INTRODUCTION: Palliative sedation (PS) is the subject of ethical and legal debates worldwide. Statistics of its utilization are available in developed countries; however, in Latin America, these data are scarcely known. The purpose of this research was to determine the practices and attitudes of palliativists in Latin America towards PS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data was collected during the Latin American Congress on Palliative Care in Isla Margarita, Venezuela. A total of 89 professionals participated in this survey. RESULTS: It was found that the use of PS was positively associated with being a physician and being members of a palliative care (PC) group. On the other hand, it was found that being a psychologist and identifying barriers toward PS limited its utilization. DISCUSSION: The findings of this study support the need to establish clinical guidelines for its utilization and to educate other specialists on end-of-life care approaches, and the need to develop PC programs in acute care hospitals in Latin America.
INTRODUCTION: Palliative sedation (PS) is the subject of ethical and legal debates worldwide. Statistics of its utilization are available in developed countries; however, in Latin America, these data are scarcely known. The purpose of this research was to determine the practices and attitudes of palliativists in Latin America towards PS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data was collected during the Latin American Congress on Palliative Care in Isla Margarita, Venezuela. A total of 89 professionals participated in this survey. RESULTS: It was found that the use of PS was positively associated with being a physician and being members of a palliative care (PC) group. On the other hand, it was found that being a psychologist and identifying barriers toward PS limited its utilization. DISCUSSION: The findings of this study support the need to establish clinical guidelines for its utilization and to educate other specialists on end-of-life care approaches, and the need to develop PC programs in acute care hospitals in Latin America.
Authors: Agnes van der Heide; Luc Deliens; Karin Faisst; Tore Nilstun; Michael Norup; Eugenio Paci; Gerrit van der Wal; Paul J van der Maas Journal: Lancet Date: 2003-08-02 Impact factor: 79.321
Authors: Ian Koper; Agnes van der Heide; Rien Janssens; Siebe Swart; Roberto Perez; Judith Rietjens Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2013-09-14 Impact factor: 3.603