Lieve Van Den Block
Biographic Data
| ID | 259878 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Lieve Van Den Block |
| GIVEN NAMES | Lieve Van Den |
| FAMILY NAME | Block |
| SIGNATURE | VAN DEN BLOCK L |
| AFFILIATIONS | Vrije Universiteit Brussel |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-7770-348X |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 22 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 17 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 22 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2009 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 2 |
Longing for continuity
Many older people spend years living with chronic illness before death. However, we lack a comprehensive understanding of how they experience and make sense of this phase of life, as knowledge about this is fragmented across diagnoses, settings, and aspects of the illness experience. This systematic review thematically synthesises qualitative research on self-reported experiences of older people living with chronic illness towards the end of life…
Momentary appraisals of uncontrollable and unpredictable events predict caregiver well-being
Family caregivers of people with dementia are at risk of chronic stress, which can adversely affect their mental well-being. Understanding how daily stressors impact caregivers is crucial for developing effective support strategies. This experience sampling study involved spousal caregivers of home-dwelling individuals with dementia. Data on caregivers' appraisals of daily events and their emotional and behavioural responses were collected over s…
Citizens with a caregiving experience in the past year are more likely to participate in neighbourhood activities regarding serious illness, death or loss
While death literacy is believed to foster social connections around serious illness, death and loss, limited evidence exists on whether it stimulates neighbourhood participation concerning these topics. This study measured the association between personal experiences with serious illness, death or loss in the past year and neighbourhood participation around these topics, and whether citizens' self-perceived capacity, skills and self-efficacy dev…
Older People Living With Serious Chronic Illness Towards the End of Life
Chronic illnesses are a leading cause of global disease burden among older people worldwide. For many, death from serious chronic illness in older age is preceded by an extended period of fluctuations in health and well-being, and these end-of-life trajectories can be complex and difficult to predict. Most research on end-of-life trajectories is quantitative, based on structured measurements and focused on creating groups or categories of traject…
Informal care-givers' attitudes towards medical assistance in dying for persons with dementia
Medical assistance in dying (MAID) is legal in Canada but cannot be accessed through an advance request. Some data suggest that informal care-givers of persons with dementia support the legalisation of advance requests for MAID. Opponents argue that care-givers' support is due to society's failure to address their well-documented burden and unmet needs. To our knowledge, this assumption has never been tested. To fill this knowledge gap, we conduc…
The ethics of pet robots in dementia care settings
Care professionals and organisational leaders had different opinions on how pet robots are or should be implemented for residents with dementia. Future research should consider involving care practitioners, people with dementia, and their family members in the ethics dialogue to support the sustainable, ethical use of pet robots in practice
Eu Navigate
Background: Most people who have cancer are older people, and this affects millions of Europeans yearly. Integrating high-quality, equitable, and cost-effective care across the continuum of supportive, palliative, end-of-life, and survivorship care for both patients and family caregivers is highly relevant from a healthcare, prevention, and economic perspective. Aims: EU NAVIGATE is an interdisciplinary, cross-country, and intersectoral project f…
Neighbourhood civic engagement around serious illness, death, and loss
Introduction/background: Worldwide, civic engagement initiatives concerning serious illness, caregiving, and bereavement are gaining momentum, as a result of the increasing interest in communities addressing challenges around these topics. In Flanders too, a diverse range of civic engagement initiatives are being developed, among which two research-initiated neighbourhood initiatives in municipalities in Herzele and Sint-Kruis (Flanders, Belgium)…
How compassionate is your neighborhood? Results of a cross-sectional survey on neighborhood participation regarding serious illness, death, and loss
We conducted a cross-sectional survey measuring the extent and nature of neighborhood participation regarding serious illness, death and loss and the factors that are associated with it. We distributed the survey to 2324 adult citizens in two neighborhoods in Flanders, Belgium, to which 714 citizens responded (response rate 30.7%). Of the respondents, 42.4% participated in at least one action in their neighborhood around serious illness, death, o…
Relatives' Experiences of Being Involved in Assisted Dying
Recent literature demonstrates an interdependence between relatives and healthcare providers throughout euthanasia processes. Yet, current guidelines and literature scarcely specify the interactions between healthcare providers and bereaved relatives. The aim of this work consisted of providing an insight into bereaved relatives' experiences (1) of being involved in euthanasia processes and (2) of their interactions with healthcare providers befo…
The cultural adaptation of the go wish card game for use in Flanders, Belgium
By making community engagement a cornerstone of our adaption process, we developed a card set that potential end-users considered a supportive public health tool for reflecting and discussing end-of-life values and preferences. The described process is particularly valuable for culturally adapt interventions, especially given that community engagement in adapting interventions is essential to creating grounded interventions
Higher Prevalence of Dementia but No Change in Total Comfort While Dying among Nursing Home Residents with Dementia between 2010 and 2015
Important policy developments in dementia and palliative care in nursing homes between 2010 and 2015 in Flanders, Belgium might have influenced which people die in nursing homes and how they die. We aimed to examine differences between 2010 and 2015 in the prevalence and characteristics of residents with dementia in nursing homes in Flanders, and their palliative care service use and comfort in the last week of life. We used two retrospective epi…
Pilot Study to Develop and Test Palliative Care Quality Indicators for Nursing Homes
An increasingly frail population in nursing homes accentuates the need for high quality care at the end of life and better access to palliative care in this context. Implementation of palliative care and its outcomes can be monitored by using quality indicators. Therefore, we developed a quality indicator set for palliative care in nursing homes and a tailored measurement procedure while using a mixed-methods design. We developed the instrument i…
Associations between Length of Stay in Long Term Care Facilities and End of Life Care. Analysis of the Pace Cross-Sectional Study
Long term care facilities (LTCFs) are increasingly a place of care at end of life in Europe. Longer residence in an LTCF prior to death has been associated with higher indicators of end of life care; however, the relationship has not been fully explored. The purpose of this analysis is to explore associations between length of stay and end of life care. The analysis used data collected in the Palliative Care for Older People in care and nursing h…
Dying in long-term care facilities in Europe
The population dying in long-term care facilities is complex, displaying multiple diseases with cognitive and functional impairment and high levels of dementia. We recommend future policy should include integration of high-quality palliative and dementia care
Quebec physicians’ perspectives on medical aid in dying for incompetent patients with dementia
What influences intentions to request physician-assisted euthanasia or continuous deep sedation
The increasing prevalence of euthanasia in Belgium has been linked to changing attitudes. Using National health survey data (N = 9651), we investigated Belgian adults' intention to ask a physician for euthanasia or continuous deep sedation in the hypothetical scenario of a terminal illness and examined its connection to sociodemographic and health characteristics. Respectively, 38.3 and 25.8% could envisage asking for euthanasia and continuous de…
Place of death in the population dying from diseases indicative of palliative care need
BACKGROUND: Studying where people die across countries can serve as an evidence base for health policy on end-of-life care. This study describes the place of death of people who died from diseases indicative of palliative care need in 14 countries, the association of place of death with cause of death, sociodemographic and healthcare availability characteristics in each country and the extent to which these characteristics explain country differe…
Hospitalisations at the end of life in four European countries
BACKGROUND: There is a paucity of cross-national population-based research on hospitalisations of people at the end of life. We aimed to compare, in four European countries, the frequency, time, length of and factors associated with hospitalisations in the last 3 months of life. METHODS: Population-based mortality follow-back study via Sentinel Networks of general practitioners (GPs) in Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy and Spain. Using a standardi…
Attitudes of Belgian Students of Medicine, Philosophy, and Law Toward Euthanasia and the Conditions for Its Acceptance
Euthanasia is legal in Belgium if due care criteria are met, which is judged by committees including physicians, ethicists, and jurists. We examined whether students in these disciplines differ in how they judge euthanasia as an acceptable act. A cross-sectional, anonymous e-mail survey revealed that they have similar attitudes and accept its legalization. Therefore, joint decision-making of physicians, ethicists, and lawyers regarding euthanasia…
Physician reports of medication use with explicit intention of hastening the end of life in the absence of explicit patient request in general practice in Belgium
The practice of using life-ending drugs without explicit patient request in general practice in Belgium mainly involves non-competent patients experiencing persistent and unbearable suffering whose end-of-life wishes can no longer be ascertained. GPs do not act as isolated decision-makers and they believe they act in the best interests of the patient. Advance care planning could help to inform GPs about patients' wishes prior to their loss of com…
Euthanasia and other end-of-life decisions
Even though legal and general healthcare systems are the same for the whole country, there are considerable variations between the communities in type and prevalence of certain end-of-life decisions, even after controlling for population differences
Place of death in the population dying from diseases indicative of palliative care need
BACKGROUND: Studying where people die across countries can serve as an evidence base for health policy on end-of-life care. This study describes the place of death of people who died from diseases indicative of palliative care need in 14 countries, the association of place of death with cause of death, sociodemographic and healthcare availability characteristics in each country and the extent to which these characteristics explain country differe…
Relatives' Experiences of Being Involved in Assisted Dying
Recent literature demonstrates an interdependence between relatives and healthcare providers throughout euthanasia processes. Yet, current guidelines and literature scarcely specify the interactions between healthcare providers and bereaved relatives. The aim of this work consisted of providing an insight into bereaved relatives' experiences (1) of being involved in euthanasia processes and (2) of their interactions with healthcare providers befo…
Quebec physicians’ perspectives on medical aid in dying for incompetent patients with dementia
Eu Navigate
Background: Most people who have cancer are older people, and this affects millions of Europeans yearly. Integrating high-quality, equitable, and cost-effective care across the continuum of supportive, palliative, end-of-life, and survivorship care for both patients and family caregivers is highly relevant from a healthcare, prevention, and economic perspective. Aims: EU NAVIGATE is an interdisciplinary, cross-country, and intersectoral project f…
What influences intentions to request physician-assisted euthanasia or continuous deep sedation
The increasing prevalence of euthanasia in Belgium has been linked to changing attitudes. Using National health survey data (N = 9651), we investigated Belgian adults' intention to ask a physician for euthanasia or continuous deep sedation in the hypothetical scenario of a terminal illness and examined its connection to sociodemographic and health characteristics. Respectively, 38.3 and 25.8% could envisage asking for euthanasia and continuous de…
Euthanasia and other end-of-life decisions
Even though legal and general healthcare systems are the same for the whole country, there are considerable variations between the communities in type and prevalence of certain end-of-life decisions, even after controlling for population differences
Physician reports of medication use with explicit intention of hastening the end of life in the absence of explicit patient request in general practice in Belgium
The practice of using life-ending drugs without explicit patient request in general practice in Belgium mainly involves non-competent patients experiencing persistent and unbearable suffering whose end-of-life wishes can no longer be ascertained. GPs do not act as isolated decision-makers and they believe they act in the best interests of the patient. Advance care planning could help to inform GPs about patients' wishes prior to their loss of com…
Attitudes of Belgian Students of Medicine, Philosophy, and Law Toward Euthanasia and the Conditions for Its Acceptance
Euthanasia is legal in Belgium if due care criteria are met, which is judged by committees including physicians, ethicists, and jurists. We examined whether students in these disciplines differ in how they judge euthanasia as an acceptable act. A cross-sectional, anonymous e-mail survey revealed that they have similar attitudes and accept its legalization. Therefore, joint decision-making of physicians, ethicists, and lawyers regarding euthanasia…
Place of death in the population dying from diseases indicative of palliative care need
BACKGROUND: Studying where people die across countries can serve as an evidence base for health policy on end-of-life care. This study describes the place of death of people who died from diseases indicative of palliative care need in 14 countries, the association of place of death with cause of death, sociodemographic and healthcare availability characteristics in each country and the extent to which these characteristics explain country differe…
Hospitalisations at the end of life in four European countries
BACKGROUND: There is a paucity of cross-national population-based research on hospitalisations of people at the end of life. We aimed to compare, in four European countries, the frequency, time, length of and factors associated with hospitalisations in the last 3 months of life. METHODS: Population-based mortality follow-back study via Sentinel Networks of general practitioners (GPs) in Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy and Spain. Using a standardi…
What influences intentions to request physician-assisted euthanasia or continuous deep sedation
The increasing prevalence of euthanasia in Belgium has been linked to changing attitudes. Using National health survey data (N = 9651), we investigated Belgian adults' intention to ask a physician for euthanasia or continuous deep sedation in the hypothetical scenario of a terminal illness and examined its connection to sociodemographic and health characteristics. Respectively, 38.3 and 25.8% could envisage asking for euthanasia and continuous de…
Quebec physicians’ perspectives on medical aid in dying for incompetent patients with dementia
Dying in long-term care facilities in Europe
The population dying in long-term care facilities is complex, displaying multiple diseases with cognitive and functional impairment and high levels of dementia. We recommend future policy should include integration of high-quality palliative and dementia care
Associations between Length of Stay in Long Term Care Facilities and End of Life Care. Analysis of the Pace Cross-Sectional Study
Long term care facilities (LTCFs) are increasingly a place of care at end of life in Europe. Longer residence in an LTCF prior to death has been associated with higher indicators of end of life care; however, the relationship has not been fully explored. The purpose of this analysis is to explore associations between length of stay and end of life care. The analysis used data collected in the Palliative Care for Older People in care and nursing h…
Higher Prevalence of Dementia but No Change in Total Comfort While Dying among Nursing Home Residents with Dementia between 2010 and 2015
Important policy developments in dementia and palliative care in nursing homes between 2010 and 2015 in Flanders, Belgium might have influenced which people die in nursing homes and how they die. We aimed to examine differences between 2010 and 2015 in the prevalence and characteristics of residents with dementia in nursing homes in Flanders, and their palliative care service use and comfort in the last week of life. We used two retrospective epi…
Pilot Study to Develop and Test Palliative Care Quality Indicators for Nursing Homes
An increasingly frail population in nursing homes accentuates the need for high quality care at the end of life and better access to palliative care in this context. Implementation of palliative care and its outcomes can be monitored by using quality indicators. Therefore, we developed a quality indicator set for palliative care in nursing homes and a tailored measurement procedure while using a mixed-methods design. We developed the instrument i…
The cultural adaptation of the go wish card game for use in Flanders, Belgium
By making community engagement a cornerstone of our adaption process, we developed a card set that potential end-users considered a supportive public health tool for reflecting and discussing end-of-life values and preferences. The described process is particularly valuable for culturally adapt interventions, especially given that community engagement in adapting interventions is essential to creating grounded interventions
The ethics of pet robots in dementia care settings
Care professionals and organisational leaders had different opinions on how pet robots are or should be implemented for residents with dementia. Future research should consider involving care practitioners, people with dementia, and their family members in the ethics dialogue to support the sustainable, ethical use of pet robots in practice
Eu Navigate
Background: Most people who have cancer are older people, and this affects millions of Europeans yearly. Integrating high-quality, equitable, and cost-effective care across the continuum of supportive, palliative, end-of-life, and survivorship care for both patients and family caregivers is highly relevant from a healthcare, prevention, and economic perspective. Aims: EU NAVIGATE is an interdisciplinary, cross-country, and intersectoral project f…
Neighbourhood civic engagement around serious illness, death, and loss
Introduction/background: Worldwide, civic engagement initiatives concerning serious illness, caregiving, and bereavement are gaining momentum, as a result of the increasing interest in communities addressing challenges around these topics. In Flanders too, a diverse range of civic engagement initiatives are being developed, among which two research-initiated neighbourhood initiatives in municipalities in Herzele and Sint-Kruis (Flanders, Belgium)…
How compassionate is your neighborhood? Results of a cross-sectional survey on neighborhood participation regarding serious illness, death, and loss
We conducted a cross-sectional survey measuring the extent and nature of neighborhood participation regarding serious illness, death and loss and the factors that are associated with it. We distributed the survey to 2324 adult citizens in two neighborhoods in Flanders, Belgium, to which 714 citizens responded (response rate 30.7%). Of the respondents, 42.4% participated in at least one action in their neighborhood around serious illness, death, o…
Relatives' Experiences of Being Involved in Assisted Dying
Recent literature demonstrates an interdependence between relatives and healthcare providers throughout euthanasia processes. Yet, current guidelines and literature scarcely specify the interactions between healthcare providers and bereaved relatives. The aim of this work consisted of providing an insight into bereaved relatives' experiences (1) of being involved in euthanasia processes and (2) of their interactions with healthcare providers befo…
Informal care-givers' attitudes towards medical assistance in dying for persons with dementia
Medical assistance in dying (MAID) is legal in Canada but cannot be accessed through an advance request. Some data suggest that informal care-givers of persons with dementia support the legalisation of advance requests for MAID. Opponents argue that care-givers' support is due to society's failure to address their well-documented burden and unmet needs. To our knowledge, this assumption has never been tested. To fill this knowledge gap, we conduc…
Momentary appraisals of uncontrollable and unpredictable events predict caregiver well-being
Family caregivers of people with dementia are at risk of chronic stress, which can adversely affect their mental well-being. Understanding how daily stressors impact caregivers is crucial for developing effective support strategies. This experience sampling study involved spousal caregivers of home-dwelling individuals with dementia. Data on caregivers' appraisals of daily events and their emotional and behavioural responses were collected over s…
Citizens with a caregiving experience in the past year are more likely to participate in neighbourhood activities regarding serious illness, death or loss
While death literacy is believed to foster social connections around serious illness, death and loss, limited evidence exists on whether it stimulates neighbourhood participation concerning these topics. This study measured the association between personal experiences with serious illness, death or loss in the past year and neighbourhood participation around these topics, and whether citizens' self-perceived capacity, skills and self-efficacy dev…
Older People Living With Serious Chronic Illness Towards the End of Life
Chronic illnesses are a leading cause of global disease burden among older people worldwide. For many, death from serious chronic illness in older age is preceded by an extended period of fluctuations in health and well-being, and these end-of-life trajectories can be complex and difficult to predict. Most research on end-of-life trajectories is quantitative, based on structured measurements and focused on creating groups or categories of traject…
Longing for continuity
Many older people spend years living with chronic illness before death. However, we lack a comprehensive understanding of how they experience and make sense of this phase of life, as knowledge about this is fragmented across diagnoses, settings, and aspects of the illness experience. This systematic review thematically synthesises qualitative research on self-reported experiences of older people living with chronic illness towards the end of life…
Medicine (18 works) · Palliative Care and End-of-Life Issues (17 works) · Psychology (14 works) · Nursing (12 works) · Gerontology (10 works) · Palliative care (8 works) · Geriatric Care and Nursing Homes (7 works) · Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health (7 works) · Patient Dignity and Privacy (7 works) · Family medicine (6 works)