The American journal of hospice & palliative care
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Am J Hosp Palliat Care · Nov 2018
ReviewRole of Early Palliative Care Interventions in Hematological Malignancies and Bone Marrow Transplant Patients: Barriers and Potential Solutions.
Despite advances in palliative care management of physical, psychological, and emotional symptoms along the spectrum of chronic conditions, early palliative care interventions are not used frequently and comprehensively in bone marrow transplant units. ⋯ Early palliative care interventions are beneficial for patients with hematologic malignancies and bone marrow transplant processes. Better understanding of barriers to its implementation and development of creative initiatives is of paramount importance. New research endeavors should focus on providers' attitudes toward patients and communities.
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Am J Hosp Palliat Care · Nov 2018
The Optimal Cutoff Point for Expressing Revised Edmonton Symptom Assessment System Scores as Binary Data Indicating the Presence or Absence of Symptoms.
Terminally ill patients with cancer experience various physical and emotional symptoms that have a negative impact on quality of life and activities of daily living. Recently, revised Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS-r) scores have been proposed for assessing symptoms in terminally ill patients with cancer. ⋯ Our results suggest that physical symptoms other than drowsiness could potentially predict ESAS-r score severity.
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Am J Hosp Palliat Care · Nov 2018
Self-Perceived End-of-Life Care Competencies of Health-Care Providers at a Large Academic Medical Center.
In the United States, most deaths occur in hospitals, with approximately 25% of hospitalized patients having palliative care needs. Therefore, the provision of good end-of-life (EOL) care to these patients is a priority. However, research assessing staff preparedness for the provision of EOL care to hospitalized patients is lacking. ⋯ Differences in self-perceived EOL care competencies were identified among disciplines, particularly between physicians and nurses. The results provide evidence for assessing health-care providers to identify their specific training needs before implementing educational programs on EOL care.
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Am J Hosp Palliat Care · Nov 2018
Usefulness of the Surprise Question on an Inpatient Oncology Service.
Prognostication of survival in patients with advanced cancer has been challenging and contributes to poor illness understanding. Prognostic disagreement occurs even among providers and is a less studied phenomenon. ⋯ Regular discussion of prognosis of patients with cancer in an inpatient medical setting did not increase referrals to inpatient or outpatient palliative care or hospice. Increased clinical experience impacted hospital medicine providers and bedside nurses' estimation of prognosis differently than oncology providers. Medical oncologists were significantly more optimistic than hospital medicine providers.
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Am J Hosp Palliat Care · Oct 2018
Hope Tree: An Interactive Art Installation to Facilitate the Expression of Hope in a Hospice Setting.
Individuals confronting a terminal illness can experience intense psychological distress. Previous research has shown that hope can enhance one's ability to acknowledge, accept, and fight a terminal illness. Patients can continue to have hope or be hopeful, even in the face of a terminal illness. Can participation in a creative writing practice improve the expression of hope in a hospice setting? ⋯ The Hope Tree is a creative art project that can be used within a hospice environment to promote hope among family members and the health-care professionals who care for patients.