- Bringing humanity to data: The scientist, the parent and the doctor. [Editorial]Palliat Med. 2026 Oct 27; :2692163261501430. [Online ahead of print]PM
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- Strategies for promoting interorganisational linkages between palliative care services and teams and aged care providers: A systematic literature review. [Review]Palliat Med. 2026 Oct 26; :2692163261485105. [Online ahead of print]PM
- CONCLUSIONS: Three key elements of interorganisational linkage strategies were identified. Strategic implementation of interorganisational linkage strategies can enhance cross-sector collaboration, support care integration, and improve outcomes for consumers, aged care providers, and the health system generally.
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- Nutritional management for patients with advanced head and neck cancer from the perspectives of healthcare professionals: A descriptive qualitative study. [Journal Article]Palliat Med. 2026 Oct 23; :2692163261496702. [Online ahead of print]PM
- CONCLUSIONS: The management of nutrition for patients with advanced head and neck cancer is complex. Healthcare professionals are required to consider multiple factors when providing nutritional support to patients. This includes making complex decisions around what enteral feeding tubes should be used and when, navigating the dynamics between patients and family, managing changing nutritional goals with disease progression and creating a nutritional plan reflecting individual needs and preferences. Further research is needed to strengthen shared decision-making frameworks, refine the understanding of the 'window of opportunity' and develop a core outcome.
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- Does the way palliative care clinicians talk about delirium influence clinical care in the last days of life? A secondary analysis of qualitative interview data. [Journal Article]Palliat Med. 2026 Oct 22; :2692163261491837. [Online ahead of print]PM
- CONCLUSIONS: We found novel evidence that terminology used appeared to affect delirium management. Establishing a shared consistent and clear terminology could enhance patient and family care and staff confidence. Further research is needed to develop evidence-based guidelines for identifying and managing delirium in the last days of life.
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- Comfort and symptoms at the end of life with dementia in the Namaste Care Family cluster-randomised trial. [Journal Article]Palliat Med. 2026 Oct 15; :2692163261486997. [Online ahead of print]PM
- CONCLUSIONS: Comfort and distressing symptoms were both present at the end-of-life phase with dementia. The Namaste Care Family programme did not influence this.
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- The use of virtual reality in hospices: A survey of clinical practice and staff perspectives. [Journal Article]Palliat Med. 2026 Oct 15; :2692163261491882. [Online ahead of print]PM
- CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide a national baseline for virtual reality use in UK hospices. Findings highlight that although some hospices are using virtual reality and that staff are generally positive about the technology, there are concerns about its expense and its use over the long-term.
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- Beyond standard care: Fathers' perspectives on healthcare and related support services when caring for a child with a progressive life-limiting condition-A qualitative study. [Journal Article]Palliat Med. 2026 Sep 29; :2692163261486220. [Online ahead of print]PM
- CONCLUSIONS: Fathers caring for a child with a progressive life-limiting condition experience fragmented healthcare and welfare services, which place substantial advocacy and coordination burdens on families. More flexible, coordinated and father-inclusive paediatric palliative care pathways are needed to recognise parental expertise and support both parents as equal caregivers.
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- Dexpanthenol mouth gel for the management of dry mouth in hospice patients: A pilot study. [Journal Article]Palliat Med. 2026 Sep 28; :2692163261483964. [Online ahead of print]PM
- CONCLUSIONS: This feasibility study shows that a three-day protocol with daily application is feasible and acceptable for patients and healthcare providers in hospice settings. The Dexpanthenol mouth gel was well accepted and associated with reductions in several oral symptoms.
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- Deprescribing tools in adults towards the end of life: A systematic review. [Review]Palliat Med. 2026 Sep 26; :2692163261483456. [Online ahead of print]PM
- CONCLUSIONS: A range of deprescribing tools exist for patients towards the end of life. Deprescribing tools may reduce medication burden and improve outcomes, including mortality, acute care referral and medication costs. High risk of bias associated with these results limits strong conclusions regarding the validity and clinical impact of deprescribing tools used towards the end of life.
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- Facilitators and barriers for interdisciplinary collaboration in pediatric palliative care: A cross-sectional survey. [Journal Article]Palliat Med. 2026 Sep 24; :2692163261482013. [Online ahead of print]PM
- CONCLUSIONS: Improving interdisciplinary collaboration in pediatric palliative care requires strategies that strengthen organizational and managerial structures, while actively engaging both experienced and less experienced professionals across different care settings. Enhancing awareness of each other's roles, needs, and capacities is essential to foster more effective interdisciplinary collaboration.
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- Existential homecoming when facing death: A meta-ethnography of the end-of-life experiences of patients with a life-threatening illness. [Review]Palliat Med. 2026 Sep 23; :2692163261481988. [Online ahead of print]PM
- CONCLUSIONS: Supporting meaning, connection, and belonging can foster a sense of "homecoming" for dying patients. Understanding existential homecoming may strengthen end-of-life care and should be emphasised in education and clinical practice.
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- Terminal discharge of the imminently dying from hospital to home: A realist evaluation. [Journal Article]Palliat Med. 2026 Sep 19; :2692163261485101. [Online ahead of print]PM
- CONCLUSIONS: A protocolised pathway that spans hospital and hospice can better prepare families to support good deaths at home while improving provider experience.
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- Interventions to increase involvement of primary care clinicians in providing palliative care: A scoping review. [Review]Palliat Med. 2026 Sep 16; :2692163261478445. [Online ahead of print]PM
- CONCLUSIONS: Supporting primary care clinicians to provide palliative care is achieved through coordinated efforts to mobilize resources within the primary care setting and intentional collaboration with external specialist teams.
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- Exploring communication between people with intellectual disabilities and hospice staff: A conversation analysis pilot study. [Journal Article]Palliat Med. 2026 Sep 15; :2692163261482008. [Online ahead of print]PM
- CONCLUSIONS: The Conversation Analysis pilot study was deemed feasible and acceptable. Analyses of pain assessments provided in-depth detail of the communication challenges and strategies employed to navigate them. This type of study and evidence can inform future communication and assessment guidelines.
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- Psychological distress, caregiver support gaps and associated factors among family caregivers of adults with advanced cancer: A cross-sectional study in a conflict-affected, resource-constrained setting. [Journal Article]Palliat Med. 2026 Sep 11; :2692163261485102. [Online ahead of print]PM
- CONCLUSIONS: Caregivers experience substantial psychological distress and unmet supportive care needs. Routine caregiver assessment, structured information provision, navigation, and psychosocial support should be integrated into cancer and palliative care services in resource-constrained, conflict-affected settings.
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