To evaluate sleep disturbances and to verify the accuracy of three screening tests to detect them in patients at the end-of-life admitted in a hospital palliative care unit.

The level of sleep disturbances was evaluated through the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) in 150 palliative patients. This questionnaire was the criterion variable for testing the three screening tests used: Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS-Sleep subscale); the single question “How much do you worry about your sleep problems?” which is answered on a scale of 0–10 (Sleep-Worry-Q) and another single question: “Do you think you have sleep problems?” with two response categories, Yes/No (Sleep-Problem-Q).

According to the PSQI (cut-off point: 8), 87% of patients presented sleep disturbances. The ESAS-Sleep (cut-off point: 3) showed a sensitivity of 0.87, a specificity of 0.58, and an AUC of 0.729; the Sleep-Worry-Q (cut-off point: 4) showed a sensitivity of 0.95, a specificity of 0.68, and an AUC of 0.854; the Sleep-Problem-Q obtained a sensitivity of 0.92 and a specificity of 0.65.

Patients at the end-of-life, near the time of death, have high levels of sleep disturbances that can be detected early, with better diagnostic accuracy, with the Sleep-Worry-Q. Although from a clinical point of view, the application of the Sleep-Problem-Q may be more advantageous, as it presents good diagnostic accuracy, greater simplicity, and brevity.

The importance of palliative care education for nurses has been recognized worldwide. The study aims to explore the experiences of nurses working with children with palliative care needs and to identify any related educational needs.

The electronic databases of CINAHL, Cochrane, PubMed, OVID, Social Care Online, Web of Science, Scopus, and ProQuest were searched for the period 2000–2015.

Finding revealed that working with children with palliative care needs is an emotionally struggling job for nurses, especially when they try to manage the transition of pediatric patients from curative to palliative care. Staffing level and time constraints comprise a major obstacle in pediatric palliative care. Focusing on invasive treatment and technology in spite of the feelings that it will not improve patients' health status intensifies the feeling of guilt and helplessness for nurses. Finally, nurses asserted the importance of receiving pediatric palliative care education, especially how to communicate with children with palliative care needs and their families.

Further research is recommended with regard to nurses' experience in communication with children with palliative care needs. Nursing education in pediatric palliative care is significantly important, especially how to communicate with children with palliative care needs and their families.

Since February 2016, French Claeys-Leonetti law has recognized patients' right to confront incurable diseases with short-term prognosis and refractory physical or psychological or existential symptoms by requesting continuous deep sedation until death (CDSUD). Determining when psychological or existential distress is refractory and unbearable remains complex and controversial.

This review provides a comprehensive thought on CDSUD for advanced incurable patients with refractory psychological and/or existential distress in palliative care settings. It offers guidance on psychiatric or psychological diagnosis for explaining patients' requests for CDSUD.

A narrative literature review (2000–2019) was conducted on the MedLine search about the use of palliative sedation in cases of refractory psychological and/or existential distress.

(1) Definitions of “refractory symptom,” “refractory psychological distress,” and “refractory existential distress” are inconsistent; (2) alternative diagnoses might obscure or be obscured by psycho-existential distress; and (3) criteria on meanings, reasons for requests, decision-making processes, and functions are evolving in practice.

Before implementing CDSUD, palliative healthcare professionals should seek input from psycho-oncologists in palliative care. Mental health professionals should analyze and assess the reasons for psychological and/or existential distress, consider the intentionality processes of requests, and explore alternative diagnoses, such as depressive or adjustment disorders, demoralization syndrome, desire to hasten death, and desire for euthanasia. Therapeutic responses (e.g., pharmacological and psychotherapeutic) should be implemented before deciding that psycho-existential distress is refractory.

Dementia is a progressive illness with a complex biopsychosocial constellation of symptoms faced by millions of individuals and families worldwide. Palliative care teams have specialized in symptom management and end-of-life care for decades; however, the role of palliative care in dementia management is not yet well elucidated. The aim of this systematic review was to understand the impact of palliative care in dementia management.

This systematic review was conducted using a prospective study protocol. Medline and PubMed were searched from January 1, 1998 to October 2017. Eligible studies included single-blind cluster, two-arm parallel cluster, or unblinded randomized controlled trials (RCTs), observational studies, retrospective cohort studies, cross-sectional studies, concurrent mixed methods study, qualitative study, and Delphi studies.

Four key themes were identified in this review: goals of care and end-of-life conversations, symptom management, emergency room visits, and prescribing behavior. In each domain, palliative care consultation either showed benefit or was postulated to have benefit if implemented.

Although the literature to support or refute thematic conclusions is not large, there was a trend toward patient care benefit across several domains. Large RCTs with longer follow-up across different settings should be undertaken to solidify the themes and trends outlined in this review. Understanding the views of healthcare providers including referral sources (i.e., general practitioners and specialists) through qualitative research could optimize palliative care referrals, implement palliative care recommendations, and improve a targeted palliative care education curriculum.