Literature Review

All posts tagged with “Research News | Journal Article.”



Mindfulness and tai chi improve mood in cancer survivors

07/01/25 at 02:55 AM

Mindfulness and tai chi improve mood in cancer survivors Medscape, reposted in AAHPM; ed. by Gargi Mukherjee; 6/25/25 Both Mindfulness-Based Cancer Recovery (MBCR) and Tai Chi/Qigong (TCQ) significantly improved mood in survivors of cancer, whether participants selected their preferred program or were randomly assigned to either type of program. MBCR had greater benefits in reducing tension and anger, while TCQ was particularly effective in reducing depression and boosting vigor.

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Bioethicists must push back against assaults on diversity, equity, and inclusion

06/30/25 at 03:00 AM

Bioethicists must push back against assaults on diversity, equity, and inclusionThe American Journal of Bioethics; by Nancy S. Jecker, Arthur Caplan, Vardit Ravitsky, Patrick Smith, Kayhan Parsi, Sandra Soo-Jin Lee, Faith Fletcher, Mildred Cho, Keisha Ray; 6/25Nine leading bioethicists, including Hastings Center President Vardit Ravitsky, call for bioethics to affirm its core commitment to justice and act against the dismantling of diversity, equity, and inclusion. In an editorial published in the American Journal of Bioethics, they highlight the current administration’s broadside attack against diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education, the federal government, and the private sector. “Years of research and data gathering have shown that removing barriers facing marginalized groups improves population health and promotes health justice,” they write.

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Artificial intelligence and health care waste—Promise or peril?

06/28/25 at 03:45 AM

Artificial intelligence and health care waste—Promise or peril?JAMA Health Forum; William H. Shrank, MD, MSHS; Suhas Gondi, MD, MBA; David J. Brailer, MD, PhD; 6/25One obvious target of AI [artificial intelligence] tools in health care is the reduction of waste. While LLM [large language model] applications to health care are still nascent—many still make errors, and more rigorous evaluations are needed—most agree that the long-term opportunity for AI in health care is tremendous. A recent study estimated that widespread adoption of AI could lead to savings of 5% to 10% of total US health care spending. Realizing even a fraction of this potential would increase the affordability of care for people in the US and free substantial societal resources to make other valuable investments. But getting there will require deliberate choices from leaders and policymakers and careful attention to risks that could set back progress.

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Strengths and opportunities: Clinicians' perspectives on palliative care for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) in the United States

06/28/25 at 03:35 AM

Strengths and opportunities: Clinicians' perspectives on palliative care for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) in the United StatesMuscle & Nerve; Kara E Bischoff, Gayle Kojimoto, David L O'Riordan, Yaowaree L Leavell, Samuel Maiser, Astrid Grouls, Alexander K Smith, Steven Z Pantilat, Benzi M Kluger, Ambereen K Mehta; 6/25Half of ALS clinicians [surveyed] reported they are able to manage patients' pain (55%) and mood symptoms (52%) "very well." Fewer reported managing care partner needs (43%) and spiritual/existential distress (29%) "very well." Fifty-eight percent of pALS [people with ALS] are referred to outpatient PC and 69% to hospice at some point in the illness. ALS clinicians generally felt satisfied with PC teams' care, but PC clinicians were less confident managing motor symptoms (51% confident) and helping care partners understand how to provide care (51%) and use equipment (25%). Most clinicians felt the quality of PC provided by ALS (77%) and PC (90%) teams is good/excellent. However, qualitative comments highlighted that both ALS and PC clinicians have knowledge gaps, and collaboration between ALS and PC clinicians should increase.

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Zuranolone in palliative care: Promise and practicality for the rapid treatment of depression

06/28/25 at 03:30 AM

Zuranolone in palliative care: Promise and practicality for the rapid treatment of depressionThe American Journal of Hospice & Palliative Care; Eric Prommer; 6/25Zuranolone is an orally available antidepressant classified as a neuroactive steroid. Neuroactive steroids act as positive allosteric modulators for both synaptic and extrasynaptic GABA, making them distinct from currently available drugs targeting major depression and insomnia. By modulating GABA binding sites, neuroactive steroids enhance the function of GABA, which is depressed in major depression. The drug has a rapid onset of action, which differs from currently available antidepressants that are used in palliative care. [This] ... paper will review the pharmacology, pharmacodynamics, safety profile, and clinical studies showing its effectiveness in major depression and how it can potentially be helpful in the palliative care population.

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Temporal trends in opioid-related care and pain among Veterans at the end of life

06/28/25 at 03:25 AM

Temporal trends in opioid-related care and pain among Veterans at the end of lifeJournal of Pain and Symptom Management; by Melissa W. Wachterman, Stuart R. Lipsitz, Erin Beilstein-Wedel, Walid F. Gellad, Karl A. Lorenz, Nancy L. Keating; 7/25In response to the opioid crisis, federal guidelines were implemented, including the Veterans Health Administration's (VA) Opioid Safety Initiative in 2013. The impact of policies on patients near the end of life is unknown. Over a time period during which opioid safety initiatives were implemented, opioid prescribing near the end of life decreased, accompanied by decreases in opioid-related hospitalizations but increases in pain. These findings suggest that important tradeoffs may exist between reducing opioid-related serious adverse events and undertreating patient pain in the last month of life. Opioid prescribing guidelines could consider incorporating prognosis into recommendations.

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Unanswered questions on private equity in gastroenterology

06/28/25 at 03:20 AM

Unanswered questions on private equity in gastroenterologyJAMA Network; by Jane M. Zhu; 6/25A growing literature on private equity (PE) acquisitions of physician practices has found associated increases in health care prices and utilization, but evidence specific to gastroenterology remains relatively new despite the specialty being a popular target for PE. More than 1 in 8 gastroenterology practices are now owned by PE, with practice fragmentation, lucrative procedural reimbursements, and an aging population factoring into continuing investor interest... Taken together with observations of increased utilization, there may be 2 interpretations of the data presented by Arnold and colleagues. One interpretation of the findings may be that PE acquisition may focus on reducing inefficiencies, improving access by expanding practice capacity, and increasing throughput. Another interpretation may be that PE acquisition is focused on the strategic exploitation of market and pricing power. The latter may have less of an impact on clinical measures like quality of care, but potentially, both strategies could be at play.Publisher's note: Similar questions being asked across hospice, gastroenterology, physician practices, and other areas of healthcare.

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When GIP is not enough: Revocation of hospice to meet patient goals

06/28/25 at 03:15 AM

When GIP is not enough: Revocation of hospice to meet patient goalsJournal of Pain and Symptom Management; by Margaret Krasne, Alden Rinaldi, Richard Leiter; 5/25In 2021, 6.3% of hospice discharges were due to beneficiary revocation. The Hospice Care Index, a quality metric impacting hospice reimbursement, penalizes hospices for revocations, regardless of the reason for revocation. We will review the literature on reasons for hospice revocation, factors affecting revocation rates, the impact of revocation on quality metrics, and strategies for optimizing revocation rates.Publisher's note: This was a poster session at the 2/25 AAHPM conference.

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Physicians' preferences for their own end of life: A comparison across North America, Europe, and Australia

06/28/25 at 03:10 AM

Physicians' preferences for their own end of life: A comparison across North America, Europe, and AustraliaJournal of Medical Ethics; Sarah Mroz, Sigrid Dierickx, Kenneth Chambaere, Freddy Mortier, Ludovica De Panfilis, James Downar, Julie Lapenskie, Koby Anderson, Anna Skold, Courtney Campbell, Toby C Campbell, Rachel Feeney, Lindy Willmott, Ben P White, Luc Deliens; 6/25Setting: Eight jurisdictions: Belgium, Italy, Canada, USA (Oregon, Wisconsin, and Georgia), Australia (Victoria and Queensland). Participants: Three physician types: general practitioners, palliative care physicians, and other medical specialists. Conclusion: Physicians largely prefer to intensify alleviation of symptoms at the end of life and avoid life-sustaining techniques. In a scenario of advanced cancer or Alzheimer's disease, over half of physicians prefer assisted dying. Considerable preference variation exists across jurisdictions, and preferences for assisted dying seem to be impacted by the legalisation of assisted dying within jurisdictions.

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A narrative review of clinicians’ perspectives on palliative care for advanced liver disease

06/28/25 at 03:05 AM

A narrative review of clinicians’ perspectives on palliative care for advanced liver diseaseCurrent Hepatology Reports; Nicholas Hoppmann, Susan Feldman, Aidan Warner; 6/25 Integration of PC [palliative care] services for patients with ALD [advanced liver disease] is complicated by an unpredictable disease course and lack of comprehensive understanding of PC services across healthcare systems. In our current early stage of integration, clinicians’ perspectives highlight two major steps forward on the path to robust PC integration including increasing medical education on PC broadly and within hepatology to dispel misconceptions and provide skills to deliver primary PC as well as increasing collaboration between hepatology and specialty PC tailored to fit individual practice settings.Assitant editor's note: Perhaps the unpredictability of advanced liver disease is exactly why palliative care could be helpful. This may serve as a fruitful opportunity for PC programs to educate hepatologists. 

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[Columbia] Anxiety, depression, and quality of life of caregivers of palliative care patients with cancer

06/28/25 at 03:00 AM

[Bogota, Columbia] Anxiety, depression, and quality of life of caregivers of palliative care patients with cancerRevista Cuidarte; by Alejandra María Alvarado García, Lina María Vargas-Escobar, Mauricio Arias-Rojas, Carlos Javier Avendaño-Vásquez, Cesar Antonio Consuegra-Pareja; 2/25Caregivers with moderate or severe depression were more likely to report symptoms of sadness, punishment feelings, self-dislike, suicidal thoughts or wishes, indecisiveness, irritability, changes in appetite, concentration difficulty, and tiredness or fatigue. Among caregivers with mild depression, loss of interest in sex, agitation, and past failure were identified. Strategies for psycho-emotional counseling, education, and support for caregivers are needed.

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[Korea] Alzheimer Disease in Breast Cancer survivors

06/28/25 at 03:00 AM

[Korea] Alzheimer Disease in Breast Cancer survivorsJAMA Network; by Su-Min Jeong, Wonyoung Jung, Hyeonjin Cho, Hea Lim Choi, Keun Hye Jeon, Ki-Woong Nam, Yun-Gyoo Lee, Bongseong Kim, Kyungdo Han, Dong Wook Shin; 6/20Is breast cancer survivorship associated with the risk of Alzheimer dementia (AD), and how are cancer treatments associated with this risk? Breast cancer survivors may have a slightly lower risk of AD compared with cancer-free individuals, potentially influenced by cancer treatments, underscoring the need for further research on long-term neurocognitive outcomes in this population.

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Serious illness conversations in the Emergency Department for older adults with advanced illnesses - A randomized clinical trial

06/28/25 at 03:00 AM

Serious illness conversations in the Emergency Department for older adults with advanced illnesses - A randomized clinical trialJAMA Network; by Kei Ouchi, Susan D. Block, Dorene M. Rentz, Donna L. Berry, Hannah Oelschlager, Youkie Shiozawa, Sarah Rossmassler, Amanda L. Berger, Mohammad A. Hasdianda, Wei Wang, Edward Boyer, Rebecca L. Sudore, James A. Tulsky, Mara A. Schonberg; 6/25Does an emergency department (ED)–based intervention to discuss serious illness care goals improve advance care planning outcomes for older adults with advanced illnesses? In this randomized clinical trial including 141 patients in the ED, a nurse-led intervention to discuss serious illness care goals did not significantly improve patient-reported engagement in advance care planning but did increase subsequent clinician-documented serious illness conversations in the medical records. These findings suggest that ED visits may serve as a critical access point for serious illness conversations in clinically stable older adults with advanced illnesses.

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Re-examining early in early palliative care: Precedent, reality, and future research priorities

06/28/25 at 02:00 AM

Re-examining early in early palliative care: Precedent, reality, and future research prioritiesJCO Oncology Practice; by Laura A. Petrillo, Julia L. Agne; 6/25Nearly 700,000 people in the United States are living with metastatic solid tumor malignancies in 2025, a number that continues to grow because of advances in survival-extending therapy. Even with therapeutic advances, however, metastatic cancer continues to negatively affect patients' quality of life because of bothersome symptoms and psychological, social, and spiritual distress. Palliative care is specialized medical care focused on alleviating suffering for individuals with serious illness, including those with advanced cancer. On the basis of on substantial evidence demonstrating its efficacy in improving quality of life, ASCO and other organizations now recommend the early integration of palliative care with oncology care for all individuals living with advanced cancer. [Also see accompanying article: Early Integration of Outpatient Palliative Care Among Adults With Advanced Cancer in a Safety-Net Health System: A Patterns of Care Analysis; by Lisa DiMartino, Vincent Merrill, Celette Sugg Skinner, Timothy P. Hogan, Navid Sadeghi, Alva Roche-Green, Winnie Wang, Arthur S. Hong]

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My one wild and precious life—The purpose of medical care

06/25/25 at 03:00 AM

My one wild and precious life—The purpose of medical careJournal of Pain and Symptom Management; by Abinav K. Jyotis; 7/25“My One Wild and Precious Life - The Purpose of Medical Care”, contains reflections of a medical student as a naive little boy, inspired by his late grandfather, pinning to becoming a physician, who later struggles to find purpose in the unidealistic world of the current healthcare system. But, through his exposure to “Pallium India”, a non-profit palliative care organization in Kerala, India, healthcare once more gains meaning and signifies the importance of love and care amidst a patient's journey through pain and suffering.

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New! Pediatric e-Journal Issue #79

06/24/25 at 03:00 AM

New! Pediatric e-Journal Issue #79National Alliance for Care at Home press release; 6/23/25The 79th issue of the Alliance's Pediatric e-Journal - Community Bridge of Support - is available now! This issue focuses on ways in which individuals, programs, and communities can work together in support of pediatric hospice and palliative care. The e-Journal is available to all through the Alliance website.

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Palliative care in liver transplantation

06/21/25 at 03:45 AM

Palliative care in liver transplantationCurrent Transplantation Reports; Michelle Ng, Elliot Tapper; 5/25 Palliative care is an underutilized resource due to the misconception that being a liver transplant candidate precludes patients from accessing these services. However, early integration of palliative care has become increasingly important for both pre- and post-liver transplant patients as it not only improves patient outcomes, but also promotes quality of life that extends beyond graft or patient survival. We discuss strategies to manage pain, ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, pruritis, muscle cramps, sexual dysfunction, depression, anxiety, insomnia, and malnutrition. These symptoms are best addressed with a multi-modal approach with non-pharmacologic therapies as an adjunct. 

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Mindfulness and relaxation interventions reduce depression, negative affect and stress in widow(er)s

06/21/25 at 03:40 AM

Mindfulness and relaxation interventions reduce depression, negative affect and stress in widow(er)sJournal of Loss and Trauma; Lindsey M. Knowles, Deanna M. Kaplan, Melissa Flores, Sydney E. Friedman, Mary-Frances O’Connor; 6/25Mindfulness training (MT) and progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) interventions show promise for improving bereavement-related grief (Knowles et al. 2021). Mindfulness training (MT) develops the systematic and secular practice of focusing one’s attention on present moment experiences, emotions, and thoughts, from an open, nonreactive, and nonjudgmental perspective (Bishop et al., 2004). Progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) facilitates physiological and psychological relaxation via a systematic release of generated bodily tension (Bernstein et al., 2000). MT and PMRhave been shown to reduce depression relapse, and improve depression, perceived stress, mindfulness and/or quality of life in clinical and non-clinical populations ...

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Caring beyond cure-Perspectives of pediatric oncology nurses on end-of-life care

06/21/25 at 03:35 AM

Caring beyond cure-Perspectives of pediatric oncology nurses on end-of-life careJournal of Hospice & Palliative Nursing ; Scarperi, Peter BSN, RN; MacKenzie Greenle, Meredith PhD, RN, ANP-BC, CNE; June, 2025In a sample of nursing students and nurses working in pediatric oncology, this mixed-methods study aimed to describe attitudes toward and experiences of providing end-of-life care and examine the relationship between education, work experience, and attitudes. Overall, participants held positive attitudes toward end-of-life care, with staff nurses more positive than student nurses. All participants had provided end-of-life care, yet only 2 (5.41%) thought their education thus far prepared them. Age, education, experience, and burnout were associated with attitudes toward providing end-of-life care. Qualitative themes included challenges of preparedness and training, the nurse’s role, and parent team barriers. Training in pediatric end-of-life care is crucial to improve nurses’ comfort with providing this care.

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Strategies to prepare hospice providers to interact with adolescents with a parent in hospice

06/21/25 at 03:30 AM

Strategies to prepare hospice providers to interact with adolescents with a parent in hospicePalliative & Supportive Care; William Grayson, Denice Kopchak Sheehan, Pamela S Stephenson, Kristen DeBois, Caitlin Sheehan; 5/25The sample included 18 young adults (18-28 years old) whose parents died in hospice or palliative care while they were adolescents (12-18 years old). Semi-structured interviews were conducted virtually via Microsoft Teams. The participants described a variety of skills that are important for hospice providers to know. They provided specific suggestions for hospice providers who seek to help adolescents navigate this critical time when their parents are dying or have recently died. These results can also be used to inform the development of interventions that assist hospice providers with strategies tailored to an adolescent's specific needs.

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Examining education models for clinical staff working with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in hospice and palliative care: A narrative literature review

06/21/25 at 03:25 AM

Examining education models for clinical staff working with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in hospice and palliative care: A narrative literature reviewAmerican Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care; Caitlyn M Moore; 5/25Despite individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) living longer with serious illness, healthcare professionals report inadequate training in this area. Additionally, IDD specialists consistently express discomfort and limited knowledge regarding HAPC [hospice and palliative care]. Findings indicate that while several studies demonstrate positive outcomes regarding knowledge, self-efficacy, and satisfaction among participants, there is a lack of standardized training and patient-centered metrics. Existing interventions largely focused on improving the knowledge of IDD staff regarding HAPC, with limited attention given to educating HAPC professionals on the nuances and complexities needs of people with IDD. This review underscores the importance of developing and implementing evidence-based and standardized training programs that encompass the needs of both HAPC and IDD specialists.

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Can a chatbot be a medical surrogate? The use of large language models in medical ethics decision-making

06/21/25 at 03:20 AM

Can a chatbot be a medical surrogate? The use of large language models in medical ethics decision-makingNEJM-AI; Isha Harshe, B.S., B.A.; Kenneth W. Goodman, Ph.D.; Gauri Agarwal, M.D.; 6/25 The use of AI in health care has raised numerous ethical challenges. Issues concerning data privacy, accountability, bias perpetuation, and the identification of appropriate uses and users have prompted scholars and scientists to tackle these challenges. Our findings indicate that while AI systems may assist in identifying considerations and guidelines for ethical decision-making, they do not consistently demonstrate the flexibility of thought that humans exhibit when addressing novel ethical cases. AI can support ethical decision-making, but it is not currently capable of showing autonomous ethical reasoning for consultation regarding patient care.

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Cocota's story: Life lessons in aging, resilience, and end-of-life agency from a Brazilian matriarch

06/21/25 at 03:15 AM

Cocota's story: Life lessons in aging, resilience, and end-of-life agency from a Brazilian matriarchJournal of the American Geriatrics Society; Thiago J Avelino-Silva, Niousha Moini; 6/25In Cocota's case, a hip fracture in her 80s did not lead to permanent disability; rather, she reclaimed her daily routines, demonstrating the interplay between physical robustness and unwavering determination. Equally telling was her decision to "stop eating and drinking" near life's end, exemplifying resilience as a final expression of agency. We further explore how her experiences align with deeper forms of well-being, marked by purpose and prosocial behavior, and practical wisdom, including emotional regulation and sound moral judgment. By examining her life journey, clinicians and community partners can better appreciate how resilience spans physical, cognitive, psychosocial, and spiritual domains, ultimately guiding more integrated strategies to support older adults. The lessons learned have direct relevance for clinical interventions, community programs, and public health initiatives aimed at fostering autonomy and meaningful engagement in later life.

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Sacred moment experiences among internal medicine physicians

06/21/25 at 03:10 AM

Sacred moment experiences among internal medicine physiciansJAMA Network Open; Jessica Ameling, MPH; Nathan Houchens, MD; M. Todd Greene, PhD, MPH; David Ratz, MS; Martha Quinn, MPH; Latoya Kuhn, MPH; Sanjay Saint, MD, MPH; 5/25Some have described sacred moments as sudden intimacies or moments of deep memorable connection with another person. The health care setting is replete with opportunities for the types of human connections that lead to sacred moments, such as times of crises or grief, or conversely, times of great happiness. These moments leave participants with a sense of joy, peace, and empathy for the others involved. In this survey study of 629 physicians, 68% reported experiencing a sacred moment with a patient, and physicians who considered themselves very spiritual or possessing a strong sense of purpose in life or work had increased odds of experiencing a sacred moment. Both experiencing sacred moments often and discussing them with colleagues were associated with less burnout [and] improve[d] physician well-being.

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[China] Efficacy of music therapy on quality of life in cancer patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis

06/21/25 at 03:05 AM

[China] Efficacy of music therapy on quality of life in cancer patients: A systematic review and meta-analysisPsycho-Oncology; Ting Luo, Suting Zhang, Mi Zhao, Hong Song, Shuo Wang, Jing Han; 5/25Music therapy was effective in improving the QoL [quality of life] of patients with cancer, with passive music therapy being superior to active-passive music therapy. Meanwhile, anxiety and depression were relieved as well.

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