Author
Ruishuang Zheng
Bio: Ruishuang Zheng is an academic researcher from Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital. The author has contributed to research in topics: Palliative care & Spiritual distress. The author has an hindex of 1, co-authored 3 publications receiving 3 citations.
Papers
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TL;DR: Wang et al. as mentioned in this paper explored the challenges that oncology nurses face when delivering hospice care in the Chinese cultural context, including public misperception on the care, lack of financial support, fear of medical disputes and legal action, shortage of human resources, insufficient specialization and lack of hierarchical training on care, inexperience in communication skills, and self-care and stress management skills.
9 citations
TL;DR: Wang et al. as discussed by the authors investigated the effect of DT on patients' sense of dignity, psycho-spiritual well-being, and quality of life in the final stages of life.
Abstract: Objectives Dignity therapy (DT) is a brief, individualised psychotherapy that aims to alleviate psychosocial and spiritual distress in the final stages of life. It is unknown yet whether DT can enhance sense of dignity and improve psychological and spiritual well-being as well as quality of life of terminally ill patients. Methods We searched PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL plus, ProQuest Health & Medical Complete, PsycINFO and the Cochrane Library, as well as Chinese databases including Weipu Data, Wanfang Data and China National Knowledge Infrastructure from inception to 30 April 2021, for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effects of DT on dignity, psycho-spiritual well-being and quality of life of terminally ill patients receiving palliative care. Results We identified 507 unique records, and included 9 RCTs (871 participants). Comparator was standard palliative care. DT did not improve terminally ill patients’ sense of dignity (p=0.90), hope (p=0.15), spiritual well-being (p=0.99) and quality of life (p=0.23). However, DT reduced anxiety and depression after intervention (standardised mean difference, SMD=−1.13, 95% CI (−2.21 to –0.04), p=0.04; SMD=−1.22, 95% CI (−2.25 to –0.18), p=0.02, respectively) and at 4 weeks post-intervention (SMD=−0.89, 95% CI (−1.71 to –0.07), p=0.03; SMD=−1.26, 95% CI (−2.38 to –0.14), p=0.03, respectively). Conclusion DT can be offered as a psychological intervention for terminally ill patients to reduce their anxiety and depression. More studies are needed to further evaluate the effects of DT on terminally ill patients’ dignity, spiritual well-being and quality of life.
6 citations
TL;DR: Findings suggested that staff members viewed dignity as something that is reciprocally supported within the patient-family unit within hospice palliative care, and cultural considerations, environmental factors, teamwork and patient/family-staff relationship were the factors identified by staff members that affected dignity.
Abstract: Objectives This study aimed to explore the construct of dignity of the patient–family dyad in hospice palliative care, as well as its influencing factors from the perspective of hospice palliative care staff. Methods A qualitative descriptive study was conducted with 34 staff members from a residential hospice in Amherst, USA, and an inpatient palliative care unit in Winnipeg, Canada, between September 2013 and December 2016. Data were collected through semistructured interviews and were analysed using the thematic analysis approach. Results Findings suggested that staff members viewed dignity as something that is reciprocally supported within the patient–family unit. Themes including respect, comfort, privacy, being informed and quality family time were common in the conceptualisation of dignity in patients and families; themes of being human and being self, autonomy and living with dignity were uniquely used to conceptualise patient dignity. Themes solely constituting family dignity included being included in care, being capable and being treated fairly. Cultural considerations, environmental factors, teamwork and patient/family–staff relationship were the factors identified by staff members that affected dignity in hospice palliative care. Conclusion Findings of this study provide insights into the development of strategies to support the dignity of the patient–family unit in hospice palliative care.
5 citations
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TL;DR: Qualitative analysis revealed two major themes: 1) Keepsakes are tangible items that are highly valued by family members, and 2) the creation of the keepsake with clinical staff is valued and viewed as a gesture of compassion.
18 citations
TL;DR: Wang et al. as discussed by the authors explored the meaning of patient dignity at the end of life in traditional Chinese culture from perspectives of advanced cancer patients and their family members through face-to-face semi-structured interviews and were analyzed using thematic analysis.
14 citations
TL;DR: Palliative care teams should be encouraged to support and foster realistic hope, helping families prepare for death, in the context of advanced cancer.
Abstract: Hope performs an important role in how patients and their families cope with suffering and stressful events. To better inform practice and theory on hope, palliative care research should include both patients and their family carers, given their strong interdependence. The aim of this study was to explore how hope is experienced in dyads formed by end-of-life patients and their family carers. In this qualitative study, data were collected by in-depth interviews with seven Portuguese family dyads. Analysis followed a thematic analysis approach. The analysis of the interviews shed light on the importance of hope for all participants, and the challenges involved. Family dyads noted several barriers and facilitators to perceptions of hope. Barriers to hope included limitations imposed by illness, feelings of anguish and helplessness, and poor communication with clinicians. Hope facilitators included supportive others, positive thinking and sense of humour, connection with nature, faith in religion and science, and a sense of compassion with others and altruism. Given the multidimensional scope of hope, the main challenge for family dyads is to look beyond the disease itself. Thus, palliative care teams should be encouraged to support and foster realistic hope, helping families prepare for death, in the context of advanced cancer.
7 citations
TL;DR: In this article , a focus group with HCT providers in three US states was conducted to examine their knowledge, experience, and opinions related to EOL care for LGBTQ+ patients and caregivers despite this being identified as a gap in competency and education.
Abstract: Hospice patients and caregivers who are members of sexual and gender minority groups (i.e., LGBTQ+) have reported experiencing unmet needs at end of life (EOL). Negative experiences often stem from challenging interactions with healthcare providers due to ineffective or poor communication and providers' heteronormative assumptions and biases. Few studies, however, examine hospice care team (HCT) providers' knowledge, experience, and opinions related to EOL care for LGBTQ+ patients and caregivers despite this being identified as a gap in competency and education. We sought to examine HCT providers' perceptions regarding (1) awareness of LGBTQ+ patients and caregivers; (2) knowledge of specific or unique needs; and (3) opinions on best care and communication practices.Six focus groups conducted with HCT providers (n = 48) currently delivering hospice care in three US states were audio-recorded and transcribed. Data were content coded (κ = 0.77), aggregated by topical categories, and descriptively summarized.Participants were mostly white and non-Hispanic (n = 43, 89.6%), cisgender female (n = 42, 87.5%), heterosexual (n = 35, 72.9%), and religious (n = 33, 68.8%); they averaged 49 years of age (range 26-72, SD = 11.66). Awareness of LGBTQ+ patients and caregivers depended on patient or caregiver self-disclosure and contextual cues; orientation and gender identity data were not routinely collected. Many viewed being LGBTQ+ as private, irrelevant to care, and not a basis for people having specific or unique EOL needs because they saw EOL processes as universal, and believed that they treat everyone equally. Providers were more comfortable with patients of lesbian or gay orientation and reported less comfort and limited experience caring for transgender and gender-diverse patients or caregivers.Many HCT members were unaware of specific issues impacting the EOL experiences of LGBTQ+ patients and caregivers, or how these experiences may inform important care and communication needs at EOL.
5 citations
TL;DR: HCT members were unaware of specific issues impacting the EOL experiences of LGBTQ+ patients and caregivers, or how these experiences may inform important care and communication needs at EOL.
Abstract: Abstract Objectives Hospice patients and caregivers who are members of sexual and gender minority groups (i.e., LGBTQ+) have reported experiencing unmet needs at end of life (EOL). Negative experiences often stem from challenging interactions with healthcare providers due to ineffective or poor communication and providers’ heteronormative assumptions and biases. Few studies, however, examine hospice care team (HCT) providers’ knowledge, experience, and opinions related to EOL care for LGBTQ+ patients and caregivers despite this being identified as a gap in competency and education. We sought to examine HCT providers’ perceptions regarding (1) awareness of LGBTQ+ patients and caregivers; (2) knowledge of specific or unique needs; and (3) opinions on best care and communication practices. Methods Six focus groups conducted with HCT providers (n = 48) currently delivering hospice care in three US states were audio-recorded and transcribed. Data were content coded (κ = 0.77), aggregated by topical categories, and descriptively summarized. Results Participants were mostly white and non-Hispanic (n = 43, 89.6%), cisgender female (n = 42, 87.5%), heterosexual (n = 35, 72.9%), and religious (n = 33, 68.8%); they averaged 49 years of age (range 26–72, SD = 11.66). Awareness of LGBTQ+ patients and caregivers depended on patient or caregiver self-disclosure and contextual cues; orientation and gender identity data were not routinely collected. Many viewed being LGBTQ+ as private, irrelevant to care, and not a basis for people having specific or unique EOL needs because they saw EOL processes as universal, and believed that they treat everyone equally. Providers were more comfortable with patients of lesbian or gay orientation and reported less comfort and limited experience caring for transgender and gender-diverse patients or caregivers. Significance of results Many HCT members were unaware of specific issues impacting the EOL experiences of LGBTQ+ patients and caregivers, or how these experiences may inform important care and communication needs at EOL.
5 citations