End of Life Care Flashcards
What are the most common causes of death in modern times?
Cancer
IHD
What is the commonest cause of death amongst males aged 15-34?
Suicide
What is palliative care?
A philosophy of care that emphasises quality of life and is provided by a multi disciplinary team
Includes pain relief and spiritual and psychosocial support
What is the newer concept of palliative care compared with the older style?
In the newer model, patients who are likely to need palliative care are identified early so that their wishes and method of treatment are discussed early after receiving their diagnosis
What tool can be used to identify if a patient is at a palliative stage or not?
Supportive and palliative care indicators tool
Before using the supportive and palliative care indicator tool, what must be in place?
Anticipatory care plan
What sort of questions are covered by the anticipatory care plan?
1 - Where do they want to be cared for?
2 - Do they want to be resuscitated in the event of a cardiac arrest?
3 - Are they full aware of their prognosis?
4 - Are their family fully aware of their prognosis?
5 - Who do they want to be informed if their condition changes in any way?
What are the main components of the supportive and palliative care indicator tool?
1 - Would it be a surprise if this patient died in the next 6-12 months?
2 - Look for 2 or more general clinical indicators
3 - Look for 2 or more disease related indicators
What is the PPS and what is it used for?
Palliative performance scale
- Quick way of describing a patients current functional level
- It has prognostic value
- Useful for assessing workload
Draw the disease trajectories for malignancy, organ failure and dementia/frailty?
What are some of points made by WHO in its description of palliative care?
1 - Provides relief from pain and other distressing symptoms
2 - Affirms life and regards dying as a normal process
3 - Intends neither to hasten nor postpone death
4 - Integrates psychological and spiritual aspects of patient care
Name the team members involved in providing palliative care?
Macmillan Nurses
CLAN workers
Marie Curie nurses
Religious or cultural groups
What are the elements of a good death?
1 - Pain-free death
2 - Open acknowledgement of the imminence of death
3 - Death at home surrounded by family and friends
4 - An ‘aware’ death, in which personal conflicts and unfinished business have been resolved
5 - Death as personal growth
6 - Death according to personal preference
Where do most people state they would prefer to die?
Home
Which framework allows primary care to provide palliative care at home?
Gold standards framework
