• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• 제26권1호
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• pp.7-17
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• 2023

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze end-of-life care practices in lung disease patients with physician orders for life-sustaining treatment (POLSTs). Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data from medical records regarding the end-of-life care practices of POLST decisions for patients with lung disease hospitalized at a tertiary hospital in Seoul, South Korea. Data were collected from January 1 to June 30, 2021. Results: Of 300 total patients, 198 had lung cancer (66.0%) and 102 had non-malignant lung diseases (34.0%). A POLST was written for 187 patients (62.3%), and an advance directive was written for 20 patients (6.7%). Subsequent treatments were hemodialysis in 13 patients (4.3%), surgery in 3 patients (1.0%), and cardiopulmonary cerebral resuscitation in 1 patient (0.3%). Among cancer patients, chemotherapy was performed in 11 patients (3.7%), targeted therapy in 11 patients (3.7%), immunotherapy in 6 patients (2.0%), and radiation therapy in 13 patients (4.3%). Depending on the type of lung disease, types of treatment differed, including hemodialysis, ventilators, bilevel positive airway pressure, high-flow nasal cannulas, nebulizers, enteral nutrition, central line, inotropic agents, and opioids. Conclusion: Although the goals of hospice care are the same whether a patient has lung cancer or a non-malignant lung disease, because the characteristics of the respective diseases differ, end-of-life care practices and hospice approaches must be considered differently.

• 한국임상약학회지
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• 제30권2호
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• pp.92-101
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• 2020

Background: Delirium is a neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by sudden impairments in consciousness, attention, and perception. The evidence of successful pharmacological interventions for delirium is limited, and medication recommendations for managing delirium are not standardized. This study aimed to provide evidence of antipsychotics for symptomatic treatment of delirium in cancer patients receiving palliative care. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed adult cancer patients in palliative care who received antipsychotic delirium treatment at Severance Hospital between January 2016 and June 2019. The efficacy was evaluated primarily by resolution rates. The resolution of delirium was defined as neurological changes from drowsiness, confusion, stupor, sedation, or agitation to alertness or significant symptomatic improvements described in the medical records. The safety was studied primarily by adverse drug reaction incidence ratios. Results: Of the 63 enrolled patients, 60 patients were included in the statistical analysis and were divided into three groups based on which antipsychotic medication they were prescribed [quetiapine (n=27), haloperidol (n=25) and co-administration of quetiapine and haloperidol (n=8)]. The resolution ratio showed quetiapine to be more effective than haloperidol (p=0.001). No significant differences were seen in adverse drug reaction rates among the three groups (p=0.332). Conclusions: Quetiapine was considered the most effective medication for delirium, with no significant differences in adverse drug reaction rates. Therefore, quetiapine may be considered a first-line medication for treating delirium in cancer patients receiving palliative care. However, further studies comparing more diverse antipsychotics among larger populations are still needed.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• 제2권1호
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• pp.1-4
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• 2014

Palliative care for cancer aims to relieve the discomfort and pain from the cancer itself and associated conditions. Gastrointestinal cancers originate from the tube like structure of gastrointestinal tract and cause complications such as obstruction, bleeding, adhesion, invasion, and perforation to adjacent organ. Recent advances in interventional endoscopy enables endoscopy physicians to do safe and effective care for gastrointestinal cancer patients. Endoscopic palliation includes stent, hemostasis, nutritional support and targeted drug delivery. Self expandable metallic stent is one of the most important modalities in gastrointestinal palliation. Through the endoscopy or over the wire pre-placed by endoscopy, stents restore the gastrointestinal luminal patency and relieve the obstructive condition. Endoscopic hemostasis is another important palliation in gastrointestinal cancer patients. Epinephrine injection, argon plasma coagulation and thermal cauterization are usual modalities for hemostasis. Histoacryl glue and fibrin glue are also available. Hemostatic nanopowder spray is newly reported effective in benign disease and is supposed to be effective also in cancer bleeding. Enteral feeding tubes including gastro- or jejunostomy and nosoduodenal tubes are placed by using endoscopic guidance. Enteral feeding tubes role as the route of easily absorbable or semi-digested nutrients and effectively maintain both patients calorie requirements and gut microenvironment. Photodynamic therapy is the one of the outstanding medical employments of photo-physics. Especially for superficial cancers in esophagus, photodynamic therapy is very useful in cancer removal and maintaining organ structure. In biliary neoplasm, photodynamic therapy is well known to be effective in cancer ablation and biliary ductal patency restoration. Targeted drug delivery is the lastest issue in palliative endoscopy. Debates and questions are still on the table. In this article, the role of endoscopic interventions in palliative care for the gastrointestinal tumors will be thoroughly reviewed.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• 제9권1호
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• pp.35-39
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• 2006

진행된 암에서 발생하는 범복막염은 치료하지 않으면 탈수와 패혈증으로 사망할 것이 예측되고 수술적 치료 또한 높은 사망률과 합병증을 가져오며, 적극적인 수액요법과 비위관삽입, 항생제 치료 등도 아직까지 효과가 불분명하고 오히려 증상의 악화도 가져오는 것으로 알려져 있다. 이에 대한가정의학과 완화의학 연구회 세미나에서는 77세 여자 환자로 진행된 위암과 암종증으로 완화의료를 받던 중 발생한 범복막염을 수술적 치료 대신 통증조절 및 증상 완화 위중의 치료를 하여 범복막염 발생 4일 후 평화롭게 임종을 맞이하였던 증례를 보고하였고, 이 증례를 계기로 암환자에서 발생한 복막염의 치료 및 관리에 대한 문헌 고찰과 토론을 통해 다음과 같은 결론을 제시하고자 한다. 먼저 환자의 여명, 환자의 임상적 상태, 수술적 위험성 등을 고려 한 후 비수술적 완화요법을 선택할 수 있다. 통증조절을 위해서는 비경구용 진통제를 사용할 수 있고, 필요한 경우 일시적인 비위 영양관을 삽입할 수 있고 분비물이 적어지면 제거한다. 초기에 충분한 양의 비경구 수액요법이 시도될 수 있으나, 환자의 상태가 호전되지 않으면, 오히려 이로 인한 부종과 호흡곤란 등의 부작용을 최소화하기 위해 최소한의 용량을 사용하는 것을 권장한다. 항생제 사용 및 중단 여부는 환자의 자기의사결정 및 보호자와의 논의 후 임상 상태와 여명을 고려하여 결정할 수 있다.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• 제12권4호
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• pp.177-193
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• 2009

완화의학에서 환자의 평가는 치료의 의사결정과 그 결과에 이르기까지 중요한 역할을 한다. 평가도구의 사용 목적은 이를 환자 진료에 반영하여 개개인 환자와 가족들에 대한 돌봄의 질을 높이는 데 있다. 환자의 기능 상태와 통증 및 비 통증 증상을 평가하는 다양한 단일 영역 및 다차원 평가 척도들이 사용 가능하며, 삶의 질을 측정하는 다양한 도구들이 존재한다. 삶의 질이나 증상 측정에서 우월하다고 추천되는 단일 도구는 없는 실정이다. 도구마다 측정하는 시간의 틀이 다르고, 특성이 다르므로 사용 목적과 상황에 따라 적절한 도구를 선택하여야 한다. 여명 예측을 위해서는 예후 지수의 병용이 권고되는 추세이고, 웹을 기반으로 하는 예측 프로그램들도 등장하였다. 예후지수로는 최근 우리나라에서 다기관 연구를 통해 개발한 객관적 예후지수가 임상적인 여명 예측을 포함하지 않으면서 새로운 객관적인 예후 요인을 반영하여, 누구나 쉽게 사용이 가능하다. 완화의학 입문자의 경우 상대적으로 사용이 용이한 도구가 좋다. 따라서 기능의 평가에는 Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group 기능지수를 사용하고, 통증에서는 10점만점의 숫자 통증 등급(Numeric Rating Scale) 도구를 활용하면서 초기 통증 평가로는 간이 통증 조사지를 추천한다. 여러 가지 증상을 한꺼번에 측정하기 위해서는 숫자 등급으로 직접 물어보거나 혹은 M.D. Anderson 증상조사지(the Korean version of MD Anderson Symptom Inventory) 설문지를 사용하기 바란다. 삶의 질을 평가하는데에는 European Organization Research and Treatment Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 15 for Palliative Care, 예후 지수로는 객관적 예후 지수(Objective Prognostic Score)를 사용하기를 권한다. 향후 완화의학에서 평가도구의 발전방향은 국제 공동 연구의 활성화와 디지털 기기를 통한환자 보고의 전산화이고, 머지않은 앞날에 우리나라에도 이러한 경향이 도입될 것이다.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• 제23권1호
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• pp.11-16
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• 2020

Purpose: D-dimer levels are known to be associated with poor outcomes in patients with various cancers, but their significance at the end of life remains unclear. This study investigated D-dimer levels as a prognostic indicator for terminal cancer patients in the last hours of life. Methods: The retrospective study was conducted at a palliative care unit of a tertiary cancer center, using a database to analyze the records of patients treated from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2018. In total, 67 terminal cancer patients with available data on D-dimer levels were included. Patients' demographic data, clinical information, and laboratory values, including D-dimer levels, were collected. Survival was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank test. A Cox proportional-hazards model was used to identify prognostic factors of poor survival. Results: The most common site of cancer was the lung (32.8%) and the median survival time was 5 days. Most laboratory results, particularly D-dimer levels, deviated from the normal range. Patients with high D-dimer levels had a significantly shorter survival time than those with low D-dimer levels (4 days vs. 7 days; P=0.012). In the Cox regression analysis, only a high D-dimer level was identified as a predictor of a poor prognosis (hazard ratio, 1.83; 95% confidence interval, 1.09~3.07). Conclusion: Our results suggest that at the very end of life, D-dimer levels may serve as a prognostic factor for survival in cancer patients.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• 제26권4호
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• pp.171-184
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• 2023

Purpose: The study explored the meaning of experiences within a family art therapy process among terminal cancer patients and their families. Methods: Ten participants, including four terminal cancer patients currently admitted to the hospice ward at an inpatient hospice facility in S City and four caregiving family members, engaged in four cycles of family art therapy sessions. The sessions were conducted weekly or bi-weekly, and each lasted approximately 50 minutes. Results: Nine cross-case themes emerged: "feeling unfamiliar and intimidated by the idea of expressing my thoughts through art," "trying to accept the present and positively overcome sadness," "expressing hope through emotional bonds during the process of parting," "conveying and preserving personal and family beliefs," "feeling upset about family imbalances caused by deteriorating health," "valuing togetherness and striving for stability amidst the current challenges," "art as a medium of empowerment for patients and facilitator of family conversations, even amidst difficulties," "sharing a range of emotions-not just joy, but concerns and sorrow-through art," and "gratitude for art' s role in improving family communication and connection through artwork. Conclusion: The findings of this study lead to several conclusions. First, patients and their families faced psychological challenges when confronted with impending death, yet they strove to remain optimistic by seeking meaning in their struggles. Second, families practiced open and expressive communication, sharing a spectrum of complex emotions with one another. Third, even as the patient's condition worsened, resulting in family fatigue, their support and cohesion strengthened.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제14권2호
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• pp.739-742
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• 2013

Background: This study was to evaluate the survival of patients with pleural and intraperitoneal malignant mesothelioma and to investigate the efficacy of chemotherapy (CT) as well as radiotherapy (RTH) and surgery compared to best supportive care (BSC). Materials and Methods: Forty patients with malignant mesothelioma (38 with pleural and 2 with intraperitoneal) were enrolled. Twenty seven patients underwent (CT) chemotherapy of which 2 also received (RTH) and surgery was only for biopsy in 15/40. Combination chemotherapy included cisplatin-gemcitabine, cisplatin-navelbine and cisplatin (or carboplatin) with premetrexed. Thirteen patients received only best supportive care. Results: A total of 12 (30%) patients were male, and 28 (70%) female. Median age was 54.0 years and the male/female ratio was 1/2.33 (P=0.210). Residential exposure played a major role in two regions, Helwan and Shoubra, in 20% and 15%, respectively. Overall mean survival time was $13.9{\pm}2.29$ months. That for patients who had received best supportive care was $7.57{\pm}1.85$ months, for chemotherapy was $16.5{\pm}3.20$ months, and multimodality treatment regimen $27{\pm}21.0$ months (P=0.028). Kaplan-Meier survival did not significantly vary for sex, residence and the pathological types epithelial, mixed and sarcomatous. The median survival for performance status and treatment modalities was significant (P=0.001 and 0.028). Best supportive care using opioids with a mean dose of 147.1 mg (range 0-1680) of morphine sulphate produced good subjective response and reasonable quality of life but did not affect survival. Conclusions: We conclude that CT prolongs survival compared to BSC in patients with malignant mesothelioma. Moreover, using escalating doses of opioids provides good pain relief and subjective responses.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• 제2권2호
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• pp.109-113
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• 1999

목적 : 말기 암 환자들을 위한 적절한 의료서비스가 제공되지 않음에 따라 비정상저인 의료행태가 발생되고 있어 말기 암 환자의 관리를 위한 포괄적인 프로그램의 필요성이 제기되고 있다. 고가의 생명유지장치의 무익성과 말기 암 환자 관리의 고 비용에 대한 관심이 늘어나고 있다. 본 연구는 의료보험에서 말기 암환자들에게 지출된 의료비용을 분석하고자 하였다. 방법 : 1997년 1월부터 1998년 6월까지 사망한 암 등록환자 중 공무원 교직원 의료보험 자료 이용이 가능한 151명의 급여내역을 추출하여 입 내원 일수와 의료보험 진료비를 조사하였다. 결과 : 사망 전 6개월 동안의 암 환자 일인당 평균 입원일수는 39일 외래일수는 14일이었다. 진료 일당 평균 진료비는 85,362원이었으며 입원 일당 평균 진료비는 105,908원, 외래 내원 일당 평균 진료비는 40,173원이었다. 진료비의 95%가 종합병원에서 지출되었으며, 진료비의 85%가 입원을 통해 지출되었다. 사망 전 6개월 동안의 진료비는 점차 증가하는 경향을 보여 사망에 가까울수록 사망 전 2개월 동안에 약 50%, 1개월 동안에 약 30%가 지출되었다. 외래진료비는 사망 전 3개월 전까지는 증가하다가 2개월 전부터는 감소하는 반면, 입원진료비는 사망에 가까울수록 증가하는 경향을 보였다. 결론 : 본 연구의 사망 전 6개월간의 의료비 분포는 미국의 메디케어의 자료와 비슷한 분포를 보였다. 향후 보다 큰 규모와 세부적인 진료서비스 내용의 분석을 통해 말기 암 환자의 관리에 대한 정책적 대안을 제시할 필요가 있다.

• 의료ㆍ복지 건축 : 한국의료복지건축학회 논문집
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• 제7권2호
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• pp.37-45
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• 2001

The hospice movement evolved as an alternative to hospitals as places to die. Recently, the palliative care for dying and hospice has been developed rapidly and placed itself as one of the medical systems. But the studies on hospice program and establishment method in Korea are few or no in comparison with developed countries. Hospice unit within a general hospital is more efficient hospice type than other terminal care establishments, therefor it will be developed rapidly. With this in mind, this study puts elements of architectural planning on the hospice unit for the space requirements. Also, It is investigated the architectural conditions of hospice unit within a general hospital, analyzed the unit space and spatial composition in hospice unit. The purpose of this study is to propose the fundamental data and unit space for architectural plan and design.