Palliative medicine
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Palliative medicine · Jul 2016
Comparative StudyAccuracy of physician prognosis in heart failure and lung cancer: Comparison between physician estimates and model predicted survival.
Anticipating adverse outcomes guides decisions but can be particularly challenging in heart failure. ⋯ Less than half of physicians accurately estimate survival in heart failure. Cardiologists were more accurate than other specialties for heart failure symptoms and reduced ejection fraction but no different for heart failure symptoms and preserved ejection fraction.
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Palliative medicine · Jul 2016
Perspectives of people with mild intellectual disabilities on care relationships at the end of life: A group interview study.
Care relationships are crucial in tailoring the end-of-life care of a person with intellectual disabilities (ID) to their needs. Yet, almost all studies on end-of-life care for people with ID have been conducted among caregivers. The views of people with ID about care relationships at the end of life have not been a specific focus of research. ⋯ The views of people with mild ID highlight the high demands which end-of-life care imposes on relational qualities of caregivers. This study shows the added value and potential of involving people with ID in studies on end-of-life care.
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Palliative medicine · Jul 2016
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in palliative care: A prospective study of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus prevalence in a hospital-based palliative care unit.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is a common organism in hospitals worldwide and is associated with morbidity and mortality. However, little is known about the prevalence in palliative care patients. Furthermore, there is no standardized screening protocol or treatment for patients for whom therapy concentrates on symptom control. ⋯ Our study suggests that the prevalence of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus among patients in an in-hospital palliative care unit is much higher than in other patient populations.
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Palliative medicine · Jul 2016
A survey of views and practice patterns of dialysis medical directors toward end-of-life decision making for patients with end-stage renal disease.
Patients with end-stage renal disease report infrequent end-of-life discussions, and nephrology trainees report feeling unprepared for end-of-life decision making, but the views of dialysis medical directors have not been studied. ⋯ Views and reported practice patterns of medical directors are consistent with clinical practice guidelines for end-of-life decision making for patients with end-stage renal disease but inconsistent with patient perceptions.