Factors Influencing the Use of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy with Autistic Adults: A Survey of Community Mental Health Clinicians.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) can improve anxiety and depression in autistic adults, but few autistic adults receive this treatment. We examined factors that may influence clinicians' use of CBT with autistic adults. One hundred clinicians completed an online survey.

Increasing Information Dissemination in Cancer Communication: Effects of Using "Palliative," "Supportive," or "Hospice" Care Terminology.

Background: When attempting to share information about comfort-oriented care, many use "palliative," "supportive," and "hospice" care terminology interchangeably, but we lack evidence about the effects of using these different terms.

Objectives: This study was designed to test whether the use of "palliative," "supportive," or "hospice" terminology can improve the dissemination of information among breast cancer patients-a large and growing oncology population. Design, Setting, and Measurement: This experimental study was conducted at a major U.

Is public communication about end-of-life care helping to inform all? Cancer news coverage in African American versus mainstream media.

Background: Because cancers are a leading cause of death, these diseases receive a great deal of news attention. However, because news media frequently target specific racial or ethnic audiences, some populations may receive different information, and it is unknown whether reporting equally informs all audiences about the options for care at the end of life. This study of news reporting compared "mainstream" (general market) media with African American media, which serves the largest minority group.

Can metaphors and analogies improve communication with seriously ill patients?

Objective: It is not known how often physicians use metaphors and analogies, or whether they improve patients' perceptions of their physicians' ability to communicate effectively. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine whether the use of metaphors and analogies in difficult conversations is associated with better patient ratings of their physicians' communication skills.

Design: Cross-sectional observational study of audio-recorded conversations between patients and physicians.

The terrible choice: re-evaluating hospice eligibility criteria for cancer.

Purpose: To be eligible for the Medicare Hospice Benefit, cancer patients with a life expectancy of 6 months or less must give up curative treatment. Our goal was to determine whether willingness to make this choice identifies patients with greater need for hospice services.

Patients And Methods: Three hundred patients with cancer and 171 family members were recruited from six oncology practices.

Epidemiology and prognosis of coma in daytime television dramas.

Objective: To determine how soap operas portray, and possibly misrepresent, the likelihood of recovery for patients in coma.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Nine soap operas in the United States reviewed between 1 January 1995 and 15 May 2005.