Psychosocial burden in transfusion dependent patients and its impact on the quality of life and the problem of dignity.

is a genetic blood disorder that impacts hemoglobin production with several symptoms that decrease quality of life in patients. Blood transfusions may help them to regulate their hemoglobin needs, though this is a lifelong intervention. Struggling with dependent blood transfusion status impacts patients greatly including their bio, psycho, social, and spiritual health, potentially raising a bioethical issue related to human dignity.

Palliative Care: Oncology Nurses' Confidence in Provision to Patients With Cancer.

Background: Oncology nurses are key providers of care to patients with cancer in all healthcare settings. However, little is known about oncology nurses' perceived confidence in providing all of the domains of palliative care.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to examine oncology nurses' perceived confidence in providing palliative care to patients with cancer and to identify the association between nurses' demographic and professional characteristics and their perceived confidence.

Longitudinal family caregiving experiences in heart failure: Secondary qualitative analysis of interviews.

Background: Considering the potential impacts of family caregivers on heart failure management and the costs of healthcare, health professionals need to pay attention to the challenges faced by family caregivers.

Objective: This study longitudinally explored the caregiving experiences of family caregivers of persons with heart failure.

Methods: Serial interview scripts collected from 53 family caregivers were analyzed using a content analysis method.

End-of-Life Care in Cardiothoracic Surgery.

Patients undergoing cardiothoracic surgery face a small but significant mortality risk. Despite this, end-of-life care specific to this population has received little attention. This article examines current literature on end-of-life care in cardiothoracic surgery and in critical care.

Family caregiver-reported outcomes regarding decision-making for left ventricular assist device implantation.

Background: Family caregivers (FCGs) often participate in the decision for their loved one to receive a left ventricular assist device (LVAD). Little is known about the contribution of FCGs to this complex decision.

Objectives: To investigate family caregiver-reported outcomes related to decision-making for LVAD implantation and their experiences post-implantation.

Defining Futile and Potentially Inappropriate Interventions: A Policy Statement From the Society of Critical Care Medicine Ethics Committee.

Objectives: The Society of Critical Care Medicine and four other major critical care organizations have endorsed a seven-step process to resolve disagreements about potentially inappropriate treatments. The multiorganization statement (entitled: An official ATS/AACN/ACCP/ESICM/SCCM Policy Statement: Responding to Requests for Potentially Inappropriate Treatments in Intensive Care Units) provides examples of potentially inappropriate treatments; however, no clear definition is provided. This statement was developed to provide a clear definition of inappropriate interventions in the ICU environment.

ICU Admission, Discharge, and Triage Guidelines: A Framework to Enhance Clinical Operations, Development of Institutional Policies, and Further Research.

Objectives: To update the Society of Critical Care Medicine's guidelines for ICU admission, discharge, and triage, providing a framework for clinical practice, the development of institutional policies, and further research.

Design: An appointed Task Force followed a standard, systematic, and evidence-based approach in reviewing the literature to develop these guidelines.

Measurements And Main Results: The assessment of the evidence and recommendations was based on the principles of the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation system.

Patients' decision making process and expectations of a left ventricular assist device pre and post implantation.

Objectives: To examine patients' pre-implantation decision-making and pre and post-implantation expectations of left ventricular assist devices (LVADs).

Background: LVADs have been shown to improve both quantity and quality of life of patients living with Stage D heart failure (HF). However, they also pose significant risks.