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.

A Comprehensive Palliative Care Program at a Tertiary Cancer Center in Jordan
Conclusion: Our palliative care program may be a model for successful delivery of comprehensive cancer care in the Middle East. (Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine)
Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine - February 11, 2015 Category: Palliative Care Authors: Shamieh, O., Hui, D. Tags: International Palliative Care Source Type: research

Racial Disparities in Receipt of Hospice Services Among Nursing Home Residents
This study examined the relationship between race and advance care planning, hospitalization, and death among nursing home residents receiving hospice care. Secondary data analysis using the 2007 Minimum Data Set (MDS) was used to identify documentation of these activities for White, Black, Hispanic, and Asian residents with linear regression models fitted to each dependent variable. Across different types of advance directives, compared to White nursing home residents, Black, Hispanic, and Asian residents who received hospice services were significantly less likely overall to have documented advance directives. All racial...
Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine - February 11, 2015 Category: Palliative Care Authors: Frahm, K. A., Brown, L. M., Hyer, K. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

Survey of Staff and Family Members of Patients in Bulgarian Hospices on the Concept of "Good Death"
The objective of this study is to investigate this concept among staff and patients’ relatives in 29 Bulgarian hospices and 5 palliative care units. Self-administered questionnaires were completed by 190 members of staff and 216 patients’ relatives. Death without pain and suffering and death in one’s sleep were leading concepts in both the groups. Staff preferred death in the presence of relatives, while relatives preferred fast and sudden death. Although we were able to define the common concept of a good death as painless and sudden death in one’s sleep, death is unique phenomenon and good palliat...
Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine - February 11, 2015 Category: Palliative Care Authors: Aleksandrova-Yankulovska, S., ten Have, H. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

Intensive Palliative Care for Patients With Hematological Cancer Dying in Hospice: Analysis of the Level of Medical Care in the Final Week of Life
Dying of hematological oncology patients often take place in respective hematology ward or intensive care unit rather than hospice. With the increased attention to quality palliative care for hematology patients, concerns regarding their level of medical care at end-of-life need to be addressed. We conducted a retrospective review of consecutive hematological oncology patients who succumbed in a palliative unit between July 2012 and August 2013. The primary outcome measure was their level of medical care received, including administration of antibiotics, total parenteral nutrition, blood sampling, GCSF injection and blood ...
Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine - February 11, 2015 Category: Palliative Care Authors: Cheng, B. H. W., Sham, M. M. K., Chan, K. Y., Li, C. W., Au, H. Y. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

Association Between Palliative Case Management and Utilization of Inpatient, Intensive Care Unit, Emergency Department, and Hospice in Medicaid Beneficiaries
Association between palliative case management (PCM) and the utilization of major health services during the last 30 days of life in Medicaid patients with cancer was assessed using retrospective cohort analysis. There were 132 PCM enrollees in the intervention group and 54 non-PCM enrollees in the comparison group. The intervention group had lower inpatient admission rate than that of the comparison group (56.8% vs 74.1%), lower ICU admission rate (12.9% vs 24.1%), longer mean hospice days (45.8 vs 31.1 days), and lower percentage of persons with death in hospital (24.2% vs 35.9%). No statistically significant differences...
Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine - February 11, 2015 Category: Palliative Care Authors: Wang, L., Piet, L., Kenworthy, C. M., Dy, S. M. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

Cultural and Ethical Considerations for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in Chinese Patients With Cancer at the End of Life
This study evaluated the cultural and ethical considerations during EOL decisions and assessed the factors that affect pursuing LSTs in China. We used a case–control study design and compared their baseline characteristics with the provided EOL care and treatments. The CPR treatment among patients with cancer at EOL was affected by Chinese family traditions and Western influences. Our results reflect the need to improve EOL care and treatment in China. (Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine)
Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine - February 11, 2015 Category: Palliative Care Authors: Zhang, Z., Chen, M.-L., Gu, X.-L., Liu, M.-H., Cheng, W.-W. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

Comparison of Hospice Use by European Americans, African Americans, and Latinos: A Follow-Up Study
This study investigated the rate of hospice use by Latinos and African Americans relative to their prevalence in the general population between 2004 and 2010 as a follow-up to a previous investigation. Archival data (N = 2625) were collected on patients' race/ethnicity, gender, marital status, length of stay in hospice, and reason for discharge. In contrast to previous findings, African Americans were more likely to utilize hospice services, but Latinos were less likely to use hospice services compared to the other groups. There were no differences among the racial/ethnic groups in terms of length of stay or disposition at...
Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine - February 11, 2015 Category: Palliative Care Authors: Colon, M., Lyke, J. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

Prehospital Providers' Perceptions of Emergency Calls Near Life's End
This study explored prehospital providers’ perceptions of (1) end-of-life 911 calls, (2) the signs and symptoms of dying, and (3) medical orders for life sustaining treatment (MOLST). The exploratory–descriptive pilot study was survey based and cross-sectional. Calls to nursing homes occur most often, (47.8% every shift). The MOLST was seen infrequently (57.9% rarely never). The most frequent signs and symptoms of dying were diagnosis (76%), hospice involvement (82%), apnea (75%), mottling (55%), and shortness of breath (48%). The MOLST identifies wishes about intubation (74%), resuscitation (74%), life-sustain...
Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine - February 11, 2015 Category: Palliative Care Authors: Waldrop, D., Clemency, B., Maguin, E., Lindstrom, H. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

Connected Health: Cancer Symptom and Quality-of-Life Assessment Using a Tablet Computer: A Pilot Study
Incorporation of tablet computers (TCs) into patient assessment may facilitate safe and secure data collection. We evaluated the usefulness and acceptability of a TC as an electronic self-report symptom assessment instrument. Research Electronic Data Capture Web-based application supported data capture. Information was collected and disseminated in real time and a structured format. Completed questionnaires were printed and given to the physician before the patient visit. Most participants completed the survey without assistance. Completion rate was 100%. The median global quality of life was high for all. More than half r...
Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine - February 11, 2015 Category: Palliative Care Authors: Aktas, A., Hullihen, B., Shrotriya, S., Thomas, S., Walsh, D., Estfan, B. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

Spiritual Experiences of Transcendence in Patients With Advanced Cancer
Conclusion: The occurrence of spiritual experiences seems to be frequent and associated with profound, powerful reactions. Our results indicate that experienced-based spiritual care may complement current needs-based approaches. (Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine)
Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine - February 11, 2015 Category: Palliative Care Authors: Renz, M., Mao, M. S., Omlin, A., Bueche, D., Cerny, T., Strasser, F. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

Difficulties in Caring for a Patient With Cancer at the End of Life at Home and Complicated Grief
The present study aimed to investigate difficulties in caring for a patient with cancer at the end of life at home and to examine relationships between difficulties with care and complicated grief. The 45 bereaved family members completed the Family Difficulty Scale (FDS) and the Inventory of Complicated Grief (ICG). The FDS score for "Patient’s pain and condition" was the highest, followed by "Caregivers did not want home care" and "No support from others." There was a significant relationship between FDS and ICG scores. These results suggest that the condition of the patient, the view of the caregiver on home care,...
Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine - February 11, 2015 Category: Palliative Care Authors: Ando, M., Ninosaka, Y., Okamura, K., Ishi, Y. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

Hospice Care in a Commercial Preferred Provider Organization Population in Tennessee
This study was undertaken to examine two aspects of care at the end of life. First, we wanted to see whether the cost savings demonstrated repeatedly in the US Medicare hospice population would also be observed in a commercial population in Tennessee. They were. The second primary interest we had was whether there were certain medical services that seemed to presage death. We found four categories of services that profoundly increase in number as the end of life is approached: primary care, hospital-based specialist, non-hospital based specialist, and oncologist services. It is hoped that these findings could lead to a sim...
Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine - February 11, 2015 Category: Palliative Care Authors: Coulter, S. L., Melvin, T., Carden, J. P., Mathis, R. S. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

Discordance in HIV-Positive Patient and Health Care Provider Perspectives on Death, Dying, and End-of-Life Care
The purpose of this study was to investigate how HIV-positive patients and infectious disease health care providers think about death, dying, and end-of-life care (EOLC) planning. We conducted separate in-depth qualitative interviews with 47 patients and 11 providers. Interview data were transcribed and analyzed using a secondary comparative method. Patients and providers demonstrated profound differences in their perspectives on patient empowerment and attributions of control related to disease progression, imminence of death, and EOLC decision making. Notably, patients described fears related to life-extending interventi...
Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine - February 11, 2015 Category: Palliative Care Authors: Mosack, K. E., Wandrey, R. L. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

Mindfulness-Based Supportive Therapy (MBST): Proposing a Palliative Psychotherapy From a Conceptual Perspective to Address Suffering in Palliative Care
Conclusion: We believe that MBST is a potentially useful psychological intervention in palliative care, specifically designed to address psychoexistential suffering of terminally ill patients. (Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine)
Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine - February 11, 2015 Category: Palliative Care Authors: Beng, T. S., Chin, L. E., Guan, N. C., Yee, A., Wu, C., Jane, L. E., Meng, C. B. C. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

Barriers to End-of-Life Care for African Americans From the Providers' Perspective: Opportunity for Intervention Development
We examined barriers to use of these end-of-life (EOL) care options by conducting semi-structured interviews with hospice and palliative medicine providers and leaders of a national health care organization. Barriers identified included: lack of knowledge about prognosis, desires for aggressive treatment, family members resistance to accepting hospice, and lack of insurance. Providers believed that acceptance of EOL care options among AAs could be improved by increasing cultural sensitivity though education and training initiatives, and increasing staff diversity. Respondents did not have programs currently in place to inc...
Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine - February 11, 2015 Category: Palliative Care Authors: Rhodes, R. L., Batchelor, K., Lee, S. C., Halm, E. A. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research