Literature Review

Johns Hopkins study reveals medical marijuana lowers pain, hospital visits BNN, by Wojciech Zylm; 3/5/24Recent research highlights significant improvements in well-being for cannabis users, offering hope for those with chronic illnesses. The study showcases a potential shift in the perception and utilization of medical cannabis in healthcare.

Hospice launches Mothers Day tribute page Newrie.ie; 3/3/24Southern Area Hospice has launched an online tribute page ahead of Mother’s Day, providing a platform for individuals to remember their mothers, grandmothers, and mother figures who have passed away. Visitors to the Mother’s Day online tribute page can leave messages, share stories, and upload photographs of their loved ones. The page also allows individuals to read other dedications, fostering a sense of community and remembrance. 

Could Kansas adopt medical cannabis pilot program? Legislation in the works Kansas News, by Rebekah Chung; 3/1/24Medical marijuana advocates are crafting proposals for this session. Nexstar’s Kansas Capitol Bureau confirmed that a medical cannabis pilot program proposal is in the works. The future of marijuana reform lies in the Kansas Senate’s hands, as the House awaits action.

MMJ.com expands access to Medical Marijuana cards across 26 states in the US Newsfile Corp., 3/1/24 In a significant development for healthcare and legal access to medical marijuana in the United States, MMJ.com has announced its expansion to offer services across 26 states. This initiative represents a pivotal moment in the ongoing effort to provide patients with legal, safe, and convenient access to medical marijuana, reflecting changing societal attitudes and advancements in telehealth.

Music therapy could help manage the pain of bereavementThe Conversation; 2/28/24Grief has always inspired songwriters. Popular songs including Let Me Go, by Gary Barlow, Eric Clapton’s Tears in Heaven and The Living Years by Mike and the Mechanics, were all written as a way of working through the grief of losing a loved one. ... Barlow’s Let Me Go, however, is a remarkably upbeat and joyful record, written from the perspective of the pop star’s stillborn daughter, Poppy.

Facing dementia: Clarifying end-of-life choices, supporting better lives The Hastings Center; 2/28/24The report includes 10 recommendations for policymakers, research funders, clinical and legal practitioners, and professional societies. ... “Facing Dementia: Clarifying End-of-Life Choices, Supporting Better Lives” is the major product of a Hastings Center research project, codirected by Hastings senior research scholar Nancy Berlinger and President Emerita Mildred Z. Solomon. 

Surgeon shares biggest lesson: ‘Never underestimate the power of hope Mofitt Cancer Center, by Corrie Pellegrino; 2/27/24An Interview with Dr. Monica Avila. ...[Question] What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned from a patient?[Response] I think the biggest lesson is to never underestimate the power of hope and the power of the patients’ will to live. I’ve had patients literally placed on hospice care who I have taken to the operating room, had successful optimal debulking for ovarian cancer and who are living life right now after chemotherapy. So I never underestimate patients’ ability to keep going and keep living.

House set to vote on bill that could give dramatic boost to nurse-aide training efforts McKnights Long-Term Care News, by Josh Henreckson; 2/28/24 A bill that could reshape how new workers enter the long-term care workforce is scheduled for a vote in the US House of Representatives this week, according to a spokesperson for House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA). If passed, HR 6585 — referred to as the Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act — would make work training programs of as short as eight weeks with a minimum of 150 hours of training eligible for the federal aid through the Pell Grant program. Previously, grants were available only to programs with a minimum of 15 weeks and 600 hours of training.

Experiences of nursing students providing end of life care for children and young people: A focus group study Elsevier, by Clair Camara, Leah Rosengarten and Jane Callum; 2/27/24This study aims to help improve understanding of the lived experiences of children's nursing students who have cared for a patient at, during, or immediately following end-of-life. The study describes the emotions experienced by children's nursing students and explores the student nurses' perceptions of education and support needs around caring for [Children and Young People] CYP during end-of-life care.

Racial differences in shared decision-making about critical illnessJAMA Intern Med, by Deepshikha C. Ashana, MD, MBA, MS; Whitney Welsh, PhD; Doreet Preiss, PhD; et al; published online 2/26/24Question: How do critical care clinicians approach shared decision-making with Black compared with White caregivers of critically ill patients?Findings: In a thematic analysis of 39 audio-recorded clinician-caregiver meetings, racial differences were most evident in the following clinician behaviors: providing emotional support to caregivers, acknowledging trust and gratitude expressed by caregivers, disclosing medical information, and validating caregivers' treatment preferences.

CareAcademy launches hospice care curriculum and expands offerings to serve post-acute care providers nationwidePR Newswire, news provided by CareAcademy; 2/27/24CareAcademy ... proudly announces the launch of its Hospice Care curriculum, marking a significant expansion of its offerings to support post-acute care providers. Renowned for its user-friendly platform and high-quality content, CareAcademy is broadening its focus to be a key player in the broader post-acute care landscape, serving home health, hospice and palliative care organizations.

Hospice gardens bloom thanks to planting efforts from schoolchildrenDorset Echo, by Katie Heyes; 2/25/24Patients at an end-of-life care hospice got to see the early blooming of flowers planted by Dorset students last autumn. In September last year, students from Beaminster School, St Osmund's C of E Middle School, and Thomas Hardye School gathered to plant bulbs on Weldmar Hospicecare's Inpatient Unit gardens at the site in Dorchester.

Medical marijuana testing: Mississippi revokes license of lab that covered 70% of state's supply, raising patient access concerns Benzinga - Investing.com; by Maureen Meehan; 2/25/24Mississippi’s Department of Health (MSDH) revoked the license of Rapid Analytics, a medical cannabis testing lab, citing “significant deviations from regulations” following a two-month investigation.