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.

Acceptability and Feasibility of a Meaning-Based Intervention for Patients With Advanced Cancer and Their Spouses: A Pilot Study
Conclusions: Our findings suggest feasibility and efficacy, and further research and continued evaluation of this intervention are warranted. (Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine)
Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine - June 1, 2016 Category: Palliative Care Authors: Wagner, C. D., Johns, S., Brown, L. F., Hanna, N., Bigatti, S. M. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

Race, Any Cancer, Income, or Cognitive Function: What Inf luences Hospice or Aggressive Services Use at the End of Life Among Community-Dwelling Medicare Beneficiaries?
(Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine)
Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine - June 1, 2016 Category: Palliative Care Authors: Karikari-Martin, P., McCann, J. J., Farran, C. J., Hebert, L. E., Haffer, S. C., Phillips, M. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

Education Intervention "Caregivers Like Me" for Latino Family Caregivers Improved Attitudes Toward Professional Assistance at End-of-life Care
Conclusion: A culturally sensitive educational intervention increased Latino caregivers’ self-awareness about caregiver stress and the need to consider professional assistance for EOL care. (Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine)
Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine - June 1, 2016 Category: Palliative Care Authors: Cruz-Oliver, D. M., Malmstrom, T. K., Fernandez, N., Parikh, M., Garcia, J., Sanchez-Reilly, S. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

How to Manage Hospital-Based Palliative Care Teams Without Full-Time Palliative Care Physicians in Designated Cancer Care Hospitals: A Qualitative Study
Conclusions: The findings of this study can be used as a nautical chart of hospital-based palliative care team (HPCT) without full-time PC physician. Full-time nurses who have high management and coordination abilities play a central role in resource-limited HPCTs. (Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine)
Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine - June 1, 2016 Category: Palliative Care Authors: Sakashita, A., Kishino, M., Nakazawa, Y., Yotani, N., Yamaguchi, T., Kizawa, Y. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

Improving Diabetes Care for Hospice Patients
Although type 2 diabetes guidelines recommend less aggressive glycemic control for patients with limited life expectancy, many hospice patients continue their glucose-lowering medications, resulting in an increased risk of hypoglycemia. Three common reasons for overly tight glycemic control in hospice patients include (1) discussions about reducing or stopping chronic medications are uncomfortable; (2) many patients and families believe that mild hyperglycemia can cause symptoms; and (3) until 2014, Healthcare Information and Data Information Set (HEDIS) quality indicators for glycemic control included hospice patients. To...
Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine - June 1, 2016 Category: Palliative Care Authors: Lee, S. J., Jacobson, M. A., Johnston, C. B. Tags: Commentary Source Type: research

Viewing Hospice Decision Making as a Process
Research focused on understanding that the nature of hospice decision making has both described the characteristics of those who do and do not utilize hospice and identified many factors related to choosing hospice. However, this literature has not explored the underlying decision-making processes, limiting our understanding. We examine the extant literature and propose a framework that views hospice decisions as an evolving process, identify key factors that bear directly on this process, and discuss the contextual environment, including the idea of a decision maker triad. We end with a discussion of how this framework ca...
Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine - May 2, 2016 Category: Palliative Care Authors: Romo, R. D., Wallhagen, M. I., Smith, A. K. Tags: Review Article Source Type: research

A Pilot Curriculum to Integrate Standardized Patient Simulation into Clinical Pastoral Education
Conclusions: More research in the field of pastoral care is needed to validate the learned professional skills that enhance a comprehensive training program through the use of medical simulation, verbatim reports, and clinical pastoral education (CPE) competencies. Medical simulation provides a promising teaching methodology for the training of CPE residents. (Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine)
Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine - May 2, 2016 Category: Palliative Care Authors: Ahmed, R. A., Damore, D. R., Viti, J. F., Hughes, P. G., Miesle, R., Ataya, R., Atkinson, S. S., Gable, B. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

Is There a Need for Early Palliative Care in Patients With Life-Limiting Illnesses? Interview Study With Patients About Experienced Care Needs From Diagnosis Onward
This study contributes to the understanding of primary care needs of patients for whom palliative care (not necessarily specialized palliative care) could be beneficial. (Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine)
Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine - May 2, 2016 Category: Palliative Care Authors: Beernaert, K., Deliens, L., De Vleminck, A., Devroey, D., Pardon, K., Block, L. V. d., Cohen, J. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

Medical Manuscript: Serum Total Testosterone as a Prognostic Indicator in Male Patients With Terminal Cancer
The role of total serum testosterone in the prognosis of terminal cancer is unclear. We retrospectively investigated the total serum testosterone level in 69 male patients with terminal cancer in a palliative care unit. The association between the serum testosterone level and survival was assessed using Cox proportional hazard model. The median value of serum total testosterone was 44.5 ng/dL, far lower than previously reported in patients with advanced cancer. Multivariate analysis revealed thrombocytopenia (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 2.68), hypoalbuminemia (aHR, 2.02), azotemia (aHR, 2.67), and lower serum testosterone...
Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine - May 2, 2016 Category: Palliative Care Authors: Kim, S. W., Hwang, I. C., Ahn, H. K., Kyung, S. Y., Ahn, H. Y. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

Managing Advanced Progressive Supranuclear Palsy and Corticobasal Degeneration in a Palliative Care Unit: Admission Triggers and Outcomes
Conclusion: Patients showed high symptom load contrasting with discharge rates and subsequent health care utilization. Brief multidisciplinary interventions might be helpful to preserve autonomy. (Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine)
Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine - May 2, 2016 Category: Palliative Care Authors: Bükki, J., Nübling, G., Lorenzl, S. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

Sequential Assessments of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Scale Enhance Prognostic Value in Patients With Terminally Ill Cancer Receiving Palliative Care
This study aimed to assess the utility of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance scale assessments on days 1 and 8 of palliative care, as well as scale change between these assessments, as prognostic tools for patients with terminally ill cancer. A total of 2392 patients with terminally ill cancer who received palliative care between January 2006 and December 2011 at a single medical center were analyzed. Our study showed that the ECOG scale is a useful prognostic tool to predict life expectancy in patients with terminally ill cancer. The ECOG scale assessments at different time points under palliative c...
Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine - May 2, 2016 Category: Palliative Care Authors: Peng, M.-T., Liu, C.-T., Hung, Y.-S., Kao, C.-Y., Chang, P.-H., Yeh, K.-Y., Wang, H.-M., Lin, Y.-C., Chou, W.-C. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

Disparities Among Those With Advance Directives in a Medicare Supplement Population
Advance directives (ADs) detail patients’ end-of-life (EOL) care preferences. We estimated AD prevalence rates among a Medicare Supplement population and determined characteristics associated with having ADs. We also estimated the impact of having an AD on EOL Medicare expenditures among respondents who later died. Survey respondents with an AD (72%) were significantly more likely to be female, older, nonminority, higher income and education, and have more comorbid conditions. Following regression adjustments, EOL expenditures were significantly lower for those with ADs in the last 3 months (–US$11 189) and 1 m...
Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine - May 2, 2016 Category: Palliative Care Authors: Musich, S., Wang, S. S., Hawkins, K., Yeh, C. S. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

Novel Therapeutic Strategies for Delirium in Patients With Cancer: A Preliminary Study
To compare the efficacy of antipsychotics (APs) for delirium treatment in patients with cancer, 27 patients treated with 1 of the 4 APs, haloperidol (HPD), risperidone (RIS), olanzapine (OLZ), and quetiapine (QTP), were divided into 2 groups: long half-life (T1/2; HPD, RIS, and OLZ) versus short T1/2 (QTP) or the multiacting receptor-targeted APs (MARTAs; OLZ and QTP) versus the non-MARTA (HPD and RIS). The symptom severity was evaluated by the memorial delirium rating scale (MDAS) on days 0, 3, and 7 following intervention. Significant improvements in total MDAS scores were found in all groups on day 3. However, on day 7,...
Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine - May 2, 2016 Category: Palliative Care Authors: Tanimukai, H., Tsujimoto, H., Matsuda, Y., Tokoro, A., Kanemura, S., Watanabe, M., Tsujio, I., Maeda, I., Takei, K., Nakajima, S., Taira, T., Tokuyama, M., Kai, T., Okamoto, Y., Goya, S., Kashiwagi, Y. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

Nonpain Symptom Prevalence and Intensity of Inpatients With Moderate to Severe Cancer Pain in China
Conclusions: Most inpatients with cancer pain experienced concurrent nonpain symptoms. Comprehensive symptom assessment and intervention managing multiple symptoms are essential for these inpatients. (Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine)
Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine - May 2, 2016 Category: Palliative Care Authors: Shao, Y.-J., Ji, K., Hao, J.-L., Cheng, X.-J., Guan, B.-Q., Liu, W.-S., Wang, K. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

Dignified Palliative Long-Term Care: An Interpretive Systemic Framework of End-of-Life Integrated Care Pathway for Terminally Ill Chinese Older Adults
Conclusions: These findings highlight the importance of organizational structure, social discourse, and shared meaning in the provision of EoL-ICP in Chinese societies, underscoring the significant triangulation between political, cultural, and spiritual contexts embodied in the experience of dignity. (Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine)
Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine - May 2, 2016 Category: Palliative Care Authors: Ho, A. H. Y., Luk, J. K. H., Chan, F. H. W., Chun Ng, W., Kwok, C. K. K., Yuen, J. H. L., Tam, M. Y. J., Kan, W. W. S., Chan, C. L. W. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research