BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to compare the quality of life (QoL) and family burden in relatives of patients with heroin dependence with that of healthy controls. SUBJECTS AND METHODS A total of 50 heroin dependent patients and 50 of their relatives and 50 healthy subjects and 50 of their relatives were included in the study. The Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statis...

Clinicians are increasingly asking questions about family history to inform decision making, but the quality of decisions rests on the quality of information provided by the patient. In families with genetically transmitted diseases, research has found a strong collective understanding of inheritance and risk, developed through constant communication between family members. Here, we explore whe...

BACKGROUND The guideline-recommended elements to include in discussions about goals of care with patients with serious illness are mostly based on expert opinion. We sought to identify which elements are most important to patients and their families. METHODS We used a cross-sectional study design involving patients from 9 Canadian hospitals. We asked older adult patients with serious illness ...

Self-management support forms a central aspect of chronic Illness management nationally and globally. Evidence for the success of self-management support has mainly focussed on individually-centred outcomes of behavioural change. While it is recognised that social network members play an important role there is currently a gap in knowledge regarding who provides what type of support and under w...

Forgiveness is considered necessary for psychological well-being after surviving violence, but it not clear how the hurt person should proceed. This essay gives a firsthand account of trauma author experienced and she healed herself by discovering an indirect route to forgiveness.

Families of patients receiving palliative care are profoundly affected by the challenges of the illness. They observe care that the patient receives, provide care for the patient, and receive support from health professionals in the form of information, counselling, or practical assistance. As they witness and participate in the patient's care, they judge the quality of care that the patient re...