Journal of palliative medicine
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Improving residents' end-of-life communication skills with a short retreat: a randomized controlled trial.
Internal medicine residents are largely unprepared to carry out end-of-life (EOL) conversations. There is evidence that these skills can be taught, but data from randomized controlled trials are lacking. ⋯ A short course for residents can significantly improve specific elements of resident EOL conversation performance, including the ability to respond to emotional cues.
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Comparative Study
Palliative care consultations in hospitalized stroke patients.
To determine the pattern and characteristics of palliative care (PC) consultations in patients with stroke and compare them with the characteristics of nonstroke consultations. ⋯ Patients with stroke are a common diagnosis seen on an inpatient palliative care consult service. Each stroke type represents patients with potentially distinct palliative care needs.
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Palliative care programs have the opportunity to intercede and provide supportive care to parents whose families have been impacted by their children's illnesses. By understanding how families are impacted, programs can refine their service provision and investigate unmet needs. ⋯ Our findings stress the importance of considering the needs of all family members when providing care to children and understanding and attempting to address family member's needs that may not be covered by pediatric palliative care services. Particular attention should be paid to parents with depressive symptoms, because they can receive supportive care in their children's pediatric palliative care programs.
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We studied the impact of an 11-bed inpatient palliative care unit (PCU) on site of death and observed mortality in the health system, oncology, and palliative care units. Observers were concerned that an active PCU would attract dying patients and worsen comparative mortality rates for Medicare and U.S. News & World Report comparisons. ⋯ An inpatient PCU did not increase the hospital-wide death rate. The PCU did change the site of death to a more appropriate venue for one quarter of patients.