How much psychological distress is experienced at home by patients with palliative care needs in Germany? A cross-sectional study using the Distress Thermometer
| Autor: | Johannes Wüller, Tania Pastrana, Stefanie Küttner |
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| Rok vydání: | 2016 |
| Předmět: |
Male
medicine.medical_specialty Palliative care Cross-sectional study Problem list 03 medical and health sciences 0302 clinical medicine Quality of life (healthcare) Nursing Germany Neoplasms Surveys and Questionnaires Medicine Humans 030212 general & internal medicine Prospective Studies Karnofsky Performance Status General Nursing Aged Response rate (survey) Aged 80 and over Chi-Square Distribution business.industry Incidence (epidemiology) Palliative Care General Medicine Middle Aged Home Care Services Psychiatry and Mental health Clinical Psychology Distress Cross-Sectional Studies 030220 oncology & carcinogenesis Family medicine Quality of Life Female Self Report business Psychosocial Stress Psychological |
| Zdroj: | Palliativesupportive care. 15(2) |
| ISSN: | 1478-9523 1478-9515 |
| Popis: | Objective:The aims of the present study were (1) to describe the prevalence of psychosocial distress in palliative care patients living at home and the related factors, and (2) to test implementation of the Distress Thermometer (DT) within a home-based palliative care service.Method:Ours was a 15-month prospective study beginning in September of 2013 in western Germany with consecutive patients cared for by a home care palliative care service. The research was implemented during the first visit by the home care team. Patients were excluded if they were under 18 years of age, mentally or physically unable to complete the assessment questionnaires as judged by their healthcare worker, or unable to understand the German language. During the first encounter, the Distress Thermometer (DT), a Problem List (PL), and a structured questionnaire for evaluation were applied and sociodemographic and medical data collected.Results:A total of 103 patients (response rate = 70%; mean age = 67; female = 54%; married = 67%; oncological condition = 91%; Karnofsky Performance Status [KPS] score 0–40 = 34%, 50–70 = 60%, >80 = 6%) were included. The incidence of distress (DT score ≥4) was 89.3% (mean = 6.3 ± 2.5). No statistical association was found between level of distress and sociodemographic or medical factors. The five most reported problems were “fatigue” (90%), “getting around” (84%), “eating” (63%), “bathing/dressing” (60%), and “sleep” (57%). The number of problems reported correlated with level of distress (ρ = 0.34). The DT was comprehensible, and 80% considered its completion as unremarkable, while 14% found it “relieving.”Significance of results:A significant proportion of patients treated at home reported symptoms of distress. The most oft-mentioned problems were physical and emotional in nature. The findings of our study highlight the importance of creating new concepts and structures in order to address the psychosocial needs of patients in home care with palliative needs. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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