Journal of palliative medicine
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Quality of end-of-life (EOL) care is gaining increasing attention. However, the relationship between hospital case volume and performance of benchmark quality indicators is not well characterized. The aim of this study was to determine whether hospital case volume affects EOL care for terminal cancer patients. ⋯ The results showed that the case volume of terminally ill cancer patients was associated with several aspects of quality of EOL care.
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Atypical genital bleeding due to gynecologic cancer not only impairs patients' quality of life (QOL), but also becomes a major causative factor of death. We report the clinical usefulness of Mohs' paste for genital bleeding from the uterine cervix or vaginal stump in patients with recurrent gynecologic cancer. ⋯ The use of Mohs' paste is safe and convenient for massive genital bleeding from the uterine cervix or vaginal stump due to recurrent gynecologic cancer. However, our study does have some limitations including the small number of enrolled subjects and heterogeneous cancer types.
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The medical literature encourages primary care pediatricians (PCPs) to play a role in the care of patients who are dying. Actual involvement has not been investigated. ⋯ The interviews suggest limited involvement by PCPs in care at the end of life and subsequent bereavement. Parents overall seem to accept this role. Further research is needed to examine these observations from the perspective of PCPs.
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Current discrepancies in the practice of artificial hydration therapy for terminally ill cancer patients have the potential to cause serious clinical problems. ⋯ The potential benefits of artificial hydration therapy should be balanced with the risk of worsening fluid retention signs.