Literature Review

How good are we at reporting the socioeconomic position, ethnicity, race, religion and main language of research participants? A review of the quality of reporting in palliative care intervention studiesPalliative Medicine, by Keerthika Selvakumaran, Katherine E Sleeman, Joanna M Davies; 2/24[UK] In 2018, a review of 18 clinical trials on the integration of palliative care into oncology, found that one-third did not report the race or ethnicity of participants, and a further one-third provided only broad categorisations such as ‘white’ versus ‘other’. The aim of this pragmatic review is to describe the quality of reporting in palliative and end-of-life care intervention studies, for social characteristics including socioeconomic position, ethnicity or race, religion and the main language of participants.

Palliative sedation: ethics in clinical practice guidelines - systematic reviewBJM Supportive & Palliative Care, by Martyna Tomczyk, Cécile Jaques, Ralf J Jox; 8/23Effective cooperation between palliative care clinicians and ethicists should be encouraged, in order to integrate in particular the crucial ethical issues of continuous deep sedation until death when developing or updating clinical practice guidelines on palliative sedation.

Perspectives on transfusions for hospice patients with blood cancers: A survey of hospice providersJournal of Pain and Symptom Management, by Helen P Knight, Caitlin Brennan, Susan Lysaght Hurley, Anna J Tidswell, Melissa D Aldridge, Kimberly S Johnson, Edo Banach, James A Tulsky, Gregory A Abel, Oreofe O Odejide; 1/24We received 113 completed surveys (response rate = 23.5%). Of the cohort, 2.7% reported that their agency always offers transfusions, 40.7% reported sometimes offering transfusions, and 54.9% reported never offering transfusions... Most respondents (76.6%) identified lack of transfusion access in hospice as a barrier to hospice enrollment for blood cancer patients. The top intervention considered as "very helpful" for increasing enrollment was additional reimbursement for transfusions (72.1%).

Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias: Caregiver perspectives on hospice re-enrollment following a hospice live dischargeJournal of Palliative Medicine, by Stephanie P Wladkowski, Susan Enguídanos; 10/23Three-quarters of participants (n = 16) would consider re-enrolling their loved one in hospice. However, some believed they would have to wait for a medical crisis (n = 6) to re-enroll, while others (n = 10) questioned the appropriateness of hospice for patients with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias if they cannot remain in hospice care until death.

Patient Focus: When Should People With Heart Failure Who Were Admitted to the Hospital Think About Palliative or Hospice Care? An Explanation of “Factors Associated with Mortality and Hospice Use Among Medicare Beneficiaries With Heart Failure Who Received Home Health Services”Journal of Cardiac Failure, by Spencer Carter, MD; Jennifer T. Thibodeau, MD, MSCS; 12/23Hospital stays for patients with heart failure are serious events that mean that the heart may be sicker. Some people with heart failure who are in the hospital are at higher risk of dying within 6 months after their hospital stay. This study describes differing characteristics of people who might be at higher risk of death and who may benefit from palliative or hospice care to better support them.Publisher's note: Also see https://onlinejcf.com/article/S1071-9164(23)00922-3/abstract. 

Saturday NewslettersResearch literature is the focus of Saturday newsletters - enjoy!

Other Business Headlines of Interest, updated 2/15/24 per nasdaq.com

Mayo steps up to plug care gaps as HSHS exits WisconsinBecker's Hospital CFO Report, by Alan Condon; 2/12/24Mayo Clinic is striving to help close a significant gap in patient care in Western Wisconsin, where two hospitals and almost 20 clinics are expected to close in the coming months. The move comes as Springfield, Ill.-based Hospital Sisters Health System, currently a 15-hospital system, announced plans to abruptly exit the Wisconsin market. 

The state of caregiving for 2024McKnights Home Care, by Lance A. Slatton; 2/13/24A significant discrepancy has formed over the past decade between the number of people needing care and the number of professional caregivers available. This was significantly exacerbated in 2023, with caregivers becoming more exhausted than ever. Whether due to financial constraints or the struggling economy, almost 1 in 5 Americans who were providing care in 2023 were going unpaid. 

Experts see for-profit firms, rural areas as drivers of future PACE growthMcKnights Home Care, by Adam Healy; 2/14/24InnovAge, the only publicly traded Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly company, revealed last week that it continues to grapple with regulatory challenges. But its stumbling blocks of late are not curbing interest in PACE. The program — funded by Medicare and Medicaid — has continued to grow in recent years, leading states to explore new and innovative ways to bring PACE to a greater share of residents.

418 rural hospitals at risk of closure, breakdown by state

Palliative care’s psychedelic futuretruthdig, by Jane C. Hu; 2/14/24In Oregon, hospice doctors are expanding the menu of treatments for end-of-life anxiety and depression.