Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Sungchul Park, Joan M. Teno, Lindsay White, Norma B. Coe
Summary: Medicare Advantage (MA) enrollment has effects on patterns of end-of-life care, reducing hospital admissions and increasing hospice use.
HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Helena Ullgren, Per Fransson, Anna Olofsson, Ralf Segersvard, Lena Sharp
Summary: The study revealed an increase in several aspects of intensity of care at the end-of-life, stressing the need for further exploration of the optimal organization of end-of-life care. The results indicate fragmentation of care and the necessity to better organize and coordinate care for vulnerable patients.
Article
Oncology
Estela Garcia-Martin, Vicente Escudero-Vilaplana, Barbara Fox, Roberto Collado-Borrell, Belen Marzal-Alfaro, Maria Sanchez-Isac, Maria Luisa Solano-Garzon, Ricardo Gonzalez del Val, Jose Manuel Cano-Gonzalez, Nuria Perez de Lucas, Ana Isabel Bravo-Guillen, Javier Valero-Salinas, Eva Gonzalez-Haba, Maria Sanjurjo, Miguel Martin
Summary: The study found that end-of-life cancer care in the clinical practice of the hospital tended to be aggressive, with a significant proportion of patients receiving anti-cancer treatments close to death. However, the quality of care did not meet the high standards set by the Earle criteria. While more than half of the patients received hospice services before death, in some cases, this care started only shortly before the patients passed away.
SUPPORTIVE CARE IN CANCER
(2021)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Lauren A. Do, Benjamin C. Koethe, Allan T. Daly, James D. Chambers, Daniel A. Ollendorf, John B. Wong, A. Mark Fendrick, Peter J. Neumann, David D. Kim
Summary: Low-value care is a significant issue in the US healthcare system, leading to inefficiency and wasteful spending. A study analyzing administrative claims data found that low-value care and associated spending are prevalent among commercially insured and Medicare Advantage enrollees. The variation in spending across states was primarily driven by differences in average procedure prices. Improving measurement and reporting of low-value care at the state level can help identify sources of variation and inform the development of tailored policies to improve patient-centered outcomes, equity, and spending efficiency.
Article
Oncology
Jinhai Huo, Young-Rock Hong, Kea Turner, Cheng Chen, Yi Guo, Diana J. Wilkie, Jiang Bian
Summary: The study found significant geographic variation in the use of palliative care among metastatic lung cancer patients in the USA, with increasing trends over the years. The median time from cancer diagnosis to first palliative care visit also varied geographically.
SUPPORTIVE CARE IN CANCER
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Lee A. Hugar, Jonathan G. Yabes, Pauline Filippou, Elizabeth M. Wulff-Burchfield, Samia H. Lopa, John Gore, Benjamin J. Davies, Bruce L. Jacobs
Summary: This study aimed to quantify the proportion of patients with bladder cancer receiving high-intensity end-of-life care, identify associated risk factors, and assess the impact of palliative care. Results showed that 45% of patients received high-intensity care, with a decrease over time; these patients often had comorbidities, advanced bladder cancer, and nonbladder cancer cause of death. Additionally, they more often received palliative care, but further from bladder cancer diagnosis.
UROLOGIC ONCOLOGY-SEMINARS AND ORIGINAL INVESTIGATIONS
(2021)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Michael K. Gusmano, Victor G. Rodwin, Daniel Weisz, Jonathan Cottenet, Catherine Quantin
Summary: This retrospective cohort study in France examined end-of-life and hospital palliative care for over 17,000 decedents aged 65 and over. The study found variations in the usage of hospital palliative care and intensive care units among different hospitals and local authorities. The odds of admission for hospital palliative care were lower among decedents living in local authorities with lower levels of education.
PALLIATIVE MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Jennifer Reckrey, Katherine Ornstein, Karen McKendrick, Emma Tsui, R. Sean Morrison, Melissa Aldridge
Summary: Hospice aide visits are a common component of hospice care, but visit frequency does not increase as death approaches. Receipt of hospice aide visits was primarily associated with community and hospice agency (rather than patient) characteristics.
JOURNAL OF PAIN AND SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Catherine Walshe, Helen Barnes, Mary Turner, Sean Hughes
Summary: This study aimed to understand the development of a novel end-of-life care approach in a Cottage Hospice setting, focusing on the role of family carers and volunteers. Through participatory action research, a hospice in South England was studied, with data collected through documents and interviews with various stakeholders. The core themes included imagining the future of Cottage Hospice, developing the role of family caregivers, and addressing quality and safety issues. Change was seen as both a challenge and an opportunity, with Cottage Hospice potentially serving as a model for innovative service developments.
HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE IN THE COMMUNITY
(2021)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Meghan McDarby, David Russell, Lori King, Elissa Kozlov, Elizabeth A. A. Luth
Summary: This study identified the unique challenges faced by family care partners (FCPs) of persons living with dementia (PLwD) near the end of life. These challenges include managing emotions and behaviors associated with advanced dementia, lack of knowledge and information about dementia, and maintaining FCP well-being. FCPs employ strategies such as accepting professional help, gaining knowledge about dementia, and practical approaches to cope with end-of-life caregiving demands.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Rehabilitation
Timothy A. Reistetter, Karl Eschbach, John Prochaska, Daniel C. Jupiter, Ickpyo Hong, Allen M. Haas, Kenneth J. Ottenbacher
Summary: The study aimed to demonstrate a method for developing rehabilitation service areas and to compare service areas based on different types of admissions. The results showed that rehabilitation service areas had higher intraclass correlation coefficient and variance in beds, indicating that they captured more variation than service areas based on acute hospital admissions.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL MEDICINE & REHABILITATION
(2021)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Daniel Kinder, Dawn Smith, Mary Ersek, Melissa Wachterman, Joshua Thorpe, Darlene Davis, Ann Kutney-Lee
Summary: This study found that veterans enrolled in the HBPC program who received community-based hospice services had higher ratings of end-of-life care from bereaved family members, which may help improve the overall experience of end-of-life care for veterans and their families.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY
(2022)
Review
Psychology, Clinical
Joshua M. Baruth, Jacqueline B. Ho, Sohail Mohammad, Maria Lapid
Summary: Schizophrenia is a severe mental illness with significant impacts on individuals, families, and communities. Despite the high healthcare costs associated with it, individuals with schizophrenia often face inequitable care at the end of life. Enhancing awareness of healthcare disparities, implementing multidisciplinary care, and providing adequate palliative services can improve end-of-life care for individuals with schizophrenia.
INTERNATIONAL PSYCHOGERIATRICS
(2021)
Article
Pediatrics
Maggie M. Rogers, Sarah Friebert, Conrad S. P. Williams, Lisa Humphrey, Rachel Thienprayoon, Jeffrey C. Klick
Summary: This study examined the operational features of inpatient Pediatric Palliative Care (PPC) programs across the United States in 2018, revealing significant variability in structure and operations among programs. The majority of programs reported concerns about burnout and the inability to meet clinical demand with available staffing.
Review
Nursing
Dorte Toudal Viftrup, Niels Christian Hvidt, Christina Prinds
Summary: The study aimed to explore and improve dignity in care through an action research study with patients and hospice staff at two different hospices in Denmark. Staff focused on preserving patients' autonomy, while patients expressed needs for relational and spiritual aspects of dignity. Through reflection-of-praxis and action-in-praxis, staff increased awareness on their own praxis and patients' needs and understanding concerning dignity.
SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF CARING SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Erika Linnander, Zahirah McNatt, Kasey Boehmer, Emily Cherlin, Elizabeth Bradley, Leslie Curry
Summary: This intervention, Leadership Saves Lives, aimed to promote positive change in organisational culture and reduce mortality for patients with acute myocardial infarction across 10 diverse hospitals in the USA. The intervention was developed based on the Assess, Innovate, Develop, Engage, Devolve model, with in-depth descriptions provided for the design and delivery of the three intervention components. This practical description may be useful for healthcare practitioners, researchers, and healthcare professionals committed to understanding complex interventions in healthcare settings.
BMJ QUALITY & SAFETY
(2021)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Amanda L. Brewster, Traci L. Wilson, Leslie A. Curry, Suzanne R. Kunkel
Summary: This study found that evidence-based health promotion programs implemented by Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) can reduce potentially avoidable nursing home use among older adults, especially in agencies with high implementation capacity. However, the expansion of health promotion programs offered by AAAs was not associated with changes in hospital readmission rates, ambulatory care sensitive hospitalizations, or Medicare spending per beneficiary.
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Marie A. Brault, Leslie A. Curry, Trace S. Kershaw, Karen Singh, Alla Vash-Margita, Deepa R. Camenga
Summary: This study aimed to develop electronic tools to support patient-centered sexual and reproductive health care, exploring adolescent-friendly care and communication through in-depth interviews. The research identified facilitators and barriers, with both adolescents and providers emphasizing the importance of direct communication, adolescent-driven decision making, and holistic care.
JOURNAL OF PEDIATRIC AND ADOLESCENT GYNECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Federico E. Vaca, Kaigang Li, Denise Haynie, Xiang Gao, Deepa R. Camenga, James Dziura, Barbara Banz, Leslie Curry, Linda Mayes, Niyousha Hosseinichimeh, Rod MacDonald, Ronald J. Iannotti, Bruce Simons-Morton
Summary: This study identified trajectory classes of adolescents who ride with an impaired driver (RWI) and drive while impaired (DWI), finding significant associations with race/ethnicity, sex, parent education, urbanicity, and family affluence. Race/ethnicity was commonly associated with RWI and DWI longitudinal trajectories, suggesting the need for tailored prevention and intervention efforts to address these complex behaviors among transitioning adolescents.
TRAFFIC INJURY PREVENTION
(2021)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Weronika E. Pasciak, David N. Berg, Emily Cherlin, Terri Fried, Kasia J. Lipska
Summary: The study found that some hypoglycemic events may be unavoidable, but healthcare systems need to shift their focus from general avoidance of hyperglycemia to prevention of hypoglycemia for older adults at risk. Furthermore, clinicians and patients need to collaborate in designing treatment plans that are manageable for patients and flexible enough to accommodate life's demands.
Article
Health Policy & Services
Amanda L. Brewster, Yuna S. H. Lee, Erika L. Linnander, Leslie A. Curry
Summary: This qualitative study explored how creativity was fostered during problem solving in hospitals participating in a collaborative to improve cardiovascular care outcomes. Participants reported examples of creativity at different stages of problem solving, and teams used three prominent behaviors to construct an ecological view of the care process. This approach helped to enhance understanding of relationships between individual care providers, organizational sub-units, and their environment.
LEARNING HEALTH SYSTEMS
(2022)
Article
Management
Thomas Calvard, Emily Cherlin, Amanda Brewster, Leslie Curry
Summary: This article presents findings from a 2-year change intervention with 10 US hospitals, revealing the dimensions and levels of understanding underlying the development of organizational perspective-taking. The study suggests that organizations can foster perspective-taking by building supportive, holistic, and frequent structures and processes that assemble diverse perspectives.
JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT INQUIRY
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Leslie Curry, Adeola Ayedun, Emily Cherlin, Beck Taylor, Sophie Castle-Clarke, Erika Linnander
Summary: This study investigates the effectiveness of integrating health and social care during the COVID-19 pandemic and how to overcome past barriers to integration. The results highlight the importance of leadership in large-scale system change efforts and provide insights into addressing aversion to clinical/safety risk, fostering distributed leadership, and developing shared organizational practices for data sharing and service delivery.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Federico E. Vaca, Kaigang Li, Denise L. Haynie, Xiang Gao, Deepa R. Camenga, James Dziura, Barbara C. Banz, Leslie A. Curry, Linda Mayes, Niyousha Hosseinichimeh, Rod MacDonald, Ronald J. Iannotti, Bruce Simons-Morton
Summary: The study examines the association between trajectories of riding with an impaired driver and driving while impaired among adolescents and later health, education, and employment outcomes. The findings suggest that adolescent RWI abstainers have better later health outcomes and education attainment.
JOURNAL OF TRANSPORT & HEALTH
(2022)
Review
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Nande Putta, Caitlin E. Hansen, Melissa C. Funaro, Melissa Campbell, Shaffiq Essajee, Dorothy Mbori-Ngacha, Shadrack Frimpong, Shi-Yi Wang, Elijah Paintsil
Summary: This systematic review aims to evaluate the most effective interventions, models, programs, and strategies to optimize the delivery of services for testing, linkage, treatment, and retention of children and adolescents living with HIV globally. The review will provide synthesized evidence to guide national governments and healthcare providers in prioritizing and adopting evidence-based service delivery approaches for this population.
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Lingrui Liu, Leslie A. Curry, Kidest Nadew, Mayur M. Desai, Erika Linnander
Summary: The study aimed to validate a tool for measuring organizational culture in the context of the Ethiopian Primary Healthcare Transformation Initiative. The results showed that the tool has strong validity and internal consistency, and it can be useful for assessing and improving organizational culture in primary healthcare system performance.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEALTH POLICY AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Yuan Lu, Cindy Xinxin Du, Hazar Khidir, Cesar Caraballo, Shiwani Mahajan, Erica S. Spatz, Leslie A. Curry, Harlan M. Krumholz
Summary: This study developed an actionable taxonomy for classifying patients with persistent hypertension based on electronic health record data. The categories identified can be used to improve the management and treatment of patients with high blood pressure.
CIRCULATION-CARDIOVASCULAR QUALITY AND OUTCOMES
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Szu-Chun Yang, Huang-Tz Ou, Wu-Chou Su, Shi-Yi Wang
Summary: Researchers compared the cost-effectiveness of six immunotherapies with chemotherapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer. The study found that for patients with PD-L1 >= 50%, pembrolizumab was the preferred treatment. For patients with PD-L1 1%-49%, pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy was the preferred treatment. And for patients with PD-L1 < 1%, nivolumab plus ipilimumab was the preferred treatment.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Ilana B. Richman, Jessica B. Long, Pamela R. Soulos, Shi-Yi Wang, Cary P. Gross
Summary: Breast cancer screening among older women may lead to higher incidence of overdiagnosis. The study found that 31% of breast cancer cases among women aged 70-74 may be overdiagnosed, while this percentage increased to 47% for women aged 75-84. Additionally, the study showed that breast cancer screening did not significantly reduce breast cancer-specific death.
ANNALS OF INTERNAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Education & Educational Research
Heidi Dong, Jane Dai, Sarah Ketchen Lipson, Leslie Curry
Summary: The study found that the college environment may encourage students to seek help, but Asian American-specific factors may hinder them. Therefore, future interventions can focus on these encouraging factors in a culturally-sensitive manner to increase help-seeking rates.
JOURNAL OF AMERICAN COLLEGE HEALTH
(2022)