Literature Review
All posts tagged with “Research News.”
Increasing access to pediatric palliative care in a large hospital system: Trials and triumphs from an APRN initiative
04/04/26 at 03:05 AMIncreasing access to pediatric palliative care in a large hospital system: Trials and triumphs from an APRN initiativeJournal of Hospice & Palliative Nursing; by Faith Kinnear; 4/26 According to the Pediatric Palliative Care Task Force formed in 2020 and hosted by the National Coalition for Hospice and Palliative Care, children with serious illness should have access to palliative care that meets the population’s unique needs. Taking care to assess needs, communicate with leadership teams, develop rapport with key stakeholders, and utilize the support staff already in place allowed for successful implementation of pediatric palliative care services at 2 satellite campuses over a 5-year span. Services included inpatient and outpatient patient care; ongoing family bereavement support; compiling staff resources and providing ongoing staff training in primary pediatric palliative care skills. Each satellite campus now has dedicated pediatric palliative care providers. This article outlines how the satellite palliative care programs were developed, the challenges and successes in the process, and the role of the APRN in program development.
The human thread: Weaving human-centered leadership in health care into culture transformation
04/04/26 at 03:00 AMThe human thread: Weaving human-centered leadership in health care into culture transformationNurse Leader; by Stephanie Lonzo, Lindsey Colangelo, Kay Kennedy, Lucy Leclerc, Susan Campis; 3/26A large community hospital embraced implementation of Human-Centered Leadership in Health Care by including leaders from every discipline in a hybrid-style leadership development program. After completing the program, the leaders participated in the development of a hospital-wide brand statement which served as a collective WHY for the organization. This statement, which included human-centered principles, provided alignment, connection, and accountability across the organization. Leaders led differently, prioritizing care for self, and leading others in a relational approach. The culture transformation resulted in improved staff engagement, retention, patient experience, and quality outcomes. The senior nurse leaders share their culture transformation experience.
Mercer professors awarded grant to explore how to better support dying patients
03/31/26 at 03:00 AMMercer professors awarded grant to explore how to better support dying patients The Den; by Katerine Lybarger; 3/26/26 Mercer University professors Caroline Anglim, Ph.D., and Paul Lewis, Ph.D., M.Div., have received a $60,000 Faith and Health Campus Grant from Interfaith America to expand both academic and public understanding of how faith, spirituality and health intersect. The initiative will aim to advance the concept of religion as a social determinant of dying well in the American health care system and include several components including curricular development, community partnerships and research.
Feasibility and acceptability of a self-written, tele-delivered, LGBTQ+-affirming adaptation of dignity therapy for LGBTQ+ women with advanced cancer
03/28/26 at 03:45 AMFeasibility and acceptability of a self-written, tele-delivered, LGBTQ+-affirming adaptation of dignity therapy for LGBTQ+ women with advanced cancerAmerican Journal of Hospice & Palliative Medicine; by Lexie Wille, Kristie A. Wood, Mike C. Parent; 2/26Dignity therapy (DT) is effective in addressing dignity-related existential distress in people with advanced cancer, but the traditional protocol assumes supportive family structures, uses heteronormative language, and requires synchronous clinician facilitation. These features may limit accessibility for LGBTQ+ individuals. This pilot demonstrated that a self-written, tele-delivered LGBTQ+-affirming DT adaptation was feasible and acceptable for LGBTQ+ women with advanced cancer.
Billing of Medicare’s G2211 longitudinal care code among traditional Medicare beneficiaries
03/28/26 at 03:40 AMRapid review of the health care built environment support for hospice/end-of-life patients, families, and interdisciplinary care teams
03/28/26 at 03:35 AMCharacteristics of United States Food and Drug Administration drug recalls involving opioid medications, 2002-2025
03/28/26 at 03:30 AMCharacteristics of United States Food and Drug Administration drug recalls involving opioid medications, 2002-2025Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety; by Julio C Nunes, Gabriel P A Costa, Joao P De Aquino; 3/26We reviewed more than 20 years of recall data from the United States Food and Drug Administration and found 286 recalls involving seven commonly used opioids, affecting over 350 million tablets, capsules, patches, and injectable products. Nearly half of these recalls occurred because products failed basic quality checks, while others involved incorrect doses, contamination, mislabeling, or defective delivery systems. The most serious recalls, those carrying risk of serious injury or death, were concentrated among fentanyl, morphine, and hydromorphone. Many recall notices lacked important details, including the number of units affected, making it difficult to understand how these issues may impact patients. Our findings show that opioid recalls happen regularly and often reflect manufacturing problems that could influence treatment safety or effectiveness.
Nursing home profit status and pain among residents living with dementia
03/28/26 at 03:20 AMNursing home profit status and pain among residents living with dementiaPain Management Nursing; by Sorah Levy, Barbara Resnick, Elizabeth Galik, Kelly Doran, Tara McMullen, Sarah Holmes; 2/26Nursing home (NH) residents living with dementia experience pain that is often sub-optimally managed. Nearly one in five nursing home residents with dementia experience pain symptoms.There is a known relationship between NH organizational factors, such as profit status, and quality of care. However, little attention has been paid to understanding the relationship between NH ownership profit status and pain among residents living with dementia. NH ownership profit status was not significantly associated with pain ...
Decision-making approaches used to limit potentially nonbeneficial life-prolonging interventions
03/28/26 at 03:15 AMEthical uncertainties: Diverging and emerging regulations of assisted dying/assisted suicide and the potential role of clinical ethics
03/28/26 at 03:10 AMState POLST program maturity status and dying in the nursing home or hospice in the United States: An event time study
03/28/26 at 03:05 AMState POLST program maturity status and dying in the nursing home or hospice in the United States: An event time studyJournal of the American Medical Directors Association; by Komal Patel Murali, May Hua, Patricia W Stone, Andrew Dick, Tadeja Gracner; 2/26State Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) programs ensure documentation of orders for treatment are documented for the provision of goal-concordant care at the end of life. The national POLST organization tracks the maturity stages of state programs and categorizes them as developed (beginning of use) and endorsed (benchmarks and standardized use). Examining the association between POLST program maturation and the likelihood of dying in place can help clarify how implementation stage may affect end-of-life care and place of death. POLST program maturity is associated with a higher likelihood of NH residents dying in place or in hospice, potentially supporting goal-concordant care and reducing burdensome hospital transfers near the end of life.
Changes in RI hospice utilization and quality of care with increase in number of hospice programs
03/28/26 at 03:00 AMChanges in RI hospice utilization and quality of care with increase in number of hospice programsJournal of Pain and Symptom Management; by Joan Teno; 3/26The number of licensed hospice programs in Rhode Island increased from four prior to 2017 to eleven by 2025, with many new providers being for-profit entities, some backed by private equity. Using public data, I analyzed trends in hospice use and quality, hypothesizing that the growth in providers may increase health care costs and raise concerns about the quality of care. Using public data, I analyzed trends in hospice use and quality, hypothesizing that the growth in providers may increase health care costs and raise concerns about the quality of care... Compared to not-for-profit hospices, for-profit providers showed significant differences in several measures, including a higher focus on enrolling patients with dementia—a population that may be more profitable because of their long length of stay and higher live discharge rates. A four-point difference in bereaved caregiver willingness to recommend for profit hospices indicates a moderate effect size5 and raises concerns about quality.
The Harvard Child Bereavement Study
03/21/26 at 03:45 AMThe Harvard Child Bereavement StudyDeath Studies; by Donna L Schuurman, Monique B Mitchell; 2/26The Harvard Child Bereavement Study provided critical insights into the impact of the death of a parent on children and their families. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in the homes of the participants four months after the parent/spouse died, one year after the death, and two years after the death. Three standardized measures were administered to the children, and five standardized measures were administered to the adults. Multiple findings about how bereavement changes over time for bereaved children and families were revealed; including, the impact of parental adjustment on children's well-being, the various ways children chose to remain connected to their parent who died, the healthiness of remembering the person who has died, and the value of including children in decision-making about memorialization and funerals.
Identifying key components of neuropalliative care fellowship using nominal group technique
03/21/26 at 03:40 AMIdentifying key components of neuropalliative care fellowship using nominal group techniqueJournal of Pain & Symptom Management; by Sachi Y Gianchandani, Jocelyn M Jiao, Kwame O Adjepong, Yaowaree L Leavell, Jessica M Besbris, Neha M Kramer, Joel N Phillips, Paul M Vermilion; 2/26There is no standardized curriculum for neurology-focused palliative care training. An adapted nominal group technique (NGT) was used to collect and rank responses to 2 key questions: "In designing the ideal dedicated neuropalliative care clinician training experience, what core components should be included?" and "When a general palliative care fellowship has a neurologist in their program, how could the program/program director potentially tailor the year to their unique needs?" For both key questions, the top-ranked responses included: dedicated outpatient neuropalliative care experience, mentorship from faculty with expertise in neuropalliative care, and a core didactic curriculum that includes neurology-specific content. Additionally, appropriateness for certification in hospice and palliative medicine was identified as crucial.
Building health equity for Minnesota’s Hmong community: The role and impact of the Hmong
03/21/26 at 03:35 AMBuilding health equity for Minnesota’s Hmong community: The role and impact of the HmongHmong Studies Journal; by Yeng M. Yang; 2/26This article examines the health care experiences of Hmong refugees in Minnesota and the U.S. since the late 1970s, highlighting major public health challenges as well as notable progress reflecting their resilience. It highlights how Hmong Americans have navigated obstacles to health care such as language barriers, cultural differences, and limited access to culturally competent healthcare, while emphasizing the vital role of the Hmong Health Care Professionals Coalition (HHCPC/ The Coalition).
Effects of psychoeducation on burden, depression, and anxiety in informal caregivers of patients with dementia: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials
03/21/26 at 03:30 AMEffects of psychoeducation on burden, depression, and anxiety in informal caregivers of patients with dementia: A systematic review of randomized controlled trialsWestern Journal of Nursing Research; by Hyeyeon Shin, Chanchanok Wandee, Kathy D. Wright, Dónal P. O’Mathúna; 2/26As dementia rises globally, caregivers face prolonged and demanding responsibilities, increasing their risk of burden, depression, and anxiety. We aimed to identify the effectiveness of psychoeducation on burden, depression, and anxiety among informal dementia caregivers. This review clarifies the benefits of psychoeducation to inform the development of effective, targeted interventions. Psychoeducation offers dementia-related information, behavior management strategies, and caregiver support to improve mental health and caregiving effectiveness.
End-of-life antibiotic stewardship: Perspectives from the ESCMID Study Groups for antimicrobial stewardship and infections in the elderly
03/21/26 at 03:25 AMThe business case for family caregiver skills training: Results from a multisite trial in the Veterans health care system
03/21/26 at 03:20 AMThe business case for family caregiver skills training: Results from a multisite trial in the Veterans health care systemJournal of the American Medical Directors Association; Brystana G Kaufman, Michael A Lourie, Kasey Decosimo, Cynthia J Coffman, Joshua Dadolf, Matthew Tucker, Leah Christensen, Virginia Wang, Kelli D Allen, Susan N Hastings, Courtney H Van Houtven; 2/26Increasing caregiver training programs is valuable; however, even minimal health insurance cost-sharing can reduce access for those who need it most. We evaluated costs from the VA perspective, in which veterans and caregivers do not face high out of-pocket costs. Outside the VA, Medicare beneficiaries with care needs and caregivers do face these costs, potentially exacerbating health disparities. Integration and documentation of all caregivers in need of training is needed to support the systematic implementation of programs. Policies like the RAISE Family Caregivers Act encourage health systems to identify and provide necessary skills to family caregivers of hospitalized patients; yet, few health systems include a caregiver field in their EHR. As the need for caregiver training increases, health systems may leverage new reimbursement mechanisms to support the financial feasibility of delivering evidence-based caregiver training programs.
The legal, constitutional, and ethical aspects of medical assistance in dying in the state of New York
03/21/26 at 03:15 AMHospice and palliative care during COVID-19 in New York City: Clinician-reported patient and family experiences and lessons for future crises
03/21/26 at 03:10 AMHospice and palliative care during COVID-19 in New York City: Clinician-reported patient and family experiences and lessons for future crisesAmerican Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care; by Junyi Lin, Shih-Yin Lin, Daniel David, Laura T Moreines, Emily Franzosa, Abraham A Brody, Melissa D Aldridge, Dena Schulman-Green; 2/26The COVID-19 pandemic complicated hospice and palliative care (HPC) experiences of patients and family caregivers. We sought to understand HPC professionals' perceptions of patients' and family caregivers' HPC experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City and to make recommendations for improving HPC delivery during future public health crises.
Supporting family caregivers’ clinical communication skills: Adapting a cancer caregiver communication model for dementia caregiving
03/21/26 at 03:05 AMThe ASCENT Consortium: A new resource to support palliative care science across the lifespan
03/21/26 at 03:00 AMThe ASCENT Consortium: A new resource to support palliative care science across the lifespanJournal of Pain and Symptom Management; by Jean S Kutner, Melissa D Aldridge, Abraham A Brody, Chris Feudtner, Kimberly Johnson, Stacy M Fischer, Susan Lysaght Hurley, Alexis Bakos, Elena M Fazio, Karen A Kehl, Sandra A Mitchell, Elizabeth A Necka, Brennan Parmelee Streck, Chandra Keller; 2/26The ASCENT Consortium was funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in August 2025 with the goal of advancing palliative care (PC) research, evidence, implementation and practice to improve care of persons with serious illness and those who care for them across the lifespan. ASCENT aims to: (1) Develop and coordinate the national scientific infrastructure and community needed to advance PC research... (2) Generate new PC research knowledge and methodologies... (3) Foster career development and impact of the PC scientist workforce by funding career development and pilot and exploratory awards... (4) Disseminate PC research findings and facilitate subsequent implementation via a multi-pronged approach...
Corticosteroid use and risk of adverse events in metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer
03/14/26 at 03:40 AMCorticosteroid use and risk of adverse events in metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancerThe Prostate; by Umang Swami, Qiujun Shao, Tamuno Alfred, Maelys Touya, Frank Cao, Pinal Kamdar, Jasmina Ivanova, Johanna Celli, David Nimke; 2/26Among the approved therapies for metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC), abiraterone and docetaxel are administered concomitantly with corticosteroids. This study evaluated the association between corticosteroid use and risk of adverse events among patients with mHSPC. Our findings suggest that patients exposed to corticosteroids are at increased risk of adverse events, hospitalization, and death. As not all mHSPC treatments require concomitant use of corticosteroids, these findings may help to inform treatment decision-making.
Religion and spirituality in pediatric end-of-life: A systematic review
03/14/26 at 03:35 AMReligion and spirituality in pediatric end-of-life: A systematic reviewJournal of Pediatric Psychology; by Kara Jackson, Alyssa Marchetta, Barry Nierenberg, Jessica M Valenzuela; 2/26Spirituality is a recognized element of palliative care, with documented benefits for adult patients. However, limited research exists on how religion and spirituality affect children at end-of-life (EOL) and their parents. Findings revealed diverse religious and spiritual practices among families, including faith stability, spiritual care use, and prayer. Key outcomes associated with spirituality included enhanced coping, acceptance, meaning-making, hope, caregiver spiritual well-being, decision-making, and improved parent-child communication. Across studies, spiritual support emerged as a vital component of the pediatric EOL experience.