If you’ve had a chance to look at the refreshed website you might have noticed a ‘fat footer’ at the bottom of every page. This enables you to go directly to information about the CareSearch project and to project materials such as videos, publications and My Learning modules. It also has links to our partner projects under Related Sites.

So, the menu at the top helps you find your way to all the evidence and content about palliative care and the fat footer at the bottom helps you find your way to information about CareSearch.

You may also have noticed we’ve been adding videos to a number of our pages. Some of these new videos include:

• Meg Brassil, Consumer Representative talking about having the right information as a carer
• Kate Swetenham, Southern Adelaide Palliative Services Director, sharing how she uses CareSearch resources on the go
• Dianna Ferreira, a medical doctor and a PhD student, talking about why palliative care evidence makes a difference
• Deidre Morgan discussing the role of allied health in palliative care.

My Learning Module 9

My Learning 9: New to Palliative Care? is a free online learning module that introduces the reader to a case story in which a new nurse, Daniel starts work at a hospice. The manager uses CareSearch to help introduce Daniel to the concepts and practices that will support him as he learns about palliative care. The module will be useful as an aid to orientation to a palliative care workplace or for someone who wants to learn more about palliative care in general or about CareSearch.

Dying2Learn Returns

We’re getting ready to run the Dying2Learn MOOC again. Over 1,000 people explored what shapes our views about death and dying in the 21st century through a series of modules looking at the language we use when we talk about dying; what people die from and our medical world; how art, music, and media present death and dying; and how the digital world is influencing views on death, dying and bereavement. You can register your interest in the course now. We will then email you enrolment details.

Enrolments open on 27 March. The course will be delivered over five weeks. Module 1 will become available on Monday 3 April 2017. You will need to commit a couple of hours each week to get the most out of the course. But you can explore as much or as little as you want from an array of learning materials. There are activities and reflections that will give you a chance to think about and share your views. You can find out more about the modules on the Dying2Learn pages.
 

PCACE Project

We’re very indebted to the many people from aged care, palliative care and primary care that have been helping us with this project. The National Advisory Group includes representatives from many of the groups that provide palliative and end-of-life care to older Australians while the Evidence Advisory Group oversees the quality of the evidence processes. Many people working in the sector have also provided feedback and suggested resources for use in the project. We have held the first 2 of 5 review workshops that bring together people with expert knowledge and people working in the field to review content that will be uploaded into pages. We are finalising a release date in May 2017.

You can also stay in touch by visiting the PCACE Project pages or by registering for the PCACE Project News. You can also register to receive a launch pack that will be posted to you on the day the new site is launched.
 

Newsletters

• The February edition of the Nurses[Hub]news is now available
• The February edition of the PCACE Project News is now available

CareSearch Review Collection

23 reviews were added to the CareSearch Review Collection in February. They included:

• Reljic T, Kumar A, Klocksieben FA, Djulbegovic B. Treatment targeted at underlying disease versus palliative care in terminally ill patients: a systematic review. BMJ Open. 2017 Jan 6;7(1):e014661.
  This review looked at the efficacy of active treatment targeted at underlying disease/potentially curative treatments versus palliative care in improving overall survival in terminally ill patients. Ten RCTs (15 comparisons, 1549 patients) met inclusion criteria. The findings showed that active/potentially curative treatment did not enhance overall survival compared to palliative care and was associated with increased toxicity. The authors concluded that the findings provide assurance to physicians, patients, and family that patients with estimated survival of <6 months would be better off by referral to hospice.
   
• Martín JM, Olano-Lizarraga M, Saracíbar-Razquin M. The experience of family caregivers caring for a terminal patient at home: A research review. Int J Nurs Stud. 2016 Dec;64:1-12. Epub 2016 Sep 14.
  The purpose of this review was to examine the experience of family caregivers who are caring for a terminal patient in their home. Twelve studies were identified. The studies highlighted that caring for a family member with advanced illness in the home has a great impact on the personal realm of the caregiver and in the relationship he or she maintains with the ill family member. The authors noted that being involved in the process of dying requires sustained and substantial physical and psychological effort and can result in limitations to the normal development of their own life.
   
• Fuccio L, Mandolesi D, Farioli A, Hassan C, Frazzoni L, Guido A, et al. Brachytherapy for the palliation of dysphagia owing to esophageal cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies. Radiother Oncol. 2017 Jan 16. pii: S0167-8140(17)30003-8.
  This review examined off the efficacy and safety of brachytherapy for malignant dysphagia. The dysphagia-free survival (DFS) and adverse event rates were pooled by means of a random effect model. Overall, based on the 6 studies included and the 9 treatment arms, the pooled DFS rate of brachytherapy in the 623 patients with dysphagia due to esophageal cancer progressively reduced over time. Meta-regression analysis showed total radiation dose and number of fractions as the only positively influencing factors.
   
• Diop MS, Rudolph JL, Zimmerman KM, Richter MA, Skarf LM. Palliative Care Interventions for Patients with Heart Failure: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Palliat Med. 2017 Jan;20(1):84-92. Epub 2016 Dec 2.
  This review aimed to systematically characterize interventions and effectiveness of palliative care for advanced heart failure patients. Fifteen studies were included. A meta-analysis in three studies found that home-based palliative care consults in HF patients lower the risk of rehospitalisation by 42% (RR = 0.58; 95% Confidence Interval 0.44, 0.77). The authors concluded that home and team-based palliative interventions for HF patients improve patient-centred outcomes, documentation of preferences, and utilization.
   
• Hiscock A, Kuhn I, Barclay S. Advance care discussions with young people affected by life-limiting neuromuscular diseases: A systematic literature review and narrative synthesis. Neuromuscul Disord. 2017 Feb;27(2):115-119. Epub 2016 Nov 21.
  Although the progression of life-limiting neuromuscular diseases is known, the majority of patients affected by such conditions die without a formal end of life plan in place. This review looked at whether end of life conversations are being held. The review found a very limited body of literature regarding end of life care conversations between young people affected by neuromuscular diseases and health professionals. The authors concluded that there is a need to develop an approach to end of life care in this area.
   
• Bai Y, Hu Y, Zhao Y, Yu X, Xu J, Hua Z, et al. Anamorelin for cancer anorexia-cachexia syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Support Care Cancer. 2017 Jan 10.
  This review aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of Anamorelin on patients with cancer anorexia-cachexia syndrome (CACS) based on a meta-analysis of published randomized trials. Four studies were included. In the included studies, Anamorelin had some positive effects to relieve the symptoms and improved the quality of life, however, heterogeneity highlights the need for further research studies.

• Over 3,000 people have registered for the learning modules. It’s not too late to join them and help improve end-of-life care in the hospital system. Go to the End-of-Life Essentials website to register for the modules.
   

The Eastern Palliative Care Service has developed a number of courses for health professionals for 2017. Find out more from their website.