• 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.

• 종양간호연구
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• 제9권1호
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• pp.43-51
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to develop an educational program reflecting the educational needs of Hospice Smart Patient service providers. Method: The description, goal, curriculum, method, and process evaluation of the educational program were constructed based on Modified Tyler-type Ends-Means Model followed by the analysis of current curriculum and needs of service providers. Results: The curriculum was constructed based on hospice volunteer program currently offered in Korea and the recommendations of hospice service volunteers and experts. A total of 90 hr was required to complete the curriculum that was composed of 'Introduction to cancer', 'Treatment and treatment complications of cancer', 'Post-treatment nutritional care', 'Helpful information', 'Introduction to hospice and palliative care', 'Comprehension of life and death', 'Holistic hospice and palliative care', 'How to communicate as a smart patient', 'Hospice and ethics', 'Pediatric hospice', 'Bereavement management', and 'Clinical practicum'. Conclusion: It is necessary to implement the developed educational program and evaluate its effectiveness, as well as making the service available to a greater number of cancer patients.

• 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.

• 의학교육논단
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• 제22권3호
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• pp.146-152
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• 2020

Hospice and palliative care (HPC) education is an essential component of undergraduate medical education. Since February 4th, 2018, withholding and withdrawing life-sustaining treatment at the end of life (EOL) has been permitted in Korea as put forth by law, the "Act on Hospice and Palliative Care and Decisions on Life-Sustaining Treatment for Patients at the End of Life." Therefore, Korean medical schools have faced a challenge in providing comprehensive HPC education in order to better prepare medical students to be competent physicians in fulfilling their role in caring for patients at the EOL. There have been considerable variations in the evolution and organization of HPC education across Korean medical schools for the past 20 years. In 2016, all medical schools taught HPC curriculum as a separate course or integrated courses, with the most frequently taught topics including: delivering bad news, pain management, and the concept of palliative medicine. However, the content, time allocation, learning format, and clinical skills practice training of HPC education have been insufficient, inconsistent, and diverse. For this reason, we propose a HPC curriculum containing seven domains with 60 learning objectives in a course duration of over 20 hours based on the Palliative Education Assessment Tool (PEAT) as standard HPC curriculum. Furthermore, we recommend development of a national curriculum for HPC/EOL care education to be organized by the HPC board and managed under the accreditation criteria of the Korea Institute of Medical Education and Evaluation.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• 제21권1호
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• pp.1-8
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• 2018

보라매 사건 이후 근 20년이 지나 국가위원회의 권고를 기반으로 연명의료결정법이 2018년 2월 4일 제정 시행되었다. 그러나 법률의 제정 과정에서 이해관계 당사자 및 관련자들의 의견 차이로 일부 내용은 수정 또는 삭제되었으며 제정 막바지에 호스피스 완화의료에 대한 내용이 덧붙여졌다. 이로 인해 국가위원회의 권고에 담긴 내용과는 일부 다르게 법률이 제정되어 여러 문제점들이 나타나고 있다. 그러므로 현행 법률 시행 초반 연명의료결정 수행 현장을 꼼꼼히 모니터링하고 다양한 관련자들의 의견을 잘 청취하여 문제점을 파악하고 해결 방안을 마련하여야 할 것이다. 이를 토대로 법률을 개정하여 입법 목적인 '환자의 최선의 이익을 보장하고 자기결정을 존중하여 인간으로서의 존엄과 가치를 보호'가 충실히 이루어질 수 있도록 하여야 할 것이다.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제17권11호
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• pp.5041-5045
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• 2016

Background: Patients with recurrent or progressive lung cancer experience a significant symptom burden, negatively affecting quality of life and reducing life expectancy. Thoracic re-irradiation can be used for palliative treatment to relieve symptoms or as a curative treatment. Methods: Using patient charts, we identified and reviewed 28 cases that had received palliative thoracic re-irradiation for recurrent lung cancer. Results: Before re-irradiation, 32% of patients had stage III non-small cell lung cancer and six had small cell lung cancer. The median interval between treatments was 18.7 months. Median follow-up was 31.2 months from the initial radiotherapy and 5 months after re-irradiation. A better performance status before re-irradiation (<80 vs >80, p=0.09) and a lower overlap 90% isodose (<70 vs >70, p=0.09) showed trends toward improved survival. Grade 1-2 toxicity from re-irradiation was recorded in 12/28 patients, and no grade 3 or 4 acute toxicity was encountered. Conclusion: The role of palliative treatment in survival is not clear but it can provide symptomatic relief in patients, with no high grade toxicity. Further studies with greater patient numbers and longer follow-up times should facilitate determination of the role of this treatment in toxicity and effects on survival.

• Journal of Medicine and Life Science
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• 제16권3호
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• pp.80-83
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• 2019

First of all, this study shows the legal issues of hospice and palliative care, and the legal basis for lifelong medical practice is generally derived from medical, civil and criminal law regulations, and is applied to patients who are severely ill and dying in principle. In addition, those what is particularly meaningful about hospice and palliative care in terms of legal aspects are discussed the determination of the purpose of care and the provision of medical adaptability and adult guardianship, in particular the legal criteria for the work and status of patient representatives. As such, the purpose of care is to form part of the contract of care and to be agreed between the patient and the physician. In addition, the patient may not write to his/her agent in advance, and the patient may admit discretionary powers to his/her agent, but the patient's will is to be considered. In conclusion, the medical institutional ethics committee should play an active role, especially in the case of no-agents/family or no intention of the patient.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• 제19권3호
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• pp.201-210
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• 2016

섬망은 완화치료를 받는 말기암환자에서 흔히 나타나는 증상으로 임종기에 접어들수록 빈도는 증가한다. 섬망은 환자와 가족의 삶의 질에 부정적인 영향을 줄 뿐 아니라, 높은 사망률과 관련되어 있으나 실제 임상에서 의료진들이 적절히 인지하지 못하고 있다는 연구들이 보고되고 있다. 이는 우울이나 치매와 같은 정신질환과의 중복되는 특성, 섬망에 대한 평가 및 진단에 대한 지식의 부족 등이 원인으로 생각되고 있다. 이를 개선하기 위해 현재까지 알려진 섬망 선별검사를 통해 섬망환자를 정확히 인지하고, 진단하는 것이 완화의료 영역에서 섬망 증상 관리에 우선되어야 할 분야로 생각된다. 섬망이 진단되었을 때는 유발요인을 확인하고 약물이나 탈수, 감염 등의 가역적인 원인에 대해서는 이를 교정하는 것이 섬망을 조절에 가장 중요한 부분이다. 이와 함께 소음을 줄이거나, 적절한 조명을 유지하는 등의 환자의 주변 환경을 안정적으로 유지하는 등의 비약물적 치료가 병행되어야 한다. 비약물적 치료로 효과가 없거나, 증상이 심한 경우에 항정신병 약물과 벤조디아제핀과 같은 진정효과가 있는 약물을 사용할 수 있으며, 현재까지는 저용량의 할로페리돌 투여가 가장 효과적인 치료 약제로 인정되고 있다. 비정형적 항정신병 약물로는 Olanzapine, Quetiapine, Risperidone 등이 있으며 현재까지 보고된 바로는 할로페리돌과 비교하여 섬망 개선 효과는 비슷하나 추체외로 증상이 드물고 진정 효과가 있어 경구 섭취가 가능한 경우 고려해 볼 수 있는 약제로 생각된다. 현재까지 완화의료 영역에서의 섬망에 사용할 수 있는 약물에 대한 연구 결과는 근거가 충분하지 않은 상태이며, 이로 인해 임상에서 활용할 수 있는 임상진료 지침 또한 부족한 상태이다. 현재까지는 중환자실, 노인 환자에서의 연구 결과를 바탕으로 한 결과를 토대로 완화의료 영역에서의 섬망 치료에 이용하였지만 추후 말기암환자에서의 섬망에 대한 연구를 바탕으로 한 임상진료지침의 개발도 필요할 것으로 생각된다.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• 제27권1호
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• pp.1-10
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• 2024

This article underscores the importance of integrating comprehensive palliative care for noncancer patients who are undergoing hemodialysis, with an emphasis on the aging populations in Asian nations such as Taiwan, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and China. As the global demographic landscape shifts towards an aging society and healthcare continues to advance, a marked increase has been observed in patients undergoing hemodialysis who require palliative care. This necessitates an immediate paradigm shift to incorporate this care, addressing the intricate physical, psychosocial, and spiritual challenges faced by these individuals and their families. Numerous challenges impede the provision of effective palliative care, including difficulties in prognosis, delayed referrals, cultural misconceptions, lack of clinician confidence, and insufficient collaboration among healthcare professionals. The article proposes potential solutions, such as targeted training for clinicians, the use of telemedicine to facilitate shared decision-making, and the introduction of time-limited trials for dialysis to overcome these obstacles. The integration of palliative care into routine renal treatment and the promotion of transparent communication among healthcare professionals represent key strategies to enhance the quality of life and end-of-life care for people on hemodialysis. By embracing innovative strategies and fostering collaboration, healthcare providers can deliver more patient-centered, holistic care that meets the complex needs of seriously ill patients within an aging population undergoing hemodialysis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권23호
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• pp.10263-10266
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• 2015

Background: The risk of febrile neutropaenia (FN) and treatment related death (TRD) with first line palliative chemotherapy for de novo metastatic breast cancer (MBC) remains unknown outside of a clinical trial setting despite its widespread usage. This study aimed to determine rates in a large cohort of patients treated in the University of Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC). Materials and Methods: Patients who were treated with first line palliative chemotherapy for de novo MBC from 2002-2011 in UMMC were identified from the UMMC Breast Cancer Registry. Information collected included patient demographics, histopathological features, treatment received, including the different chemotherapy regimens, and presence of FN and TRD. FN was defined as an oral temperature > $38.5^{\circ}C$ or two consecutive readings of > $38.0^{\circ}C$ for 2 hours and an absolute neutrophil count < $0.5{\times}10^9/L$, or expected to fall below $0.5{\times}10^9/L$ (de Naurois et al, 2010). TRD was defined as death occurring during or within 30 days of the last chemotherapy treatment, as a consequence of the chemotherapy treatment. Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS version 18.0 software. Survival probabilities were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and differences in survival compared using log-rank test. Results: Between $1^{st}$ January 2002 and $31^{st}$ December 2011, 424 patients with MBC were treated in UMMC. A total of 186 out of 221 patients with de novo MBC who received first line palliative chemotherapy were analyzed. The mean age of patients in this study was 49.5 years (range 24 to 74 years). Biologically, ER status was negative in 54.4% of patients and Her-2 status was positive in 31.1%. A 5-flourouracil, epirubicin and cyclophosphamide (FEC) chemotherapy regimen was chosen for 86.6% of the cases. Most patients had multiple metastatic sites (58.6%). The main result of this study showed a FN rate of 5.9% and TRD rate of 3.2%. The median survival (MS) for the entire cohort was 19 months. For those with multiple metastatic sites, liver only, lung only, bone only and brain only metastatic sites, the MS was 18, 24, 19, 24 and 8 months respectively (p-value= 0.319). Conclusions: In conclusion, we surmise that FEC is a safe regimen with acceptable FN and TRD rates for de novo MBC.