title: Understanding the palliative care needs of heart failure patients.
abstract: It is increasingly recognised that end-of-life care is suboptimal, especially for those with advanced non-malignant diseases. This study shows that individuals living with heart failure have a number of palliative care needs, including education, communication, symptom management and psychosocial needs. Clinicians struggled to discuss palliation with heart failure patients due to the unclear disease trajectory and cardiac-specific barriers to identifying palliation needs. Carers reported a need for greater social support and better guidance on best practice care. Furthermore, patients struggled to cope physically and psychologically with their reduced physical capabilities and were fearful of being a burden to their carers. Both patients and clinicians recognised a discontinuity between secondary and primary care, which has particular resonance in the context of the intention to relocate care nearer home.
authors.affiliation: Newly qualified staff nurse at Barts Health NHS Trust.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ivany
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: While
mesh_terms: D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000451:nursing / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D024802:Nurse's Role; D010166:Palliative Care; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012944:Social Support