Authors
- Kathryn Isaacs1,
- Judi Castagnini1
- Eastern Palliative Care Association1
2015
Excerpt
Background: Motor neuron disease is a progressive, life-limiting illness with no cure and limited treatment. Personal palliative care needs should be recognised, and support implemented early to anticipate and manage issues as they arise. Symptoms and issues specific to MND may be unfamiliar even to experienced palliative care professionals due to its rarity, while the broad nature of MND-specific resources makes them either too generalised to be useful or too detailed to be appropriate for use in the community setting.
The Project: This project aimed to develop a resource designed to prepare specialist palliative care nurses and allied health professionals to care for this population. It provides a deeper understanding about the issues involved in caring for MND clients, along with symptom management suggestions. Significant topics were identified from a thorough literature search and consultation with the target group of palliative care RNs. These topics include: general information about MND, secretion management, breathing issues (including Non-Invasive Ventilation), pain, muscle weakness, cognitive changes, nutrition, and elimination (bladder and bowels), psychosocial support needs, advanced care planning and resources. Information is being compiled into a booklet by Eastern Palliative Care, and a phone app is also planned. Barriers to uptake, strategies for implementation, and applicability and dissemination outside the Eastern Palliative Care team will be discussed.
The Project: This project aimed to develop a resource designed to prepare specialist palliative care nurses and allied health professionals to care for this population. It provides a deeper understanding about the issues involved in caring for MND clients, along with symptom management suggestions. Significant topics were identified from a thorough literature search and consultation with the target group of palliative care RNs. These topics include: general information about MND, secretion management, breathing issues (including Non-Invasive Ventilation), pain, muscle weakness, cognitive changes, nutrition, and elimination (bladder and bowels), psychosocial support needs, advanced care planning and resources. Information is being compiled into a booklet by Eastern Palliative Care, and a phone app is also planned. Barriers to uptake, strategies for implementation, and applicability and dissemination outside the Eastern Palliative Care team will be discussed.