:5, s. 1065-1071
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- PURPOSE: Although intolerable suffering is a core concept used to justify euthanasia, little is known about dying cancer patients' own interpretations and conclusions of suffering in relation to euthanasia. METHODS: Sixty-six patients with cancer in a palliative phase were selected through maximum-variation sampling, and in-depth interviews were conducted on suffering and euthanasia. The interviews were analyzed using qualitative content analysis with no predetermined categories. RESULTS: The analysis demonstrated patients' different perspectives on suffering in connection to their attitude to euthanasia. Those advocating euthanasia, though not for themselves at the time of the study, did so due to (1) perceptions of suffering as meaningless, (2) anticipatory fears of losses and multi-dimensional suffering, or (3) doubts over the possibility of receiving help to alleviate suffering. Those opposing euthanasia did so due to (1) perceptions of life, despite suffering, as being meaningful, (2) trust in bodily or psychological adaptation to reduce suffering, a phenomenon personally experienced by informants, and (3) by placing trust in the provision of help and support by healthcare services to reduce future suffering. CONCLUSIONS: Dying cancer patients draw varying conclusions from suffering: suffering can, but does not necessarily, lead to advocations of euthanasia. Patients experiencing meaning and trust, and who find strategies to handle suffering, oppose euthanasia. In contrast, patients with anticipatory fears of multi-dimensional meaningless suffering and with lack of belief in the continuing availability of help, advocate euthanasia. This indicates a need for healthcare staff to address issues of trust, meaning, and anticipatory fears.
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