Oral function in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients: A matched case-control study.

Background & Aims: Patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) develop swallowing difficulties with the progression of the disease. The present study aimed at comparing oral function and body composition between ALS patients and healthy controls, and at evaluating which parameters are the most discriminant between both groups.

Methods: We included ALS patients at the start of their multidisciplinary follow-up at the Geneva University Hospitals and healthy age-, gender-, and dental status-matched adults.

[The role of the primary care physician in the evolution of a care model in a medico-educational establishment].

Following the retirement of the referring physician of an institution for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (DID), the residents found themselves without a general internist. A joint reflection then took place between four actors concerned by the subject: the management of the institution, the health department, Valais hospital and the family and child physician canton branch. At the end of the project, the primary care physician is found to be central to caseload management.

Early advance care planning in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients: results of a systematic intervention by a palliative care team in a multidisciplinary management programme - a 4-year cohort study.

Introduction: Although recommended, the implementation of early advance care planning is suboptimal in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. Barriers to advance care planning include healthcare professionals’ and patients’ reluctance, and uncertainty about the right time to initiate a discussion.

Aim Of The Study: To determine how often advance care planning was initiated, and the content of the discussion in a first routine palliative care consultation integrated within a multidisciplinary management programme.