Palliative medicine
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Palliative medicine · Jan 2015
Multicenter StudyEvaluation of measurement equivalence of the Family Satisfaction with the End-of-Life Care in an ethnically diverse cohort: tests of differential item functioning.
The Family Satisfaction with End-of-Life Care is an internationally used measure of satisfaction with cancer care. However, the Family Satisfaction with End-of-Life Care has not been studied for equivalence of item endorsement across different socio-demographic groups using differential item functioning. ⋯ Differential item functioning was observed primarily for race and education. No differential item functioning of high magnitude was observed for any item, and the overall impact of differential item functioning was negligible. One item, satisfaction with "the patient's pain relief," might be singled out for further study, given that this item was both hypothesized and observed to show differential item functioning for race and education.
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Palliative medicine · Dec 2014
Developing a best practice model for partnership practice between specialist palliative care and intellectual disability services: a mixed methods study.
The lack of access to good quality palliative care for people with intellectual disabilities is highlighted in the international literature. In response, more partnership practice in end-of-life care is proposed. ⋯ Joint working and learning between intellectual disability and specialist palliative care were seen as key and fundamental. A framework for partnership practice between both services has been developed which could have international applicability and should be explored with other services in end-of-life care.
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Palliative medicine · Dec 2014
Retrospective studies of end-of-life resource utilization and costs in cancer care using health administrative data: a systematic review.
There has been an increase in observational studies using health administrative data to examine the nature, quality, and costs of care at life's end, particularly in cancer care. ⋯ Observational studies using health administrative data have the potential to drive evidence-based palliative care practice and policy. Further development of quality care markers will enhance benchmarking activities across health care jurisdictions, providers, and patient populations.
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Palliative medicine · Dec 2014
How do general end-of-life treatment goals and values relate to specific treatment preferences? a population-based study.
There is a lack of research on the relationship between general end-of-life goals and values and preferences for specific life-sustaining treatments. ⋯ For a sizable minority of participants, specific treatment preferences did not agree with their general end-of-life goals. The more frequent desire to forgo treatments in case of dementia than cancer suggests that physical deterioration is more acceptable than cognitive decline. The findings underline the importance of discussing general care goals, different end-of-life scenarios and the risks and burdens of treatments to frame discussions of more specific treatment preferences.