Antibiotic Use at the End of Life: Current Practice and Ways to Optimize.

Infections are common complications in end of life (EOL). However, clinicians have minimal guidance regarding antibiotic decision-making in EOL care, leading to the overuse of antibiotics. While symptom relief is frequently cited as a major reason for antibiotic use in EOL, antibiotics have not been shown to provide significant improvement in symptoms outside of urinary tract infections.

Serious Illness Communication Training Among Radiation Oncology Residents.

Purpose: Education and specific training on serious illness communication skills for radiation oncology residents is lacking. The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education requires radiation oncology residents to demonstrate interpersonal and communication skills; however, implementing specific training to address this poses an ongoing challenge. This study assesses the feasibility and effectiveness of a radiation oncology specific serious illness communication curriculum at a single radiation oncology residency program.

Transfusion practices at end of life for hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients.

Purpose: Limited data exist regarding transfusion practices at end of life (EOL) for hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) patients. The purpose of this study was to examine red blood cell (RBC) and platelet transfusion practices in HSCT patients who enrolled or did not enroll in hospice.

Methods: This was a single-center, retrospective chart review in deceased HSCT patients.

Advance Care Planning and Palliative Care Integration for Patients Undergoing Hematopoietic Stem-Cell Transplantation.

Purpose: Advance care planning (ACP) in hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) is challenging, given the potential for cure despite increased morbidity and mortality risk.The aim of this study was to evaluate ACP and palliative care (PC) integration for patients who underwent HSCT.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted and data were extracted from electronic medical records of patients who underwent HSCT between January 2011 and December 2015.