Editorial

2016), foster expressive confidence and enhance someone’s options in connecting affectively with others. Self-identity comes from feelings of being valued and being recognised as a person first, and a patient second. The process of storytelling affords the teller a sense of autonomy and in control of what they share. While this process could have its own problems (such as the individual having an inability to articulate themselves), the goal should be to support patients to express and share their experiences, with a view to emotionally self-cleanse while fostering a sense of togetherness with healthcare professionals in attendance. Therefore, it is important that listening becomes a central element of this process, even where issues of articulation are apparent, while patients are greeted with encouragement and acceptance while telling their stories.

Having recognised the benefits of storytelling (only a few have been mentioned here), all members of the international palliative nursing community should seek to enable and facilitate storytelling among all patients who may experience isolation and loneliness. As the saying goes: ‘a problem shared is a problem halved’. Supporting these patients can also help their families and friends hold onto positive memories going into their own bereavement. IJPN Brian Nyatanga Consultant Editor, International Journal of Palliative Nursing; Senior Lecturer, University of Worcester Beach B, Bamford S. Isolation: the emerging crisis for older men. London: Independent Age;

2015 Holt-Lunstad J, Smith TB, Layton JB. Social relationships and mortality risk: a meta-analytic review. PloS Med. 2010;7(7):1–8. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000316 Ratcliffe J, Wigfield A, Alden S. ‘A lonely old man’: empirical investigations of older men and loneliness, and the ramifications for policy and practice. Ageing & Society. 2021;41(4):794– 814. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0144686X19001387 Tzouvara V, Papadopoulos C, Randhawa G. A narrative review of the theoretical foundations of loneliness. British J Community Nurs. 2015;20(7):1–12. https://doi.org/10.12968/ bjcn.2015.20.7.329 Youell J, Ward A. Why use storytelling in palliative care? 2016. eHospice. https://ehospice.

com/uk_posts/why-use-storytelling-in-palliative-care (accessed 15 May 2022)

Short reports

International Journal of Palliative Nursing now publishes short reports, and invites submissions for consideration. Short reports are intended to provide the international palliative care community with the opportunity for concise communication of work that will be of interest to nurses working in palliative care. Submissions are invited on:

 Important ongoing projects–these may include a call for collaboration  Recently completed research, the intention being rapid spread of important results prior to a full write-up  Research, clinical innovation, or service development that may not be of sufficient size or implication to warrant a full-length paper, including novel research methodologies

All appropriate submissions will be peer-reviewed as short reports and if accepted will be published both in print and online. Submissions should be no more than 1000 words in length including references and should include a brief explanation (not for publication) of why a short report is preferred to a full-length paper.Work previously communicated as a conference abstract would be welcome but must be written up in an original short report format.

Short reports should be submitted via the usual channel: www.ijpn.co.uk/contribute.shtml

The Editor will be happy to respond to any queries: ijpn@markallengroup.com

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International Journal of Palliative Nursing May 2022, Vol 28, No 5