The American journal of hospice & palliative care
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Am J Hosp Palliat Care · Jul 2019
Implementing a Palliative Medicine Music Therapy Program: A Quality Improvement Project.
Recent evidence suggests that music therapy, a holistic method of care, potentially is beneficial for symptom management. This quality improvement project aimed to evaluate the effect of music therapy on symptom management and coping skills of patients receiving palliative care and to measure patient satisfaction with the therapy. A secondary aim was to evaluate staff perception of patient outcomes of music therapy services. ⋯ In this quality improvement project, music therapy positively affected multiple domains of well-being for patients receiving palliative care.
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Am J Hosp Palliat Care · Jun 2019
Korean Physicians' Perspectives on Prognostication in Palliative Care: A Qualitative Study.
Prognostication is an essential component of palliative care for patients with advanced cancer but also poses challenges. Little is known about physicians' perspectives on prognostication and prognostic tools used in palliative care practice in Eastern countries. ⋯ Palliative care physicians in Korea reported similar perceptions about the role and challenges inherent in prognostication compared to clinicians in Western cultures. However, they emphasize the need to predict final days to keep families with dying patients, reflecting family-centered aspects of Asian culture. They reported frustrations with inaccurate prognostication schemas and called for the development of simpler, more accurate predictors as a focus of future research.
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Am J Hosp Palliat Care · May 2019
Radiofrequency Ablation and Radiation Therapy Improve Local Control in Spinal Metastases Compared to Radiofrequency Ablation Alone.
The spinal column is the most common location for osseous metastases and is associated with pain and decreased quality of life. This study evaluated combined radiofrequency ablation (RFA) with radiation therapy (RT) compared to RFA alone for improving pain and local control. ⋯ This study demonstrates a benefit in local control with RFA+RT versus RFA alone. Palliation of pain was effective using both regimens. This study was limited by a nearly unequal distribution of primary tumor histologies between groups. Literature regarding combined treatment of RFA and RT for spinal metastases is scarce and prospective protocols are warranted.
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Am J Hosp Palliat Care · Apr 2019
Health Professionals Perceived Concerns and Challenges in Providing Palliative and End-of-Life Care: A Qualitative Analysis.
The Institute of Medicine identifies that quality palliative/end-of-life (EOL) care should be provided to patients with serious, life-limiting illnesses and their families by competently prepared health professionals. ⋯ Challenges exist in the delivery of quality palliative/EOL care in the hospital setting which may be addressed through educational initiatives that focus on recognition of cultural influences on care preferences, improving communication between patients/families and providers, education about the differences between palliative and EOL care, and increased competency of health providers in having EOL/goals-of-care discussions. Health professionals must recognize the benefit of collaborative palliative care in order to meet patient and family needs holistically and comprehensively.
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Am J Hosp Palliat Care · Apr 2019
Palliative Care Consultation Trends Among Hospitalized Patients With Advanced Cancer in the United States, 2005 to 2014.
Although palliative care services are increasing in the United States, disparities exist in access and utilization. Hence, we explored these factors in hospitalized patients with advanced cancers using the National Inpatient Sample (NIS). ⋯ Many demographic, socioeconomic, health-care, and geographic disparities were identified in palliative care consultations. Additionally, palliative care resources were underutilized by hospitalized patients with advanced cancers and commonly utilized by patients who are dying. Health-care providers and policy makers should focus on these disparities in order to improve palliative care use.