What socio-economic factors determine place of death for people with life-limiting illness? A systematic review and appraisal of methodological rigour.

Background: Socio-economic factors play important roles in place of death. However, up-to-date knowledge on socio-economic determinants for place of death is warranted including analysis of collinearity between socio-economic determinants.

Aim: To examine associations between socio-economic determinants (social class, deprivation level in area of residence, income, education, occupation, urbanisation) and place of death among adult patients with life-limiting illnesses.

Advance care planning and place of death, hospitalisation and actual place of death in lung, heart and cancer disease: a randomised controlled trial.

Objectives: Advance care planning (ACP) can be a way to meet patients' end-of-life preferences and enhance awareness of end-of-life care. Thereby it may affect actual place of death (APOD) and decrease the rate of hospitalisations. The aim was to investigate if ACP among terminally ill patients with lung, heart and cancer diseases effects fulfilment of preferred place of death (PPOD), amount of time spent in hospital and APOD.

Advance care planning for patients and their relatives.

Background: Advance care planning (ACP) has been suggested to improve the quality of life (QoL) and mental wellbeing in severely ill patients and their relatives.

Aim: To investigate the effects of ACP among patients with lung, heart and cancer diseases with an estimated life-span of up to 12 months.

Methods: Patients and relatives were randomised into two groups: one receiving usual care and one receiving ACP and usual care.

Preferred Place of Care and Death in Terminally Ill Patients with Lung and Heart Disease Compared to Cancer Patients.

Objectives: The dual aim of this study is, first, to describe preferred place of care (PPOC) and preferred place of death (PPOD) in terminally ill patients with lung and heart diseases compared with cancer patients and second, to describe differences in level of anxiety among patients with these diagnoses.

Background: Previous research on end-of-life preferences focuses on cancer patients, most of whom identify home as their PPOC and PPOD. These preferences may, however, not mirror those of patients suffering from nonmalignant fatal diseases.

[Care and treatment can be planned in advance with advance care planning].

Advance care planning (ACP) is a discussion between an incurably ill patient, a healthcare professional and if possible, a relative about preferences for end-of-life care, and ACP may improve the communication in this situation. However, in the Danish healthcare system there is no formalized and systematically used standard procedure for discussions with patients about their knowledge of their treatment options, values and preferences. In this article we review the concept of ACP, including definition, experiences from abroad and the status of ACP in Denmark.

The diverse impact of advance care planning: a long-term follow-up study on patients' and relatives' experiences.

Background: Advance care planning (ACP) is a process of discussing and recording patients' preferences for future care, aiming to guide healthcare decisions at the end of life (EOL).

Aim: To explore nuances in the long-term impact of ACP by studying patient and relative experiences.

Design: A qualitative follow-up interview study.

Talking about sensitive topics during the advance care planning discussion: A peek into the black box.

Objective: Advance care planning (ACP) discussions are emphasized as a valuable way of improving communication about end-of-life care. Yet we have very little knowledge of what goes on during actual ACP discussions. The aim of our study was to explore how the sensitive topics of end-of-life decisions are addressed in concrete ACP discussions, with special focus on doctor-patient interactions.

[Rupture risk of abdominal aortic aneurysms].

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) rupture causes 2% of all deaths among men aged 65 years or more. Since aneurysmectomy is associated with an operative mortality reaching 5%, the risk of rupture determines whether prophylactic surgery should be performed or not. Many studies have been carried out to estimate the risk of rupture, but the results vary greatly.