Articles: palliative-care.
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Review Meta Analysis
Prognosis of nonoperative treatment in elderly patients with a hip fracture: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Hip fractures in frail elderly patients are associated with significant mortality and morbidity. Surgery remains the predominant treatment of choice, despite the poor prognosis. Limited research has been done with regards to nonoperative management of frail elderly patients with a hip fracture and therefore the natural course is relatively unknown. This systematic review aimed to provide an overview of the prognosis of nonoperative management in frail elderly patients with a hip fracture in terms of mortality, complications, mobility, and quality of life (QoL). ⋯ Nonoperative management of frail elderly patients with a hip fracture is associated with a poor prognosis. Heterogenous study cohorts and limited outcomes were reported. Current literature shows a lack of evidence of the true prognosis of nonoperative management of frail elderly patient with a hip fracture and a limited life expectancy. Results of this review can be used to aid decision making and improve expectation management.
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Am. J. Clin. Oncol. · Nov 2020
Inpatient Palliative Care Use Among Critically III Brain Metastasis Patients in the United States.
The objective of this study was to understand the trends and characteristics of palliative care delivery among critically ill brain metastasis patients using a nationally representative database. ⋯ Inpatient palliative care use increased significantly among critically ill patients with brain metastases, though overall rate was low. There were geographical and racial disparities among these patients. Health care providers and policy makers should focus on decreasing these disparities. In addition, hospitals should focus on adopting more palliative care services.
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Background: As the death rate numbers in the United States related to COVID-19 are in the tens of thousands, clinicians are increasingly tasked with having serious illness conversations. However, in the setting of infection control policies, visitor restrictions, social distancing, and a lack of personal protective equipment, many of these important conversations are occurring by virtual visits. Objective: From our experience with a multisite study exploring the effectiveness of virtual palliative care, we have identified key elements of webside manner that are helpful when conducting serious illness conversations by virtual visit. Results: The key elements and components of webside manner skills are proper set up, acquainting the participant, maintaining conversation rhythm, responding to emotion, and closing the visit. Other considerations that may require conversion to phone visits include persistent technical difficulties, lack of prerequisite technology to conduct virtual visits, patients who are too ill to participate, or who find virtual visits too technically challenging. Conclusions: Similar to bedside manner, possessing nuanced verbal and nonverbal webside manner skills is essential to conducting serious illness conversations during virtual visits.
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Background and Purpose: Patients with severe, progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) have complex physical and psychosocial needs, typically over several years. Few treatment options are available to prevent or delay further clinical worsening in this population. The objective was to develop an evidence-based clinical practice guideline for the palliative care of patients with severe, progressive MS. ⋯ Conclusions: The provision of home-based palliative care (either general or specialist) is recommended with weak strength for patients with severe, progressive MS. Further research on the integration of palliative care and MS care is needed. Areas that currently lack evidence of efficacy in this population include advance care planning, the management of symptoms such as fatigue and mood problems, and interventions for caregivers and HPs.