Browse the latest research summaries in the field of palliative care for spinal cord injury patients and caregivers.
Showing 1-9 of 9 results
Am J Perinatol, 2023 • September 1, 2023
Many life-limiting or life-altering neurologic conditions are first recognized in the prenatal period, most commonly via routine ultrasound or genetic screening. Identification of possible fetal neuro...
KEY FINDING: Prenatal identification of neurologic abnormalities should prompt involvement of a fetal palliative care team.
Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2023 • February 1, 2023
This Cochrane review aimed to assess the effects and effectiveness of different methods for informing individuals about a diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/motor neuron disease (ALS/MND), foc...
KEY FINDING: No randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were identified that evaluated different communication strategies for breaking the bad news to people diagnosed with ALS/MND.
Critical Care, 2023 • November 8, 2023
This multicenter study identified factors associated with WLST in patients with complete cervical SCI. These factors include patient demographics like age, sex, race, and insurance, as well as injury-...
KEY FINDING: Advanced age, male sex, white race, prior dementia, low Glasgow Coma Scale score, pre-hospital cardiac arrest, SCI level of C3 or above, and concurrent severe head or thorax injury were associated with increased likelihood of WLST.
Spinal Cord Series and Cases, 2018 • June 16, 2018
This case report discusses the experiences with euthanasia requests from three individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) in Belgium, where euthanasia is legal under specific conditions. The cases high...
KEY FINDING: A well-regulated legal framework for euthanasia can provide a sense of security and control for individuals with SCI, potentially improving their focus on rehabilitation and overall quality of life.
Indian Journal of Palliative Care, 2024 • January 16, 2024
The study evaluated the satisfaction of beneficiaries receiving primary palliative care (PC) services in Kerala, India, through a cross-sectional survey of 450 patients. It found that 69.1% of benefic...
KEY FINDING: The overall satisfaction with the Kerala State Primary PC Programme was found to be high at about 69%.
BMC Palliative Care, 2021 • January 8, 2021
This study assessed the palliative care needs of patients with advanced illnesses in Bhutan, revealing significant symptom burden and impaired functioning. The findings emphasize the importance of dev...
KEY FINDING: Patients with advanced illnesses reported low to moderate scores in physical, role, emotional, cognitive, and social functioning.
Indian Journal of Palliative Care, 2015 • September 1, 2015
This narrative literature review examined the impact of spinal cord injury on sexual functioning in men, with a focus on the Indian male population. The review identified six key areas: sexual stigmat...
KEY FINDING: Sexual stigmatization and a lack of public education regarding the sexual needs of people with spinal cord injuries contribute to negative self-perception and reduced motivation to find a partner.
British Journal of Cancer, 2006 • January 24, 2006
This retrospective audit assessed the care of 174 patients with MSCC at a UK cancer centre over a 12-month period, revealing shortcomings in pain assessment, patient mobility, and rehabilitation plann...
KEY FINDING: The common primary tumor diagnoses were lung (29%), prostate (19%), and breast (13%).
JOURNAL OF PALLIATIVE MEDICINE, 2010 • May 1, 2010
This retrospective study assessed the frequency of advance directives and DNR orders in 88 patients with MSCC requiring rehabilitation consultation. The study found low rates of advance care planning ...
KEY FINDING: Only 23% of patients had a living will, 31% had health care proxies, and 11% had either out-of-hospital DNR order and=or dictated DNR note.