Article
Oncology
Emily E. Johnston, Isaac Martinez, Joanne Wolfe, Steven M. Asch
Summary: An expert panel has developed 16 endorsed quality measures for end-of-life care in pediatric oncology, covering areas such as avoidance of medically intense care, death location preference, hospital policies/programs, and supportive care services. These measures require validation with bereaved families and further refinement before being implemented in real-world settings.
Article
Oncology
Emily E. Johnston, Isaac Martinez, Joanne Wolfe, Steven M. Asch
Summary: An expert panel has recommended a series of quality measures for end-of-life care in pediatric oncology, including avoidance of medically intense care, death location preferences, hospital policies/programs, and supportive care services.
Article
Oncology
Prasanna Ananth, Meghan Lindsay, Russell Nye, Sophia Mun, Chris Feudtner, Joanne Wolfe
Summary: This study examines the application of quality measures for end-of-life care in children with cancer. The findings show that while most patients met the quality benchmarks, many still experienced highly distressing symptoms. Additionally, patients with lower household incomes were less likely to enroll in hospice and more likely to receive intensive hospital services near the end of life.
PEDIATRIC BLOOD & CANCER
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Prasanna Ananth, Meghan Lindsay, Sophia Mun, Sarah McCollum, Veronika Shabanova, Sophia de Oliveira, Sarah Pitafi, Rebecca Kirch, Xiaomei Ma, Cary P. Gross, Jackelyn Y. Boyden, Chris Feudtner, Joanne Wolfe
Summary: This study aimed to prioritize quality measures in end-of-life care for children with cancer based on the perspectives of bereaved parents. The highest-priority measures identified were effective symptom management, perceived attentiveness by the healthcare team to the child's needs, and goal-concordant end-of-life experiences. On the other hand, avoiding chemotherapy, providing psychosocial support for parents, and avoiding intensive care unit utilization were considered low-priority measures.
Article
Oncology
Lindsey A. Herrel, Ziwei Zhu, Andrew M. Ryan, Brent K. Hollenbeck, David C. Miller
Summary: Dual-eligible beneficiaries, who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid, are a vulnerable population that may benefit greatly from efforts to improve quality of care. Affiliation with an integrated delivery network or cancer center may have a modest impact on end-of-life care quality for these patients, suggesting targeted efforts may be needed to optimize care for this group.
Article
Oncology
Andrea Bovero, Marta Opezzo, Valentina Tesio
Summary: The study aimed to examine the relationship between demoralization and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in end-of-life cancer patients. Data from 170 patients were collected and the results showed a high prevalence of severe demoralization in the sample. Regression analysis revealed that demoralization, especially feelings of disheartenment and sense of failure, were the strongest contributors to HRQoL.
Article
Oncology
Katherine Hicks-Courant, Genevieve P. Kanter, Marilyn M. Schapira, Colleen M. Brensinger, Qing Liu, Emily Meichun Ko
Summary: This study examines the impact of primary oncologist specialty, gynecologic oncology versus medical oncology, on the intensity of care at the end of life for elderly patients with gynecologic cancer. The results show that there are differences between the two specialties in the provision of high-intensity end-of-life care, as well as in the rates of invasive procedures and Medicare spending.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GYNECOLOGICAL CANCER
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Mahnaz Chaghazardi, Maryam Janatolmakan, Shahab Rezaeian, Alireza Khatony
Summary: This study aimed to assess the quality of life and its associated factors in caregivers of children with cancer in Iran. The results showed that caregivers had a relatively low quality of life, and factors such as age, gender, education, occupation, economic status, average caring time, and age of the child were significantly associated with quality of life.
SUPPORTIVE CARE IN CANCER
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Crystle-Joie Agbayani, Jo A. Tucker, Edward L. Nelson, Freddy Martinez, Haydee Cortes, Dina Khoury, Zeev N. Kain, Carol Lin, Lilibeth Torno, Michelle A. Fortier
Summary: This study compares the immune profiles and psychosocial outcomes of parents of children with cancer to parents of healthy children. The results show that parents of children with cancer have altered immune profiles, with higher monocyte percentages, and also report poorer psychosocial outcomes. These findings suggest that parents of children with cancer may have long-term psychosocial needs and health issues.
SUPPORTIVE CARE IN CANCER
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Eilis McCaughan, Cherith J. Semple, Jeffrey R. Hanna
Summary: Parents play a central role in preparing their children for the death of a parent, striving for everyday ordinariness, maximizing social networks, maintaining hope, and making preparations for the future. Most health and social care professionals are unaware of the challenges faced by parents at end of life, and psychosocial support is often neglected, leading to complexities for families after the death. Recommendations are discussed for professionals to better support families in these situations.
SUPPORTIVE CARE IN CANCER
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Ada Ghiggia, Vanni Pierotti, Valentina Tesio, Andrea Bovero
Summary: The study explored the relationship between personality traits, spirituality, and demoralization in end-of-life cancer patients, highlighting a negative correlation between extraversion and agreeableness with demoralization, and a positive correlation between neuroticism and demoralization. Demoralization was found to have the strongest impact on quality of life, followed by neuroticism, spirituality, and Karnofsky index.
SUPPORTIVE CARE IN CANCER
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Qi Liu, John Wai-Man Yuen, Ka-Yan Ho, Katherine-Ka-Wai Lam, Winsome Lam, Huilin Cheng, Dong Liang Yang, Shirley-Siu-Yin Ching, Frances-Kam-Yuet Wong
Summary: Hope plays a crucial role in protecting childhood cancer patients from psychological distress. This study examined the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Herth Hope Index (HHI) for assessing hope among Chinese childhood cancer patients. The results showed that the Chinese version of the HHI is a reliable and valid instrument, with good content validity, convergent validity, discriminant validity, and internal consistency. The findings provide evidence for providing evidence-based interventions to enhance hope in this population.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Paul Saultier, Clothilde Vallet, Frederic Sotteau, Zeinab Hamidou, Jean-Claude Gentet, Vincent Barlogis, Catherine Curtillet, Arnauld Verschuur, Gabriel Revon-Riviere, Claire Galambrun, Herve Chambost, Pascal Auquier, Gerard Michel, Nicolas Andre
Summary: A study involving 80 children and adolescents with cancer showed that a physical activity program is safe and effective, improving exercise capacity and providing benefits for physical and psychological aspects, including flexibility, balance, strength, endurance, self-esteem, and quality of life.
Article
Psychiatry
Laura Inhestern, Lene Marie Johannsen, Corinna Bergelt
Summary: Cancer in parents with minor children presents significant challenges, requiring a deeper understanding of the impact on children, family quality of life levels, and parental psychosocial needs to develop appropriate interventions. The study found that parental cancer can have both positive and negative effects on children, while parents express specific family-related psychosocial support needs.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHIATRY
(2021)
Review
Oncology
Luis Enrique Juarez-Villegas, Myriam M. Altamirano-Bustamante, Marta M. Zapata-Tarres
Summary: This study examines the bioethical approach to decision-making at the end of life in pediatric oncology, emphasizing the importance of ethics and humanistic education for physicians. It highlights the need for further research to understand the complex factors influencing critical decisions in end-of-life care.
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Stephanie Prozora, Veronika Shabanova, Prasanna Ananth, Farzana Pashankar, Gary M. Kupfer, Stephanie A. Massaro, Amy J. Davidoff
Summary: The study found that pediatric cancer patients experienced increased use of pain relief medications and benzodiazepines during the last week of life, while gastrointestinal-related medication use decreased.
PEDIATRIC BLOOD & CANCER
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Prasanna Ananth, Anna Revette, Anne Reed-Weston, Porag Das, Joanne Wolfe
Summary: The study found that patients and families are generally open to using medical marijuana, primarily motivated by seeking symptom relief and potential effects on cancer. However, lack of empirical evidence is a barrier, underscoring the need for robust clinical trial data to support recommendations and use of medical marijuana.
PEDIATRIC BLOOD & CANCER
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Sophia Mun, Rong Wang, Xiaomei Ma, Prasanna Ananth
Summary: A majority of children, adolescents, and young adults with hematologic malignancies experienced high-intensity end-of-life care (HI-EOLC), with hospital size, type of insurance, and geographic region influencing the likelihood of HI-EOLC. Further research is needed to determine how to mitigate these risks.
Editorial Material
Medicine, General & Internal
Prasanna Ananth
Article
Oncology
Prasanna Ananth, Sophia Mun, Noora Reffat, Soo Jung Kang, Sarah Pitafi, Xiaomei Ma, Cary P. Gross, Joanne Wolfe
Summary: This study aimed to prioritize quality measures for optimizing end-of-life care for children with cancer through stakeholder consensus. An iterative cross-sectional electronic survey was conducted, and after two rounds of surveys, 17 quality measures were ultimately retained based on their importance and feasibility ratings.
JCO ONCOLOGY PRACTICE
(2022)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Jori F. Bogetz, Emily Johnston, Prasanna Ananth, Arika Patneaude, Rachel Thienprayoon, Abby R. Rosenberg
Summary: In pediatric palliative care, more than half of the participants reported involvement in quality improvement activities despite limitations in staffing, training, and standardized measures, presenting challenges to this work.
JOURNAL OF PAIN AND SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Prasanna Ananth, Meghan Lindsay, Russell Nye, Sophia Mun, Chris Feudtner, Joanne Wolfe
Summary: This study examines the application of quality measures for end-of-life care in children with cancer. The findings show that while most patients met the quality benchmarks, many still experienced highly distressing symptoms. Additionally, patients with lower household incomes were less likely to enroll in hospice and more likely to receive intensive hospital services near the end of life.
PEDIATRIC BLOOD & CANCER
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Prasanna Ananth, Joanne Wolfe, Emily E. Johnston
Article
Pediatrics
Jori F. Bogetz, Emily E. Johnston, Rachel Thienprayoon, Arika Patneaude, Prasanna Ananth, Abby R. Rosenberg
Summary: This study developed a list of electronic health record (EHR)-abstractable, hospital-based primary pediatric palliative care (PPC) end-of-life (EOL) quality measures (QM), providing a foundation for quality improvement initiatives and further measure development in the future.
Meeting Abstract
Health Care Sciences & Services
Prasanna Ananth, Sophia Mun, Meghan Lindsay, Sophia De Oliveira, Xiaomei Ma, Cary Gross, Jackelyn Boyden, Chris Feudtner, Joanne Wolfe
JOURNAL OF PAIN AND SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Health Care Sciences & Services
Prasanna Ananth, Meghan Lindsay, Sophia Mun, Sophia De Oliveira, Sarah Pitafi, Cary Gross, Jackelyn Boyden, Chris Feudtner, Joanne Wolfe
JOURNAL OF PAIN AND SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Sapna Oberoi, Jennifer L. P. Protudjer, Adam Rapoport, Shahrad R. Rassekh, Bruce Crooks, Harold Siden, Kathleen Decker, Prasanna Ananth, Stacy Chapman, Lynda G. Balneaves, Magimairajan Issai Vanan, Lauren E. Kelly
Summary: Most pediatric oncologists and palliative care physicians recognize a potential role for cannabis in symptom control in children with cancer, although only a small number believe cannabis may be beneficial for cancer itself. They desire more information about dosing, side effects, and safety of cannabis, and emphasize the importance of research on cannabis for symptom relief.
Meeting Abstract
Oncology
S. Oberoi, J. Protudjer, A. Rapoport, S. Raseekh, B. Crooks, H. Siden, K. Decker, P. Ananth, S. Chapman, L. Balneaves, M. Vanan, L. Kelly
PEDIATRIC BLOOD & CANCER
(2021)
Meeting Abstract
Health Care Sciences & Services
Prasanna Ananth, Randall Li, Noora Reffat, Sophia Mun, Tannaz Sedghi, Madeline Bilodeau, Cary Gross, Xiaomei Ye, Jennifer Snaman, Joanne Wolfe
JOURNAL OF PAIN AND SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT
(2020)