Palliative Care For Cancer Patients Research Articles

An Exploratory Qualitative Study of Oncology Nurses’ Experience in Providing Care for Terminally Ill Patients in Salmaniya Medical Complex in Bahrain

Oncology nurses are essential in palliative care for cancer patients, especially at end-of-life stages. Caring for terminally ill cancer patients is stressful, accompanied by negative and positive feelings, but oncology nurses have an unavoidable responsibility. However, little is known about oncology nurses' experience in the Kingdom of Bahrain caring for terminally ill cancer patients in their final weeks or days. This study aimed to explore the experience of oncology staff nurses in providing care for terminally ill patients in the Kingdom of Bahrain, and the research answered those questions: (a) What is the experience of oncology staff nurses in providing care for terminally ill patient? And (b) How does the experience of oncology nurses in providing care to terminally ill patients impact the quality of care provided to patients? A qualitative descriptive, interpretive exploratory research design was utilized for this study to explore the experience of oncology staff nurses with terminally ill patients, conducted in two hospital settings at Salmaniya medical complex (inpatient & outpatient) oncology department. The data were collected using a purposive sampling to include 15 oncologist nurses whose experiences were across various characteristics with different professional roles and qualifications. The data were collected through 15 semi-structured interviews guided by a semi-structured interview protocol. Data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke's 2006 thematic analysis model without pretexting. The research findings revealed three key themes that emerged from thematic analysis: (1) exhausting versus rewarding experienced feelings; (2) Factors influencing Nursing care; (3) Moral Distress. End-of-life care in the Kingdom of Bahrain reflects and has been influenced by primary total nursing care. Oncology nurses reported suffering but also benefiting from their experiences. End-of-life cancer care training is needed and urged by oncology nurses, especially those younger and less experienced. Also, future studies are mandated to explore interventions to help overcome the challenges that are impeding nurses from providing high-quality care for terminally ill patients in the kingdom of Bahrain.

Factores asociados a la calidad de vida en pacientes con cáncer en una unidad de terapia del dolor de la seguridad social - Lima, Perú

Introduction: Quality of life is one of the main concerns for cancer patients in palliative care; however, studies on quality of life in these patients are limited. Objective: To determine the factors associated with quality of life in patients with oncological disease in palliative care. Methods: Observational, analytical study in 184 cancer patients treated in a Pain and Palliative Care Unit during 2021. The dependent variable was quality of life; independent variables were age, sex, education level, occupation, oncological diagnosis, disease duration, and stage. Crude (RP) and adjusted (aRP) prevalence ratios were calculated with a 95% confidence level. Results: The median age was 63 years, and 66.3% were female. Factors associated with quality of life were breast cancer (aRP=1.21; 95% CI: 1.07-1.36; p!<0.010), prostate cancer (aRP=1.36; 95% CI: 1.18-1.56; p!<0.010), or multiple myeloma (aRP=1.33; 95% CI: 1.15-1.53; p!<0.010), compared to other cancers such as Hodgkin's lymphoma, stomach, kidney, or pancreatic cancer; disease duration longer than 36 months (aRP=1.13; 95% CI: 1.01-1.27; p=0.040), and stage III (aRP=1.30; 95% CI: 1.19-1.42; p!<0.010) were also associated with quality of life. Conclusions: Factors associated with quality of life were having breast, prostate, or multiple myeloma cancer, compared to having another type of cancer; in addition to a disease duration longer than 36 months and stage III compared to stage I/II.

The grief of loss among breast cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic: How can palliative care workers help?

Cancer patients suffer from different losses. Studies have focused on examining grief resulting from cancer diagnosis and grief among caregivers of cancer patients and parents who lost their child to cancer. However, there are no studies on the grief resulting from losing a loved one in cancer patients. This study examined female breast cancer patients' grief and aimed to reveal how palliative care can help breast cancer who experience the grief of losing a loved one. The study applied the qualitative case study design conducted with 10 women with breast cancer; their ages ranged from 47 to 54 years. Data were collected during 18 in-depth interviews by asking semi-open-closed questions. Thematic analysis found that losing a partner negatively affected breast cancer patients' mental health. The grief experience among breast cancer patients has many symptoms: sadness, severe anxiety, sleep disturbance, loneliness, and isolation. Results also indicated many risk factors that increase grief symptoms among breast cancer patients, such as quarantine procedures during the COVID-19 outbreak, extreme emotional attachment to a partner, guilt, self-blame, and social relations. Patients with breast cancer can face grief experienced by coping strategies such as: resorting to God, prayer, patience, and reading the Holy Qur'an. The results also emphasize the importance of integrating palliative care with treatment for breast cancer patients who experience the grief of loss. The grief of loss among breast cancer patients is a complex experience. These findings have many applied aspects that benefit planning counseling and psychological programs to increase positive coping strategies for those patients with breast cancer suffering from grief of loss disorder and provide psychological services that protect them from risk factors and reduce grief symptoms which reduce the effectiveness of cancer treatments due to the symptoms of traumatic loss of a partner. These findings also emphasize the importance of palliative care for cancer patients with complex distress.

Spiritual/religious coping strategies and religiosity of patients living with cancer in palliative care

The palliative care provided to cancer patients should also contemplate the psychological and spiritual dimensions of care. This study aimed to compare religiosity and spiritual/religious coping (SRC) of cancer patients in palliative care with a group of healthy volunteers and determine whether sociodemographic characteristics affected this association. This was a case-control study conducted with 86 patients living with cancer from an outpatient palliative care clinic of the São Paulo State University (UNESP) medical school, Botucatu, Brazil and 86 healthy volunteers. The brief Spiritual/Religious Coping Scale (SRCOPE) and the Duke University Religion (DUREL) Index were used as a brief measure of 'religiosity'. All 172 participants reported to be religious and, overall, made very little use of SRC strategies. DUREL scores were negatively associated with religious practice (P<0.01) and positive SRC (P<0.01). Age was associated with non-organisational religious activities and intrinsic religiosity (P<0.01); and income was associated with intrinsic religiosity (P<0.04). Positive SRC was negatively associated with the palliative group (P=0.03) and DUREL index (P<0.01). Negative SRC was positively associated with the palliative group (P=0.04) and negatively associated with education level (P=0.03) and practice of religion (P<0.01). All participants reported to be religious; however, their use of SRC strategies was very low. Positive religious coping was the most prevalent score. Negative religious coping was more common in the palliative care group compared to healthy volunteers. There is an association between religious coping and religiosity in palliative cancer care patients.

Standard Naloxone Prescribing for Palliative Care Cancer Patients on Opioid Therapy: A Single-Site Quality Improvement Pilot to Assess Attitudes and Access.

Limited data exist on when to offer naloxone to cancer patients on opioid therapy. We assessed patient and clinician attitudes on naloxone education (done via surveys at initial and follow up visits) and prescribing rates (via chart reviews) at a single ambulatory palliative care practice. Pharmacy records assessed naloxone dispense rates. During a three-month period, all new patients receiving opioid therapy were offered naloxone. Standardized educational materials on opioid safety and naloxone use were created and shared by clinical team. Naloxone prescribing rates increased from 5% to 66%. 92% (n=23) of clinicians reported education/prescribing took ≤ five minutes, and 100% reported either a positive or neutral impact on the encounter. A total of 81% (n=25) of patients reported no increased worry about opioid use, 68% (n=21) felt safer with naloxone, and 97% rated the encounter as neutral or positive. 88% (n=37) of prescriptions were dispensed and 67% of patients (n=16) paid <$10. Opioid safety education and naloxone prescribing can be done quickly and is well-received by clinicians and patients.

Use and impact of a novel nurse-led consultation model in a palliative care consultation service for terminally ill cancer patients in Taiwan: an 11-year observational study.

The early integration of palliative care for terminally ill cancer patients improves quality of life. We have developed a new nurse-led consultation model for use in a palliative care consultation service (PCCS) to initiate early palliative care for cancer patients. In this 11-year observational study, data were collected from the Hospice-Palliative Clinical Database (HPCD) of Taichung Veterans General Hospital (TCVGH). Terminally ill cancer patients who had received PCCS during the years 2011 to 2021 were enrolled. Trend analysis was performed in order to evaluate differences in outcomes seen within the categories of either a nurse-led consultation model or ordinary consultation model throughout the study period. Analysis included studying the duration of PCCS and DNR declaration, as well as awareness of disease by both patients and families before and after PCCS. In total, 6923 cancer patients with an average age of 64.1 years received PCCS from 2011 to 2021, with the average duration of PCCS being 11.1 days. Three thousand four hundred twenty-one patients (49.4%) received both a nurse consultation and doctor consultation during PCCS. Being admitted to the Department of Hematology, a longer duration of hospitalization, a DNR declaration after PCCS, and having had a PCCS consultation by a nurse only or both with a nurse and a doctor were significant determinants of a PCCS duration of more than 7 days. This 11-year observational study shows that the number of terminal cancer patients receiving a novel nurse-led consultation during PCCS has increased significantly during the past decade, while a nurse-led consultation model during PCCS was effective in improving the duration of PCCS among terminally ill cancer patients.

Spiritual well-being correlates with quality of life of both cancer and non-cancer patients in palliative care - further validation of EORTC QLQ-SWB32 in Finnish

BackgroundThe European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) has developed the Spiritual Well-being Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-SWB32), a measure of spiritual well-being validated with people receiving palliative care for cancer, although its usefulness is not restricted to that population. We aimed to translate and validate this tool in Finnish and to study the relationship between spiritual well-being (SWB) and quality of life (QOL).MethodsA Finnish translation was produced according to the guidelines of EORTC and included forward- and back-translations. Face, content, construct and convergence/divergence validity and reliability were studied in a prospective manner. QOL was assessed with EORTC QLQ-C30 and 15D questionnaires. Sixteen individuals participated in the pilot testing. 101 cancer patients drawn from oncology units, and 89 patients with other chronic diseases drawn from religious communities in different parts of the country participated in the validation stage. Retest was obtained from 16 individuals (8 cancer and 8 non-cancer patients). Inclusion criteria included patients with either a well-defined palliative care plan, or who would benefit from palliative care, as well as the capacity to understand and communicate in Finnish.ResultsThe translation appeared understandable and acceptable. Factorial analysis identified four scoring scales with high Cronbach alfa values: Relationship with Self (0.73), Relationship with Others (0.84), Relationship with Something Greater (0.82), Existential (0.81), and, additionally, a scale on Relationship with God (0.85). There was a significant correlation between SWB and QOL in all participants.ConclusionsThe Finnish translation of EORTC QLQ-SWB32 is a valid and reliable measure both for research and clinical practice. SWB is correlated with QOL in cancer and non-cancer patients undergoing palliative care or who are eligible for it.

Family Support in Telenursing to Undergo Palliative Care for Cancer Patients

This study aims to provide an overview of the support of telenursing methods carried out by families undergoing palliative care programs for cancer patients. This research method uses a qualitative design with a phenomenological approach model. Data collection techniques were conducted through in-depth interviews with six participants. Snowball sampling data retrieval method. Data analysis techniques using the Colaizzi method. The results of this study show that when undergoing a palliative care program, support using the telenursing method is a practical and easy-to-use application and the services provided are consuming. This support makes it easier for families to carry out care, in addition to saving costs, Juda can save time, so that families can use their time to do daily work. This study concludes that families and patients must be given socialization about mastering applications and online consultations so that they are able and willing to use these online methods.&#x0D;

Palliative care and healthcare utilization among metastatic breast cancer patients in U.S. Hospitals

There is a lack of research focused on understanding the different characteristics and healthcare utilization of metastatic breast cancer patients by palliative care use. This study aims to investigate trend of in-patient palliative care and its association with healthcare utilization among hospitalized metastatic breast cancer patients in the US. National Inpatient Sample (NIS) was used to identify nationwide metastatic breast cancer patients (n = 5209, weighted n = 25,961) from 2010 to 2014. We examined the characteristics of the study sample by palliative care and its association with healthcare utilization, measured by discounted hospital charges and length of stay. Multivariable survey regression models were used to identify predictors. Among 26,961 breast cancer patients, 19.0% had palliative care. Percentage of receiving palliative care during the period were gradually increased. Social factors including race, insurance types were also associated with a receipt of palliative care. Survey linear regression results showed that patients with palliative care were associated with 31% lower hospital charges, however, length of stays were not significantly associated. This study found evidence of who was associated with the receipt of palliative care and its relationship with healthcare utilization. This study also emphasizes the importance of receiving palliative care in patients with breast cancer, paving the way for future research into ways to improve palliative care in cancer patients. This study also found social differences and gave evidence of programs that could be used to help vulnerable groups in future health policy decisions.

Cannabis and Palliative Care Utilization among Non-Terminal Cancer Patients in the Illinois Medical Cannabis Program

High-quality palliative care has been shown to provide benefits for cancer patients, including greater longevity when initiated earlier in treatment. Previous research conducted among terminal patients in the Illinois Medical Cannabis Program has suggested that cannabis may be used as a complement to palliative care and as an alternative to prescription opioid medications. However, there is little research exploring this phenomenon among non-terminal cancer patients receiving palliative care. In this study, we used primary cross-sectional survey data to (1) identify the factors associated with the utilization of palliative care, (2) examine the associations between the utilization of palliative care and self-reported improvements in physical and psychological symptoms, and (3) estimate the differences in the average 30-day pain levels for non-terminal cancer patients receiving palliative care who reported using opioids compared with other non-terminal cancer patients in palliative care who did not report using opioids. In our sample, 87 out of 542 (16%) non-terminal cancer patients were receiving palliative care, and of these 87 patients, 54 (62%) reported opioid use in the past 12 months. Non-terminal cancer patients in the sample who reported low psychological well-being, frequent gastrointestinal symptoms, and prescription opioid use in the past 12 months had greater odds of palliative care utilization. Palliative care utilization was also positively associated with self-reported improvements in gastrointestinal symptoms. The concurrent use of cannabis and prescription opioids was associated with higher average 30-day pain levels and with higher average pain levels at the initiation of cannabis use among those non-terminal cancer patients engaged in palliative care services.

Bicentre, randomized, parallel-arm, sham-controlled trial of transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) in the treatment of palliative care patients with refractory cancer pain

BackgroundPain is a common symptom in palliative care cancer patients and is often insufficiently relieved. In recent years, transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) of the motor cortex has been shown to be effective to treat chronic pain, essentially neuropathic pain. We propose to test the efficacy of tDCS in patients experiencing cancer pain in the palliative care setting.Method/designThis article describes the protocol of a bicentre, randomized, parallel-arm, sham-controlled clinical trial evaluating tDCS in the treatment of palliative care patients with refractory cancer pain. Seventy patients between the ages of 18 and 80 years experiencing refractory pain with a pain score of 4/10 on a numerical rating scale (NRS) ranging from 0 to 10 will be enrolled in this trial. The main exclusion criteria are patients unable to fill in the various rating scales and life expectancy less than 3 weeks. Treatment consists of 5 consecutive tDCS sessions targeting the motor cortex (one daily session for 5 days) on the contralateral side to the pain. After randomization (1:1 ratio), 35 patients will receive active stimulation and 35 patients will receive sham stimulation. The primary endpoint is the NRS score and the primary objective is a significant improvement of this score between the baseline score recorded between D-3 and D-1 and the score recorded 4 days after stopping treatment (D8). The secondary objectives are to evaluate whether this improvement is maintained 16 days after stopping treatment (D21) and whether the following scores are improved on D14 and D21: Brief Pain Inventory, Edmonton Symptom Assessment System, Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and Medication Quantification Scale.DiscussionPositive results of this trial would indicate that tDCS can improve pain and quality of life of cancer patients in the palliative care setting. Reduction of analgesic consumption and improvement of activities of daily living should allow many patients to return home with a decreased workload for caregivers.

Prolonged Grief Disorder and Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression among Bereaved Family Caregivers in the Context of Palliative Home Care

Background: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and the psychological comorbidity of PGD among bereaved family caregivers of palliative care cancer patients. We also examined the discriminant validity of two simple and reliable tools in correctly categorized individuals with PGD. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 157 bereaved participants (77.1% females, mean age = 43.50 ± 14.04 years, mean time since the loss = 3.59 years) recruited from three palliative home care services. These participants completed the Prolonged Grief Scale (PG-13) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Results: The prevalence of PGD within the sample was 4.46% (i.e., = 7/157). Participants scored higher than the cut-off on the PG-13 and the HADS-D. Symptoms of PGD were positively correlated with depression levels. The ROC curve analysis showed that the HADS-D was outstanding in categorizing individuals with prolonged grief disorder from those without PGD. A HADS-D score of ≥7.5 was able to categorize participants with a sensitivity of 0.90 and a specificity of 0.73. Conclusions: Overall, these results highlight the relationship between grief and depression symptoms and their exceptional discriminant validity among correctly identified individuals with PGD.

Stakeholders’ Perceptions of Home-based Palliative Care for Cancer Patients During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, care for cancer patients may be disrupted for several reasons, leading to disease progression. Home-Based palliative care, if properly managed, can provide easy and safe access to care services for these patients. This study aimed to explore stakeholders’ perceptions of home-based palliative care for cancer patients during the pandemic. Methods: This qualitative study was conducted using conventional content analysis in Tehran, Iran, in 2021. By purposeful sampling, 19 participants, including cancer patients receiving home-based care services from the Iranian Cancer Control Center (MACSA) and their families, as well as the homecare providers, were recruited. The study data were generated by conducting 19 semi-structured interviews and a focus group session and analyzed based on the method proposed by Lundman and Graneheim. Results: Qualitative analysis of the data revealed 5 main categories: “need for remote services”, “disease transmission reduction”, “management requirements”, “burnout”, and “reducing hospital workload.” Conclusion: The use of telemedicine, the existence of call centers, and the designing of appropriate guidelines, along with the help of qualified personnel, prevent the transmission of COVID-19 to cancer patients in-home palliative care and lead to the provision of comprehensive care to these patients. This approach to care helps avert staff burnout and reduces the number of occupied beds in hospitals.

Palliative care for cancer patients inveterinary medicine.

Neoplasms account for approximately half ofthe deaths ofdogs over ten years ofage. This finding, associated with the fact that canine cancer patients will often suffer from the consequences ofthe systemic spread ofthe tumour and paraneoplastic syndromes, shows the importance ofunderstanding palliative care byveterinarians and owners. Inview ofthis, this review aims toaddress palliative care that can beused inveterinary medicine topromote the patient's well-being and quality oflife.

Needs and expectations of family caregivers of cancer patients in palliative care: A study protocol.

Cancer has an associated burden that continues to grow, affecting patients, family caregivers, and the individual's community. The family caregivers' unmet needs may harmfully jeopardize their well-being and the patient's health outcomes. Therefore, it is essential to understand the needs and expectations of family caregivers of cancer patients to develop and improve care practices. The present study aims to explore the needs and expectations of family caregivers of cancer patients in palliative care. This qualitative, descriptive exploratory study will use purposive sampling to recruit family caregivers and healthcare professionals from the palliative care units of two hospital centers in Lisbon and Tagus Valley. First, the Focus group will be performed until data saturation occurs. Then, a conventional thematic analysis will be applied to analyze data with the help of the coding software QDA Miner Lite database. This study's findings will help identify gaps in care and provide data that can support healthcare professionals in providing evidence-based centered care to family caregivers. It can also generate knowledge that may help stakeholders to develop a comprehensive support system for cancer survivors in palliative care and their family caregivers.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of palliative care of cancer patients in the end of life

Home palliative care services of terminal patients may associate home care preferences with desirable health outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of home palliative care of cancer patients in the last year of life in the public health subsector in a province of Argentina. A cost-effectiveness Markov model was developed from a social and the health funder's perspective in order to reflect the reality of home palliative care at the local level compared with usual care. Direct costs to the health system and indirect costs of unpaid informal care were estimated based on local information. Palliative care increased the likelihood of patients dying at home by 10.32% compared with usual care, with annual savings of USD 750 and USD 1,012 per patient, respectively, from both the social and the funder's perspective in the public health subsector in Río Negro. From both the social and financial perspective, the strategy to implement organized care services was more effective and lower-cost, measured by the percentage of patients who died at home. From a social perspective, the main cost inducer was the formal care provided by families, but from the funder's perspective, it refers to the salaries of the health team.

Quality of life of palliative care cancer patients during COVID-19 lockdown phase

Quality of life of palliative care cancer patients during COVID-19 lockdown phase

Economic Evaluation of Palliative Care for Patients with Cancer Disease: A Systematic Review.

Background: With the increase in the population of cancer patients and the importance of reducing the economic burden of disease, it is very important to offer solutions that can provide the services needed by this group of patients in the most appropriate way. In recent years, palliative care services have been provided in a wide range of countries for this purpose, and many studies have been conducted to assess its economic and clinical aspects. The current study aimed to systematically review economic evaluation studies that investigate the costs of end-of-life care for cancer patients. Methods: Electronic search was performed in multiple databases and different resources between 2000-2021 based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Inclusion criteria were Studies consisting of a complete EE, including CEA, CUA, and CBA regarding the EE of palliative care for patients with cancer disease, EE studies carried out by decision analysis models following the EE approach, full-text articles in the English language, and published during 2000 and 2021 and According to our search strategy, the following articles were removed: studies conducted as a partial EE (like those intended to evaluate the effectiveness, cost evaluation, QoL evaluation), articles with poor methodological quality based on the CHEERS checklist, non-English studies, study protocols, articles presented to a conference, and letters to the editor. The quality of the articles was evaluated using a CHEERS checklist. Results: 29 studies were included based on inclusion criteria. Most articles were published during the past decade. All studies were performed in high-income countries (UK= 6 studies, Canada= 5 studies). Most studies (n=7) focused on the health sector. Results of quality evaluation showed that 10 articles had excellent quality (score higher than 85%). Most studies (27 out of 29 studies) concluded that palliative medicine interventions were cost-effective and yielded positive cost-effectiveness results. 20 studies confidently concluded about the costs and benefits of providing palliative care services on cost-effectiveness and cost savings, and 2 studies made such a conclusion with uncertainty. Therefore, palliative care for cancer patients is cost-effective or cost-saving in 85% of studies. Conclusion: Although there are a wide variety of studies, characteristics, and quality of the final studies included in the present study, there are relatively favorable and stable patterns regarding the results. Palliative care is usually less expensive than comparator groups, and the cost difference is statistically significant in most cases, and this treatment is a relatively cost-effective option. However, making the right relevant decision and applying it as a dominant therapy approach in different countries requires further study in larger populations and over a longer period.

Communication about early palliative care: A qualitative study of oncology providers' perspectives of navigating the artful introduction to the palliative care team.

Despite robust evidence for the integration of early palliative care for patients with advanced cancer, many patients still access this approach to care late. Communication about the introduction of Early Palliative Care is an important skill of healthcare providers working in this setting. In the context of limited community understanding about palliative care, patients and their families may express fear or negative reactions to its early introduction. Health professionals may lack the confidence or skill to describe the role and benefits of early palliative care. This study sought to explore clinicians' perspectives on communication about referral to early palliative care, specifically identifying facilitators in undertaking this communication task. An exploratory qualitative study set within a tertiary oncology service in Victoria, Australia. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with purposively sampled oncology clinicians exploring their perspectives on communication about referral to early palliative care. A reflexive thematic analysis was undertaken by two researchers, including both latent and semantic coding relevant to the research question. Reporting of the research was guided by the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) checklist. Twelve oncology clinicians (58% female, with 67% > 15 years clinical experience) from medical oncology, surgical oncology, and haematology participated. The artful navigation of communication about early palliative care was characterised by the need for a 'spiel' involving the adoption of a series of strategies or 'tactics' when introducing this service. These themes included: 1) Using carefully selected and rehearsed language; 2) Framing in terms of symptom control; 3) Framing as additive to patient care; 4) Selling the service benefits of early palliative care; 5) Framing acceptance of referral as an altruistic act; and 6) Adopting a phased approach to delivering information about palliative care. This study highlights the wide ranging and innovative communication strategies and skills required by health professionals to facilitate referral to early palliative care for cancer patients and their families. Future focus on upskilling clinicians around communication of this topic will be important to ensure successful implementation of models of early palliative care in routine cancer care.

Rehabilitation interventions for depression symptoms among cancer patients in Palestine: A systematic review

Depression enhances the disease burden in patients with cancer. Psychological interventions and the rehabilitation of depression are required as a part of palliative care for cancer patients to improve their quality of life and mental health.The aim of the study was to review the literature about depression rehabilitation interventions among patients with cancer in Palestine. The electronic databases used: PubMed, Science Direct, Research Gate, and Google Scholar to search for systematic review articles for the review study. A total of 23 articles were reviewed, including five from Palestine and five from Arab and Islamic nations. Pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions used to decrease symptoms of depression and enhance mental health among cancer patients represent the majority of interventions for depression rehabilitation in cancer patients. Interventions for depression rehabilitation among cancer patients in Palestine are only available from the perspective of palliative care, which also involves family education, managing the symptoms of cancer patients, and providing psychological support. In Palestine, non-pharmacological interventions, such as psychological interventions, are the primary options for treating and recovering from symptoms of depression. The management of symptoms in cancer patients also has a favorable impact on mental health and recovery from depression. In Palestine, there is a need for improvement in palliative care, particularly interventions for depressive symptoms. The main reason Palestinian patients with cancer have such limited treatment and recovery options are because of Israeli occupation.