American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine This is an RSS file. You can use it to subscribe to this data in your favourite RSS reader or to display this data on your own website or blog.

Communication Within Hospice Interdisciplinary Teams: A Narrative Review
Hospice care is coordinated through an interdisciplinary team (IDT), which assures that a holistic care plan based on the patient’s wishes is implemented. The extent to which an IDT provides quality care may be associated with how effectively they communicate within the team as well as with patients, caregivers, and families. This review seeks to characterize communication strategies among hospice IDT members and to determine how such strategies impact patient care. Although the existing literature sheds some light on communication within hospice IDTs, further research is needed. Inquiry into the communicative proces...
Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine - October 31, 2016 Category: Palliative Care Authors: Moore, A. R., Bastian, R. G., Apenteng, B. A. Tags: Review Articles Source Type: research

Looking Through the Lens of Receptivity and Its Role in Bereavement Support: A Review of the Literature
Receptivity is a new concept within the area of scholarship on bereavement. There is a dearth of research that specifically focuses on individuals’ receptivity in relation to bereavement support. This is particularly the case within the context of rural, regional, and remote locations. There is also a noticeable absence in the literature on bereavement support to Aboriginal families. Understanding receptivity in relation to bereavement in rural areas is important, particularly as bereavement support is an important area of service to the community by palliative care services. Receptivity to bereavement services has b...
Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine - October 31, 2016 Category: Palliative Care Authors: Blackburn, P., McGrath, P., Bulsara, C. Tags: Review Articles Source Type: research

The Last 10 Days of Patients With Glioblastoma: Assessment of Clinical Signs and Symptoms as well as Treatment
Conclusion: Due to a decrease in level of consciousness and cognitive impairment, assessment of clinical signs and symptoms such as headache at the end of life is difficult. Based on the signs and symptoms in the last days before death in patients with glioblastoma, supportive drug treatment remains challenging. Our study emphasizes the importance of standardized guidelines for end-of-life care in patients with glioblastoma. (Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine)
Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine - October 31, 2016 Category: Palliative Care Authors: Thier, K., Calabek, B., Tinchon, A., Grisold, W., Oberndorfer, S. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

Barriers to the Collaboration Between Hematologists and Palliative Care Teams on Relapse or Refractory Leukemia and Malignant Lymphoma Patients Care: A Qualitative Study
Conclusion: We have identified hematologists’ and palliative care specialists’ perceptions of the HPCT’s roles and the barriers to their collaboration. A better understanding of such barriers may lead to effective collaboration between hematologists and the HPCT. (Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine)
Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine - October 31, 2016 Category: Palliative Care Authors: Morikawa, M., Shirai, Y., Ochiai, R., Miyagawa, K. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

Climbing Back Up the Mountain: Reflections From an Exploration of End-of-Life Needs of Persons Living With HIV/AIDS in Appalachian Tennessee
Little is known about the health access and end-of-life (EOL) concerns of persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in Appalachia, where religious and cultural values are largely traditional. A qualitative, descriptive study with 9 participants was undertaken to assess EOL care needs among those from South Central Appalachian PLWHA. The focus of the study was to examine subjective data regarding EOL needs assessment related to advanced care planning. Five men and 4 women self-acknowledged a diagnosis of HIV/AIDS and completed a 2-hour face-to-face interview with the nurse researcher. Data were analyzed using qualitative descrip...
Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine - October 31, 2016 Category: Palliative Care Authors: Hutson, S. P. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

Palliative Care Consultation and Associated End-of-Life Care After Pacemaker or Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Deactivation
The presence of cardiac pacemakers and defibrillators complicates making end-of-life (EOL) medical decisions. Palliative care/medicine consultation (PCMC) may benefit patients and primary providers, but data are lacking. We retrospectively reviewed 150 charts of patients who underwent device deactivation at our tertiary care center (between November 1, 2008, and September 1, 2012), assessing for PCMC and outcomes. Overall, 42% of patients received a PCMC, and 68% of those PCMCs specifically addressed device deactivation. Median survival following deactivation was 2 days, with 42% of deaths occurring within 1 day of deactiv...
Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine - October 31, 2016 Category: Palliative Care Authors: Pasalic, D., Gazelka, H. M., Topazian, R. J., Buchhalter, L. C., Ottenberg, A. L., Webster, T. L., Swetz, K. M., Mueller, P. S. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

The Shared Experience Help the Bereavement to Flow: A Family Support Group Evaluation
This study evaluates families’ experiences of family support groups when a parent has died. Families were participate in groups for children, teenagers, young adults, and parents in seven sessions. The same topic which was discussed in all groups. The support groups were evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively. The participants were satisfied with the groups and experienced that the shared experience facilitated bereavement to proceed. The results indicate that families’ experiences is being more open about feelings in their own family. A support group can be one possibility to help the whole family in the b...
Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine - October 31, 2016 Category: Palliative Care Authors: Henoch, I., Berg, C., Benkel, I. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

The Symptoms Prevalence, Medical Interventions, and Health Care Service Needs for Patients With End-Stage Renal Disease in a Renal Palliative Care Program
A retrospective study was conducted to evaluate the symptoms prevalence and interventions initiated in the last 2 weeks of life, health care service utilization, and causes of death of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD under a renal palliative care (RPC) program. A total of 335 RPC patients were included, of which 226 patients died during the study period. The 5 most prevalent symptoms were dyspnea (63.7%), fatigue (51.8%), edema (48.2%), pain (44.2%), and anorexia (38.1%); and the 5 most prevalent interventions initiated were oxygen (69.5%), parenteral infusion (67.3%), antibiotics (53.5%), bladder catheterizati...
Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine - October 31, 2016 Category: Palliative Care Authors: Kwok, A. O., Yuen, S.-k., Yong, D. S., Tse, D. M. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

A Protocol for the Control of Agitation in Palliative Care
Conclusion: From those results, it can be said that this protocol is effective and safe. (Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine)
Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine - October 31, 2016 Category: Palliative Care Authors: Goncalves, F., Almeida, A., Pereira, S. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

Fatigue in Patients With Advanced Terminal Cancer Correlates With Inflammation, Poor Quality of Life and Sleep, and Anxiety/Depression
Conclusion: In patients with advanced cancer, fatigue is a common symptom associated with the presence of inflammation, poor quality of sleep, depression/anxiety, and poor quality of life. (Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine)
Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine - October 31, 2016 Category: Palliative Care Authors: Rodrigues, A. R., Trufelli, D. C., Fonseca, F., de Paula, L. C., Giglio, A. d. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

Physician Communication in Pediatric End-of-Life Care: A Simulation Study
Conclusion: Findings indicate that effective physician–parent communication may not consistently occur in cases involving the treatment of pediatric patients at the end of life in emergency and critical care units. Practice Implications: The findings in this study, particularly that physician–parent end-of-life communication is often unclear and that alternatives to life-sustaining technology are often not offered, suggest that physicians need more training in both communication and end-of-life care. (Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine)
Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine - October 31, 2016 Category: Palliative Care Authors: Bateman, L. B., Tofil, N. M., White, M. L., Dure, L. S., Clair, J. M., Needham, B. L. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

Use of Medical Devices in Hospice for Symptom Management
Conclusion: In conclusion, the study highlights medical device use in home hospice care for end-of-life symptom management. It noted the significant use of IV infusion pumps and patient controlled analgesia. Conversely, there is little use of TPN or CPAP in patients with anorexia or dyspnea. While missing data on critical symptom evaluations regrettably raises questions about the validity of the study, the NHHCS serves as an important reservoir of data on the growing population of home hospice patients. (Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine)
Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine - October 31, 2016 Category: Palliative Care Authors: Shah, N., Homel, P., Breznay, J. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

Availability of Heart Failure Medications in Hospice Care
Conclusion: This study highlights opportunities for practice guidelines that inform medical therapy for hospice patients with heart failure. (Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine)
Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine - October 31, 2016 Category: Palliative Care Authors: Lum, H. D., Horney, C., Koets, D., Kutner, J. S., Matlock, D. D. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

The Effect of Providing Life Support on Nurses Decision Making Regarding Life Support for Themselves and Family Members in Japan
Decision making in terminal illness has recently received increased attention. In Japan, patients and their families typically make decisions without understanding either the severity of illness or the efficacy of life-supporting treatments at the end of life. Japanese culture traditionally directs the family to make decisions for the patient. This descriptive study examined the influence of the experiences of 391 Japanese nurses caring for dying patients and family members and how that experience changed their decision making for themselves and their family members. The results were mixed but generally supported the idea ...
Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine - October 31, 2016 Category: Palliative Care Authors: Shaku, F., Tsutsumi, M. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

Language Barriers to Defining Concepts in Medicine: The Case of Palliative Sedation
(Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine)
Source: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine - October 2, 2016 Category: Palliative Care Authors: Bakogiannis, A., Papavasiliou, E. Tags: Preliminary Report Source Type: research