American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine This is an RSS file. You can use it to subscribe to this data in your favourite RSS reader or to display this data on your own website or blog.

Why Palliative Care for Children is Preferable to Euthanasia
Recent laws in Europe now allow for pediatric euthanasia. The author reviews some rationale for caution, and addresses why ensuring the availability of pediatric palliative care is an important step before allowing pediatric euthanasia. (Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine)
Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine - December 30, 2015 Category: Palliative Care Authors: Carter, B. S. Tags: Guest Editorial Source Type: research

The Partial Code Blue
(Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine)
Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine - October 29, 2015 Category: Palliative Care Authors: Baumrucker, S. J., Hutchinson, L., Oertli, R. K. A., Stolick, M., Adkins, R. W., VandeKieft, G. Tags: Ethics Roundtable Source Type: research

Buprenorphine for Cancer Pain: Is It Ready for Prime Time?
This article provides the practitioner with an update on the current role of BUP in cancer care. It highlights data suggesting effectiveness in various types of cancer pain. The article reviews pharmacology, routes of administration, adverse effects, drug interactions, and cost considerations. (Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine)
Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine - October 29, 2015 Category: Palliative Care Authors: Prommer, E. Tags: Pharmacology Update Source Type: research

An Interprofessional Workshop for Students to Improve Communication and Collaboration Skills in End-of-life Care
Interprofessional care is critical for patients at the end of life (EOL), but programs to teach communication skills to medical and nursing students are rare. The aims of this study were to determine whether an interprofessional workshop improves (1) student attitudes toward teamwork and (2) self-efficacy for communicating in difficult situations. Nursing and medical students attended a workshop with collaborative role play of an EOL conversation. Before the workshop, students showed different attitudes toward teamwork and collaboration and varying levels of confidence about communication skills. After the workshop, both g...
Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine - October 29, 2015 Category: Palliative Care Authors: Erickson, J. M., Blackhall, L., Brashers, V., Varhegyi, N. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

Palliative Care in Neonatal Intensive Care, Effects on Parent Stress and Satisfaction: A Feasibility Study
Conclusion: This study supports the feasibility of evaluating NICU PC services. Infants referred for PC typically have higher morbidity/mortality; therefore, higher parental stress scores may be expected. Stress levels were similar in both cohorts, thus PC did not increase stress and may decrease PC parent stress. (Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine)
Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine - October 29, 2015 Category: Palliative Care Authors: Petteys, A. R., Goebel, J. R., Wallace, J. D., Singh-Carlson, S. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

Psychosocial Care and the Role of Clinical Psychologists in Palliative Care
Conclusion: Clinical psychologists have beneficial contributions but have to modify psychosocial care based on the patients’ needs and clinical situations. (Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine)
Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine - October 29, 2015 Category: Palliative Care Authors: Fan, S.-Y., Lin, W.-C., Lin, I.-M. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

Attachment Style Dimensions Can Affect Prolonged Grief Risk in Caregivers of Terminally Ill Patients With Cancer
Conclusion: Female gender, high levels of depression, and preoccupation with relationships significantly predicted higher levels of prolonged grief risk. (Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine)
Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine - October 29, 2015 Category: Palliative Care Authors: Lai, C., Luciani, M., Galli, F., Morelli, E., Cappelluti, R., Penco, I., Aceto, P., Lombardo, L. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

Geographic Access to Hospice Care for Children With Cancer in Tennessee, 2009 to 2011
This study sought to describe the geographic distribution of pediatric hospice need and supply and identify areas lacking pediatric hospice care in Tennessee over a 3-year time period. Using ArcGIS, a series of maps were created. There was a consistent need for care among children with cancer across the state. Most urban areas were supplied by pediatric hospices, except the Knoxville area. Areas within the state were identified where the supply of pediatric hospice care declined, while the need for hospice care was unchanging. This study has important regulatory implications for clinicians practicing in certificate of need...
Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine - October 29, 2015 Category: Palliative Care Authors: Lindley, L. C., Edwards, S. L. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

Ketamine PCA for Treatment of End-of-Life Neuropathic Pain in Pediatrics
We describe a retrospective case review of 14 children with terminal prognoses treated with ketamine patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) for management of opioid-refractory NP at the end of life. Median ketamine dose was 0.06 mg/kg/h (range 0.014-0.308 mg/kg/h) with a 0.05 mg/kg (range 0.03-0.5mg/kg) demand dose available every 15 minutes (range 10-60 minutes). All patients noted subjective pain relief with ketamine, and 79% had no adverse effects. Benzodiazepines limited neuropsychiatric side effects. Ketamine treatment arrested dose escalation of opioids in 64% of patients, and 79% were discharged to home hospice. Ketamin...
Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine - October 29, 2015 Category: Palliative Care Authors: Taylor, M., Jakacki, R., May, C., Howrie, D., Maurer, S. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

The Preference of Place of Death and its Predictors Among Terminally Ill Patients With Cancer and Their Caregivers in China
Conclusion: This study described information about the preference of place of death and its potential predictive factors in terminally ill patients with cancer in mainland of China. (Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine)
Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine - October 29, 2015 Category: Palliative Care Authors: Gu, X., Cheng, W., Cheng, M., Liu, M., zhang, Z. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

Integrating Early Palliative Care for Patients With HIV: Provider and Patient Perceptions of Symptoms and Need for Services
Increasingly clinicians are using palliative care to address the symptomatic and psychosocial effects of disease often missed by routine clinical care, termed "early" palliative care. Within an inner-city medical center, we began a program to integrate early palliative care into HIV inpatient care. Patient symptom burden and desired services were assessed and compared to provider perceptions of patient’s needs. From 2010-2012, 10 patients, with a median CD4+ T-cell count of 32.5 cells/μL, and 34 providers completed the survey. Providers ranked their patients’ fatigue, sadness, anxiety, sexual dysfunction, an...
Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine - October 29, 2015 Category: Palliative Care Authors: Lofgren, S., Friedman, R., Ghermay, R., George, M., Pittman, J. R., Shahane, A., Zeimer, D., Del Rio, C., Marconi, V. C. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

Attitudes of Medical Students Toward the Care of the Dying in Relation to Personality Traits: Harm Avoidance and Self-Directedness Make a Difference
Caring for dying patients requires specific attitudes. Medical students often feel unprepared to cope with issues related to end-of-life care. Little is known about the relationships between personality and attitudes toward the dying; consequently, it is difficult for medical educators to devise training that is best suited to prepare students for practicing palliative medicine. The study aimed to investigate the role of personality in predicting students’ attitudes toward the care of the dying. The study findings suggest a significant link between more self-directed and less harm-avoidant personality profiles and mo...
Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine - October 29, 2015 Category: Palliative Care Authors: Leombruni, P., Miniotti, M., Zizzi, F., Sica, C., Bovero, A., Castelli, L., Torta, R. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

Barriers and Strategies to an Iterative Model of Advance Care Planning Communication
Conclusions: Greater attention to connecting providers across the continuum, maximizing the potential of the electronic health record, and linking patient experiences to their values may help to connect ACP communication across the continuum. (Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine)
Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine - October 29, 2015 Category: Palliative Care Authors: Ahluwalia, S. C., Bekelman, D. B., Huynh, A. K., Prendergast, T. J., Shreve, S., Lorenz, K. A. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

Concerns of Patients Undergoing Palliative Chemotherapy for End-Stage Carcinomatous Peritonitis
We sought to identify how nurses can help to alleviate the concerns of inpatients undergoing palliative chemotherapy when the treatment effects are weakening. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 8 inpatients receiving palliative chemotherapy for end-stage carcinomatous peritonitis at a university hospital. Qualitative inductive analysis of the interview data revealed 7 categories of patient concerns. Overall, patients faced many dilemmas and expressed concerns about wanting to continue chemotherapy while also thinking about discontinuing it. However, they also expressed hope, the strength of which was influenced ...
Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine - October 29, 2015 Category: Palliative Care Authors: Kakuta, M., Kakikawa, F., Chida, M. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

Understanding the Views of Those Who Care for Patients With Cancer on Advance Care Planning and End-of-life Care
An electronic survey was used to assess the views of a diverse nationwide cohort of health care professionals regarding advance care planning and end-of-life care. A total of 645 responses were received. If diagnosed with a serious incurable illness with limited life expectancy, 97% would want to discuss their prognosis, 74% would refuse cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and 72% favored supportive/comfort care to more aggressive life-prolonging treatments. However, prognosis was thought to be discussed with only 52% of such patients, and just 5% thought doctors were either very or extremely successful at explaining advanced l...
Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine - October 29, 2015 Category: Palliative Care Authors: Mattes, M. D., Tung, K., Baum, R., Parikh, K., Ashamalla, H. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research