The multinomial mixed-effect regression model for predicting PCOC phases in hospice patients.

Purpose: The Palliative Care Outcomes Collaboration (PCOC) aims to enhance patient outcomes systematically. However, identifying crucial items and accurately determining PCOC phases remain challenging. This study aims to identify essential PCOC data items and construct a prediction model to accurately classify PCOC phases in terminal patients.

Lidocaine transdermal patches reduced pain intensity in neuropathic cancer patients already receiving opioid treatment.

Background: Limited efficacy has been observed when using opioids to treat neuropathic pain. Lidocaine patches reduce neuropathic pain in postherpetic neuralgia, but their benefits for cancer-related neuropathic pain remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate a treatment for cancer-related neuropathic pain.

The Fierce Urgency of Now: Addressing Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Serious Illness Care.

Racial and ethnic disparities in serious illness care are profound and require an urgent response. We present actionable recommendations for health care organizations, providers, and policymakers to address disparities and advance equity.

Acute kidney injury and hepatitis associated with energy drink consumption: a case report.

Introduction: In the USA, energy drinks are commonly consumed among adults. The side effects of these drinks are not well studied but consumers have reported multiple adverse events to the US Food and Drug Administration including acute kidney injury and acute hepatitis.

Case Presentation: A 62-year-old white woman presented with progressive weakness, fatigue, confusion, and delirium secondary to acute kidney injury and acute hepatitis associated with excessive energy drink use.

End-of-Life Dreams and Visions in Pediatric Patients: A Case Study.

End-of-life dreams and visions (ELDVs) are a recognized phenomenon that can occur as part of the normal dying process. Data suggest that ELDVs can provide comfort, foster discussion of waking life concerns, and lessen the fear of death. Current literature on ELDVs focuses on the prevalence, content, and effects of ELDVs exclusively in adult populations.

Use of the Core Bereavement Items in Adults Aged 50 and Older: A Psychometric Evaluation.

The Core Bereavement Items (CBI) is a commonly used measure that assesses core grief and bereavement experiences. Although previous psychometric testing has been conducted, no studies have assessed its use specifically aimed at adults aged 50 and older or for those who lost a loved one who was hospice care. This is critical, as losses and additional obstacles in bereavement compound throughout the aging process.

The Experience of Pediatric Palliative Caregiving: A Qualitative Analysis From the Photographs of Meaning Program.

The Photographs of Meaning Program for pediatric palliative caregivers (POM-PPCG) is an innovative, meaning-based intervention utilizing photovoice and social media components. In 2017, 9 pediatric palliative caregivers participated in this intervention. During the social media portion of the POM-PPCG, participants were presented with weekly themes based on a meaning-making curriculum.

End-of-Life Dreams and Visions and Posttraumatic Growth: A Comparison Study.

End-of-life dreams and visions (ELDVs) can provide both meaning and comfort to individuals nearing death. While research has examined the prevalence and content of ELDVs, little is known on how dreaming at end of life may affect psychological processes. This study aimed to explore differences in posttraumatic growth (PTG) between hospice patients who experience ELDVs and hospice patients who do not experience this phenomenon.

Family Caregiver Perspectives on End-of-Life Dreams and Visions during Bereavement: A Mixed Methods Approach.

End-of-life dreams and visions (ELDVs) are prevalent experiences that provide comfort and meaning to dying individuals. Limited research has examined the impact of ELDVs on the bereaved. This study aimed to explore differences in self-reported grief for people whose loved ones shared ELDVs and those who did not, and to describe the role of ELDVs in the grieving process.

Dexmedetomidine as an Option for Opioid Refractory Pain in the Hospice Setting.

Opioid refractory pain is a common problem in pain management. Dexmedetomidine is suggested to have opioid-sparing effects, with well-described use in surgical and intensive care unit settings. Some authors advocate its benefit in reducing delirium.

Preference of cancer patients and family members regarding delivery of bad news and differences in clinical practice among medical staff.

Objectives: To study the preferences of cancer patients and their families in way of being informed of their condition and, by comparing their preferences with the medical staff's clinical practices, explore the factors underlying the latter's preferences.

Methods: A survey was conducted with 216 cancer patients, 242 families, and 176 clinical staff members with the Medical Status Communication questionnaire (Simplified Chinese edition).

Results: The clinical staff scored lower than the cancer patients and their families in terms of the total score, way of communication, emotional support, and additional information (F = 16.

"People don't understand what goes on in here": A consensual qualitative research analysis of inmate-caregiver perspectives on prison-based end-of-life care.

Background: The age demographic of the incarcerated is quickly shifting from young to old. Correctional facilities are responsible for navigating inmate access to healthcare; currently, there is no standardization for access to end-of-life care. There is growing research support for prison-based end-of-life care programs that incorporate inmate peer caregivers as a way to meet the needs of the elderly and dying who are incarcerated.

Screening for Delirium: Development and Validation of the Buffalo Delirium Scale for Use in a Home-Based Hospice Setting.

Background: Delirium is a challenging occurrence among people at end of life. It can be difficult to detect and treat because of its episodic nature. The Buffalo Delirium Scale (BDS) was designed to identify risk factors for hospice patients in the prodromal stage of delirium.

Caregiver Self-Esteem as a Predictor of Patient Relationship Satisfaction: A Longitudinal Study.

Objective: Longitudinal assessment of patient-caregiver relationships will determine whether caregiver self-esteem determines patient relationship satisfaction at end of life.

Background: Research on close relationships and caregiving supports the idea that informal caregivers' self-esteem may influence their relationships with their terminally ill loved ones. However, this connection has not yet been investigated longitudinally, nor has it been applied specifically to care recipients' relationship satisfaction.

Symptom Distress Among Diverse Patients Referred for Community-Based Palliative Care: Sociodemographic and Medical Correlates.

Context: Community-based palliative care programs are appearing in the U.S. Many of these programs, particularly those in large cities, serve highly diverse populations.

Still Searching: A Meta-Synthesis of a Good Death from the Bereaved Family Member Perspective.

The concept of a good death continues to receive attention in end-of-life (EOL) scholarship. We sought to continue this line of inquiry related to a good death by conducting a meta-synthesis of published qualitative research studies that examined a good death from the bereaved family member's perspective. Results of the meta-synthesis included 14 articles with 368 participants.

A consensual qualitative research analysis of the experience of inmate hospice caregivers: Posttraumatic growth while incarcerated.

A growing number of correctional facilities train inmates to provide end-of-life care for dying inmates. This study explores the phenomenological perspective of inmate-caregivers participating in an inmate-facilitated hospice program (IFHP) with regard to meaning and purpose in life, attitudes on death and dying, and perceived personal impact of participation. Twenty-two inmate-caregivers were interviewed at a maximum-security state correctional facility in the United States.

Hospice Enrollment After Referral to Community-Based, Specialist-Level Palliative Care: Incidence, Timing, and Predictors.

Context: Referral to community-based palliative care may increase the likelihood of hospice enrollment.

Objectives: This retrospective cohort study evaluated the incidence, timing, and predictors of hospice enrollment after referral to a community-based palliative care program.

Methods: Data from 1505 homebound patients referred to community-based palliative care during 2010-2013 were analyzed using multivariate linear and logistic regression.

A High-Touch Model of Community-Based Specialist Palliative Care: Latent Class Analysis Identifies Distinct Patient Subgroups.

Context: Community-based palliative care may support seriously ill homebound patients. Programs vary widely, and few studies have described the heterogeneity of the populations served or service delivery models.

Objectives: To evaluate a diverse population served by an interdisciplinary model of community-based specialist palliative care and the variation in service delivery over time and identify subgroups with distinct illness burden profiles.