Library Newsletter Summer 2011

Thérèse Brady Library News ig Vol 2 Is2 –Summer 2011 .................................................1 Library news & updates Short Title of Article Three.......2 Short

itle of Article Four

3

T hanks for your feedback

In this issue; •

Library news

•

Conference dates

•

Resource updates

A very big thank you to everyone who filled in the library user survey with your feedback.

•

Article overview

There was some really positive input, some constructive suggestions and some respondents

•

Book Review

were even able to find out about some of the library’s services they hadnt used before. Overall

New titles list Click to view new titles (select ‘whats new’ to view recently added items)

current awareness alerts and response rates to enquiries came out on top of the polls with 82% and 75.5.% of respondents respectively indicating these as ‘excellent’. Suggestions for improvements to space and facilities have all been taken on board and are being incorporated into plans for future development of library and information services.

Summer Staff Training Sessions Attention staff! If you would like to brush up on database searching, learn how to set up article alerts, evaluate internet sources or learn more about social media get voting for summer staff training session from the library then keep an eye on your inbox for updates on sessions.

CLICK TO VOTE ON TRAINING OPTIONS

Up coming conferences and dates July 12th – End­of­Life care; Improving the quality & delivery of care – National End­of­ Life care – London July 23rd – Death, Dying and Exceptional Experiences

– London NW2 ­Una Mac Conville presents research on deathbed phenomena September 27th – Palliative care & Dementia; a platform for seeking consensus – Radisson Hotel Limerick 1

Thérèse Brady Library News –Vol. 2 Is. 2 Summer 2011

Resource Updates

Resource news, trials and updates

EBSCO iphone & ipod touch applications EBSCO, suppliers of databases CINAHL and Psychology & Behavioral Science Collection have introduced a free iphone and ipod touch application, so now you can search these databases on the move. To activate the app, just click on the link on link to the iphone app on the bottom of the CINAHL/PBSC home search page and follow the instructions. Once installed and activated the iphone/ipod touch version offers the same range of search in a mobile version, full text articles include the PDF as an attachment which can be opened directly on your phone and you can still access your personal folders to retrieve searches or alerts.

If anyone would like help installing the app contact laura.rooneyferris@hospice­foundation.ie Do you have your library PIN number yet?

PIN access to your library account was recently activated on the library catalogue. This enables you to login to your own library account details and place reservations on items independently using your reader number and library PIN. Students on the Msc in Bereavement studies will have received their reader and PIN numbers, as have some staff. If you have not received your PIN number and would like to be able to access your account details, contact Laura in the library.

New Resource Spotlight Supportive & Palliative Care is the latest addition to the BMJ range of specialist publications and the first devoted specifically to palliative and end­of­life care. The journal which is published in print and online takes a multidisciplinary approach to End­of­life care. Articles address the wide range of issues faced by palliative care professionals from symptom management to psychosocial support and ethical dilemmas.

The Therese Brady Library has an online subscription to Supportive & Palliative Care which can be accessed by staff and students, contact the library for more details.

Update to Bereavement Resources Booklet The bereavement bibliotherapy booklet produced last year has now been updated and expanded. The update features reading lists and resources for bereaved members of the public but has been extended to include a professional resources section and additional details about the Therese Brady Library. Reading and useful links are listed for professionals working in bereavement support, palliative & end­of­life care. Another new feature of the updated booklet is the edition of QR codes. These codes, when scanned with a Smartphone will direct readers to additional support links and online resources on the relevant sections of the library blog. You can access the new booklet HERE

If you want to find out more about QR codes, try scanning this code with a Smartphone.

You can download the new booklet HERE

2

Bereavement

Article overviews ‘tudy The April edition of The Lancet featured a special

supplement on stillbirth. The special issue indicates that while 98% of global stillbirths occur in the developing world rates in wealthy western countries are still high with about 1 in every 300 babies stillborn.

The supplement, while highlighting global health impact of stillbirth and the need for research and intervention also highlights the need to provide adequate bereavement support for parents. In her feature ‘Stillbirths, breaking the silence of hidden grief’ Janet Scott of SANDS (Stillbirth And Neonatal Death Society) presents the hidden personal grief behind the statistics on stillbirth. Scott notes that the grief of loss following stillbirth can have a ripple effect through families. Failure to address this grief or perpetuating the codes of silence around stillbirth leaves bereaved parents isolated in their loss.

Scott concludes bereaved can take on a role for each other, develop networks, share personal experiences and advocate for change.

Thérèse Brady Library News ­ Vol. 2 Is. 2 Summer 2011

examining the

Article abstracts, comments and support material for this special edition are available HERE

End­of­life Care Research pre published in the Journal of Clinical Nursing on April 21st presents findings from a Hospice Friendly Hospitals funded study which recorded views of care managers and other stakeholders on end­of­life care in acute and long term care facilities in Ireland.

The article ‘Dying well: factors that influence the provision of good end­of­life care for older people in acute and long­stay care settings in Ireland’ ** reports that achieving a good death in an acute care setting in Ireland hinges on a combination of key factors. Physical environment Reviews and resources, knowing the patient and finally the philosophy and culture of care of the facility itself An overview of have a profound influence on the quality of End­ selected articles of­life care. Lack of adequate training in the range and publications in of skills required for End­of­Life care, bereavement professional self preservation and unwillingness to palliative care, engage emotionally with terminal patients were all hospice and end of identified as areas for improvement in order to foster a consistent experience of ‘dying well’ in an life care research acute or long stay setting. ­All featured articles are

For regular updates on research & resources of interest subscribe to the library blog

The issue of awareness of dying, or death denial and its available on impact on the experience of death is also examined in a study published in Supportive Care request from the in Cancer on June 19th. The article ‘Awareness of Therese Brady dying; it needs words’ reports on a survey of 245 bereaved relatives of patients dying in three care Library settings in southern Netherlands. The research sought to determine whether awareness of impending death or being advised by staff that death was approaching was evidenced in patient symptoms and behavior. Reports from the questionnaires and medical records illustrate that while no significant difference in symptoms was shown in the 51­62% of patients who were aware death was imminent, records for these patients report less feelings of tension or distress. Notable also is the indication of a higher level of awareness of dying among the patients who were discharged to home care indicating the benefit of honest communication with terminal patients where possible. n

acute and long-stay care settings in I reland Dying well: factors that influence the provision of good end-of- 3

Book Review

Thérèse Brady Library News ­Vol. 2 Is. 2 Summer 2011

The Spirit Level; why equality is better for everyone

By Richard Wilkinson & Kate Pickett

Approaches to death and dying ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­

National

The summer 2011 edition of The Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics (Vol 39 Is. 2)

focuses on the political, social and economic debates currently developing around the cost of death and dying.

The healthcare impact of aging societies and the ethical implications of life sustaining treatments are examined in relation to the development of long term healthcare

In the climate of blame following the collapse of Ireland’s economy and the subsequent scramble to re­structure public services, availability and affordability of public health care, though never far from the headlines have jumped to the top of the political agenda. Though not a new publication

policy.

(published in 2009) Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett’s rigorous

Though highly US focused in its outlook the issues

investigation into the wide ranging effects of societal inequality, from

addressed are ones faced by all healthcare policy

employment and healthcare to social justice and mental health makes for

makers in an aging society; balancing rising costs of

especially relevant reading in the current political climate. Published last

end­of­life care, managing the care of the dying and

month TASC’s report ‘Eliminating health inequalities, a matter of life and

meeting the final wishes of patients and families.

death’ indicates the urgency with which inequality in Irish society in relation

Donley and Danis’ article ‘Making the Case for Talking

to healthcare provision must be addressed. Wilkinson and Pickett (both epidemiologists) present data on economic inequality alongside medical data

to Patients about the Costs of End­of­Life Care’

for the twenty richest countries and for the 50 US states. The info graphs

introduces the important role end­of­life care

marrying this data together provide clear illustration that rising tides do not

discussions can have in ensuring dying patients

lift all boats. What is most striking in their evidence is not that low income

wishes are met, advising that advance care

levels correlate to lower life expectancy, higher risk of imprisonment and low

planning discussions be undertaken at an earlier

education levels; truths fairly universally acknowledged. Their revelation is

stage in chronic illness to allow families to plan for

the impact of inequality across the societal spectrum with gaps between social

long term care.

strata fuelling increased levels of stress, depression and health problems like heart disease, hypertension and even reduced immunity to infection and

accelerated aging.

Though the presentation is scientific and with little speculation, it indicates that only through concentrated effort to promote equality in the delivery of public services can genuine social mobility be fostered.

Compiled by; Laura Rooney Ferris Information & Library Manager

­More details on the Spirit Level evidence and the non­profit trust set up to

Thérèse Brady Library

act on its findings are available on the equality trusts website.

Irish Hospice Foundation

The Spirit Level is available in the library (305 WIL)

Follow us on;

4

[Your Company Name Here]

Page 1