The use of syringe drivers in the community: considerations for palliative care providers

Abstract

'Caring for him at home was such a sad, challenging but rewarding and special time ... we wouldn't have wanted him to die anywhere else ... things improved after the syringe driver was started as he seemed more at ease and was not suffering anymore ... the twinkle returned to his eyes for a while ... it made such a positive difference and allowed us to carry on at home until the end.' These words from the family of a dying patient recently cared for by the author remind us of how special the care given at the end of life is.

Bags, batteries and boxes: A qualitative interview study to understand how syringe drivers are adapted and used by healthcare staff

“…For palliative care, there have been no accounts of this type of behaviour. This study complements existing understanding regarding the safe and efficient use of syringe drivers (Costello et al, 2008;Cruickshank et al, 2010;McCormack et al, 2001;West, 2014); it can also inform the approach to the future introduction of technology. For example, investigation focused on a specific type of technology can be used to build theories outlining the relationship between user-device interactions and system wide consequences (for example technology acceptance) as in (Sharples et al, 2012).…”

District nursing and family/whanau assessment practices: A New Zealand study

“…When considering future practice of the DN, it is likely that additional DN responsibilities will be added, or existing scopes expanded rather than reduced, alongside the ageing population and push towards community care. West ( 2014 ) discusses the palliative care roles that DNs hold in New Zealand and suggests there will be a growing demand for care of people dying in their homes, as part of a world‐wide trend, alongside increasing care of patients with dementia (Coldrick & Crimmons, 2019 ). Stajduhar (et al, 2010 as cited in West, 2014 ) suggest that DNs have a delicate balance of the provision of care to ensure the health needs of the patient and family are met.…”

“…West (2014) discusses the palliative care roles that DNs hold in New Zealand and suggests there will be a growing demand for care of people dying in their homes, as part of a world‐wide trend, alongside increasing care of patients with dementia (Coldrick & Crimmons, 2019). Stajduhar (et al, 2010 as cited in West, 2014) suggest that DNs have a delicate balance of the provision of care to ensure the health needs of the patient and family are met. As Leahey and Wright (2016) have identified, illness is a “family affair” and the use of the 15‐Minute Interview assists the DN to apply theory to practice.…”