Article
Oncology
M. Zwakman, M. M. Milota, A. van der Heide, L. J. Jabbarian, I. J. Korfage, J. A. C. Rietjens, J. J. M. van Delden, M. C. Kars
Summary: This study reveals that patients do not have to be fully ready for all ACP topics to participate in ACP conversations. Healthcare professionals should be sensitive to patients' readiness and adapt the conversation accordingly.
SUPPORTIVE CARE IN CANCER
(2021)
Article
Nursing
Adam Spacey, Janet Scammell, Michele Board, Sam Porter
Summary: The study found that there is a lack of training and support for care home staff in conducting sensitive discussions about death and dying, highlighting the need for more focused education to support them. Furthermore, greater emotional support is necessary to help build workforce resilience and sustain change.
JOURNAL OF ADVANCED NURSING
(2021)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Kathrin Knochel, Vedrana Zaimovic, Birga Gatzweiler, Kerstin K. Hein, Nari Heitkamp, Anna Monz, Daniel Reimann, Gian Domenico Borasio, Monika Fuehrer
Summary: This study aimed to develop a pediatric Advance Care Planning (pedACP) program that meets the specific needs of children, parents, and professionals. Through collaborative allocation of content, participants, tools, and warning notes, the researchers analyzed and translated the results into a pedACP program draft. The participants focused on the children's quality of life and individualized interdisciplinary communication. The program was designed with modules for trust-building, summarizing results, and addressing general themes. The participants appreciated the program's comprehensiveness and flexibility.
JOURNAL OF PAIN AND SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Anna J. Pedrosa Carrasco, Pia Berlin, Liv Betker, Jorge Riera-Knorrenschild, Pia von Blanckenburg, Carola Seifart
Summary: The study developed a care pathway for advance care planning for cancer patients in hospital through a modified Delphi study, resulting in a final version with 148 elements covering 10 domains. This will help standardize the process and ensure cancer patients' care aligns with their preferences and values.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CANCER CARE
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Wei-Min Chu, Wen-Yu Kuo, Yu-Chi Tung
Summary: This study evaluates the effects of different palliative care models on aggressive treatment among patients with kidney failure receiving maintenance dialysis. The results show that palliative care, particularly the use of a mixed care model, inpatient palliative care, and palliative home care, can significantly reduce the aggressiveness of treatment within 30 days before death.
Article
Nursing
Ruth Ludwick, Deb Bakerjian, Margarete L. Zalon, Sheila D. Melander, Janice D. Crist
Summary: Significant progress has been made in advance care planning, shifting from a checklist approach to recognizing it as an iterative process that should start early in adulthood and be revisited with each milestone or life-changing event.
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Jennifer Tjia, Noah D'Arcangelo, Daniel Carlston, Olivia Bronzi, Priscilla Gazarian, Amanda Reich, Thalia Porteny, Kristina Gonzales, Stephen Perez, Joel S. Weissman, Keren Ladin
Summary: This study investigates the perceived value, barriers, and successful strategies for advance care planning (ACP) for persons with dementia (PWD) through interviews with clinicians. The findings show that early ACP is highly valued in promoting patient-centered care for PWD. However, there are barriers such as the difficulty in assessing patient decision-making capacity and inconsistent awareness of cognitive impairment among clinicians. Strategies to support ACP include clarifying clinicians' roles, standardizing approaches to PWD and their carepartners, and allowing sufficient time for ACP and decision-making assessments.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Nursing
Anne Kuusisto, Kaija Saranto, Paivi Korhonen, Elina Haavisto
Summary: The lack of early implementation of ACP, failure to integrate the holistic understanding of ACP into medical records, and the lack of transferability of ACP into documenting systems impact the accessibility and realization for patients and family members at the end-of-life.
Review
Health Care Sciences & Services
William E. Rosa, Shigeko Izumi, Donald R. Sullivan, Joshua Lakin, Abby R. Rosenberg, Claire J. Creutzfeldt, Debbie Lafond, Jennifer Tjia, Valerie Cotter, Cara Wallace, Danetta E. Sloan, Dulce Maria Cruz-Oliver, Susan DeSanto-Madeya, Rachelle Bernacki, Thomas W. Leblanc, Andrew S. Epstein
Summary: This study aims to identify the potential benefits and missed opportunities of ACP and provide an evidence-informed, clinically relevant path for ACP in serious illness. Early ACP practices focused on document completion, potentially missing holistic preferences. ACP models that emphasize communication show promising results for patients and clinicians.
JOURNAL OF PAIN AND SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Review
Critical Care Medicine
Emily K. Rose, James O'Connor
Summary: COPD is a progressive disease that affects patients' quality of life, and it is crucial to discuss patients' care goals before the disease becomes refractory. Advance Care Planning (ACP) is a comprehensive approach to discussing goals with patients. Existing research has shown that ACP improves communication, reduces hospital admissions, and enhances quality of life, although most studies have focused on cancer patients. Without further research and guidance, obtaining funding for ACP programs dedicated to COPD may be challenging. There are currently no guidelines for addressing ACP in patients with COPD, and barriers exist that hinder meaningful discussions between patients, families, and healthcare providers. Research has also indicated that multidisciplinary teams can improve care and quality of life. Therefore, dedicated research should investigate the effects of ACP initiatives on outcomes in COPD patients, particularly in reducing hospital admissions and improving quality of life.
Review
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Ryan D. McMahan, Ismael Tellez, Rebecca L. Sudore
Summary: The study found that although there were differences among different ACP interventions, overall, these interventions and outcomes were positive, especially in terms of Process and Action outcomes. Additionally, positive results were also achieved in aspects such as increased satisfaction with communication and care among patients/surrogates and decreased distress among surrogates/clinicians.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY
(2021)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Jessica L. Colburn, Daniel L. Scerpella, Margo Chapin, Kathryn A. Walker, Sydney M. Dy, Martha Abshire Saylor, Neha Sharma, Sri Rebala, Ryan E. Anderson, Maura McGuire, Naaz Hussain, Christine Rawlinson, Valerie Cotter, Kimberly Cockey, David L. Roth, Karyn Lee Carlson Nicholson, Erin Rand Giovannetti, Marcella B. Sancho, Diane Echavarria, Cynthia M. Boyd, Jennifer L. Wolff, Kelly M. Smith
Summary: This article describes the implementation and outcomes of ACP in primary care, emphasizing the importance of organizational and clinic-level partnerships, adaptation to different health systems, and lessons learned.
JOURNAL OF PAIN AND SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Therese Crowley Prentice, Robin Lawson
Summary: An advance care planning intervention was conducted on heart failure patients, showing that most participants had positive attitudes towards advance directives but completion rates were low. The discussion of goals between patients and significant others is an important factor in end-of-life planning. Further research is needed to improve strategies for provider discussions and advance directive completion.
Article
Oncology
Anna J. Pedrosa, Lara Demel, Jorge Riera Knorrenschild, Carola Seifart, Pia von Blanckenburg
Summary: The study identified five different clusters of expectations related to ACP among cancer patients. Expectation-modifying measures may positively influence cancer patients' acceptance of ACP, with reducing ignorance and misguided expectations playing a crucial role. Promoting ACP as a family intervention in family constellations with expected delegation of responsibility and dependence at the end of life could help improve family outcomes.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Jenny T. van der Steen, Miharu Nakanishi, Lieve van den Block, Paola Di Giulio, Silvia Gonella, Juergen In Der Schmitten, Rebecca L. Sudore, Karen Harrison Dening, Deborah Parker, Ninoslav Mimica, Iva Holmerova, Philip Larkin, Sandra Martins Pereira, Judith A. C. Rietjens, Ida J. Korfage
Summary: This study aimed to conceptualize advance care planning for dementia through a Delphi study, focusing on defining the concept and identifying key issues such as capacity, family, and engagement. The results highlighted the importance of communication and relationship-centered approach for ACP in dementia.
ALZHEIMERS & DEMENTIA
(2023)
Article
Economics
Jake T. W. Williams, Katy J. L. Bell, Rachael L. Morton, Mbathio Dieng
Summary: This study aimed to integrate environmental impacts into a cost analysis and estimated the costs and environmental impacts of melanoma surveillance. The results showed that the environmental impact from patient transport to melanoma clinics was estimated to be 10 kg CO2e per participant. The study also found substantial health system costs associated with melanoma surveillance.
APPLIED HEALTH ECONOMICS AND HEALTH POLICY
(2023)
Article
Economics
Karan K. Shah, Melina Willson, Blaise Agresta, Rachael L. Morton
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the cost effectiveness of different blood pressure monitoring methods in diagnosing hypertension in Australia. The results showed that ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) had lower total costs compared to home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) and clinic blood pressure monitoring (CBPM), and it led to a small but significant improvement in the quality and quantity of life for people with suspected hypertension. ABPM was identified as the dominant strategy for confirming the diagnosis of hypertension among Australian adults.
PHARMACOECONOMICS-OPEN
(2023)
Correction
Economics
Karan K. Shah, Melina Willson, Blaise Agresta, Rachael L. Morton
PHARMACOECONOMICS-OPEN
(2023)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Fliss E. M. Murtagh, Mabel Okoeki, Blessing Onyinye Ukoha-kalu, Assem Khamis, Joseph Clark, Jason W. Boland, Sophie Pask, Ugochinyere Nwulu, Helene Elliott-Button, Anna Folwell, Daniel Harman, Miriam J. Johnson
Summary: In this study, researchers evaluated the effectiveness of a new integrated care service in improving the wellbeing and quality of life of older people living with severe frailty. The results showed that the integrated care service improved wellbeing within 2-4 weeks and this improvement was sustained at three months.
Article
Immunology
Jake R. Thompson, Julia Lai-Kwon, Rachael L. Morton, Alexander D. Guminski, Maria Gonzalez, Victoria Atkinson, Shahneen Sandhu, Michael P. Brown, Alexander M. Menzies, Grant A. McArthur, Serigne N. Lo, Georgina Long, Iris Bartula
Summary: This study investigated the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of melanoma brain metastasis (MBM) patients undergoing ipilimumab-nivolumab or nivolumab treatment for 18 weeks. The results showed that there was no significant deterioration in HRQoL for MBM patients treated with either ipilimumab-nivolumab or nivolumab within the first 18 weeks of treatment initiation.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Mabel K. Yan, Anne E. Cust, H. Peter Soyer, Monika Janda, Katja Loewe, Gabrielle Byars, Paul Fishburn, Paul White, Rashidul Alam Mahumud, Robyn P. M. Saw, Alan Herschtal, Pablo Fernandez-Penas, Pascale Guitera, Rachael L. Morton, John Kelly, Rory Wolfe, Victoria J. Mar
Summary: This study aims to evaluate the clinical impact and cost-effectiveness of using Melanoma surveillance photography (MSP) for individuals at ultra-high or high risk of melanoma. The study is a randomized controlled trial (RCT) conducted over 3 years, with 580 participants from three Australian states. The primary outcome measure is the number of unnecessary biopsies, and secondary outcomes include health economic outcomes, quality of life, and patient acceptability. The results of this study will contribute to policy decision-making and the clinical application of MSP.
Article
Urology & Nephrology
C. G. Walklin, Hannah M. L. Young, E. Asghari, S. Bhandari, R. E. Billany, N. Bishop, K. Bramham, J. Briggs, J. O. Burton, J. Campbell, E. M. Castle, J. Chilcot, N. Cooper, V Deelchand, M. P. M. Graham-Brown, A. Hamilton, M. Jesky, P. A. Kalra, P. Koufaki, K. McCafferty, A. C. Nixon, H. Noble, Z. L. Saynor, C. Sothinathan, M. W. Taal, J. Tollitt, D. C. Wheeler, T. J. Wilkinson, J. H. Macdonald, S. A. Greenwood
Summary: The Kidney BEAM trial aims to evaluate whether a self-management program called Kidney BEAM can improve the health-related quality of life for people with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The study is a randomized controlled trial that will provide evidence on the cost-effectiveness of the program in enhancing the mental and physical well-being of CKD patients.
Review
Dermatology
Layla Alshammari, Peter O'Halloran, Oonagh McSorley, Julie Doherty, Helen Noble
Summary: This review aims to summarize the evidence on the effectiveness of foot care educational interventions for people living with diabetes. It was found that most existing interventions focus on a single intervention and there is insufficient evidence that a single educational intervention effectively reduces the occurrence of ulcers and amputations or improves patients' knowledge and behavior. Two studies using complex interventions reduced the incidence of amputation and foot ulceration for people living with diabetes.
JOURNAL OF TISSUE VIABILITY
(2023)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Stephanie Craig, Gary Mitchell, Peter O'Halloran, Patrick Stark, Christine Brown Wilson
Summary: The aim of this study is to explore the experiences of people living with dementia interacting with dementia-friendly communities (DFCs) and identify factors that influence their empowerment and support in these communities. The study uses a realist evaluation approach, including literature review, observation, interviews, and focus groups, to understand how DFCs work and achieve positive outcomes for people living with dementia. The ultimate goal is to develop a theory that can activate key mechanisms in DFCs to generate desired outcomes.
Review
Health Care Sciences & Services
Michael Corr, Clare McKeaveney, Fina Wurm, Aisling E. Courtney, Helen Noble
Summary: Renal transplantation is the preferred treatment for young patients with end-stage renal disease, although they have higher rates of transplant function loss. Lack of adherence to immunosuppressive medications and other health behaviors are major factors contributing to this. This scoping review aims to understand the educational needs of young renal transplant recipients and highlights the gaps in current research.
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Andrew Papworth, Julia Hackett, Bryony Beresford, Fliss Murtagh, Helen Weatherly, Sebastian Hinde, Andre Bedendo, Gabriella Walker, Jane Noyes, Sam Oddie, Chakrapani Vasudevan, Richard G. Feltbower, Bob Phillips, Richard Hain, Gayathri Subramanian, Andrew Haynes, Lorna K. Fraser
Summary: This qualitative study explores regional perspectives on the successes and challenges of coordinating and delivering end-of-life care for children in the UK. The findings highlight the importance of collaborative and network approaches, as well as effective communication, in facilitating good end-of-life care. However, consistent funding and staff education and training need to be addressed to improve the delivery and experiences of care.
BMC PALLIATIVE CARE
(2023)
Review
Health Care Sciences & Services
Carole A. Paley, Jason W. Boland, Martina Santarelli, Fliss E. M. Murtagh, Lucy Ziegler, Emma J. Chapman
Summary: This study systematically reviewed non-pharmacological interventions for cancer-related psychological distress and found that most studies using mindfulness interventions were effective in alleviating distress.
BMC PALLIATIVE CARE
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Andre Bedendo, Sebastian Hinde, Bryony Beresford, Andrew Papworth, Bob Phillips, Chakrapani Vasudevan, Emma McLorie, Gabriella Walker, George Peat, Helen Weatherly, Richard Feltbower, Catherine Hewitt, Andrew Haynes, Fliss Murtagh, Jane Noyes, Julia Hackett, Richard Hain, Sam Oddie, Gayathri Subramanian, Lorna Fraser
Summary: The objective of this study is to gather information on the professional team members, services provided, funding sources and population served for all consultant-led specialised paediatric palliative care teams in the UK. The findings show that only six services meet the minimum criteria defined by NICE. Most services provide symptom management, specialist nursing care, end-of-life planning and care, and support for discharges and transfers. Additionally, charity funding plays a significant role in funding the services.
BMJ SUPPORTIVE & PALLIATIVE CARE
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Karin Cinalioglu, Paola Lavin, Magnus Bein, Myriam Lesage, Johanna Gruber, Jade Se, Syeda Bukhari, Neeti Sasi, Helen Noble, Marie Andree-Bruneau, Cyrille Launay, Justin Sanders, Serge Gauthier, Pedro Rosa, Michael Lifshitz, Bruno J. Battistini, Olivier Beauchet, Bassam Khoury, Stephane Bouchard, Pascal Fallavollita, Ipsit Vahia, Soham Rej, Harmehr Sekhon
Summary: This randomized controlled trial aims to assess the effect of VR-guided meditation intervention on stress and mental health in community-dwelling older adults. The study will recruit 30 participants aged ≥60 years with moderate stress and randomize them into intervention or control group. The results will evaluate participants' stress, anxiety, depression, sleep quality, quality of life, and mindfulness skills. The findings will contribute to the assessment of VR-guided meditation as a feasible, acceptable, safe, and cost-effective alternative intervention for improving mental health in older adults.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Lucy Coombes, Daney Haroardottir, Debbie Braybrook, Anna Roach, Hannah Scott, Katherine Bristowe, Clare Ellis-Smith, Julia Downing, Myra Bluebond-Langner, Lorna K. Fraser, Fliss E. M. Murtagh, Richard Harding
Summary: This study aimed to identify preferences for the design of a patient-reported outcome measure among children with life-limiting conditions. The findings suggest that children have specific preferences for recall period, response format, length, and administration mode. It highlights the importance of involving children in the measure development process to enhance acceptability and uptake in clinical practice.
PATIENT-PATIENT CENTERED OUTCOMES RESEARCH
(2023)