Palliative Care Clinical Studies Collaborative (PaCCSC)

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https://hdl.handle.net/2328/26917

The Palliative Care Clinical Studies Collaborative was established to build the evidence base for palliative medications that can improve practice, and to expend clinical trials research capacity in the area of palliative care.

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Browsing Palliative Care Clinical Studies Collaborative (PaCCSC) by Author "Fazekas, Belinda Susan"

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    Creating a research culture in a palliative care service environment: A qualitative study of the evolution of staff attitudes to research during a large longitudinal controlled trial (ISRCTN81117481)
    (Centre de Recherche Institut Universitaire de Gériatrie de Montreal, 2008) Fazekas, Belinda Susan; Currow, David Christopher; Grbich, Carol Frances; Abernethy, Amy Pickar; Shelby-James, Tania Maree
    This study investigated the impact of a three-year randomized control trial of different models of service provision on palliative care staff associated with the hospice where the trial was being conducted. Eleven open access de-identified qualitative focus groups were held over a period of three years: three months into the trial, one year after its inception, and at the end of the trial. Four staff groups were involved: inpatient hospice nurses, palliative care outreach nurses, medical palliative specialists, and administrative staff and social workers. Initially the impact of the trial produced high levels of staff stress which largely diminished over time, to be replaced by enthusiasm for the changes achieved and sadness that post trial the perceived benefits gained would be lost. When attempting to change a clinical culture to incorporate research, and in particular where increased staff workload is involved, highly interactive levels of communication and valuing of staff input are required to minimize the stress and burden of this imposition.
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    Palliative care clinical trials: how nurses are contributing to ethical, integrated and evidence based care of palliative care patients participating in clinical trials
    (Max Allen Healthcare, 2011) Hosie, Annmarie; Fazekas, Belinda Susan; Shelby-James, Tania Maree; Mills, Elaine; Byfieldt, Naomi; Margitanovic, Vera; Hunt, Jane; Phillips, Jane
    The aim of this paper is to describe the emerging role of the palliative care clinical trials nurse in an era of evidence based practice and increasing clinical trial activity in palliative care settings across Australia. An overview of the current clinical trials work is provided with a focus on three aspects of clinical trials nursing practice which have significant implications for patients: (1) the consent process; (2) integration of clinical trials into multidisciplinary care, and (3) promotion of evidence based practice in palliative care settings. Clinical trials roles provide palliative care nurses with an opportunity to contribute to clinical research, help expand palliative care’s evidence base as well as develop their own research capabilities.
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    Pharmacovigilance in hospice/palliative care: rapid report of net clinical effect of metoclopramide
    ((C) Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., 2012-07-20) Currow, David Christopher; Vella-Brincat, Jane; Fazekas, Belinda Susan; Clark, Katherine; Doogue, Matthew; Rowett, Debra Sharon
    Background: Understanding the performance of prescribed medications in day-to-day practice is important to minimize harm, maximize clinical benefits, and, eventually, better target the people who are most likely to benefit, especially in hospice/palliative care where there may be limited time to optimize prescribing. Metoclopramide, a benzamide prokinetic antiemetic, is widely used for a number of indications including nausea, vomiting, hiccups, and reflux. It has recently had a new ‘‘black box’’ warning issued by the Food and Drug Administration in relation to tardive dyskinesia to limit use to 12 weeks. Methods: A consecutive cohort of patients from 12 participating centers in two countries who were having metoclopramide initiated had data collected at three time points—baseline, 2 days (clinical benefit), and day 7 (clinical harm). Additionally, harms could be recorded at any time. Results: Of the 53 people included in the cohort, 23 (43%) reported benefit at 48 hours, but only 18 (34%) of these people were still using it one week after commencing it. For the other 5, the medication was ceased due to harms. The most frequent harms were akathisia (n = 4), headache (n = 4), and abdominal pain (n = 4). Nine people (17%) had no clinical benefit and experienced harms. Conclusion: Overall, one in three people gained net clinical benefit at one week. Limiting effects include sideeffects that need to be sought actively in clinical care.