We were in the fight together: The expectations of bereaved caregivers of patients with acute myeloid leukemia from diagnosis to death.

Purpose: Patients with hematologic malignancies are more optimistic than their oncologists and their expectations may be a barrier to timely hospice care. Patient expectations toward the end of life (EOL), however, have not been characterized. In this study, we analyzed interviews of bereaved caregivers to understand the expectations of patients diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia and the factors that influenced those expectations, from diagnosis until death.

Goals of care communication and higher-value care for patients with advanced-stage cancer: A systematic review of the evidence.

Context: Goals-of-care communication (GOCC) is recommended to increase the value of cancer care near the end of life (EOL).

Objectives: Conduct a systematic review of the evidence that GOCC is associated with higher-value care.

Methods: We searched PubMed, Scopus, Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, EMB Reviews, CINAHL, and PsycInfo from inception to July 2019.

Bereaved Informal Caregivers Rarely Recall a Relationship Between Transfusions and Hospice in Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

Aims: The inability to prescribe blood transfusions is a potential barrier to timely hospice enrollment for patients with blood cancers. The benefits and harms of transfusions near the end of life (EOL), however, are poorly characterized and patients' preferences are unknown. We sought to characterize the recollections of bereaved caregivers about the relationships between transfusions and hospice enrollment decisions.

Medical Students' Professionalism Narratives Reveal That Experiences With Death, Dying, or Palliative Care Are More Positive Than Other Experiences During Their Internal Medicine Clerkship.

Purpose: More physicians need to acquire the skills of primary palliative care. Medical students' clerkship experiences with death, dying, and palliative care (DDPC), however, may create barriers to learning such skills during residency. Whether professional development is differentially affected by DDPC is unknown.

Evaluation of an evidence-based practice implementation: prophylactic amiodarone following coronary artery revascularization.

Postoperative atrial fibrillation is the most frequent dysrhythmia following coronary artery bypass grafting and is associated with complications, additional therapy, and longer hospital stays. Prophylactic amiodarone protocols have been validated as safe and beneficial in the prevention of atrial fibrillation following cardiac surgery. This study evaluates the use of our current treatment protocol, given prophylactically, as feasible and effective in producing similar outcomes in postoperative atrial fibrillation reduction as well as identifies any perioperative risk factors associated with this arrhythmia.

Translaminar cervical epidural steroid injection: short-term results and factors influencing outcome.

Purpose: To assess the efficacy of translaminar cervical epidural steroid injection (ESI) in the management of localized or radicular neck pain and assess categoric factors that can help predict clinical outcome.

Materials And Methods: In all patients studied, treatment of neck pain with oral pain medications or physical therapy had failed. A total of 280 translaminar cervical ESIs were performed in 161 patients with an average age of 58 years (range, 26-82 y).

Development and implementation of an interdisciplinary plan of care.

In January 2002 Aurora Health Care Metro Region chartered an interdisciplinary team to develop a process and structure for patient-centered interdisciplinary care planning. This unique endeavor created a process that includes the patient, family, and all clinical disciplines involved in planning and providing care to patients from system point of entry throughout the entire acute care episode. The interdisciplinary plan of care (IPOC) demonstrates the integration of prioritized problems, outcomes, and measurement toward goal attainment.

Alendronate, vitamin D, and calcium for the treatment of osteopenia/osteoporosis associated with HIV infection.

Background: Osteopenia and osteoporosis are frequent complications of HIV infection and/or its treatment. Alendronate is the only bisphosphonate approved for the treatment of osteoporosis in men and women. We conducted a 48-week prospective, randomized, open-label study to evaluate the effects of alendronate, vitamin D, and calcium supplementation on bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with HIV infection.

Longitudinal evolution of bone mineral density and bone markers in human immunodeficiency virus-infected individuals.

The underlying mechanisms of several bone disorders in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected persons and any relation to antiretroviral therapy have yet to be defined. A longitudinal study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of osteopenia or osteoporosis in HIV-infected persons; to assess bone mineralization, metabolism, and histomorphometry over time; and to evaluate predisposing factors. A total of 128 patients enrolled the study, and 93 were observed for 72 weeks.