Literature Review

Oncology-embedded supportive care and end-of-life outcomes: a comparative study of hospice-eligible Muslim patients with cancer and non-cancer diagnoses Supportive Care in Cancer; by Manahil Imran, Basel Ghurm Alshehri, Muhammad Ali Akhtar, Raafey Imran, Umar Iqbal, Maryam Imran, Aaliyaan Iqbal, Ibrahim M. Imran, Ibrahim T. Malik, Tabindeh Jabeen Khalid, Mohsin Iqbal, Belal Mohammad Sharaf, and Imran Khalid; 3/24/26 ... Conclusions: An oncology-embedded supportive care model in a Muslim-majority setting was associated with earlier transitions to comfort-focused care and less aggressive end-of-life interventions among hospice-eligible cancer patients. The contrast with non-cancer patients highlights the importance of structured supportive care integration and demonstrates that models adapted to cultural and religious contexts can effectively support comfort-focused care.

Trauma-informed palliative care: A systematic scoping review of evidence sources describing concepts relevant to an emerging field of practice Palliative Medicine; by Rebecca Salama, Jane Simpson, Fiona J. R. Eccles, Maddy French; 3/23/26 Background: Trauma-informed palliative care aims to improve end-of-life experiences by recognising and responding to the presence of psychological trauma. While many practitioners support the approach, they also acknowledge the need to build a stronger evidence base.Results: ... the review identified a substantial body of evidence that describes concepts relevant to its approach. These findings provide a valuable starting point for future research.

What we get wrong about comfort at the end of life: Jennifer Martnick Cleveland.com, Cleveland, OH; by guest columnist Jennifer Martnick; 3/22/26 When people hear the word comfort in the context of serious illness or the end of life, they often picture something passive. A quiet room. Soft blankets. And a sense that medical care has somehow stepped back. That misunderstanding is one of the most persistent myths in health care. Comfort care is not about doing less. In many ways, it requires more skill, more attention and more presence than almost any other kind of medicine. At Reserve Care (formerly Hospice of the Western Reserve), comfort care means active, expert care delivered by clinicians trained to manage pain, ease symptoms and support the emotional and spiritual needs of patients and families facing serious illness.

The good deaths of people who never marry: Lifelong single people are most likely to die pain-free and at peace. Psychology Today; by Bella DePaulo, PhD; 3/8/26 People who are single and want to stay that way are often taunted with scare stories about what will happen to them toward the end of their life—they will grow old alone, they will die alone, and all the rest. Same for people who have no children. But is the quality of the end of their lives really worse for those who never marry (or never have kids) than it is for those who are married, remarried, divorced, or widowed (or who have grown children)? We now have an answer, and it is not at all what those dire warnings predicted.Editor's Note: This Psychology Today article provides an additional focus on "people who never marry" from the article we posted on 3/20/26, “We make our own families”: Do child-free people die alone? Hospice worker shares her experience. Important: "child-free" does not necessarily mean the person never married. Likewise, "never married" does not necessarily mean the person is "child-free."

“We make our own families”: Do child-free people die alone? Hospice worker shares her experience Daily Dot; by Rebecca Leib; 3/18/26 According to a longtime hospice worker, being child-free doesn't affect end-of-life care, but having strong community ties does. The decision to have children is a deeply personal one, fraught with societal pressures and fears. One common fear is that a childless person might die alone. Recently, however, child-free advocate @wearechildfree shared a video dispelling that fear. Whether someone has kids or doesn't, she says, meaningful end-of-life care is not about children specifically, but the result of cultivating a close and loving community.

Akron-area teen remembered for facing cancer with grace, laughter Akron Beacon Journal, Akron, OH; by Ralph N. Paulk and Marilyn Miller Paulk; 3/18/26 Darren Hampton smiled and laughed almost incessantly. ... His family reminisced how he fought an agonizing battle with grace and a seemingly habitual smile long after he was diagnosed with cancer in 2016 at age 7. ... Darren wasn’t afraid to die,” Hampton said. “He understood what was going on.” ... Then, shortly after arriving at the hospice center, he asked Abood, “Are you telling me I don’t have to go to school?” Yet, he expressed a willingness to take his state tests. “He was always concerned about his schoolwork,” ... "(Darren) was full of energy and always positive. He wanted to step in and change the world. He talked about recycling in rivers and lakes.” ... On the day he died, Darren summoned his family.  ... 

Antibiotics in hospice: Applying the four-quadrant approach to improve patient-centered care Oxford Academic | Clinical Infectious Diseases; by Patrick D. Crowley, Karen M. Meagher, Amelia K. Barwise; 3/5/26The use of antibiotics in the hospice setting is complicated by differing patient goals, elevated side effects, and limited information regarding effectiveness. Here, we describe a case and apply the four-quadrant approach (4QA). This includes analyzing the case through the lenses of (1) medical indications related to improving function and reducing symptoms; (2) patient preferences ...; (3) quality-of-life factors that include managing infectious symptoms versus antibiotic side effects; and (4) contextual features, which include antimicrobial resistance concerns and cost considerations. Antibiotics may be beneficial in some cases and should not be denied to patients enrolled in hospice care. More robust evidence-based information about outcomes is needed to inform discussions at the time of enrollment. Applying the 4QA to a case can help determine the best approach for each individual patient.

Red Oak Hospice and Palliative Care announces enhanced initiatives prioritizing resident safety and wellness in Bridgeton, NJ 96.7 3WZ-FM; 3/13/26 A leading provider of compassionate end-of-life services is proud to announce its latest initiatives focused on enhancing resident safety and wellness. These updates reflect the organization’s deep commitment to the dignity and well-being of every patient, ensuring a supportive environment for families throughout the care journey. ... "Our guiding principles are centered on respect, integrity, and personalized care," our team stated. "By prioritizing resident safety and wellness, we aim to instill a sense of calm and confidence in our families."

Translating palliative care narratives into art: An arts-based knowledge translation pilot with young adult artists Palliative Care and Social Practice; by Kristina A. Smith, Philippe Blanchard, Susan Law, and Kelli Stajduhar; 2/25/26 Objectives: This knowledge translation project explored arts-based approaches for translating palliative care narrative data into creative forms, examining the feasibility of converting research narratives into accessible art forms that could facilitate engagement with death-related topics. Results: Over 25 artistic works illustrating death and dying experiences were created. The collaborative translation process revealed that undergraduate artists could effectively interpret and visualize complex palliative care narratives through diverse artistic approaches. Course evaluations and informal feedback indicated that artists found the experience meaningful and challenging, and expressed interest in further exploration of death-related topics. Editor's Note: Go to this article and scroll down past "Results" to see photos of these artworks and their descriptions.

Palliative care often comes late for veterans with COPD; use increases modestlyU.S. Medicine - The Voice of Federal Medicine, Atlanta, GA; by Mary Anne Dunkin; 3/13/26 Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with substantial symptom burden, functional decline and frequent hospitalizations, making early palliative care an important component of comprehensive management. Yet, despite an increased focus by the VA on such care, new research suggested that many veterans with COPD still receive little or no palliative support—and, when they do, it often begins late in the course of illness. 

More states push to let terminally ill patients use cannabis in hospitals GreenState; by Taylor Engle; 3/4/26 ... Across multiple state legislatures, lawmakers are now advancing bills to let seriously ill patients use medical cannabis inside hospitals, hospice centers, and other care facilities. In the current session, proposals in Connecticut, Hawaii, Oregon, Virginia, and Washington State have moved forward, even as one similar bill stalled in Mississippi this week. At the heart of this push is a moral question that many find hard to dismiss: if a qualifying patient is legally using cannabis to manage pain, nausea, anxiety, or other symptoms at home, why should that care stop the moment they enter a hospital or hospice? Advocates have framed it less as a legal loophole and more as a gap in dignity and continuity of care: one that these bills aim to close.

Thyme Care launches Integrated Social Support model, bringing proactive oncology social work to 8 million Americans upon diagnosis PR Newswire, Nashville, TN; by Thyme Care; 3/5/26 Thyme Care today announced the public launch of its Integrated Social Support (ISS) model, a redesigned approach to oncology navigation that positions licensed master's-level social workers as the first to intervene when members experience barriers to navigating their cancer. The announcement coincides with National Social Work Month in March, recognizing the essential role social workers play in improving health outcomes. An estimated 44% of individuals affected by cancer experience psychosocial burdens, which are associated with poorer health, clinical, and economic outcomes for patients and caregivers. Thyme Care's ISS model flips the approach by making licensed social workers one of the first points of contact for social, emotional, and practical needs, assessing members from day one and throughout their journey ...

Longer-running state POLST programs improve end-of-life outcomes for SNF patients McKnights Long-Term Care News; by Kimberly Marselas; 3/9/26 Nursing home patients are more likely to die in the facility or in hospice than in a hospital in states with mature POLST programs, according to a new, first-of-its kind study. Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment, also known as POLST or MOLST, are standing orders meant to assist in decision-making at the end of life to ensure patients’ treatment preferences are documented. ... Researchers behind the new study said results suggest continued implementation and long-term use of POLST programs streamlined advance directives among residents, helped lessen unnecessary hospitalizations and limited aggressive care at the end of life.