Journal of palliative medicine
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Context: Increasing emphasis on patient-centered care has led to highlighted importance of shared decision making, which better aligns medical decisions with patient care preferences. Effective shared decision making in metastatic breast cancer (MBC) treatment requires prognostic understanding, without which patients may receive treatment inconsistent with personal preferences. Objectives: To assess MBC patient and provider perspectives on the role of prognostic information in treatment decision making. ⋯ Five emergent themes were identified. (1) Most patients wanted prognostic information but differed in when they wanted to have this conversation, (2) Emotional distress and discomfort was a critical reason for not discussing prognosis, (3) Religious beliefs shaped preferences for prognostic information, (4) Health care professionals differed on prognostic information delivery timing, and (5) Providers acknowledged that an individualized approach taking into account patient values and preferences would be beneficial. Conclusion: Most MBC patients wanted prognostic information, yet varied in when they wanted this information. Understanding why patients want limited or unrestricted prognostic information can inform oncologists' efforts toward shared decision making.
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Background: Alexithymia, or difficulty identifying and describing emotions and sensations, contributes to an increased risk of chronic pain, and low help-seeking. Objective: To investigate whether family caregivers of advanced cancer patients visiting a palliative care department had alexithymia, and whether this was related to their pain intensity, personalized pain goals, and help-seeking for chronic musculoskeletal pain. Design: A single-center cross-sectional survey. ⋯ These participants set higher personal pain goals (lower goals for symptom improvement) than those without alexithymia. We found no difference in personal pain goal response between family caregivers with and without alexithymia. When we examine pain in family members with alexithymia who are caring for cancer patients, we need to recognize that they may set higher personal pain goals and seek less help.
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Background: As the number of geriatric trauma patients rises, end-of-life planning is of increased importance. A community-wide initiative to increase advance care planning was undertaken in the 1990s, resulting in a high rate (85%) of completed advance directives (ADs). Objectives: To assess the impact of ADs on quality measures of care and outcomes for elderly trauma patients. To determine if the historically high rate of completed ADs in the community applied to the trauma patient population. Design: A single trauma center's registry was retrospectively reviewed. ⋯ Although 30-day mortality was higher in patients with ADs versus without (21% vs. 15%; p = 0.03), this difference was not significant on case-control analysis (20% vs. 15%, p = 0.31). No difference was identified in LOS, ICU days, ventilator days, or charges. Conclusions: Presence of an AD was not associated with any difference in 30-day mortality, LOS, or hospital charges. More widespread efforts at AD education and documentation are necessary, particularly in the setting of trauma.
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Background: Malignant rectal pain (MRP) and tenesmus cause significant morbidity for cancer patients at all stages of disease. There is little evidence to guide management of these symptoms. Objective: The objective of this review was to summarize the existing evidence base for palliative management of MRP and tenesmus outside of standard oncologic or surgical management. Design: A systematic review of PubMed and Embase was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines using preselected search terms for publications between 1980 and January 2017. Setting/Subjects: Studies that described management for patients with tenesmoid pain from malignant tumors of the rectum, anus, or perineum were identified. Measurements: The primary outcome was response of pain to treatment. Results: The search produced 1412 titles. ⋯ A variety of treatments were found with most patients receiving interventional procedures, but overall evidence to support any particular intervention is limited and of poor quality. Conclusions: This review highlights the limited current evidence base for medical and interventional treatments for MRP and tenesmus. Further study is needed to clarify the best approach to managing these challenging symptoms.
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Health Care Worker Perceptions of Gaps and Opportunities to Improve Hospital-to-Hospice Transitions.
Background: Care transitions from the hospital to hospice are a difficult time, and gaps during this transitions could cause poor care experiences and outcomes. However, little is known about what gaps exist in the hospital-to-hospice transition. Objectives: To understand the process of hospital-to-hospice transition and identify common gaps in the transition that result in unsafe or poor patient and family caregiver experiences. Design: We conducted a qualitative descriptive study using semistructured interviews with health care workers who are directly involved in hospital-to-hospice transitions. Participants were asked to describe the common practice of discharging patients to hospice or admitting patients from a hospital, and share their observations about hospital-to-hospice transition gaps. Setting/Subjects: Fifteen health care workers from three hospitals and three hospice programs in Portland, Oregon. Measurements: All interviews were audio recorded and analyzed using qualitative descriptive methods to describe current practices and identify gaps in hospital-to-hospice transitions. Results: Three areas of gaps in hospital-to-hospice transitions were identified: (1) low literacy about hospice care; (2) changes in medications; and (3) hand-off information related to daily care. Specific concerns included hospital providers giving inaccurate descriptions of hospice; discharge orders not including comfort medications for the transition and inadequate prescriptions to manage medications at home; and lack of information about daily care hindering smooth transition and continuity of care. Conclusion: Our findings identify gaps and suggest opportunities to improve hospital-to-hospice transitions that will serve as the basis for future interventions to design safe and high-quality hospital-to-hospice care transitions.