Journal of pain and symptom management
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Jun 2015
Improving End-of-Life Communication and Decision Making: The Development of a Conceptual Framework and Quality Indicators.
The goal of end-of-life (EOL) communication and decision making is to create a shared understanding about a person's values and treatment preferences that will lead to a plan of care that is consistent with these values and preferences. Improvements in communication and decision making at the EOL have been identified as a high priority from a patient and family point of view. ⋯ We have developed definitions, a conceptual framework, and quality indicators that researchers and health care decision makers can use to evaluate and improve the quality of EOL communication and decision making.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Jun 2015
Letter Comparative StudySingle-Dose Subcutaneous Benzodiazepines for Insomnia in Patients With Advanced Cancer.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Jun 2015
An Assessment of Hospital-Based Palliative Care in Maryland: Infrastructure, Barriers, and Opportunities.
Maryland recently passed legislation mandating that hospitals with more than 50 beds have palliative care (PC) programs. Although the state's health agency can play a key role in ensuring successful implementation of this measure, there is little actionable information from which it can guide resource allocation for enhancing PC delivery statewide. ⋯ Systematic collection of state-level PC infrastructure data can be used to guide state health agencies' understanding of extant resources and challenges, using those data to determine resource allocation to promote the timely receipt of PC for patients and families.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Jun 2015
Multicenter StudyPatient-Clinician Communication About End-of-Life Care in Patients With Advanced Chronic Organ Failure During One Year.
Patient-clinician communication is an important prerequisite to delivering high-quality end-of-life care. However, discussions about end-of-life care are uncommon in patients with advanced chronic organ failure. ⋯ End-of-life care communication is poor in patients with chronic organ failure and does not change toward the end of life. Future studies should develop an intervention aiming at initiating high-quality end-of-life care communication between patients with advanced chronic organ failure and their clinicians.