Literature Review

Racial disparities in non-stigmatized supportive care medication use in pancreatic cancerJournal of Pain & Symptom Management; by Olga Monika Trejos Kweyete, Chardaé Whitner, David L. Deremer, Yi Guo, Jiang Bian, Lisa Scarton, Sherise C. Rogers, Diana J. Wilkie, Xiwei Lou, John M. Allen; 3/26Pancreatic cancer (PC) is associated with a high symptom burden that contributes to reduced health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and adverse clinical outcomes. This study examined racial and ethnic differences in the use of non-stigmatized SCMs [supportive care medications] during end-of-life care among patients with PC. SCM use was defined as at least one outpatient prescription claim for antiemetics, appetite stimulants, cognitive aids, headache aids, or sleep aids. Racial and ethnic disparities persist in the use of non-stigmatized SCMs among patients with PC at the end of life. These findings extend prior evidence on inequities in cancer symptom management and underscore the need for interventions that promote equitable access to supportive care medications across diverse populations.

[Canada] How do children think about death? A narrative review of historical and recent developmental perspectives examining children's understanding of deathClinical Child Psychology & Psychiatry; by  Zachary D Fry, Adrianna Mendrek, Lia Gieg, Terra Léger-Goodes, David Lefrançois, Jonathan Smith, Nathalie Maltais, Marie-Claude Geoffroy, Marc-André Éthier, Catherine Malboeuf-Hurtubise; 3/26This review sought to clarify what children understand about death and how they come to learn about it. Findings suggest that children develop an understanding of death through several key components across childhood. This knowledge may be acquired naturally through cognitive development and can also be shaped by direct exposure (e.g., the death of a loved one or pet) and/or indirect experiences (e.g., media depictions). When learned indirectly and without guidance, there is an increased risk of children formulating inaccurate or distressing attitudes toward death. Building on these insights, we offer developmentally adapted approaches for supporting children's understanding of death within pedagogical settings.

Association for Death Education and Counseling celebrates 50 years of advancing grief education and end-of-life understanding ADEC - Association for Death Education and Counseling; Press Release; 4/9/26 The Association for Death Education and Counseling (ADEC®), The Thanatology Association®, is celebrating its 50th anniversary, marking five decades of leadership in the interdisciplinary study of death, dying, and bereavement. ... Looking toward the future, ADEC envisions a world in which dying, death, and bereavement are recognized as fundamental aspects of the human experience rather than topics hidden from public conversation. The organization continues to expand its international reach and public engagement. Through initiatives such as the 50 Futures Global Fund, ADEC will support the distribution of digital grief education resources, training opportunities, and micro-grants to communities around the world.

Challenges in the end-of-Life care for patients with severe persistent mental illness: a case series Psychogeriatrics; by Kaushadh Jayakody, Isha Bajaj, Doug Blomeley; 4/7/26 Conclusions: ... This study emphasises the importance of improved clinician training, clearer referral pathways and integrated care models in addressing this disparity. Implementing these measures will aid in addressing longstanding inequalities and ensure individuals with SPMI receive appropriate and timely palliative and EOL care.

Development and psychometric properties of PEACE-Q: A questionnaire on attitudes towards physician-assisted dying, euthanasia, advance directives and care at the end-of-life

Limits of correctional health reporting: Findings from a nationwide jail mortality survey (2019-2024)Journal of Correctional Health Care; by Liz Harris, William Dennis; 3/26This article presents findings from a national survey of 287 counties across 43 states assessing jail mortality between 2019 and 2024 in an attempt to compare private health care provider outcomes with county providers. The findings demonstrated that currently available information cannot serve as a reliable measure of health care quality in correctional settings due to sociocultural reporting constraints. Institutional and cultural deterrents to objective reporting have led to incomplete records, misclassified causes of death, and failures to maintain legally mandated death reports. There is a clear need for health benchmarking and clear definitions for reporting in correctional health care to enable valid comparisons between health care provider models. The paper draws attention to a recently established correctional health care-specific patient safety organization as a potential solution to enable correctional health care providers to better understand the drivers of health care outcomes in correctional facilities.

Auricular acupuncture for symptom management in inpatient palliative careJournal of Hospice & Palliative Nursing; by Anup Bhushan, Dan Mazanec, Jessica Bullington, Justin Marsden, Jingwen Zhang, Kacie Bhushan, Patrick Coyne; 4/26Palliative care teams treat patients with intractable pain and debilitating symptoms on a daily basis [and] nurses play a significant role in the assessment and intervention of patients with chronic pain and ... symptoms ... Complementary therapy with acupuncture has proven to be helpful, but to date, there is little research examining the efficacy of auricular acupuncture in treating the acute-on-chronic symptoms associated with life-limiting illness in hospitalized patients. This ...  study of 101 participants examined auricular acupuncture’s impact on pain and symptom management, as well as pre- and post-intervention opioid utilization ... This study demonstrated statistical improvement in pain, nausea, dyspnea, and anxiety scores. Nurses and other providers trained in auricular acupuncture can provide a nonpharmacological intervention that improves pain and related symptoms for patients with serious illness.

Increasing access to pediatric palliative care in a large hospital system: Trials and triumphs from an APRN initiativeJournal of Hospice & Palliative Nursing; by Faith Kinnear; 4/26 According to the Pediatric Palliative Care Task Force formed in 2020 and hosted by the National Coalition for Hospice and Palliative Care, children with serious illness should have access to palliative care that meets the population’s unique needs. Taking care to assess needs, communicate with leadership teams, develop rapport with key stakeholders, and utilize the support staff already in place allowed for successful implementation of pediatric palliative care services at 2 satellite campuses over a 5-year span. Services included inpatient and outpatient patient care; ongoing family bereavement support; compiling staff resources and providing ongoing staff training in primary pediatric palliative care skills. Each satellite campus now has dedicated pediatric palliative care providers. This article outlines how the satellite palliative care programs were developed, the challenges and successes in the process, and the role of the APRN in program development.

The human thread: Weaving human-centered leadership in health care into culture transformationNurse Leader; by Stephanie Lonzo, Lindsey Colangelo, Kay Kennedy, Lucy Leclerc, Susan Campis; 3/26A large community hospital embraced implementation of Human-Centered Leadership in Health Care by including leaders from every discipline in a hybrid-style leadership development program. After completing the program, the leaders participated in the development of a hospital-wide brand statement which served as a collective WHY for the organization. This statement, which included human-centered principles, provided alignment, connection, and accountability across the organization. Leaders led differently, prioritizing care for self, and leading others in a relational approach. The culture transformation resulted in improved staff engagement, retention, patient experience, and quality outcomes. The senior nurse leaders share their culture transformation experience.