Journal of palliative medicine
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Assessing end-of-life preferences for advanced dementia in rural patients using an educational video: a randomized controlled trial.
Few studies have evaluated the end-of-life preferences of elderly patients in rural communities and whether preferences are associated with level of health literacy. ⋯ Rural subjects with higher health literacy were more likely to want comfort care compared to those with lower levels of health literacy. Furthermore, subjects who viewed a video decision aid were more likely to opt for comfort compared to those who solely listened to a verbal description. These findings suggest that video can help elicit preferences and that interventions to empower such patients need to be designed in a manner that is sensitive to health literacy.
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Comparative Study
Effectiveness of a clinical intervention to eliminate barriers to pain and fatigue management in oncology.
Pain and fatigue are recognized as critical symptoms that impact quality of life (QOL) in cancer, particularly in palliative care settings. Barriers to pain and fatigue relief have been classified into three categories: patient, professional, and system barriers. The overall objective of this study was to test the effects of a clinical intervention on reducing barriers to pain and fatigue management in oncology. ⋯ A clinical intervention was effective in reducing patient barriers to pain and fatigue management, increasing patient knowledge regarding pain and fatigue, and is feasible and acceptable to patients.
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To test a brochure comprising hospice patient role model stories aimed at improving attitudes and knowledge of hospice among older African Americans. ⋯ This small pre-post pilot study found that exposure to a hospice brochure containing theoretically driven, culturally parallel, role model stories was effective in improving knowledge of and attitudes toward hospice as well as intentions to enroll a family member or self in hospice care. Further study is needed to determine the impact of using this brochure within a clinical setting.
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We previously demonstrated that parents whose children die in a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) have a high level of complicated grief symptoms 6 months after the death. In this study, we investigate the change in the extent of complicated grief symptoms among these parents between 6 and 18 months postdeath and identify factors predicting improvement. ⋯ Complicated grief symptoms decrease among parents between 6 and 18 months after their child's death in the PICU; however, high symptom levels persists for some. Better understanding of the trajectory of complicated grief will allow parents at risk for persistent distress to receive professional support.
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One measure of quality hospice care is minimization of hospitalization. Few studies have explored reasons for hospitalization and characteristics of care received by hospice patients in the hospital. ⋯ Hospitalization of hospice patients is costly to the health care system. Most care was of low or moderate intensiveness. Quality improvements focusing on concise communication of patient goals and prevention of pain, delirium, and falls have the potential for the greatest impact on reducing hospitalizations and minimizing care that is discordant with patient goals.