Articles: palliative-care.
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Observational Study
A Retrospective Review of the Characteristics and Outcomes of Patients through an Integrated Palliative Care Model during the First Wave of the SARS-COV-2 Pandemic.
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic created surges of rapidly deteriorating patients straining health care necessitating the evaluation of novel models of palliative care (PC) integration to reduce patient suffering and hospital strain. Objective: To evaluate an integrated PC model's effect on code status change. Design: This is an observational retrospective study. ⋯ An ordinal logistic model determined that consultation location (odds ratio [OR] 3.35, p = 0.017) and patient age (OR 1.09, p < 0.001) were predictive of code status change to DNR/DNI. Conclusion: Within an integrated PC model, PC consultation was associated with code status change. The effect of an integrated PC model warrants further study in comparison with a traditional PC model in a similar patient cohort.
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Background: The escalating cost of health care has important implications on national economies and public health. Palliative care (PC) consultations have been shown to reduce health costs while improving the quality of life. Aim: To assess the impact of PC consultations on hospital costs in a low- and middle-income country. ⋯ LOS (4.92 vs. 4.68, p < 0.0001), readmissions (24.78% vs. 36.41%, p < 0.001), and ED visits after discharge were lower in the PC group compared with the control group (relative risk [RR] = 2.46). Conclusions: We used readily available hospital billing data to demonstrate the cost benefits of inpatient PC consultations. This simple approach can provide powerful data to justify the need for PC services.
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Palliative medicine · Dec 2022
'There's something about admitting that you are lonely' - prevalence, impact and solutions to loneliness in terminal illness: An explanatory sequential multi-methods study.
Loneliness is a prevalent societal issue and can impact on a person's physical and mental health. It is unclear how loneliness impacts on end of life experiences or how such feelings can be alleviated. ⋯ There is a need for greater investment for social support initiatives to tackle experiences of loneliness at end of life. These services must be co-produced with people impacted by terminal illness to ensure they meet the needs of this population.