Examining management plans for patients who frequently presented to the emergency department.

Background: Patients who frequently present to Emergency Department (ED) experience complex health and social needs. While research has examined interventions that aim to decrease frequent ED attendances, there is a need to understand the types of interventions provided to patients by hospital clinicians during presentations.

Methods: Using qualitative content analysis, 82 management plans were evaluated to understand the scope and type of interventions provided by clinicians for patients frequently presenting to the ED at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, Australia.

Discordance between the perceptions of clinicians and families about end-of-life trajectories in hospitalized dementia patients.

Background: Due to the unpredictable dementia trajectory, it is challenging to recognize illness progression and the appropriateness of a palliative approach. Further confusion occurs during hospitalization where the presence of comorbid conditions complicates prognostication. This research examined clinicians and families' perceptions of dementia as a terminal condition in relation to end-of-life admissions.

Bereaved families' experiences of end-of-life decision making for general medicine patients.

Background: Family involvement in decision making for hospitalised patients is associated with improved end-of-life care. Yet, these discussions can be challenging for physicians and families and associated with distress, confusion and conflict. There is a need to understand how best to support families involved in decisions regarding the transition from active to palliative treatment in hospital settings.

Sitting with silence: hospital social work interventions for dying patients and their Families.

The recent controversy around the hospital end of life care has highlighted the vulnerability of dying patients and their families. However, little is known about how social workers provide support and intervention around the end of life in the hospital. Eight hospital social workers provided qualitative descriptions of their clinical practice for adult patients and their families.

Systematic Review for the Quality of End-of-Life Care for Patients With Dementia in the Hospital Setting.

Background:: Patients with dementia may receive suboptimal end-of-life care in hospital settings reflecting broader debate around the palliative status of dementia syndromes.

Objectives:: To synthesize literature describing the quality of end-of-life care for patients with dementia dying in hospital.

Methods:: An integrative review assessed the quality of 26 articles concerning medical, nursing, and psychosocial care of patients with dementia dying in hospital settings.