Journal of palliative medicine
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Testosterone Levels in People Taking Regular Low-Dose Sustained-Release Morphine for Persisting Breathlessness: An Exploratory Study.
Background: The intermediate- and long-term effects of regular low-dose sustained-release (SR) morphine on the testosterone levels of people with persistent breathlessness are unknown. Methods: Exploratory analysis of a randomized controlled trial of the effects of regular SR morphine (0/8/16/24 mg every 24 hours) for persistent breathlessness associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Total testosterone was measured at baseline and at cessation (greater than or equal to three months on stable medication). ⋯ All three had worsening illness at the time of the second assessment. There was no apparent relationship between change in testosterone, morphine dose, and change in breathlessness. Conclusions: Substantial declines in testosterone were uncommon and were not apparently related to changes in morphine dose or breathlessness, but they were possibly related with worsening illness.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Feasibility of a Palliative Care Intervention within Routine Care of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.
Background: Patients with hepatocellular cancer (HCC) are at risk for poor quality of life (QoL) and high symptom burden, coupled with limited treatment options. Palliative care (PC) can play an important role in reducing the suffering of this population, but remains underutilized. Aim: To demonstrate feasibility of an outpatient PC intervention within HCC care. ⋯ Post-intervention, symptom burden and QoL improved in the intervention arm and remained same or worsened in the control group. All FACT-Hep scores decreased numerically among controls and increased numerically among patients in the PC intervention group. Conclusion: Outpatient PC intervention within routine HCC care is feasible, and can potentially improve QoL and symptoms.
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Background: Medicare home health could be leveraged to care for those near the end of life (EOL), especially for those who cannot access nor desire the Medicare hospice benefit. It is unknown what role home health currently has either preceding or as an alternative to hospice use. Objective: The aim of this study is to compare populations served and visit patterns of Medicare beneficiaries receiving home health/hospice/both near the EOL. ⋯ Home health provided more therapy visits, while hospice provided more social work and aide visits. Conclusions: More than one in three Medicare decedents nationwide received home health at the EOL. Home health has the potential to serve a population not reached by hospice and improve the quality of end-of-life care.
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Determining the specific needs and greatest distress of a patient requires thoughtful purposeful assessment. The objective of this article is to present a palliative care needs assessment tool utilized in an inpatient palliative care service, and to discuss the process of implementation and evaluation of outcomes. The tool is specifically designed to identify palliative care needs when there is no initial clarity on the appropriate palliative care intervention. ⋯ After analysis, the four outcomes were consistently met, demonstrating that this tool has value in the hospital setting with certain referral types. These four outcomes identified are valuable in capturing where a patient currently is in their disease trajectory, while also providing a potential framework for future decision making. Recommendations for future exploration were presented along with feedback from the social work team.