Table 2

Summary of topics covered

TOPICDISCUSSION POINTS
Pain

  • Pain management

  • Adjunct therapies

  • Pain scales

  • Use of steroids

Other symptoms

  • Nausea and vomiting

  • Constipation, bowel troubles

  • Depression

Emergent issues

  • Increased calcium and sodium levels

  • Cancer clinic treatment

  • Respiratory depression

  • Respiratory distress

Management issues

  • Pharmacology of palliative care

  • Alternative therapies

  • Increased personal comfort level with managing care

  • Checklists or approaches to management

  • Home setting resources

Prognostication

  • End-stage symptoms

  • Medications

Communication

  • Delivering bad news

  • Difficult emotions, situations, and families (in anger or denial)

  • Communication regarding spiritual aspects of the end of life

  • Balance between needs of patients and families

Team

  • Interaction with other health professionals

  • Role of team members and how to access

  • When to refer