Literature Review
All posts tagged with “Research News | Journal Article.”
Wealth disparities in end-of-life symptom burden among older adults
03/15/25 at 03:10 AMWealth disparities in end-of-life symptom burden among older adultsJAMA Network Open; Irena Cenzer, Kenneth E Covinsky, Sarah H Cross, Claire K Ankuda, Lauren J Hunt, Melissa D Aldridge, Krista L Harrison; 3/25This cohort study found that lower wealth was associated with a higher symptom burden at the end of life, mediated in part by higher rates of multimorbidity, functional impairment, and dementia. These findings highlight the need for policies and programs to support patients with lower financial resources to improve end-of-life experiences and mitigate wealth disparities.
The preference for acute rehospitalization scale: Evaluating preference for acute rehospitalization in pediatric hospice patients
03/15/25 at 03:10 AMThe preference for acute rehospitalization scale: Evaluating preference for acute rehospitalization in pediatric hospice patientsJournal of Palliative Medicine; Kelley Newcomer, Katherine Maddox; 3/25Since the passage of the Affordable Care Act, children are able to access pediatric hospice while still pursuing life-prolonging care. This can create confusion between hospice and palliative care staff and families about current goals of care (GOC), which evolve over time. Hospice and palliative care teams created, implemented, and evaluated a five-point scale to summarize the Preference for Acute Rehospitalization (PAR) Scale for children on concurrent care hospice. Most users reported they agreed or strongly agreed the PAR Scale helped them to understand families' GOC and feel more confident giving advice with urgent questions.
Hospice use among Medicare beneficiaries with Parkinson Disease and Dementia with Lewy bodies
03/15/25 at 03:05 AMHospice use among Medicare beneficiaries with Parkinson Disease and Dementia with Lewy bodiesJAMA Network Open; Meredith Bock, MD; Siqi Gan, MPH; Melissa Aldridge, PhD; Krista L. Harrison, PhD; Kristine Yaffe, MD; Alexander K. Smith, MD; John Boscardin, PhD; Lauren J. Hunt, PhD; 3/25Lewy body disease (LBD)—an umbrella term that includes Parkinson disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB)—describes progressive, incurable neurodegenerative disorders. Parkinson disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer disease (AD) and is the fastest growing neurologic disorder in the world.In this cohort study of ... Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in hospice between 2010 and 2020, hospice enrollees with both PD and DLB were less likely to be disenrolled due to extended prognosis than those with AD. Enrollees with PD—but not DLB–were more likely to have longer lengths of stay and revoke hospice. The findings of this study suggest a higher likelihood of revocation of hospice care in PD, raise important questions about their unmet needs in hospice, and highlight the need to disaggregate dementia subtypes for policy analysis.
The analysis of hospice trends in the United States in 2020 among Medicare beneficiaries
03/15/25 at 03:00 AMThe analysis of hospice trends in the United States in 2020 among Medicare beneficiariesAmerican Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine; Noor Chughtai, BS; Cortland Brown, MS; Jordan Shelestak, MS; Jared Nichols, DO; 3/25 While hospice care has many benefits, there is variability among the service throughout the United States. Public hospice care data from data.cms.gov were analyzed to explore these trends. Findings indicate that Medicare beneficiaries in the South and West regions of the U.S. experience longer hospice stays, and in contrast, those in the Northeast and Midwest (including Alaska) reflected reduction from this average. Notably, states with shorter hospice durations showed a higher proportion of neoplastic disorders as the primary diagnosis, while those with longer stays showed an inverse relationship with greater prevalence of circulatory system disorders and lower incidence of neoplastic diagnoses. Additionally, the analysis reveals a consistent decline in average hospice length with increasing age among patients aged 80-85 across all U.S. regions, as expected.
[UK] Coming to terms with dying: Advance care planning as a conduit between clinicians, patients, and conversations about death and dying - A qualitative interview study
03/08/25 at 03:55 AM[UK] Coming to terms with dying: Advance care planning as a conduit between clinicians, patients, and conversations about death and dying - A qualitative interview studyPalliative Medicine; Rowena Jane Eason, Lisa Jane Brighton, Jonathan Koffman, Katherine Bristowe; 2/25Advance care planning elicits multiple complex thoughts, emotions, and behaviours, with responses ranging from the procedural to the profound. Discussions empowered and instilled confidence, promoted openness with relatives, encouraged people to make the most of their time remaining, and sometimes contributed to coming to terms with their mortality. Factors influencing experiences of discussions reflected the complexity and diversity in participants' lives, personalities, and life experiences, with discussions exposing the realities of living with terminal illness.
[Canada] 'Getting everyone on the same page': Long-term-care nurses' experiences with advance care planning
03/08/25 at 03:55 AM[Canada] 'Getting everyone on the same page': Long-term-care nurses' experiences with advance care planningInternational Journal of Older People Nursing; Preetha Krishnan, Susan McClement, Genevieve Thompson, Marie Edwards, Philip St John; 3/25Ensuring comfort for LTC [long-term care] residents at the end-of-life or during acute events by getting everyone on the same page is a complex process. The ability of nurses to downgrade or upgrade the ACP [advance care planning] level to orchestrate comfort for LTC residents involves many factors related to the resident, family, healthcare providers and the context in which the ACP discussions take place. Providing ACP/dementia information in LTC admission packages and through informational sessions can raise family awareness of these topics and dementia's complications. Clinical rotations in LTC facilities for medical, nursing, and paramedic students could also improve their understanding of the sector's complexities.
Using virtual reality to improve outcomes related to quality of life among older adults with serious illnesses: Systematic review of randomized controlled trials
03/08/25 at 03:50 AMUsing virtual reality to improve outcomes related to quality of life among older adults with serious illnesses: Systematic review of randomized controlled trialsJournal of Medical Internet Research; Bhagvat Maheta, Alexandra Kraft, Nickolas Interrante, Soraya Fereydooni, Jeremy Bailenson, Brian Beams, Christina Keny, Thomas Osborne, Karleen Giannitrapani, Karl Lorenz; 2/25Virtual reality (VR) has promise as an innovative nonpharmacologic treatment for improving a patient's quality of life. VR can be used as an adjunct or treatment for many acute and chronic conditions, including serious illnesses. Nascent evidence suggests VR's potential in mitigating pain, anxiety, and depression and improving mobility among persons with serious illnesses.
Tracking US health care spending by health condition and county
03/08/25 at 03:30 AMTracking US health care spending by health condition and countyJAMA; Joseph L. Dieleman, PhD; Meera Beauchamp, BS; Sawyer W. Crosby, BA; Drew DeJarnatt, MS; Emily K. Johnson, MSc; Haley Lescinsky, MPH; Theresa McHugh, PhD; Ian Pollock, MLS; Maitreyi Sahu, MPH; Vivianne Swart, MPH; Kayla V. Taylor, MPH; Azalea Thomson, MPH; Golsum Tsakalos, MS; Maxwell Weil, MS; Lauren B. Wilner, MPH; Anthony L. Bui, MD, MPH; Herbert C. Duber, MD, MPH; Annie Haakenstad, ScD, MA; Bulat Idrisov, MD, MSc; Ali Mokdad, PhD; Mohsen Naghavi, MD, MPH, PhD; Gregory Roth, MD, MPH; John W. Scott, MD, MPH; Tara Templin, PhD, MS; Christopher J. L. Murray, DPhil, MD; 2/25Health care spending in the US totaled $3.8 trillion in 2019 and is projected to reach more than $7 trillion by 2031. Within the US, spending varies dramatically across states, although many key drivers of health care spending, such as access to care, service prices, disease and injury prevalence, and underlying need for health care, vary at more local levels. Broad variation in health care spending was observed across US counties. Understanding this variation by health condition, sex, age, type of care, and payer is valuable for identifying outliers, highlighting inequalities, and assessing health care gaps.
Knowledge of and preferences for medical aid in dying
03/08/25 at 03:20 AMKnowledge of and preferences for medical aid in dyingJAMA Network Open; Elissa Kozlov, PhD; Elizabeth A. Luth, PhD; Sam Nemeth, BA; Todd D. Becker, PhD, LMSW; Paul R. Duberstein, PhD; 2/25In the US, approximately 74 million people (22%) live in a jurisdiction that allows medical aid in dying (MAID), a legal practice that allows terminally ill patients to obtain a prescription for medication to end their life. In this online survey study of 3,227 US adults, 51.3% did not know if MAID was legal in the US, and 50.8% did not know if MAID was legal in their state. In the full sample, 44.0% expressed interest in using MAID if terminally ill. This study suggests that there is substantial interest across all demographic groups in using MAID, but significant knowledge gaps exist about its legality, which may be associated with observed racial and ethnic and educational differences in MAID’s use. These findings highlight the need for public education, policy initiatives, and patient-clinician discussions to ensure equitable access to patient-centered end-of-life options and informed decision-making.
An opportunity to advance cannabis science—DEA rescheduling
03/08/25 at 03:20 AMAn opportunity to advance cannabis science—DEA reschedulingJAMA Psychiatry; Kevin P. Hill, MD, MHS; Anshul V. Puli, BS; 2/25In 1970, the US Congress enacted the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), establishing a scheduling system for drugs based on their medical use, abuse potential, and safety. The most restrictive classification is Schedule I; cannabis along with other drugs, such as heroin and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), have this classification. May 13, 2024, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), the agency regulating substance scheduling, issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to investigate rescheduling cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III. This was due to a recommendation from the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to reschedule based on its review of the medical and scientific cannabis research. Still, the FDA investigated HHS’ CAMU [cannabis’ current accepted medical use] claim and found some credible scientific support for treating “anorexia related to a medical condition, nausea and vomiting (eg, chemotherapy-induced), and pain.”
Pulmonary embolism–related mortality in patients with cancer
03/08/25 at 03:10 AMPulmonary embolism–related mortality in patients with cancerJAMA Network Open; Marco Zuin, MD, MS; Anju Nohria, MD; Stanislav Henkin, MD, MPH; Darsiya Krishnathasan, MS; Alyssa Sato, BA; Gregory Piazza, MD, MS; 2/25This cohort study ... found that despite decreases in cancer-related mortality rates, temporal trends demonstrated an increase in age-adjusted PE [pulmonary embolism]-related mortality from 2011 to 2020 among patients with cancer, with a significantly higher rate of increase observed in younger patients aged 15 to 64 years, Black, Hispanic, and White individuals; and the Southern region of the US. Recognition of such patterns may inform further research into thromboprophylaxis and treatment of PE as a complication of cancer and cancer-directed therapy.
Algorithm-based palliative care in patients with cancer-A cluster randomized clinical trial
03/08/25 at 03:05 AMAlgorithm-based palliative care in patients with cancer-A cluster randomized clinical trialJAMA Network Open; Ravi B. Parikh, MD, MPP; William J. Ferrell, MPH; Yang Li, MS; Jinbo Chen, PhD; Larry Bilbrey; Nicole Johnson, BSN; Jenna White, MSW; Ramy Sedhom, MD; Natalie R. Dickson, MD; Stephen Schleicher, MD; Justin E. Bekelman, MD; Sandhya Mudumbi, MD; 2/25In this randomized clinical trial conducted in a community oncology network between November 2022 and December 2023 among 562 patients with advanced cancer identified by an automated electronic health record algorithm, default orders increased palliative care consultation (44% vs 8%) and decreased end-of-life systemic therapy (6% vs 16%) compared with usual care but did not improve patient-reported or hospice outcomes. The findings suggest that default algorithm-based palliative care orders are a scalable implementation strategy to increase palliative care referrals and reduce intensive end-of-life care.
Increasing awareness and access to integrated behavioral health and palliative care: An introduction to the American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine's
03/08/25 at 03:00 AMIncreasing awareness and access to integrated behavioral health and palliative care: An introduction to the American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine'sAmerican Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care; James Gerhart, Michael Hoerger, Stacie Levine, Sean O'Mahony; 2/25Mental health symptoms are common in the general population and are overrepresented in patients receiving palliative care and hospice services. This introduction to the special issue on Mental Health in Palliative Care and Hospice highlights the ongoing need for research and training to prepare our palliative care workforce to address the concerns of patients experiencing serious illness and mental health concerns. Multilevel approaches are needed to enhance understanding of mental health needs among people with serious illness. Public health outreach is needed within our communities, targeted support is needed for family caregivers, and structured training for palliative care and hospice clinicians is needed to enhance competent mental health in these settings.
When is the best time to deliver supportive interventions to hospice family caregivers? A Multi-Method Study
03/08/25 at 03:00 AMWhen is the best time to deliver supportive interventions to hospice family caregivers? A Multi-Method StudyGerontologist; by Oonjee Oh, Debra Parker Oliver, Karla Washington, George Demiris; 2/25While problem-solving interventions can teach caregivers effective coping skills throughout hospice, the optimal timing for introducing such resources remains unclear. We explored how the timing of a problem-solving intervention impacts its effectiveness for hospice caregivers. We conducted a multi-method study analyzing quantitative and qualitative data from a randomized clinical trial of a Problem-solving Intervention to Support Caregivers in End-of-life care Settings (PISCES)... Caregivers' anxiety showed significant pre-post differences regardless of the intervention timing, modality, and components... Three themes emerged from the qualitative analysis: timing for PISCES to be most effective, emotions during various stages of hospice, and the length of PISCES. Strategically integrating PISCES into hospice practice can help alleviate caregivers' distress.
Mitigating moral injury for palliative care clinicians
03/08/25 at 03:00 AMMitigating moral injury for palliative care cliniciansPalliative Medicine Reports; by Anne G. Pereira, Mark Linzer, Leonard L. Berry; 2/23Palliative care clinicians (PCCs) in the United States face the combination of increasing burnout and a growing need for their services based on demographic changes and an increasing burden of serious illness... We propose three solutions to address moral distress and moral injury in PCCs to reduce burnout. These solutions are grounded in the dilemmas particular to palliative care and in best evidence: first, to create space for PCCs to confront moral challenges head-on; second, to integrate ethics consultations into care of some patients cared for by PCCs; and third, to reassess care models for PCCs. These approaches can mitigate burnout and thus address the growing gap in our ability to provide high-quality palliative care for those patients in need.
Explaining racial and ethnic disparities in advance care planning: A decomposition analysis
03/08/25 at 03:00 AMExplaining racial and ethnic disparities in advance care planning: A decomposition analysisJournal of Pain and Symptom Management; Yifan Lou, Emma Zang, Qianqian Li; 2/25The ACP [advance care planning] disparities between White and Hispanic populations were nearly twice as large as the disparity between White and Black populations. Interventions targeting less educated older Black and Hispanic individuals should be prioritized to narrow the ACP disparity. Negative healthcare experiences in previous care and household dynamics should be addressed while working with Black and Hispanic older adults, respectively.
Shareholder payouts among large publicly traded health care companies
03/01/25 at 03:45 AMShareholder payouts among large publicly traded health care companiesJAMA Internal Medicine; Victor Roy, MD, PhD; Victor Amana, MPH; Joseph S. Ross, MD, MHS; Cary P. Gross, MD; 2/25There is growing concern that a large proportion of US health care spending appears to be directed to corporate shareholders rather than enhancing affordable access, improving quality of care, or advancing research and development. Total shareholder payouts from S&P 500 health care companies have more than tripled in the past 20 years. Payouts were concentrated among a small number of companies, with the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, managed care, and health care equipment and supplies subindustries distributing the largest amounts. Given greater health care affordability challenges for US households and the major role of federal and state governments in financing the health care sector, shareholder payouts have critical implications for stakeholders, especially patients. Increasing capital distributions to shareholders of publicly traded companies may be associated with higher prices and may not be reinvested in improving access, delivery, or research and development.
New FDA policies could limit the full value of AI in medicine
03/01/25 at 03:40 AMNew FDA policies could limit the full value of AI in medicineJAMA Health Forum; Scott Gottlieb, MD; 2/25Some experts within the [AI] field predict that in the next several years, developers may realize artificial general intelligence (AGI)—a revolutionary form of AI capable of understanding, learning, and applying knowledge across various tasks with human-like proficiency. Unlike today’s narrow AI systems that excel at tasks such as image recognition or language translation, AGI can tackle any intellectual challenge a human can, demonstrating a deep comprehension of diverse disciplines. Artificial intelligence tools with advanced analytical capabilities used in clinical practice, especially tools that synthesize complex clinical information from distinct sources, may automatically be classified as medical devices ... [by the US Food and Drug Administration]. This could deny health care clinicians access to AI tools that have the potential to transform the productivity and safety of medical care.
Patients’ trust in health systems to use artificial intelligence
03/01/25 at 03:35 AMPatients’ trust in health systems to use artificial intelligenceJAMA Network Open; Paige Nong, PhD; Jodyn Platt, PhD; 2/25This analysis found low trust in health care systems to use AI responsibly and protect patients from AI-related harms. General trust in the health care system, but not health literacy or AI knowledge, was associated with these perceptions. Low trust in health care systems to use AI indicates a need for improved communication and investments in organizational trustworthiness.
Challenges to video visits for patients with non–English language preference-A qualitative study
03/01/25 at 03:30 AMChallenges to video visits for patients with non–English language preference-A qualitative studyJAMA Network Open; Marianna Kong, MD; Francine Rios-Fetchko, BA; Madelyn Olmos-Rodriguez, BA; Linda Branagan, PhD; Bradley Iott, MPH, MS, PhD; Therese Chan Tack, DO, MPH; Carol Yarbrough, MBA; Kevin Grumbach, MD; Alicia Fernandez, MD; 2/25Telemedicine, or synchronous video or audio-only visits, has made clinical encounters more convenient and accessible for many patients. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, video and telephone visits comprised a small minority of primary care visits, but by April 2020, approximately one-half of US physicians were treating patients virtually and nonurgent telemedicine video visits increased by more than 600%. In this qualitative study, participants with NELP [non-English language preference] perceived multiple barriers to video visits, including greater communication difficulties, lower medical evaluation quality, and technical issues. These findings suggest that addressable technical challenges associated with language barriers hamper access to video visits and decrease motivation for use and that interventions are needed to increase telehealth equity.
Associations between end-stage ALS care and specialty palliative care: A hypothesis-generating study
03/01/25 at 03:25 AMAssociations between end-stage ALS care and specialty palliative care: A hypothesis-generating studyMuscle and Nerve; Christi M Lero, Annabelle Yang, Elyse Everett, Kyle A Pitzer, Kelly McCoy Gross, Karla T Washington; 2/25Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) care is typically delivered via a multidisciplinary approach that may include specialty palliative care (SPC). Patients who received SPC (59%), had lower mean forced vital capacity ... , and more often used respiratory support ... , participated in goals of care conversations ... , reported a healthcare proxy ... , and enrolled in hospice ... than patients who received standard care alone. No differences between groups were found in duration of illness (mean = 51.7 months), use of assistive feeding, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-R) scores, ... documentation of a healthcare proxy, length of hospice stay (mean = 47.3 days), or location of death.
Influence of culture and spiritual tradition on support for families of children dying in intensive care units
03/01/25 at 03:20 AMInfluence of culture and spiritual tradition on support for families of children dying in intensive care unitsJournal of Pediatric Nursing; Sung-Jin Jeanie Ju, Janie Ito, Aubree Lin, Dagmar Grefe, Jennifer Baird, Rebecca Ortiz La Banca Barber; 2/25Parents utilize spirituality as a means of coping during and after a child's death. Complexity of grief associated with loss of a child suggests the paramount importance of providing appropriate support for parents while experiencing their child's critical illness or end of life. Findings indicated three themes that illustrate the end-of-life and bereavement process: 1) Coping during hospitalization and the end-of-life stage; 2) coping during the bereavement stage; and 3) advice for parents and staff. To integrate the results into practice, hospital-wide education for staff on the importance of cultural and spiritual sensitivity is recommended. Additionally, collaboration with spiritual care teams, especially for patients and families facing complex diagnoses or advance care planning, will enhance the provision of culturally and spiritually sensitive care.
Development of an interprofessional clinician training in pediatric serious illness communication
03/01/25 at 03:15 AMDevelopment of an interprofessional clinician training in pediatric serious illness communicationJournal of Palliative Medicine; Danielle D DeCourcey, Rachelle Bernacki, John Carozza, Sithya Lach, Andrea Wershof Schwartz; 2/25Early advance care planning (ACP) is associated with improved outcomes in pediatrics, yet few rigorously developed curricula exist to train interprofessional clinicians in ACP communication. We developed an interactive, skills-based three-hour synchronous online clinician training program using Kern's Six-Step Curriculum Design, incorporating didactic and simulated patient encounters with a trained actor. Following training, 97% of participants were highly satisfied with training quality, and 100% endorsed that they would recommend it to colleagues. Additionally, clinician self-reported comfort discussing fundamental elements of ACP significantly increased following the training.
“You sure feel like you’re alone, kind of flailing away out there”: Family caregiver perspectives of caring for an individual with glioblastoma multiforme
03/01/25 at 03:10 AM“You sure feel like you’re alone, kind of flailing away out there”: Family caregiver perspectives of caring for an individual with glioblastoma multiformeCambridge University Press; by Christy Muasher-Kerwin, Abby Baumbach, Yujun Liu, M. Courtney Hughes; 2/25Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and aggressive form of brain cancer... Nineteen current and former family caregivers for individuals with GBM participated in semi-structured interviews from October 2023 through January 2024... Three themes emerged from the interview analysis: (1) overwhelming caregiver burden, (2) difficulties coping with the caregiver role, and (3) gaps in caregiver support... Family caregivers for individuals with GBM desire more straightforward and proactive information and education about their care recipients from their medical providers. There is an opportunity for more utilization of hospice, palliative, and rehabilitation services to provide necessary training to GBM patients and their caregivers.
[UK] Supporting the bereaved child in the adult ICU: A narrative review
03/01/25 at 03:05 AM[UK] Supporting the bereaved child in the adult ICU: A narrative reviewIntensive Care Medicine; Annelies Rowland, Carole Boulanger, Louise Dalton; 2/25Childhood bereavement is a significant issue globally, affecting millions of children each year, with incidence rates significantly increasing following the COVID-19 pandemic. The loss of an important adult, particularly in the ICU environment, can lead to lasting psychological and behavioural challenges for children. Both families and healthcare professionals (HCPs) often feel unprepared and uncomfortable engaging in honest, supportive conversations with children about bereavement, further complicating children's grief processing. This narrative review examines the pivotal role ICU HCPs can play in facilitating child-centred bereavement support, focusing on promoting honest communication, supportive visitation practices, creating a child-friendly and humanised ICU environment, and encouraging child involvement during end-of-life care. The review also advocates for specialised training to equip ICU staff with the necessary skills to support grieving children and families.