Informing Use of Telehealth for Managing Chronic Conditions: Mixed-Methods Evaluation of Telehealth Use to Manage Heart Failure During COVID-19.

Background The COVID-19 pandemic forced Veterans Health Administration facilities to rapidly adopt and deploy telehealth alternatives to provide continuity of care to veterans while minimizing physical contact. The impact of moving to virtual visits on patients with congestive heart failure (HF) is unknown. The goal of this study was to understand how patients with HF and their providers experienced the shift to telehealth for managing a chronic condition, and to inform best practices for continued telehealth use.

Informal caregiver experiences at the end-of-life of individuals living with dementia with Lewy bodies: An interview study.

Individuals with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) commonly die from dementia-related causes, but little is known regarding caregiver experiences during the end-of-life period in DLB. This reflects a critical knowledge gap given the high frequency of informal caregiving for individuals with dementia, high caregiver burden in DLB, and the fact that most individuals with DLB die from this disease. Investigators conducted telephone interviews with family members of individuals who died with DLB in the last 5 years.

Examining the Relationship Between Environmental Factors and Inpatient Hospital Falls: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Study.

Background: Patient falls are the most common adverse events reported in hospitals. Although it is well understood that the physical hospital environment contributes to nearly 40% of severe or fatal hospital falls, there are significant gaps in the knowledge about the relationship between inpatient unit design and fall rates. The few studies that have examined unit design have been conducted in a single hospital (non-Veterans Health Administration [VHA]) or a small number of inpatient units, limiting generalizability.

Clinical Care and Unmet Needs of Individuals With Dementia With Lewy Bodies and Caregivers: An Interview Study.

Background: Patient-centered care requires understanding patient preferences and needs, but research on the clinical care preferences of individuals living with dementia and caregivers is sparse, particularly in dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB).

Methods: Investigators conducted telephone interviews with individuals living with DLB and caregivers from a Lewy body dementia specialty center. Interviews employed a semistructured questionnaire querying helpful aspects of care and unmet needs.

Research priorities of caregivers and individuals with dementia with Lewy bodies: An interview study.

Background: Funding bodies are placing increased emphasis on patient and public involvement in research, but the research priorities of individuals and caregivers living with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) are unknown.

Method: Investigators conducted telephone interviews with individuals living with DLB and caregivers. Participants were recruited from a Lewy Body Dementia Association Research Center of Excellence.

Caregiver-Reported Barriers to Quality End-of-Life Care in Dementia With Lewy Bodies: A Qualitative Analysis.

Objective: This study investigated barriers to quality end-of-life (EOL) care in the context of dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), one of the most common degenerative dementias in the United States.

Methods: The study consisted of telephone interviews with caregivers and family members of individuals who died with DLB in the last 5 years. Interviews used a semi-structured questionnaire.

Virtual Support Groups for Informal Caregivers of Individuals With Dementia: A Scoping Review.

Objective: The purpose of this scoping systematic review was to inform virtual support group development for informal caregivers of dementia by identifying published approaches, outcomes, barriers, and facilitators.

Methods: A scoping systematic review was performed using 5 search engines. Studies were included if they utilized virtual support groups for informal caregivers of persons with dementia.

End-of-life experiences in dementia with Lewy bodies: Qualitative interviews with former caregivers.

Background: Dementia caregivers describe knowing what to expect as an unmet need and many are unaware that dementia can be a terminal condition. Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is a common neurodegenerative dementia with unique features which may affect the end of life (EOL). Given the paucity of data on EOL experiences in dementia and unique aspects of DLB affecting EOL, we investigated EOL experiences as reported by caregivers of individuals with DLB.

Patient Stakeholder Versus Physician Preferences Regarding Amyloid PET Testing.

Background: Patient and caregiver perspectives on amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) use are largely unexplored, particularly as compared with clinician views.

Methods: We surveyed clinicians, patients, caregivers, and dementia advocates on topics relating to an evidence-based guideline on amyloid PET use. Topic importance was rated on a 9-point scale.

Cause of Death and End-of-Life Experiences in Individuals with Dementia with Lewy Bodies.

Objectives: To investigate the natural history, cause of death, and end-of-life experiences of individuals diagnosed with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB).

Design: Twenty-question online survey administered through the Lewy Body Dementia Association.

Setting: United States.