Journal of pain and symptom management
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Oct 2024
ReviewBridge the Gap: Addressing Rural End-of-Life Care Disparities and Access to Hospice Services.
Rural hospices face many obstacles in delivering palliative and end-of-life care in the United States. We aimed to identify these barriers and their potential solutions. Following a systematic approach, a comprehensive literature search using relevant keywords was conducted on online databases. ⋯ Another solution to consider is simulation-based training to enhance the education of healthcare providers. In conclusion, there is a critical gap in end-of-life care access in rural communities. A multifaceted approach including policy changes, financial support, and technological innovations is essential to improve hospice care access in rural populations.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Oct 2024
ReviewWho, What, Where, and How? The State of Family Science in Pediatric Palliative Care.
Families are vital providers and recipients of pediatric palliative care (PPC) services. Understanding the scope and nature of evidence at the intersection of family science and PPC research is necessary to develop family-focused interventions that enhance child and family health. ⋯ The robust, descriptive, and individual-level evidence describing family impact of serious pediatric illness provides a solid foundation for future research priorities. Stronger integration of family techniques and diverse family voices in pediatric palliative care research can clarify family processes, illuminate structural barriers, and inform interventions that are responsive to family needs. These steps will enhance the education, policy, and clinical provision of PPC to all who would benefit, thereby advancing health equity for children living with serious illness and their families.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Oct 2024
Comparative StudyAI-Generated Content in Cancer Symptom Management: A Comparative Analysis Between ChatGPT and NCCN.
Artificial intelligence-driven tools, like ChatGPT, are prevalent sources for online health information. Limited research has explored the congruity between AI-generated content and professional treatment guidelines. This study seeks to compare recommendations for cancer-related symptoms generated from ChatGPT with guidelines from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN). ⋯ While ChatGPT provides concise, accessible supportive care advice, discrepancies with guidelines raise concerns for patient-facing symptom management recommendations. Future research should consider how AI can be used in conjunction with evidence-based guidelines to support cancer patients' supportive care needs.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Oct 2024
Timing of Palliative Care Consultation Impacts End of Life Care Outcomes in Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.
Early specialist palliative care (PC) involvement in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (mNSCLC) is associated with improved quality of life, less aggressive end of life (EoL) care, and longer survival. As treatment paradigms for NSCLC have evolved, PC utilization remains low. ⋯ This real-world study reveals that referrals to PC still occur late or not at all in mNSCLC despite demonstrated benefits of early PC integration. Early outpatient PC referrals resulted in longer time on hospice, lower frequency of aggressive EoL care, and lower rates of in-hospital death.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Oct 2024
Comparative StudyContent Analysis of Serious Illness Conversation Documentation: Structured vs. Free-Text Information.
Clear, accessible, and thorough documentation of serious illness conversations helps ensure that critical information patients share with clinicians is reflected in their future care. ⋯ How serious illness conversations are documented in the electronic health record may impact the content captured. Future quality improvement efforts should seek to consolidate documentation sources to improve care and information retention.