Literature Review
All posts tagged with “Research News | Books.”
Calibrating AI reliance—A physician’s superhuman dilemma
04/26/25 at 03:45 AMCalibrating AI reliance—A physician’s superhuman dilemmaJAMA Health Forum; Shefali V. Patil, PhD; Christopher G. Myers, PhD; Yemeng Lu-Myers, MD, MPH; 3/25Assistive artificial intelligence (AI) technologies hold significant promise for transforming health care by aiding physicians in diagnosing, managing, and treating patients. Leveraging AI’s superior diagnostic accuracy in certain specialties, these assistive AI systems aim to reduce medical errors, while also promising to address physician fatigue by alleviating cognitive load and time pressures. Because human operators are perceived as having control over the technology’s use, responsibility unduly shifts to the human operator, even when clear evidence shows that the AI system produces erroneous outputs. Consequently, although scholars have proposed recommendations for shaping AI regulations, the reality is that in the absence of clear policies or established legal standards, future liability will largely hinge on societal perceptions of blameworthiness. This regulatory gap imposes an immense, almost superhuman, burden on physicians: they are expected to rely on AI to minimize medical errors, yet bear responsibility for determining when to override or defer to these systems.
Opening the door to wholistic patient care: Results from a nationally representative database on the use of spiritual and religious counseling
04/26/25 at 03:35 AMOpening the door to wholistic patient care: Results from a nationally representative database on the use of spiritual and religious counselingHealth Services Insights; Peter J. Mallow, Pierson Savarino; 4/25The introduction of the International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision (ICD-10) code Z71.81 in 2015 enabled the systematic documentation of spiritual and religious counseling (SRC) in hospital settings, opening avenues for research into its effect on patient outcomes and healthcare resource utilization. Religion and spirituality are integral to many patients’ lives, influencing their well-being, recovery and health outcomes. SRC is primarily utilized in complex, high-mortality cases, underscoring its role in holistic care for severely ill patients. The disparities observed highlight the need for standardized SRC documentation and equitable access to SRC. Future research should investigate the clinical and economic impacts of SRC to enhance patient-centered care in alignment with value-based care practices.
Circadian rhythm in end-of-life delirium: a secondary analysis of two randomized controlled trials
04/26/25 at 03:15 AMCircadian rhythm in end-of-life delirium: a secondary analysis of two randomized controlled trials Journal of Pain and Symptom Management; Sonal Admane MD, MPH; Sarah Pasyar MS; Roland Bassett Jr. MS; Eduardo Bruera MD; David Hui MD, MSc; 4/25Over 90% of patients with advanced cancer in the last weeks and days of life experience delirium, a neurocognitive syndrome associated with increased restlessness, agitation, hallucinations, and even violent behaviors. Long term psychological morbidity is also seen in caregivers, who may develop prolonged grief, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Healthcare professionals caring for patients with delirium also report delirium-related distress, particularly in relation to patients with persistent restlessness and agitation. Delirious patients were more restless between 3 pm and 11 pm. This observation of “sundowning” may help clinicians to better anticipate this symptom, schedule monitoring and treatments, and educate patients and caregivers.
Assuring the provision of palliative care as an ethical duty for all physicians
04/26/25 at 03:10 AMAssuring the provision of palliative care as an ethical duty for all physiciansJournal of Pain and Symptom Management; Amber R Comer,Daniel Sulmasy; 4/25Although palliative care is an evidence-based, essential component of care for patients with serious or critical illness and at the end-of-life, access to palliative care continues to be limited by inaccurate definitions, misrepresentation, stigma, and neglect. To help physicians and patients to overcome barriers limiting the provision of palliative care, the American Medical Association (AMA) has recently adopted policy and a new opinion in the Code of Medical Ethics which establishes an ethical duty for all physicians, in all specialties, to assure the provision of palliative care to patients who stand to benefit. Additionally, the new policy and Code opinion expand the depth and breadth of what palliative care access and delivery entail and address misconceptions that have resulted in barriers to the delivery of palliative care.
Medical aid in dying in the state of Colorado: Perspectives, data, and lessons learned in the first years of a uniquely centralized program
04/26/25 at 03:05 AMMedical aid in dying in the state of Colorado: Perspectives, data, and lessons learned in the first years of a uniquely centralized programJournal of Palliative Medicine; Melanie Mandell, Katie Sue Van Valkenburg, Skye O’Neil, Genie E. Roosevelt, Kerri Mason; 4/25 In 2016, Colorado voters approved Proposition 106, “Access to Medical Aid in Dying,” which amended Colorado statutes to include the Colorado End-of-life Options Act. In 2018, Denver Health and Hospital Authority, an urban, county safety-net hospital established a program to provide comprehensive medical aid in dying care via a centralized clinic with a dedicated team including a medical director, social worker, and a network of volunteer consultants. As the program has developed and matured, it has grown exponentially. This is due to its ease of accessibility, statewide educational efforts, and the relatively low cost and need-based, free services it provides. In six and a half years, our centralized program assisted over 650 Colorado patients in their quest for accessing medical aid in dying care, providing a wide continuum of services from initial intake and counseling, visits, and financial aid to specific grief counseling for loved ones. We believe our centralized system may function as a model for other hospitals considering the need to improve aid in dying access and care.
[Switzerland] Comforting styles of serious illness conversations: a Swiss wide factorial survey study
04/26/25 at 03:05 AM[Switzerland] Comforting styles of serious illness conversations: a Swiss wide factorial survey studyBMC Medicine; by Robert Staeck, Carsten Sauer, Steven M. Asch & Sofia C. Zambrano; 4/14/25 Background: Serious illness conversations can cause discomfort in patients, potentially impeding their understanding and decision-making. Identifying ways in which physicians can reduce this discomfort may improve care. This study investigates which physician communication styles and characteristics individuals perceive as comforting in physician–patient serious illness conversations. ... Methods: We conducted a nationwide online factorial survey in German, French, and Italian with 1572 Swiss participants from the public (51.4% women) aged 16 to 94. ...Conclusions: Taking time, providing clear information, and ensuring continuity of care are pivotal in enhancing comfort. Also relevant are the expression of sadness, physician self-disclosure, and a prior relationship with the patient.
Disparities in end-of-life care: A retrospective study on intensive care utilization and advance care planning in the Colorado all-payer claims database
04/26/25 at 03:00 AMDisparities in end-of-life care: A retrospective study on intensive care utilization and advance care planning in the Colorado all-payer claims databaseAmerican Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine; Darcy Holladay Ford, PsyD, MA, LPC, RDN; Kimberly Landry, MPH; Megha Jha, MPH; Martha Meyer, PhD; 3/25Intensive end-of-life (EOL) care is emotionally and financially burdensome, disproportionally negatively impacting racial and ethnic minorities, rural residents, and lower socioeconomic seniors. ICU Stays: Hispanic/Latino, Asian, and Black members had increased ICU stays compared to Whites ... However, members without ACP [advance care planning] and rural residents had lower ICU stays ... ED Visits: Hispanic/Latino, Asian, Black members, non-dually eligible members (Medicare Fee for Service (MFFS) + Medicaid), and rural residents had increased ED visits ... Meanwhile, members without ACP or hospice care had lower ED visits ... 30-day Readmissions: Asian members and rural residents had increased 30-day readmissions ... In contrast, those on MFFS and not on Medicaid, members without ACP, and those not in hospice care had decreased 30-day readmissions ...
Prevention of opioid misuse and abuse through effective pain management in patients with chronic pain: An umbrella systematic review
04/19/25 at 03:20 AMPrevention of opioid misuse and abuse through effective pain management in patients with chronic pain: An umbrella systematic reviewCureus: Sana Sultana, Safeera Khan; 3/25Chronic pain is a condition that affects physical well-being as well as emotional well-being, has mental impacts on patients, and diminishes their quality of life. There is also growing evidence that opioids have only limited effectiveness in the management of CNCP [chronic non-cancer pain], and the increased availability of prescription opioids has contributed to an increase in opioid addiction cases and overdose deaths. This review was conducted to determine if adequate pain management would decrease opioid use and prevent misuse. We discussed the different pain management methods in the paper, including the different pharmacotherapy options, nerve blocks, and spinal cord stimulation. We also talk about multidisciplinary treatment with the involvement of various departments (physician, pharmacy for pill counting, physical therapy, psychological care, etc.) in managing pain; good outcomes were observed with improvement in function.
Appropriate deprescribing and payment in hospice dementia care
04/19/25 at 03:15 AMAppropriate deprescribing and payment in hospice dementia careJAMA Internal Medicine; Nathan M. Stall, MD, PhD; Sharon K. Inouye, MD, MPH; Lona Mody, MD, MSc; 3/25People living with dementia are one of the largest growing users of hospice care in the US, with approximately 20% of enrollees having a terminal diagnosis of dementia. In the setting of advanced dementia specifically, guidelines recommend deprescribing cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine as there is insufficient evidence for benefit, and there are risks of adverse events including bradycardia, falls, and gastrointestinal adverse effects. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services specifies that hospices are responsible for covering all medications under the Medicare Part A hospice benefit, but audits have revealed that millions of dollars of prescription drug costs are being inappropriately shifted to Medicare Part D. The study by Hunt et al occurs within a context of growing concerns about shifts in US hospice care where more than 70% of hospice agencies serving patients with terminal illness across all settings now operate on a for-profit basis, with increasing acquisition of hospices by private equity firms and publicly traded corporations. Compared with nonprofit hospices, for-profit hospices have more acute care utilization, provide less direct care, and have poorer caregiver-reported care experiences. For-profit hospices also enroll a higher proportion of persons living with dementia, which may relate to their lower acuity and longer stays, as well as more profitable margins under the per-beneficiary daily payment.
Dying at home: A family guide for caregiving
01/25/25 at 03:10 AMDying at home: A family guide for caregivingJohn Hopkins University Press; by Andrea Sankar with CM Cassady; 2/24A comprehensive guide for those caring for a loved one nearing the end of life. Many people seek the comfort and dignity of dying at home. Advances in pharmacology and hospice care allow the dying to remain at home relatively free of pain and symptoms, but navigating professional services, insurance coverage, and family dynamics often compounds the complexity of this process. Extensively updated and revised, this third edition of Andrea Sankar's Dying at Home: A Family Guide for Caregiving provides essential information that caregivers and dying persons need to navigate this journey.
Researchers raise concerns about the financial sector's rising role in US illness care
10/17/24 at 02:30 AMResearchers raise concerns about the financial sector's rising role in US illness care Medical Xpress; by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc; 10/16/24 The authors of a new article in Journal of Palliative Medicine state that the "growing role of the financial sector in home health and hospice, a reflection of larger trends in U.S. health care, is concerning and has major implications for care quality unless reforms are undertaken." Co-authors Lauren Hunt, Ph.D., RN, FN, with the University of California, San Francisco, and R. Sean Morrison, MD, with the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, observe that home health and hospice began as nonprofit organizations with close ties to their communities. However, the overwhelming majority are now for-profit entities, many of which have become targets for private equity buyouts. The authors note that "big business's emphasis on maximizing profit can be at odds with patient welfare. Indeed, a substantial body of evidence now demonstrates that care quality is consistently worse in for-profits as compared to nonprofits," they state. The authors further express concern that "pressure to achieve high returns on very short-term time horizons may conflict with the need for longer-term investments in quality, training, and staffing, thus reducing care quality.
[Scotland] Palliative care-based arguments against assisted dying
10/12/24 at 03:55 AM[Scotland] Palliative care-based arguments against assisted dyingBioethics; Ben Colburn; 10/24Opponents of legalised assisted dying often assert that palliative care is worse in countries where assisted dying has been legalised, and imply that legalised assisted dying makes palliative care worse. This study considers five versions of this claim: that it is difficulty to access expert palliative care in countries where assisted dying has been legalised, that those countries rank low in their quality of end-of-life care; that legalising assisted dying doesn't expand patient choice in respect of palliative care; that growth in palliative care services has stalled in countries where assisted dying has been legalised; and that legalised assisted dying impedes the growth of palliative care or causes it to decline. In each case, it concludes that neither argumentation nor evidence supports these claims.
[Sweden] Reconciliation in palliative care: A concept analysis
10/12/24 at 03:50 AM[Sweden] Reconciliation in palliative care: A concept analysisPalliative and Supportive Care; Margareta Karlsson, Andrea Uhlman, Benedict Kämper, Britt Hedman Ahlstrom; 9/24Terminal illnesses affect almost all aspects of life and being close to death may lead to a need for reconciliation. The end of life is stressful on an existential level for both patients and relatives. It can therefore be of relevance for palliative care nurses to understand the meaning of reconciliation. We conclude that reconciliation is a concept of importance when caring for patients in end-of-life care. A broader and deeper understanding of the concept facilitates conversations about the meaning of reconciliation in palliative care and can enable patients who strive to achieve reconciliation to be more easily identified and supported.
[Australia] Gender representation of health care professionals in large language model–generated stories
10/05/24 at 03:55 AM[Australia] Gender representation of health care professionals in large language model–generated storiesJAMA Network Open; Bradley D. Menz, B. Pharm (Hons); Nicole M. Kuderer, MD; Benjamin Chin-Yee, MD; Jessica M. Logan, PhD; Andrew Rowland, PhD; Michael J. Sorich, PhD; Ashley M. Hopkins, PhD; 9/24This cross-sectional study found significant variability in gender representation in LLM [large language model]-generated stories about medical doctors, surgeons, and nurses, with almost all stories about nurses represented as she/her. This ... study highlights the need for LLM developers to update their tools for equitable and diverse gender representation in essential health care roles, including medical doctors, surgeons, and nurses. As LLMs become increasingly adopted throughout health care and education, continuous monitoring of these tools is needed to ensure that they reflect a diverse workforce, capable of serving society’s needs effectively.
[The Netherlands] The focus on life-prolonging anticancer treatment hampers shared decision-making in people with advanced cancer: A qualitative embedded multiple-case study
10/05/24 at 03:50 AM[The Netherlands] The focus on life-prolonging anticancer treatment hampers shared decision-making in people with advanced cancer: A qualitative embedded multiple-case studyPalliative Medicine; Daisy Jm Ermers, Maartje J van Geel, Yvonne Engels, Demi Kellenaers, Anouk Sj Schuurmans, Floortje K Ploos van Amstel, Carla Ml van Herpen, Yvonne Schoon, Henk J Schers, Kris Cp Vissers, Evelien Jm Kuip, Marieke Perry; 9/24Implementing shared decision-making in oncology practice is often limited, particularly integrating the patient's context into decision-making. Four themes were identified [in this study]: shared decision-making is a dynamic and continuous process (1), in which the medical oncologist's treatment recommendation is central (2), fuelled by the patients' experience of not having a choice (3), and integrating the patient's context into shared decision-making was considered important but hampered (4), for example, by the association with the terminal phase. The prevailing tendency among medical oncologists and persons with advanced cancer to prioritize life-prolonging anticancer treatments restricts the potential for shared decision-making.
Social risks and health care use in medically complex patients
10/05/24 at 03:40 AMSocial risks and health care use in medically complex patientsJAMA Network Open; Emma L. Tucher, PhD; Allison L. Steele, MPH; Connie S. Uratsu, RN, MS, PHN; Jodi K. McCloskey, MPH; Richard W. Grant, MD, MPH; 9/24This cohort study of ... patients with complex medical comorbidity found that social risks were associated with higher odds of inpatient admissions, emergency department visits, and mental health visits during a 1-year period. Individuals with added social risks were younger and more likely to be Medicaid eligible and Black or Hispanic. Efforts to address health care use in patients with complex medical comorbidity may benefit from concurrent efforts to reduce social risks.
From small to tall: breed-varied household pet dogs can be trained to detect Parkinson's Disease
10/05/24 at 03:35 AMFrom small to tall: breed-varied household pet dogs can be trained to detect Parkinson's DiseaseAnimal Cognition; Lisa Holt, Samuel V Johnston; 10/24Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a clinically diagnosed disease that carries a reported misdiagnosis rate of 10-20%. Recent scientific discoveries have provided evidence of volatile organic compounds in sebum that are unique to patients with PD. Twenty-three canines of varying breeds, ages, and environmental backgrounds were included. For this two-year reporting period, when averaged as a group, the 23 dogs were 89% sensitive and 87% specific to olfactory distinction between PD-positive and PD-negative human donor samples. Study findings support the application of companion dogs, trained with force-free, reward-based methodologies, for the detection of PD-positive and PD-negative samples under controlled conditions.
Using oncology treatment pathway data to evaluate serious illness communication, care utilization, and end-of-life care for patients with cancer
10/05/24 at 03:30 AMUsing oncology treatment pathway data to evaluate serious illness communication, care utilization, and end-of-life care for patients with cancerJCO Oncology Practice; Cody E Cotner, Angela C Tramontano, Alex Post, Brian Finn, Saima Awan, Nathaniel Gwynne, Sishemo Mwesigwa, Charlotta Lindvall, James A Tulsky, Joseph O Jacobson, David M Jackman, Alexi A Wright, Christopher R Manz; 9/24Oncology treatment pathways provide decision support and encourage guideline adherence. Pathway data combined with electronic health record (EHR) data can identify patient populations with poor prognoses, low serious illness conversation (SIC) rates, and high acute care utilization that may benefit from targeted interventions.
Racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic differences in critical care near the end of life: A narrative review
10/05/24 at 03:20 AMRacial, ethnic, and socioeconomic differences in critical care near the end of life: A narrative reviewCritical Care Clinics; Katrina E Hauschildt, Judith B Vick, Deepshikha Charan Ashana; 10/24Patients from groups that are racially/ethnically minoritized or of low socioeconomic status receive more intensive care near the end of life, endorse preferences for more life-sustaining treatments, experience lower quality communication from clinicians, and report worse quality of dying than other patients. There are many contributory factors, including system (eg, lack of intensive outpatient symptom management resources), clinician (eg, low-quality serious illness communication), and patient (eg, cultural norms) factors. System and clinician factors contribute to disparities and ought to be remedied, while patient factors simply reflect differences in care and may not be appropriate targets for intervention.
Harnessing natural language processing to assess quality of end-of-life care for children with cancer
10/05/24 at 03:10 AMHarnessing natural language processing to assess quality of end-of-life care for children with cancerJCO Clinical Cancer Informatics; Meghan E Lindsay, Sophia de Oliveira, Kate Sciacca, Charlotta Lindvall, Prasanna J Ananth; 9/24Data on end-of-life care (EOLC) quality, assessed through evidence-based quality measures (QMs), are difficult to obtain. Natural language processing (NLP) enables efficient quality measurement and is not yet used for children with serious illness. Conclusion: A high proportion of decedents attained specified EOLC-QMs more than 30 days before death. Our findings indicate that NLP is a feasible approach to measuring quality of care for children with cancer at the end of life and is ripe for multi-center research and quality improvement.
Trends in location of death for individuals with pediatric cancer
10/05/24 at 03:10 AMTrends in location of death for individuals with pediatric cancerJAMA Pediatrics; Urvish Jain, BSc; Angelin Tresa Mathew, BSc; Bhav Jain, BS; Erin Jay Garbes Feliciano, MD, MBA; Edward Christopher Dee, MD; Leonard H. Wexler, MD; Suzanne L. Wolden, MD; 9/24Children and adolescents with cancer face unique symptomatic, psychosocial, and existential challenges at the end of life (EOL). Premature death, severe pain, and complex symptoms can be distressing for patients and families. In contrast to prior literature regarding trends on adults with cancer, in this study, the pediatric population had lower rates of death at home, potentially because pediatric patients receive more aggressive EOL treatment than adult patients. Our study found differences among racial and ethnic minority groups, who were more likely to die in hospitals, outpatient settings, and ED facilities. As such, developing capacities for palliative care teams that can reach patients across many EOL settings may be valuable for helping patients and families achieve a death congruent with their wishes, particularly because of persistent differences by race over the past 20 years paralleling findings in adult populations.
Depression and anxiety among US children and young adults
10/05/24 at 03:05 AMDepression and anxiety among US children and young adultsJAMA Network Open; Anny H Xiang, Mayra P Martinez, Ting Chow, Sarah A Carter, Sonya Negriff, Breda Velasquez, Joseph Spitzer, Juan Carlos Zuberbuhler, Ashley Zucker, Sid Kumar; 10/24This cohort study, using electronic medical record data from a large integrated health care system, found an increase in clinically diagnosed depression from 2017 to 2021, with a higher increase during the COVID-19 pandemic and higher rates in some subgroups. Equally important, this study identified high rates and an increase in clinical diagnosis of anxiety without a depression diagnosis. These results support the increased need in public health and health care effort to combat the mental health crisis in youths.
Alzheimer dementia among individuals with down syndrome
09/28/24 at 03:45 AMAlzheimer dementia among individuals with down syndromeJAMA Network Open; Eric Rubenstein, PhD; Salina Tewolde, ScM; Amy Michals, MPH; Jennifer Weuve, ScD; Juan Fortea, MD; Matthew P. Fox, ScD; Marcia Pescador Jimenez, PhD; Ashley Scott, MPH; Yorghos Tripodis, PhD; Brian G. Skotko, MD; 9/24In this cohort study of ... adults with Down syndrome enrolled in Medicaid or Medicare between 2011 to 2019, 23.3% of adults had Alzheimer dementia diagnoses, and the mean age of death was 59.2 years. These findings suggest that Alzheimer dementia is almost universal among people with Down syndrome, and administrative claims data may offer valuable insights into improving care for this diverse population.
Long-term use of muscle relaxant medications for chronic pain-A systematic review
09/28/24 at 03:40 AMLong-term use of muscle relaxant medications for chronic pain-A systematic reviewJAMA Network Open; Benjamin J. Oldfield, MD, MHS; Brynna Gleeson, BA; Kenneth L. Morford, MD; Zoe Adams, MD; Melissa C. Funaro, MLS; William C. Becker, MD; Jessica S. Merlin, MD, PhD, MBA; 9/24Chronic pain, commonly defined as pain that lasts beyond 3 months and/or extends past normal tissue healing time, affects millions of US residents, with a 2021 prevalence of 21%. In this systematic review ... muscle relaxant medications were assessed. Muscle relaxants may be more beneficial than placebo for treating trigeminal neuralgia, painful cramps, and neck pain, but for fibromyalgia, low back pain, and other syndromes, they did not appear to be beneficial. Clinicians should be vigilant for adverse effects and consider deprescribing if pain-related goals are not met.
Well-being outcomes of health care workers after a 5-hour continuing education intervention-The WELL-B randomized clinical trial
09/28/24 at 03:35 AMWell-being outcomes of health care workers after a 5-hour continuing education intervention-The WELL-B randomized clinical trialJAMA Network Open; J. Bryan Sexton, PhD; Kathryn C. Adair, PhD; 9/24To test the effectiveness of Well-Being Essentials for Learning Life-Balance (WELL-B), a web-based continuing education program [was developed] to deliver ... interventions to improve 4 dimensions of HCW [health care workers] well-being (ie, emotional exhaustion, emotional thriving, emotional recovery, and work-life integration). [The] ... sessions improved short-term HCW emotional exhaustion, emotional thriving, emotional recovery, and work-life integration. Health care worker impressions of WELL-B were positive. These findings suggest that WELL-B is a beneficial intervention.