Literature Review
All posts tagged with “Research News.”
Where you begin is not necessarily where you end: the mental and physical health trajectories of cancer caregivers over time
04/06/24 at 03:00 AMWhere you begin is not necessarily where you end: the mental and physical health trajectories of cancer caregivers over timeSupportive Care in Cancer, by Maureen Wilson Genderson, Maria D. Thomson, Laura A. Siminoff; 10/23Cancer caregiving, a critical component in the cancer-care model, has deleterious effects on the caregiver’s physical and mental health. The degree to which these negative effects are uniformly experienced by caregivers is unclear; effects may be exacerbated at the end of life when caregiving is intensified. Not all caregivers have the support of an additional involved support person (secondary caregiver). The impact of the secondary caregiver’s absence on the primary caregiver’s well-being is understudied.
Association of frailty and cardiopulmonary resuscitation outcomes in older U.S. Veterans
04/06/24 at 03:00 AMAssociation of frailty and cardiopulmonary resuscitation outcomes in older U.S. VeteransAmerican Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, by Dominique M Tosi, MD; Marlena C Fernandez, MD; Shivaan Oomrigar, MD; Lorena P Burton, MD; Iriana S Hammel, MD; Andrew Quartin, MD; Jorge G Ruiz, MD; 4/24CPR outcomes were not different depending on frailty status in our Veteran population. With these results, we cannot use frailty - as measured by the VA-FI - as a prognosticator of CPR outcomes in Veterans.
Neuropsychiatric effects associated with opioid-based management for palliative care patients
04/06/24 at 03:00 AMNeuropsychiatric effects associated with opioid-based management for palliative care patientsCurrent Pain and Headache Reports, by Alan D Kaye, Kylie Dufrene, Jada Cooley, Madeline Walker, Shivam Shah, Alex Hollander, Sahar Shekoohi, Christopher L Robinson; 4/24The abundance of opioids administered in the palliative care setting that was once considered a standard of care is at present necessitating that providers evaluate patients for unintentional and deleterious symptomology related to aberrant opioid use and addiction. ... By having an increased understanding and awareness of potential opioid neuropsychiatric effects, patient quality of life can be improved, healthcare system costs can be decreased, and patient outcomes can be met and exceeded.
Do end-of-life outcomes differ by assisted living memory-care designation?
04/06/24 at 03:00 AMDo end-of-life outcomes differ by assisted living memory-care designation?Journal of the American Geriatric Society, by Xiao Joyce Wang, Portia Y Cornell, Emmanuelle Belanger, Kali S Thomas; 4/24Residential care/assisted living (RC/AL) is an increasingly common place of end-of-life care for persons with Alzheimer's disease and related dementia (ADRD), who have unique care needs as their health declines. Approximately 22% of RC/ALs provide specialized memory care (memory-care RC/AL). Understanding how end-of-life outcomes differ by memory care among residents with ADRD could facilitate aging/dying in place for this population. The objective of this paper is to examine if end-of-life outcomes (i.e., mortality, hospice use, and number of days receiving hospice in the last month of life) differ between residents with ADRD who moved to memory-care RC/AL, compared with residents with ADRD who moved to RC/AL without memory care (general RC/AL).
HPNA and HPNF President's message : My path to leadership
04/06/24 at 03:00 AMHPNA and HPNF President's message : My path to leadershipJournal of Hospice & Palliative Nursing, by Lynn Reinke; 4/24Reflecting on my professional life, I recall several seminal experiences that made me believe I possessed basic leadership skills and that encouraged me to develop them. I advanced my skills in 3 ways:
Bereaved Parent Support Study: Seeking Participants
04/04/24 at 03:00 AMBereaved Parent Support Study: Seeking Participants Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center/University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Cancer, St. Jude Children's Hospital, and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia; 4/2/24This program is offered as a research study examining three types of support for bereaved parents who have lost a child to cancer. The study is jointly sponsored by Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center/University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Cancer, St. Jude Children's Hospital, and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia; however, families need not have received care from one of these institutions. ...The counseling will be provided through videoconferencing and all activities for this study can be completed in [the participant's] home. ... There will be no charge for any support offered through the study. [Click on the title's link for more information.]
Funding opportunity now available! Up to 5 grantee awards totaling $1,275,000 for health equity research
04/02/24 at 03:00 AMFunding opportunity now available! Up to 5 grantee awards totaling $1,275,000 for health equity researchCMS Office of Minority Health; 4/1/24The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Office of Minority Health’s (CMS OMH) Minority Research Grant Program (MRGP) is proud to release a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for researchers at minority-serving institutions (MSIs). With this grant, you will partner with CMS OMH to grow your research credentials, increase public knowledge of health equity, and join the ranks of other published MRGP awardees.
Hospice providers serving assisted living residents: Association of higher volume with lower quality
03/30/24 at 03:00 AMHospice providers serving assisted living residents: Association of higher volume with lower qualityJournal of the American Geriatric Society, by Wenhan Guo, Helena Temkin-Greener, Brian E McGarry; 3/24Hospice providers serving higher volumes of AL patient days had lower quality scores.
Is caregiver sleep quality an important clinical issue?
03/30/24 at 03:00 AMIs caregiver sleep quality an important clinical issue?Sleep and Biological Rhythms, by Ayfer Durak, Nezahat Muge Catikkas; 3/24Sleep quality is directly related to general health and quality of life. Caregivers' sleep disturbances affect not only their own health, but also the optimal care of their patients, with negative consequences such as neglect and medication errors. This study was conducted prospectively in the palliative care unit. ... The fact that the sleep quality of family group caregivers is worse than that of paid caregivers may prevent healthy medical service delivery.
Palliative psychiatry for a patient with treatment-refractory schizophrenia and severe chronic malignant catatonia: case report
03/30/24 at 03:00 AMPalliative psychiatry for a patient with treatment-refractory schizophrenia and severe chronic malignant catatonia: case reportAnnals of Palliative Medicine, by Junona Elgudin, Clark Johnsen, Anna Lisa Westermair, Manuel Trachsel; 3/24Palliative psychiatry is an emerging field that suggests a role for palliative interventions in the management of severe and persistent mental illness.
Physicians, spirituality, and compassionate patient care
03/30/24 at 03:00 AMPhysicians, spirituality, and compassionate patient careNew England Journal of Medicine, by Daniel P Sulmasy; 3/24The past few decades have seen an international revival of interest in the role of spirituality in patient care. ... I believe this trend is salutary for patients and health care professionals alike. Yet the success of a biopsychosocialspiritual approach to 21st-century health care will depend on careful attention to ethical guidelines and boundaries in our increasingly pluralistic world.
Consciously choosing unconsciousness
03/30/24 at 03:00 AMConsciously choosing unconsciousnessVoices in Bioethics, by Yuna Lee; 3/24“Because there are no laws barring palliative sedation, the dilemma facing doctors who use it is moral rather than legal.” Dr. Timothy Quill, a professor of psychiatry, bioethics, and palliative care concisely articulates an ethical intricacy in end-of-life care. ... In summary, the ethical considerations surrounding palliative sedation compel clinicians to navigate the nuances of moral responsibility, patient advocacy, and clinical judgment. In the absence of clear legal guidelines, clinicians bear the weight of deciding the appropriateness of palliative sedation, influencing both individual patient experiences and broader palliative care practices.
Karen Bullock honored for Outstanding Contributions to Diversity in Palliative Medicine
03/30/24 at 03:00 AMKaren Bullock honored for Outstanding Contributions to Diversity in Palliative MedicineWomen in Academia Report; 3/24As an endowed professor at Boston College and scholar at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Dr. Bullock’s new award honors her dedication to improving care for underrepresented patient populations in hospice and palliative medicine.
The role and professional standards of the Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner in hospice and palliative care
03/30/24 at 03:00 AMThe role and professional standards of the Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner in hospice and palliative careJournal of Hospice & Palliative Care Nursing, by Coats, Heather PhD, APRN-BC; Henrichs, Kelly DNP, RN, GNP-BC; 3/24The adult/gerontology (gero) nurse practitioner (NP) delivers primary and/or specialty palliative care to persons and their families who live each day with a myriad of serious illnesses. In this role, the adult/gero NP uses their skill set to address the whole person (physical, psychological, social, and spiritual/existential) to improve the quality of life for persons they care for. This article is the fourth in a series of 6 highlighting the different roles of the adult/gero NP and the advanced certified hospice and palliative registered nurse, and how these 2 roles overlap. The purpose of this article was to provide details of education and certification pathways for these NP roles, describe the overlaps in clinical care, and illustrate how the adult/gero NP in palliative and hospice care can contribute to leadership in program development for care of persons and their families who live with serious illness.
Factors associated with hospital admission in the last month: A retrospective single center analysis
03/30/24 at 03:00 AMFactors associated with hospital admission in the last month: A retrospective single center analysisJournal of Pain and Symptom Management, by Jessica E. Ma MD; Maren K. Olsen PhD; Cara L. McDermott PharmD, PhD; C. Barrett Bowling MD; S. Nicole Hastings MD; Tyler White; David Casarett MD, MA; 3/242202 (25.9%) patients had a hospital admission in the last month [of life]. Among the 1282 (15.1%) who died in a health system facility, most (86.0%) were admitted to the hospital in the last month. Among patients with a hospital admission and discharged in the last month, 60.9% were discharged on hospice. Compared to those without these diseases, metastatic cancer, liver disease, or heart failure had the highest odds of admission in the last month. ... As patients with heart or liver disease or metastatic cancer had the highest odds of admission in the last month, collaborative interventions between primary, palliative, and specialty care may improve quality of care at the end of life.
Top ten tips palliative clinicians should know about rural palliative care in the United States
03/30/24 at 03:00 AMTop ten tips palliative clinicians should know about rural palliative care in the United StatesJournal of Palliative Medicine, by Jack Kimball, Chamika Hawkins-Taylor, Anne Anderson, Debra Gay Anderson, Mary Lou Clark Fornehed, Patricia Justis, Nasreen Lalani, Sarah Mollman, Brandi Pravecek, Julie Rice, Janelle Shearer, Dillon Stein, Salom M. Teshale, and Marie A. Bakitas; 3/24Palliative care improves outcomes, yet rural residents often lack adequate and equitable access. This study provides practical tips to address palliative care (PC)-related challenges in rural communities. Strategies include engaging trusted community partners, addressing cultural factors, improving pediatric care, utilizing telehealth, networking with rural teams including caregivers, and expanding roles for nurses and advanced practice providers.
The determinants of actual place of death among noncancer patients with end-stage chronic health conditions: a scoping review
03/23/24 at 03:00 AMThe determinants of actual place of death among noncancer patients with end-stage chronic health conditions: a scoping reviewPalliative Care and Social Practice, by Sangduan Ginggeaw and Raeann LeBlanc; 3/24.This scoping review describes the percentage of actual places of death and determines social factors related to home as the place of death among noncancer patients with end-stage chronic health conditions.Publisher's note: While this study did not establish clear cause-and-effect relationships between factors, the authors used interesting methods and included thoughtful discussion.
Psychedelic therapy: A primer for primary care clinicians - psilocybin
03/23/24 at 03:00 AMPsychedelic therapy: A primer for primary care clinicians - psilocybinAmerican Journal of Therapeutics, by Burton J Tabaac, Kenneth Shinozuka, Alejandro Arenas, Bryce D Beutler, Kirsten Cherian, Viviana D Evans, Chelsey Fasano, Owen S Muir; 3/24.Aside from ketamine, psilocybin is the most clinically well-researched psychedelic drug, with trials that have enrolled hundreds of participants and multiple therapeutic applications. Phase III trials will determine whether psilocybin lives up to the promise that it showed in previous clinical trials.
Book Review: The Journey’s End
03/23/24 at 03:00 AMBook Review: The Journey’s EndAmerican Journal of Medical Quality, by Casey, Donald E. Jr MD, MPH, MBA; 3/24.Michael Connelly's "The Journey's End" is a highly engaging and insightful guide for bouth ourselves and our loved ones on how we ought to face death with dignity.
Transitions between skilled home health and hospice for persons living with dementia: a systematic review of literature
03/23/24 at 03:00 AMTransitions between skilled home health and hospice for persons living with dementia: a systematic review of literatureAnnals of Palliative Medicine, by Sharon E. Bigger, Robin Ann Foreman, Christiana Keinath, Gail L. Towsley; 3/24We found that persons living with dementia are at higher risk for early, unsuccessful discharge from-and readmission to-skilled skilled home health; and persons living with dementia are at higher risk for being discharged alive from hospice.
Racial Disparities in low-value care in the last year of life for Medicare beneficiaries with neurodegenerative disease
03/23/24 at 03:00 AMRacial Disparities in low-value care in the last year of life for Medicare beneficiaries with neurodegenerative diseaseNeurology Clinical Practice, by Margarethe E. Goetz, PhD, PA-C; Cassie B. Ford, PhD; Melissa A. Greiner, MS; Amy Clark, PhD; Kim G. Johnson, MD; Brystana G. Kaufman, MD; Sneha Mantri, MD, MS; Ying Xian, MD, PhD; Richard J. O'Brien, MD, PhD; Emily C. O'Brien, PhD; and Jay B. Lusk, MD, MBA; 4/24.We found racial disparities in care utilization among patients with neurodegenerative disease in the last year of life, such that Black decedents were more likely to receive specific low-value care services and less likely to receive high-value supportive care than White decedents, even after adjusting for health status and socioeconomic factors.
State of the service: Pediatric palliative and hospice community-based service coverage in the United States
03/23/24 at 02:05 AMState of the service: Pediatric palliative and hospice community-based service coverage in the United StatesJournal of Palliative Medicine, by Meaghann S. Weaver, MD, PhD, MPH, HEC-C; Tej Chana; Deb Fisher, PPCNP; Hope Fost; Betsy Hawley, MA; Kristin James, LCPC; Lisa C. Lindley, PhD, RN, FPCN, FAAN; Kaeli Samson, MA, MPH; Steven M. Smith, MD; Alix Ware, JD, MPH; and Christy Torkildson, PhD, RN, PHN; 11/23.Objective: To quantify and describe the inclusion of children in services, staffing, and care scope offered by community-based hospice organizations in the United States. Design and Subjects: This study utilized an online survey distributed to organizational members of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) in the United States. Results: A total of 481 hospice organizations from 50 states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico responded. Conclusions: Children remain underrepresented in the extension of care offered through community-based hospice organizations in the United States particularly in nonmetro settings.
Mortality risk following end-of-life caregiving: A population-based analysis of hospice users and their families
03/23/24 at 02:00 AMMortality risk following end-of-life caregiving: A population-based analysis of hospice users and their familiesSocial Science & Medicine, by Mike Hollingshaus, Ken R. Smith, Huong Meeks, Katherine Ornstein, Eli Iacob, Djin Tay, Caroline Stephens, Rebecca L. Utz; 3/24.Highlights:
Correcting health disparities at end-of-life in persons of color
03/16/24 at 03:00 AMCorrecting health disparities at end-of-life in persons of colorJournal for Nurse Practitioners, by Leah D. Ward, Anthony Young; 4/24Forty years after the creation of the Medicare hospice benefit, low use of hospice and palliative care services in persons of color increases suffering and aggressive care at the end of life related to social determinants of death... This article provides tools for nurse practitioners and other health care personnel in spiritual, cultural, and goals-of-care assessments, quality improvement, and an explanation of the benefits of faith-based programs and partnerships
Perceptions of palliative care: Demographics and health status among the general population in Florida and the United States
03/16/24 at 03:00 AMPerceptions of palliative care: Demographics and health status among the general population in Florida and the United StatesAmerican Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, by Brenda W. Dyal, PhD, DNP; Saunjoo L. Yoon, PhD; Keesha L. Powell-Roach, PhD, RN; Derek M. Li, MSc; Sheri Kittelson, MD; Michael Weaver, PhD, RN, FAAN; Janice L. Krieger, PhD; Diana J. Wilkie, PhD, RN, FAAN; 4/24Palliative care (PC) helps maintain quality of life for seriously ill patients, yet, many Americans lack knowledge of PC. Young adults compared with adults, middle-adults, and older-adults were less likely to agree that the goal of PC is to help friends and family cope with a patient’s illness, and that the goal of PC is to manage pain and other physical symptoms compared with adults, middle-adults, and older-adults. Participants with greater rural identity were more likely to agree that accepting PC means giving up. Increased knowledge of PC might be influenced through targeting educational interventions and educating the general population through social media use.