Question 1

Living with the knowledge one is dying has been hypothesized to particularly affect perceptions of:&#10;A)Time&#10;B)Tactile sensitivity&#10;C)Food taste&#10;D)Patience

Accepted Answer

Knowing one is dying has been shown to alter perceptions of time. Individuals may perceive time as moving more quickly or more slowly, depending on their psychological state and level of acceptance of their mortality. Tactile sensitivity, food taste, and patience may also be affected in some cases, but the strongest research evidence supports the impact on perceptions of time.

Question 2

A strategy for increasing safety in the provision of palliative care is the establishment of:&#10;A)Decision trees&#10;B)Integrated care pathways&#10;C)Oversight committees&#10;D)Prospective payment systems

Accepted Answer

Integrated care pathways are a structured approach to patient care that outline the key steps in a patient's journey and provide guidance on the appropriate interventions at each stage. By establishing a standardized approach to care, integrated care pathways can help to minimize errors and improve safety in the provision of palliative care. While decision trees and oversight committees can also be useful strategies for promoting safety, they may not be as effective as integrated care pathways in this particular context. Prospective payment systems, on the other hand, are a method of reimbursement and do not directly impact safety in the provision of care.

Question 3

Which of the following would be an example of basic palliative care?&#10;A)A nurse on a surgical ward asks the patient if her pain is tolerable and holds her hand to provide reassurance.&#10;B)A pain control specialist comes to the patient's home to monitor administration of morphine.&#10;C)An occupational therapist visits a patient's home to determine what assistive devices might enhance independence for a period of time.&#10;D)A psychiatric social worker meets with the family to discuss goals for end of life.

Accepted Answer

Basic palliative care involves addressing symptoms such as pain, providing comfort measures, and supporting patients and families. In this example, the nurse on the surgical ward is assessing the patient's pain level and providing comfort through physical touch, which is a basic aspect of palliative care. Options B, C, and D involve more specialized or complex interventions beyond the basic level of palliative care.

Question 4

A life-threatening illness is one that:&#10;A)Has serious potential side effects or long-term consequences&#10;B)Requires life support or other intrusive medical interventions&#10;C)Carries a real risk of death and implies finite survival&#10;D)Has no well-established medical treatment that can reduce symptoms

Accepted Answer

A life-threatening illness is one that carries a real risk of death and implies finite survival. While options A and B may also apply to certain illnesses, they do not necessarily indicate that the illness is life-threatening. Option D is incorrect, as there may be medical treatments that can reduce symptoms even if no cure is available.

Question 5

For family members living with someone who is dying,the timeframe for experiencing emotional consequences is typically:&#10;A)Short-lived,ending with the death of the loved one&#10;B)Of indeterminate duration but usually relatively short&#10;C)Of indeterminate duration but often lingering for a relatively long period of time&#10;D)Almost always relatively long often lasting for years

Accepted Answer

The emotional consequences of living with someone who is dying are of indeterminate duration but often linger for a relatively long period of time. The grieving process can be extensive and vary from person to person.

Question 6

Which of the following is the most appropriate kind of care when progressive deterioration is expected but death may not be imminent?&#10;A)Hospice&#10;B)Supportive care&#10;C)Biomedical intervention&#10;D)Palliative care

Accepted Answer

Palliative care is the most appropriate type of care for patients experiencing progressive deterioration, focusing on relief from the symptoms and stress of a serious illness, regardless of the diagnosis or stage of disease. It aims to improve quality of life for both the patient and the family, not necessarily tied to the immediate end-of-life phase.

Question 7

Which of the following is NOT an element of palliative care as defined by the World Health Organization?&#10;A)Provides relief from pain and other distressing symptoms&#10;B)Neither hastens nor postpones death&#10;C)Provides psychological and spiritual aspects of care&#10;D)Relieves the patient and family of decision-making

Accepted Answer

Palliative care does not relieve the patient and family of decision-making, but rather supports them in making informed decisions about their care.

Question 8

A term that encompasses both hospice and palliative care is:&#10;A)End-of-life care&#10;B)Supportive care&#10;C)Institutional care&#10;D)Psychosocial support

Accepted Answer

"End-of-life care" is the best choice as it encompasses both hospice and palliative care. Hospice care is a type of end-of-life care that aims to provide comfort and support to patients with terminal illnesses, while palliative care focuses on improving the quality of life for patients with serious illnesses, regardless of their life expectancy. Both hospice and palliative care are considered end-of-life care because they aim to alleviate symptoms and improve the overall well-being of patients who are nearing the end of their lives.

Question 9

Southern European perceptions of a &#34;good death&#34; are more focused on:&#10;A)The individual&#10;B)The nuclear family&#10;C)The individual's relationship with God&#10;D)The community

Accepted Answer

Southern European cultures often emphasize the importance of community and social relationships, which extends to their perceptions of a "good death."

Question 10

According to K&#252;bler-Ross,most people who are dying experience:&#10;A)Ongoing depression in the face of inevitable loss&#10;B)Five stages culminating in acceptance of death&#10;C)Constant changes in mood and feelings about death&#10;D)There is no common trajectory for grief that accompanies imminent death

Accepted Answer

Kübler-Ross proposed the five stages of grief for individuals facing death or a terminal illness: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. These stages are not always experienced linearly and not everyone will experience all of them, but they are a common trajectory for those who are dying.

Deck 34: Palliative Care, hospice, and Care at the End of Life