Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Roberta Jordan, Yousuf ElMokhallalati, Lynsey Corless, Michael Bennett
Summary: Patients with liver disease face difficulties in accessing end-of-life care, with a higher percentage of them dying in hospitals and receiving less specialized palliative care compared to those with malignant liver disease. Caregivers of patients with non-malignant liver disease were less likely to rate the quality of end-of-life care as outstanding/excellent.
LIVER INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Sreekanth R. Cheruku, Alexis Barina, Corey D. Kershaw, Kristina Goff, Joan Reisch, Linda S. Hynan, Farzin Ahmed, Donna Lee Armaignac, Love Patel, Katherine A. Belden, Margit Kaufman, Amy B. Christie, Neha Deo, Vikas Bansal, Karen Boman, Vishakha K. Kumar, Allan Walkey, Rahul Kashyap, Ognjen Gajic, Amanda A. Fox
Summary: This study, conducted in multiple centers, shows that palliative care consultation does not increase the likelihood of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) being performed at the end of life for patients with COVID-19. However, it is associated with an increased utilization of comfort care. These findings suggest that utilizing palliative care consultation at the end of life may better align the needs and values of patients with the care they receive.
Article
Oncology
Cara Robertson, Sharon M. Watanabe, Aynharan Sinnarajah, Alexei Potapov, Viane Faily, Yoko Tarumi, Vickie E. Baracos
Summary: This study found that palliative care consultation can reduce aggressive end-of-life care for patients with advanced cancer.
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
Infectious Diseases
Alexandre R. Marra, Gosia S. Clore, Erin Balkenende, Cassie Cunningham Goedken, Daniel J. Livorsi, Michihiko Goto, Mary S. Vaughan-Sarrazin, Ann Broderick, Eli N. Perencevich
Summary: This study aimed to estimate antibiotic use during the last 6 months of life for hospitalized patients under hospice or palliative care and identify potential targets for antibiotic stewardship. The data showed that within 14 days of placement or consultation, 41% of hospice patients and 48% of palliative care patients received at least one antibiotic.
CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTION
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Alexandra S. Bercow, Roni Nitecki, Hilary Haber, Allison A. Gockley, Emily Hinchcliff, Kaitlyn James, Alexander Melamed, Elisabeth Diver, Mihir M. Kamdar, Sarah Feldman, Whitfield B. Growdon
Summary: The study investigated the impact of palliative care referral on women who died from cervical cancer in two tertiary care centers. Less than half of cervical cancer decedents received palliative care consultations, and those referred to palliative care were often evaluated late in their disease course. Palliative care utilization was associated with a lower incidence of poor-quality end-of-life care.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GYNECOLOGICAL CANCER
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Sarah J. Mah, Hsien Seow, Kara Schnarr, Clare J. Reade, Anastasia Gayowsky, Kelvin K. W. Chan, Aynharan Sinnarajah
Summary: The quality of end-of-life care for gynecologic cancer patients in Ontario has shown improvement over time, with fewer patients dying in hospitals and an increased utilization of supportive care. However, a significant proportion of patients still receive aggressive care in the final 30 days of life.
GYNECOLOGIC ONCOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Hematology
Ghulam Rehman Mohyuddin, Aynharan Sinnarajah, Anastasia Gayowsky, Kelvin K. W. Chan, Hsien Seow, Hira Mian
Summary: Optimizing end-of-life care for multiple myeloma is still needed. A study in Ontario, Canada analyzed an administrative cohort between 2006 and 2018, finding that many patients still receive aggressive care at the end of life, but the adoption of supportive care has increased. Age, income, and community size were identified as factors influencing the receipt of supportive care.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF HAEMATOLOGY
(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)
Review
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Leah V. Estrada, Mansi Agarwal, Patricia W. Stone
Summary: This systematic review identified disparities in end-of-life care for racial/ethnic minority residents in nursing homes, with minority residents less likely to complete advance care planning, more likely to experience end-of-life hospitalizations, and experiencing worse pain and symptom management. Further research using recent data is needed to address these disparities and improve care for minority residents.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Mellar P. Davis, Erin A. Vanenkevort, Alexander Elder, Amanda Young, Irina D. Correa Ordonez, Mark J. Wojtowicz, Halle Ellison, Carlos Fernandez, Zankhana Mehta, Bertrand Behm, Glen Digwood, Rajiv Panikkar
Summary: Early palliative care improves patient quality of life and reduces aggressive care at the end of life. Completed advance directives and palliative care consultation initiated at least 90 days prior to death are associated with reduced aggressive care indicators.
SUPPORTIVE CARE IN CANCER
(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
Health Care Sciences & Services
Amber R. Comer, Linda S. Williams, Stephanie Bartlett, Lynn D'Cruz, Katlyn Endris, McKenzie Marchand, Isabel Zepeda, Sumeet Toor, Carly Waite, Areeba Jawed, Robert Holloway, Claire J. Creutzfeldt, James E. Slaven, Alexia M. Torke
Summary: This study investigated the utilization of palliative care consultations (PCC) and associated outcomes for patients hospitalized with severe ischemic stroke. The findings reveal that the majority of patients, including those who died in the hospital, did not receive PCC. This highlights missed opportunities to alleviate suffering after severe stroke.
JOURNAL OF PAIN AND SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Review
Anesthesiology
M. Tanaka Gutiez, N. Efstathiou, R. Innes, V. Metaxa
Summary: The transition from active, invasive interventions to comfort care for critical care patients often leads to misunderstandings, conflicts, and moral distress. This article aims to address common questions and provide practical guidance, using the best available evidence, to critical care clinicians in the UK. It clarifies the distinctions between withdrawing or withholding treatment and euthanasia, offers suggestions for sedation and analgesia use, and advocates for including family in decision-making when the patient lacks capacity. It also proposes a step-escalation approach for resolving family conflicts and emphasizes the importance of communication skills training in medical and nursing education.
Article
Pediatrics
Lauren Imai, Megan M. Gray, Brennan J. H. Kim, Allison N. J. Lyle, Amber Bock, Elliott Mark Weiss
Summary: Care for neonates at the end of life is challenging and requires experienced and compassionate clinicians. Existing literature mostly focuses on adult and pediatric end of life care, with limited studies on neonatal care.
FRONTIERS IN PEDIATRICS
(2023)
