Dying to know: a community survey about dying and end-of-life care.

A community survey of Sioux Falls, South Dakota was conducted in 2004 to understand knowledge, attitudes, and preferences about end-of-life (EOL) care and to generate conversations about these topics. Questionnaires were sent to 5,000 randomly selected households, with a return of 1,042 (21%). Most respondents said preparation for EOL is very important, yet far fewer had taken steps to ensure their EOL wishes would be known or met.

Changes in end-of-life attitudes and actions over time: one community in 2004-2005.

Introduction: The purpose of this research is to explore changes in end-of-life (EOL) attitudes and actions among Sioux Falls, South Dakota, residents between August 2004 and August 2005.

Methods: Questionnaires were sent to 5000 randomly selected Sioux Falls households (2004) and to 10,000 South Dakota households (2005), where a subset from the city allowed researchers to compare Sioux Falls residents' attitudes and actions over time. Data were entered into the computer using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, and bivariate analyses were conducted using Chi Square, where p < or = .

"South Dakota's Dying to Know": personal experiences with end-of-life care.

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore end-of-life (EOL) experiences of South Dakotans who had experienced the death of a loved one in the last 5 years.

Methods: A mail questionnaire generated a return of 893 people interested in sharing their experiences about the death of a loved one in the last 5 years. From those respondents, 35 people were randomly selected for this qualitative study.

"South Dakota's Dying to Know": a statewide survey about end of life.

Objective: To develop a baseline understanding of attitudes, advance planning, knowledge, and preferences about end-of-life (EOL) care among community-dwelling South Dakotans.

Methods: Surveys were sent to 10,204 randomly selected households in South Dakota in August 2005, resulting in a 24.8% return rate (N = 2533).

Advance care planning.

Advance care planning is important; the discussion should start early, prior to a life-threatening illness and repeated as necessary when there are changes in a patient's status. It is not necessarily the final document that is important, but the communication that occurs during the process of ACP. It is during the discussion the physician and family will learn about and understand the patient's wishes.

Palliative care teams on the prairie: composition, perceived challenges & opportunities.

Introduction: LifeCircle South Dakota: Partners Improving End-of-Life Care is an interdisciplinary group committed to quality end-of-life care for residents of the state. Strengthening local coalitions and building a collaborative network among palliative care providers were goals of recent educational efforts. This article presents a profile of South Dakota palliative care teams.

Extenuating circumstances: regarding comfort one: new cardiopulmonary resuscitation directives in South Dakota.

Circa 2001, Aunt Abby had reached her seventh decade when she was diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer. Chances of cure were slim to nil, and true to her Midwestern upbringing and staunch faith that a better world awaits, Aunt Abby chose to live out her last months at home, "doing" for Uncle Bill, as she had for the last fifty-two years. Uncle Bill and the kids understood and were willing to abide by her wishes to just let her pass, as God would will.

South Dakota pain surveys: results from 2001.

Concerns about pain management in South Dakota generated survey research in 2001. Knowledge of and attitudes toward pain management were assessed through a survey of health care professionals, and standards of practice and education efforts in the area of pain management were evaluated by a questionnaire sent to South Dakota health care facilities. Results show gaps in knowledge, attitudes that hamper adequate treatment of acute and chronic pain, and the need for a seamless approach to standards of practice in pain management for health care facilities.

A team approach in palliative care: enhancing outcomes.

While most Americans envision a "good death" as one occurring quickly and painlessly at home surrounded by loved ones, many people do not die in this fashion. Palliative care focuses on holistic treatment of patients whose disease is not responsive to curative treatment, and strives to improve quality of life for patients and families at end-of-life (EOL). This hospital-based study examines the extent to which a palliative care consultant team makes a difference in EOL for patients and families.