Journal of palliative medicine
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Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate from the perspective of palliative care (PC) patients with cancer, the frequency of sexual dysfunction (SD) and their views regarding the communication with their physicians. Design, Setting, and Participants: Adult PC patients with cancer seen at a Supportive Care Clinic in the United States were invited to participate in a survey about SD. Results: A total of 100 patients completed the survey. ⋯ Only 20% reported that their clinician ever asked them about SD. Most (79%) considered appropriate to be inquired about SD, but only 32% thought it should always be asked. Conclusions: Our findings do not support the notion that PC specialists should always initiate a discussion about SD with their PC patients with cancer.
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Objective: To systematically review studies presenting quantitative data on the experiences of patients and providers engaged in VSED. Background: Voluntarily stopping eating and drinking (VSED) to purposefully accelerate the end of life is uncommon but likely accounts for thousands of deaths per year. A single systematic review of literature was published in 2014. ⋯ Little research to guide best practice is available, particularly in the United States. Caregivers and health care providers generally indicate support however, extensive preparation and caregiver assistance make the practice challenging. Practitioners express a need for training.
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Background: Patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer (mPC) have a five-year survival of 2.7%. Studies have shown that patients with mPC receive aggressive care at the end of life (EOL), which has been associated with worse quality of life for patients and high use of health care resources when they are least likely to benefit patients. Multiple studies suggest that integration of palliative care (PC) teams often leads to less aggressive EOL care. ⋯ Patients who were referred to hospice were also less likely to receive chemotherapy within 14 days of death (6.7% vs. 19.8%, p < 0.0001). Lastly, no significant difference was observed in mean overall survival from time of diagnosis in patient referred to PC and those who were not (349.4 vs. 349.6 days, p = 0.992). Conclusions: Patients with mPC who had a PC team involved in their care were significantly less likely to receive aggressive EOL care.