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Joseph EA, Anees M, Barrett TS, Aliu O, Wagner PL, Bartlett DL, Allen CJ. Advanced Care Planning Prior to Oncologic Surgery: An Assessment of Utilization and Implications. Ann Surg Oncol 2024; 31:4861-4863. [PMID: 38755343 DOI: 10.1245/s10434-024-15417-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Muhammad Anees
- The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
| | | | - Oluseyi Aliu
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgical Oncology, Allegheny Health Network Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Patrick L Wagner
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgical Oncology, Allegheny Health Network Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - David L Bartlett
- Cancer Institute, Allegheny Health Network Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Casey J Allen
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgical Oncology, Allegheny Health Network Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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Bybee S, Hebdon M, Cloyes K, Hiatt S, Iacob E, Reblin M, Clayton M, Ellington L. Cancer caregivers at the end-of-life: How much me vs. how much we? PEC INNOVATION 2023; 3:100193. [PMID: 37554722 PMCID: PMC10404724 DOI: 10.1016/j.pecinn.2023.100193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study explored cancer caregivers' individual and communal coping through their use of personal and communal pronouns during naturally occurring conversations. METHODS Nurse-home hospice visits involving cancer patients and their partner caregivers were audio recorded and then transcribed. Pronoun use was analyzed using Linguistic Inquiry Word Count (LIWC) software and descriptive statistics compared patient and partner caregivers' pronoun use. Personal and communal pronoun use was examined within six identified topics of caregiver speech: patient medical care, daily life, emotion, criticism/disagreement, relationships with family/friends, and asserting needs. RESULTS Dyads (N = 76) had an average of 35.8 years in their relationship. Caregivers used proportionately more first-person singular (I-talk) than first-person plural (we-talk). However, they used significantly less I-talk than patients and less I-talk than LIWC measures in naturally occurring speech. Caregivers were most likely to discuss patient medical care (41.9%) and least likely to discuss their own needs (3.8%). CONCLUSION Partner caregivers may find it easier to express emotions related to communal stressors, rather than their individual ability to cope with end-of-life caregiving. INNOVATION Examining personal and communal pronoun use by partner caregivers during nurse-home hospice visits may provide a more objective measure of caregiver coping than standard self-report measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Bybee
- University of Utah College of Nursing, 10 S 2000 E, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, United States of America
| | - Megan Hebdon
- UT Austin School of Nursing, 1710 Red River St, Austin, TX 78712, United States of America
| | - Kristin Cloyes
- Oregon Health & Science University, 3455 SW US Veterans Hospital Rd., Portland, OR 97239-2941, United States of America
| | - Shirin Hiatt
- University of Utah College of Nursing, 10 S 2000 E, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, United States of America
| | - Eli Iacob
- University of Utah College of Nursing, 10 S 2000 E, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, United States of America
| | - Maija Reblin
- University of Vermont College of Medicine, Given Medical Building, E-126, 89 Beaumont Ave, Burlington, VT 05405, United States of America
| | - Margaret Clayton
- University of Utah College of Nursing, 10 S 2000 E, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, United States of America
| | - Lee Ellington
- University of Utah College of Nursing, 10 S 2000 E, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, United States of America
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Gallagher R, Coelho R, Violette PD, Gaind KS, Chochinov HM. Response to Medical Assistance in Dying, Palliative Care, Safety, and Structural Vulnerability. J Palliat Med 2023; 26:1610-1617. [PMID: 37955548 PMCID: PMC10714107 DOI: 10.1089/jpm.2023.0581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
This report, signed by >170 scholars, clinicians, and researchers in palliative care and related fields, refutes the claims made by the previously published Medical Assistance in Dying, Palliative Care, Safety, and Structural Vulnerability. That report attempted to argue that structural vulnerability was not a concern in the provision of assisted dying (AD) by a selective review of evidence in medical literature and population studies. It claimed that palliative care has its own safety concerns, and that "misuse" of palliative care led to reports of wrongful death. We and our signatories do not feel that the conclusions reached are supported by the evidence provided in the contested report. The latter concluded that the logical policy response would be to address the root causes of structural vulnerability rather than restrict access to AD. Our report, endorsed by an international community of palliative care professionals, believes that public policy should aim to reduce structural vulnerability and, at the same time, respond to evidence-based cautions about AD given the potential harm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romayne Gallagher
- Division of Palliative Care, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | | | - Philippe D. Violette
- Department of Surgery, Evidence and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - K. Sonu Gaind
- Department of Psychiatry, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Harvey Max Chochinov
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Cancer Care Manitoba Research Institute, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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Yoshiike T, Kawamura A, Utsumi T, Matsui K, Kuriyama K. A prospective study of the association of weekend catch-up sleep and sleep duration with mortality in middle-aged adults. Sleep Biol Rhythms 2023; 21:409-418. [PMID: 38468822 PMCID: PMC10900010 DOI: 10.1007/s41105-023-00460-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Health effects of weekend catch-up sleep (CUS) could differ depending on both the ability to obtain sufficient sleep during weekdays and amount of weekend CUS required to compensate for sleep lost during the week. Using data from 3128 middle-aged (40-64 years) participants of the Sleep Heart Health Study, we examined the longitudinal association of these two aspects of sleep with all-cause mortality. CUS was calculated as the difference in self-reported habitual sleep duration between weekends and weekdays, and classified into no, short (1 h), and long (2 h or more) CUS. Polysomnography-measured total sleep time, representing the ability to obtain sufficient sleep, was classified into short (< 360 min) or normal (≥ 360 min) sleep durations. We estimated multivariable-adjusted mortality hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for six groups divided by the extent of CUS and sleep duration. Participants were followed up for a median (interquartile range) of 12.3 (11.3-13.5) years. Short weekend CUS with normal sleep duration was associated with lower mortality compared to no CUS with normal sleep duration (HR, 0.48; 95% CI 0.27-0.83). When stricter cutoffs were applied for sleep durations, while the protective effect of short CUS with normal sleep duration (≥ 390 min) was strengthened (HR, 0.36; 95% CI 0.17-0.78), the harmful effect of short CUS with short sleep duration (< 330 min) emerged (HR, 1.84; 95% CI 1.08-3.14). Results highlight the importance of balancing sleep ability and CUS. Sufficient sleep may reduce weekday sleep debt and only a short CUS would be required on weekends, improving mortality in middle-aged adults. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s41105-023-00460-6.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takuya Yoshiike
- Department of Sleep-Wake Disorders, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1 Ogawahigashi, Kodaira, Tokyo 187-8553 Japan
| | - Aoi Kawamura
- Department of Sleep-Wake Disorders, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1 Ogawahigashi, Kodaira, Tokyo 187-8553 Japan
| | - Tomohiro Utsumi
- Department of Sleep-Wake Disorders, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1 Ogawahigashi, Kodaira, Tokyo 187-8553 Japan
| | - Kentaro Matsui
- Department of Sleep-Wake Disorders, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1 Ogawahigashi, Kodaira, Tokyo 187-8553 Japan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Center Hospital, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Japan
| | - Kenichi Kuriyama
- Department of Sleep-Wake Disorders, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1 Ogawahigashi, Kodaira, Tokyo 187-8553 Japan
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Downar J, MacDonald S, Buchman S. Medical Assistance in Dying, Palliative Care, Safety, and Structural Vulnerability. J Palliat Med 2023; 26:1175-1179. [PMID: 37404196 DOI: 10.1089/jpm.2023.0210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/06/2023] Open
Abstract
As more jurisdictions consider legalizing medical assistance in dying or assisted death (AD), there is an ongoing debate about whether AD is driven by socioeconomic deprivation or inadequate supportive services. Attention has shifted away from population studies that refute this narrative, and focused on individual cases reported in the media that would appear to support these concerns. In this editorial, the authors address these concerns using recent experience in Canada, and argue that even if we accept these stories at face value, the logical policy response would be to address the root causes of structural vulnerability rather than attempt to restrict access to AD. In terms of concerns about safety, the authors go on to point out the parallels between media reports about the misuse of AD and reports of wrongful deaths due to the misuse of palliative care (PC) in jurisdictions where AD was not legal. Ultimately, we cannot justify having a different response to these reports when they apply to AD instead of PC, and nobody has argued that PC should be criminalized in response to such reports. If we are skeptical of the oversight mechanisms used for AD in Canada, we must be equally skeptical of the oversight mechanisms used for end-of-life care in every jurisdiction where AD is not legal, and ask whether prohibiting AD protects the lives of the vulnerable any better than legalization of AD with safeguards.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Downar
- Division of Palliative Care, Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Critical Care, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Susan MacDonald
- Departments of Medicine and Family Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada
| | - Sandy Buchman
- Division of Palliative Care, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Freeman Centre for The Advancement of Palliative Care, North York General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Cross SH, Kavalieratos D. Public Health and Palliative Care. Clin Geriatr Med 2023; 39:395-406. [PMID: 37385691 PMCID: PMC10571066 DOI: 10.1016/j.cger.2023.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
Meeting the needs of people at the end of life (EOL) is a public health (PH) concern, yet a PH approach has not been widely applied to EOL care. The design of hospice in the United States, with its focus on cost containment, has resulted in disparities in EOL care use and quality. Individuals with non-cancer diagnoses, minoritized individuals, individuals of lower socioeconomic status, and those who do not yet qualify for hospice are particularly disadvantaged by the existing hospice policy. New models of palliative care (both hospice and non-hospice) are needed to equitably address the burden of suffering from a serious illness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah H Cross
- Division of Palliative Medicine, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Road Northeast, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
| | - Dio Kavalieratos
- Division of Palliative Medicine, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Road Northeast, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
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Hoda W, Bharati SJ. Palliative care in neurology patients. Int Anesthesiol Clin 2023; 61:73-79. [PMID: 37249177 DOI: 10.1097/aia.0000000000000403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Wasimul Hoda
- Department of Superspeciality Anaesthesia, Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Ranchi, Jharkhand, India
| | - Sachidanand J Bharati
- Department of Onco-Anaesthesia & Palliative Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, Delhi, India
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Wang G, Xiao J, Chen Z, Huang C, Deng Y, Tang S. Good death from cancer-the patient view: systematic review of qualitative studies. BMJ Support Palliat Care 2023:spcare-2022-004146. [PMID: 37353313 DOI: 10.1136/spcare-2022-004146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE An in-depth understanding of what constitutes a good death among patients with cancer is vital to providing patient-centred palliative care. This review aimed to synthesise evidence on the perceptions of a good death among patients with cancer. METHODS This systematic review involved a synthesis of qualitative data. A three-step process suggested by the Joanna Briggs Institute was used to synthesise the data. RESULTS A total of 1432 records were identified, and five articles met the inclusion criteria. Seven synthesised findings emerged: (1) being aware of cancer, (2) pain and symptom management, (3) dying well, (4) being remembered after death, (5) individual perspectives of a good death, (6) individual behaviours leading to a good death, and (7) culture and religions. A structural framework was developed to elicit two layers that could be regarded as determinants of a good death. One layer suggested how multiple external issues impact a good death, whereas the other layer involves patients' internal attributes that shape their experiences of a good death. The elements in the two layers were inter-related to exert a crossover effect on good death in specific cultural and religious contexts. CONCLUSION A good death is a process initiated from the time of awareness of cancer and extends beyond demise. Holistic approaches encompassing the management of physical and psychological distress along with psychosocial behavioural interventions to enhance patients' positive perspectives and behaviours are recommended to improve their quality of life and death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guiyun Wang
- School of Nursing, Shandong Xiehe University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Jinnan Xiao
- Xiangya School of Nursing, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Zhihan Chen
- Xiangya School of Nursing, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Chongmei Huang
- Xiangya School of Nursing, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yinghua Deng
- Xiangya School of Nursing, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Siyuan Tang
- Xiangya School of Nursing, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
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9
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Russell L, Howard R, Street M, Johnson CE, Berry D, Flemming-Judge E, Brean S, William L, Considine J. Cancer Decedents' Hospital End-of-Life Care Documentation: A Retrospective Review of Patient Records. J Palliat Care 2023:8258597231170836. [PMID: 37113101 DOI: 10.1177/08258597231170836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
Objective: International standards of end-of-life care (EOLC) intend to guide the delivery of safe and high-quality EOLC. Adequately documented care is conducive to higher quality of care, but the extent to which EOLC standards are documented in hospital medical records is unknown. Assessing which EOLC standards are documented in patients' medical records can help identify areas that are performed well and areas where improvements are needed. This study assessed cancer decedents' EOLC documentation in hospital settings. Methods: Medical records of 240 cancer decedents were retrospectively evaluated. Data were collected across six Australian hospitals between 1/01/2019 and 31/12/2019. EOLC documentation related to Advance Care Planning (ACP), resuscitation planning, care of the dying person, and grief and bereavement care was reviewed. Chi-square tests assessed associations between EOLC documentation and patient characteristics, and hospital settings (specialist palliative care unit, sub-acute/rehabilitation care settings, acute care wards, and intensive care units). Results: Decedents' mean age was 75.3 years (SD 11.8), 52.0% (n = 125) were female, and 73.7% lived with other adults or carers. All patients (n = 240; 100%) had documentation for resuscitation planning, 97.6% (n = 235) for Care for the Dying Person, 40.0% for grief and bereavement care (n = 96), and 30.4% (n = 73) for ACP. Patients living with other adults or carers were less likely to have a documented ACP than those living alone or with dependents (OR 0.48; 95% CI 0.26-0.89). EOLC documentation was significantly greater in specialist palliative care settings than that in other hospital settings (P < .001). Conclusion: The process of dying is well documented among inpatients diagnosed with cancer. ACP and grief and bereavement support are not documented enough. Organizational endorsement of a clear practice framework and increased training could improve documentation of these aspects of EOLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Russell
- Deakin University, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Geelong, Australia
- Deakin University, Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research in the Institute for Health Transformation, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
- Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research - Eastern Health Partnership, Box Hill, Victoria, Australia
| | - R Howard
- Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research - Eastern Health Partnership, Box Hill, Victoria, Australia
| | - M Street
- Deakin University, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Geelong, Australia
- Deakin University, Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research in the Institute for Health Transformation, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
- Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research - Eastern Health Partnership, Box Hill, Victoria, Australia
| | - C E Johnson
- Palliative Aged Care Outcomes Program, Australian Health Services Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - D Berry
- Deakin University, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Geelong, Australia
- Deakin University, Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research in the Institute for Health Transformation, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
- Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research - Eastern Health Partnership, Box Hill, Victoria, Australia
| | - E Flemming-Judge
- Consumer Representative, Australian Resuscitation Council, Eastern Health, East Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Consumer Representative, Safer Care Victoria, Melbourne VIC, Australia
- Consumer Representative, Eastern Health, Box Hill, VIC, Australia
- Consumer Representative, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - S Brean
- Advance Care Planning, Eastern Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - L William
- Supportive and Palliative Care Service, Eastern Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Eastern Health Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Public Health Palliative Care Unit, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - J Considine
- Deakin University, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Geelong, Australia
- Deakin University, Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research in the Institute for Health Transformation, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
- Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research - Eastern Health Partnership, Box Hill, Victoria, Australia
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Kim S, Lim A, Jang H, Jeon M. Life-Sustaining Treatment Decision in Palliative Care Based on Electronic Health Records Analysis. J Clin Nurs 2023; 32:163-173. [PMID: 35023248 PMCID: PMC10078701 DOI: 10.1111/jocn.16206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Revised: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES This study sought to explore the present status of life-sustaining treatment decisions in a tertiary hospital to improve the life-sustaining treatment decision-making process. BACKGROUND Life-sustaining treatment decisions are crucial for palliative care because they encompass decisions to withdraw treatments when patients cannot articulate their values and preferences. However, surrogate decisions have settled many life-sustaining treatment cases in South Korea, and this trend is prevalent. DESIGN We conducted a retrospective, descriptive study employing a review of electronic health records. METHODS We extracted and analysed electronic health records of a tertiary hospital. Our inclusion criteria included adult patients who completed life-sustaining treatment forms in 2019. A total of 2,721 patients were included in the analysis. We analysed the decision-maker, the timing of the decision, and patients' health status a week before the decision. We followed the STROBE checklist. RESULTS Among 1,429 deceased patients, those whose families had made life-sustaining treatment decisions totalled 1,028 (70.6%). The median interval between life-sustaining treatment documentation completion to death was three days, more specifically, two days in the family decision group and 5.5 days in the patient decision group. As the decision day neared, there were marked changes in patients' vital signs and laboratory test results, and the need for nursing care increased. CONCLUSIONS Life-sustaining treatment decisions were made when death was imminent, suggesting that the time required to discuss end-of-life care was generally insufficient among patients, family, and healthcare professionals in Korea. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE Monitoring changes in laboratory test results and symptoms could help screen the patients who need the life-sustaining treatment discussion. As improving the quality of death is imperative in palliative care, institutional efforts, such as clinical ethics support services, are necessary to improve the life-sustaining treatment decision-making process for patients, families, and healthcare providers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanghee Kim
- College of Nursing and Mo-Im Kim Nursing Research Institute, Yonsei University, Republic of Korea
| | - Arum Lim
- College of Nursing and Mo-Im Kim Nursing Research Institute, Yonsei University, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyoeun Jang
- College of Nursing and Brain Korea 21 FOUR Project, Yonsei University, Republic of Korea
| | - Misun Jeon
- College of Nursing and Brain Korea 21 FOUR Project, Yonsei University, Republic of Korea
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Utsumi T, Yoshiike T, Kaneita Y, Aritake-Okada S, Matsui K, Nagao K, Saitoh K, Otsuki R, Shigeta M, Suzuki M, Kuriyama K. The association between subjective-objective discrepancies in sleep duration and mortality in older men. Sci Rep 2022; 12:18650. [PMID: 36333394 PMCID: PMC9636161 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-22065-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
A discrepancy in subjective and objective estimations of sleep duration, which often diverge, could have long-term adverse effects on health outcomes in older adults. Using data from 2674 older adult men (≥ 65 years of age) of the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men Sleep Study, we assessed the longitudinal association between misperception index (MI), calculated as MI = (objective sleep duration - subjective sleep duration)/objective sleep duration, and all-cause mortality. During the follow-up with a mean (standard deviation) of 10.8 (4.2) years, 1596 deaths were observed. As a continuous variable, MI showed a linear relationship with all-cause mortality after adjusting for multiple covariates, including polysomnography-measured objective sleep duration [fully adjusted hazard ratio (HR), 0.69; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.56-0.84]. As a categorical variable, the lowest MI quartile (vs. the interquartile MI range) was associated with increased mortality (fully adjusted HR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.12-1.46), whereas the highest MI quartile was not associated with mortality (fully adjusted HR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.85-1.11). The subjective overestimation of sleep duration may be a risk factor for all-cause mortality in older men. Future studies should examine why subjective overestimation of sleep duration is associated with all-cause mortality from a physiological perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomohiro Utsumi
- Department of Sleep-Wake Disorders, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1 Ogawa-Higashi, Kodaira, Tokyo, 187-8553, Japan
- Department of Psychiatry, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takuya Yoshiike
- Department of Sleep-Wake Disorders, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1 Ogawa-Higashi, Kodaira, Tokyo, 187-8553, Japan
| | - Yoshitaka Kaneita
- Department of Sleep-Wake Disorders, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1 Ogawa-Higashi, Kodaira, Tokyo, 187-8553, Japan
- Division of Public Health, Department of Social Medicine, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Sayaka Aritake-Okada
- Department of Sleep-Wake Disorders, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1 Ogawa-Higashi, Kodaira, Tokyo, 187-8553, Japan
- Department of Health Sciences, Saitama Prefectural University, Saitama, Japan
| | - Kentaro Matsui
- Department of Sleep-Wake Disorders, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1 Ogawa-Higashi, Kodaira, Tokyo, 187-8553, Japan
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, National Center Hospital, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kentaro Nagao
- Department of Sleep-Wake Disorders, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1 Ogawa-Higashi, Kodaira, Tokyo, 187-8553, Japan
- Department of Psychiatry, National Center Hospital, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kaori Saitoh
- Department of Sleep-Wake Disorders, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1 Ogawa-Higashi, Kodaira, Tokyo, 187-8553, Japan
- Department of Psychiatry, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Rei Otsuki
- Department of Sleep-Wake Disorders, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1 Ogawa-Higashi, Kodaira, Tokyo, 187-8553, Japan
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, National Center Hospital, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Psychiatry, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masahiro Shigeta
- Department of Psychiatry, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masahiro Suzuki
- Department of Sleep-Wake Disorders, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1 Ogawa-Higashi, Kodaira, Tokyo, 187-8553, Japan
- Department of Psychiatry, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kenichi Kuriyama
- Department of Sleep-Wake Disorders, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1 Ogawa-Higashi, Kodaira, Tokyo, 187-8553, Japan.
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A pilot study on the effect of advance care planning implementation on healthcare utilisation and satisfaction in patients with advanced heart failure. Neth Heart J 2022; 30:436-441. [PMID: 35727493 PMCID: PMC9402875 DOI: 10.1007/s12471-022-01705-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 10/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with advanced heart failure may benefit from palliative care, including advance care planning (ACP). ACP, which can include referral back to the general practitioner (GP), may prevent unbeneficial hospital admissions and interventional/surgical procedures that are not in accordance with the patient's personal goals of care. AIM To implement ACP in patients with advanced heart failure and explore the effect of ACP on healthcare utilisation as well as the satisfaction of patients and cardiologists. METHODS In this pilot study, we enrolled 30 patients with New York Heart Association class III/IV heart failure who had had at least one unplanned hospital admission in the previous year because of heart failure. A structured ACP conversation was held and documented by the treating physician. Primary outcome was the number of visits to the emergency department and/or admissions within 3 months after the ACP conversation. Secondary endpoints were the satisfaction of patients and cardiologists as established by using a five-point Likert scale. RESULTS Median age of the patients was 81 years (range 33-94). Twenty-seven ACP documents could be analysed (90%). Twenty-one patients (78%) did not want to be readmitted to the hospital and subsequently none of them were readmitted during follow-up. Twenty-two patients (81%) discontinued all hospital care. All patients who died during follow-up (n = 12, 40%) died at home. Most patients and cardiologists indicated that they would recommend the intervention to others (80% and 92% respectively). CONCLUSION ACP, and subsequent out-of-hospital care by the GP, was shown to be applicable in the present study of patients with advanced heart failure and evident palliative care needs. Patients and cardiologists were satisfied with this intervention.
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Mortality associated with nonrestorative short sleep or nonrestorative long time-in-bed in middle-aged and older adults. Sci Rep 2022; 12:189. [PMID: 34997027 PMCID: PMC8741976 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-03997-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Associations of sleep duration with human health could differ depending on whether sleep is restorative. Using data from 5804 participants of the Sleep Heart Health Study, we examined the longitudinal association of sleep restfulness combined with polysomnography-measured total sleep time (TST) or time in bed (TIB), representing different sleeping behaviors, with all-cause mortality. Among middle-aged adults, compared with restful intermediate TST quartile, the lowest TST quartile with feeling unrested was associated with higher mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 1.54; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01–2.33); the highest TST quartile with feeling rested was associated with lower mortality (HR, 0.55; 95% CI 0.32–0.97). Among older adults, the highest TIB quartile with feeling unrested was associated with higher mortality, compared with restful intermediate TIB quartile (HR, 1.57; 95% CI 1.23–2.01). Results suggest a role of restorative sleep in differentiating the effects of sleep duration on health outcomes in midlife and beyond.
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Vestergaard AHS, Christiansen CF, Neergaard MA, Valentin JB, Johnsen SP. Healthcare utilisation trajectories in patients dying from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart failure or cancer: a nationwide register-based cohort study. BMJ Open 2021; 11:e049661. [PMID: 34819282 PMCID: PMC8614146 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-049661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To investigate illness trajectories as reflected by healthcare utilisation, including hospital and intensive care unit admissions, consultations in general practice and home care provision, before death comparing people dying from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart failure and cancer. DESIGN Nationwide register-based cohort study. SETTING Data on all hospital admissions, including intensive care unit admissions, consultations in general practice and home care provision were obtained from nationwide Danish registries. PARTICIPANTS All adult decedents in Denmark dying from COPD, heart failure or cancer between 2006 and 2016. OUTCOME MEASURES For each day within 5 years before death, we computed a daily prevalence proportion (PP) of being admitted to hospital or consulting a general practitioner. For each day within 6 months before death, we computed PPs of being admitted to intensive care or receiving home care. The PPs were plotted and compared by regression analyses adjusting for age, gender, comorbidity level, marital/cohabitation status, municipality and income level. RESULTS Among 1 74 086 patients dying from COPD (n=22 648), heart failure (n=11 498) or cancer (n=139 940), the PPs of being admitted to hospital or consulting a general practitioner showed similar steady progression and steep increase in the last year of life for all patient populations. The PP of being admitted to intensive care showed modest increase during the last 6 months of life, accelerating in the last month, for all patient populations. For patients with COPD and heart failure, the PP of receiving home care remained stable during the last 6 months of life but increased steadily for patients with cancer. CONCLUSION We found limited differences in healthcare resource utilisation at the end of life for people with COPD, heart failure or cancer, indicating comparable illness trajectories.This supports the need to reconsider efforts in achieving equal access to palliative care interventions, which is still mainly offered to patients with cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Høy Seemann Vestergaard
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus N, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Christian Fynbo Christiansen
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus N, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | | | - Jan Brink Valentin
- Danish Center for Clinical Health Services Research, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg Ø, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg Ø, Denmark
| | - Søren Paaske Johnsen
- Danish Center for Clinical Health Services Research, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg Ø, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg Ø, Denmark
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Reinink H, Geurts M, Melis-Riemens C, Hollander A, Kappelle J, van der Worp B. Quality of dying after acute stroke. Eur Stroke J 2021; 6:268-275. [PMID: 34746423 PMCID: PMC8564161 DOI: 10.1177/23969873211041843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction There is a lack of evidence concerning the palliative needs of patients with
acute stroke during end-of-life care. We interviewed relatives of patients
who deceased in our stroke unit about the quality of dying and compared
their experiences with those of nurses. Patients and Methods Relatives of 59 patients were interviewed approximately 6 weeks after the
patient had died. The primary outcome was a score assessing the overall
quality of dying on a scale ranging from 0 to 10, with 0 representing the
worst quality and 10 the best quality. We investigated the frequency and
appreciation of specific aspects of the dying phase with an adapted version
of the Quality of Death and Dying Questionnaire. The nurse who was most
frequently involved in the end-of-life care of the patient completed a
similar questionnaire. Results Family members were generally satisfied with the quality of dying (median
overall score 8; interquartile range, 6–9) as well as with the care provided
by nurses (9; 8–10) and doctors (8; 7–9). Breathing difficulties were
frequently reported (by 46% of the relatives), but pain was not.
Unsatisfactory experiences were related to feeding (69% unsatisfactory),
inability to say goodbye to loved ones (51%), appearing not to have control
(47%), and not retaining a sense of dignity (41%). Two-thirds of the
relatives reported that palliative medication adequately resolved
discomfort. There was a good correlation between the experiences of
relatives and nurses. Discussion and Conclusion Most relatives were satisfied with the overall quality of dying. Negative
experiences concerned feeding problems, not being able to say goodbye to
loved ones, sense of self control and dignity, and breathing difficulties.
Experiences of nurses may be a reasonable and practical option when
evaluating the quality of dying in acute stroke patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hendrik Reinink
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Marjolein Geurts
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Department of Neurology Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Constance Melis-Riemens
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Annemarie Hollander
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jaap Kappelle
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Bart van der Worp
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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16
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Chiu CJ, Li ML, Chang CM, Wu CH, Tan MP. Disability trajectories prior to death for ten leading causes of death among middle-aged and older adults in Taiwan. BMC Geriatr 2021; 21:420. [PMID: 34246236 PMCID: PMC8272348 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-021-02300-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prolonged life expectancy is associated with increased prevalence of chronic diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the different disability trajectories for the top ten leading causes of death in Taiwan . METHODS A total of 2,431 participants aged 50-96 in 1996 from the Taiwan longitudinal study on aging (TLSA) who died from 1996 to 2016 were analyzed. Integration of Cause of Death Data and TLSA helped sort out participants who had died from the ten leading causes of death. The level of physical disability was evaluated with the Activities of Daily Living Scale (ADLs), ranging from 0 to 6 points, in 1996, 1999, 2003, 2007, and 2011. A multilevel model was used to investigate the levels and rates of change in disability development before death. RESULTS The outcome of the research showed that the earliest group to experience physical limitation was individuals living with diabetes. The groups with the highest ADL scores were participants with diabetes, cerebrovascular disease, and hypertension-related diseases. Most groups reach ADL scores ≥ 1 (mild-level) during 4-6 years before death except chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis and injury. CONCLUSIONS People who had died from the ten leading causes of death experienced different disability trajectories before death. The trajectory of the participants who had died from diabetes showed a unique pattern with the earliest occurrence and more severe deterioration in terms of development of disabilities. Disability trajectories provide a prediction of survival status for middle-aged and older adults associated with the ten leading causes of death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ching-Ju Chiu
- Institute of Gerontology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, No. 1 University Road, 701, Tainan, Taiwan.
| | - Meng-Ling Li
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
| | - Chia-Ming Chang
- Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Department of Internal Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan City, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Hsing Wu
- Institute of Gerontology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, No. 1 University Road, 701, Tainan, Taiwan
- Department of Family medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Maw Pin Tan
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Giannoula A, Centeno E, Mayer MA, Sanz F, Furlong LI. A system-level analysis of patient disease trajectories based on clinical, phenotypic and molecular similarities. Bioinformatics 2021; 37:1435-1443. [PMID: 33185649 DOI: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btaa964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2019] [Revised: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
MOTIVATION Incorporating the temporal dimension into multimorbidity studies has shown to be crucial for achieving a better understanding of the disease associations. Furthermore, due to the multifactorial nature of human disease, exploring disease associations from different perspectives can provide a holistic view to support the study of their aetiology. RESULTS In this work, a temporal systems-medicine approach is proposed for identifying time-dependent multimorbidity patterns from patient disease trajectories, by integrating data from electronic health records with genetic and phenotypic information. Specifically, the disease trajectories are clustered using an unsupervised algorithm based on dynamic time warping and three disease similarity metrics: clinical, genetic and phenotypic. An evaluation method is also presented for quantitatively assessing, in the different disease spaces, both the cluster homogeneity and the respective similarities between the associated diseases within individual trajectories. The latter can facilitate exploring the origin(s) in the identified disease patterns. The proposed integrative methodology can be applied to any longitudinal cohort and disease of interest. In this article, prostate cancer is selected as a use case of medical interest to demonstrate, for the first time, the identification of temporal disease multimorbidities in different disease spaces. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION https://gitlab.com/agiannoula/diseasetrajectories. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexia Giannoula
- Research Programme on Biomedical Informatics (GRIB), Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Department of Experimental and Health Sciences (DCEXS), Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Emilio Centeno
- Research Programme on Biomedical Informatics (GRIB), Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Department of Experimental and Health Sciences (DCEXS), Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Miguel-Angel Mayer
- Research Programme on Biomedical Informatics (GRIB), Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Department of Experimental and Health Sciences (DCEXS), Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ferran Sanz
- Research Programme on Biomedical Informatics (GRIB), Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Department of Experimental and Health Sciences (DCEXS), Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Laura I Furlong
- Research Programme on Biomedical Informatics (GRIB), Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Department of Experimental and Health Sciences (DCEXS), Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
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Teraoka E, Kunisawa S, Imanaka Y. Trajectories of end-of-life medical and long-term care expenditures for older adults in Japan: retrospective longitudinal study using a large-scale linked database of medical and long-term care claims. BMC Geriatr 2021; 21:403. [PMID: 34193081 PMCID: PMC8243899 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-021-02215-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND An accurate understanding of the current state of end-of-life care is important for healthcare planning. The objectives of this study were to examine the trajectories of end-of-life medical and long-term care expenditures and associated factors. METHODS This was a retrospective longitudinal study using a large-scale linked database of medical and long-term care claims-National Health Insurance, Advanced Elderly Medical Insurance, and long-term care insurance-covering Prefecture A in Japan. Patients aged ≥70 years who died between April 1, 2016, and March 31, 2017, were included (N = 16,084 patients; mean age = 85.1 ± 7.5 years; 7804 men (48.5%) and 8280 women (51.5%)). The outcome measures were medical expenditures (inpatient, outpatient, and prescription), long-term care expenditures, and total healthcare expenditures (the sum of medical and long-term care expenditures) during the 60 months before the date of death. We calculated each patient's monthly medical and long-term care expenditures for 60 months before the date of death and applied group-based trajectory modeling to identify distinct trajectories. Factors associated with spending trajectories were examined via multinomial logistic regression analyses. Explanatory variables included age, sex, diseases, and the medical services used. RESULTS We identified six distinct spending trajectories for the total healthcare expenditures: high persistent (45.6%), medium-to-high persistent (26.1%), early rise then high persistent (9.8%), late rise (6.4%), low persistent then very late rise (i.e., when spending starts increasing later than "late rise"; 6.4%), and progressive increase (5.7%). Factors associated with the high-persistent trajectory were chronic illnesses, various organ failures, neurodegenerative diseases, fractures, and tube feeding. The trajectory pattern of medical expenditures was similar to that of total healthcare expenditures; however, a different pattern was seen for long-term care expenditures. CONCLUSIONS Regarding combined medical and long-term care spending of the last 5 years, most patients belonged to a pattern in which the healthcare expenditures remained high, and a combination of multiple factors contributed to these patterns. This finding can offer healthcare providers a longer-term perspective on end-of-life care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emi Teraoka
- Department of Healthcare Economics and Quality Management, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Yoshida Konoe-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City, 606-8501, Japan
| | - Susumu Kunisawa
- Department of Healthcare Economics and Quality Management, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Yoshida Konoe-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City, 606-8501, Japan
| | - Yuichi Imanaka
- Department of Healthcare Economics and Quality Management, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Yoshida Konoe-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City, 606-8501, Japan.
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Owusuaa C, van Beelen I, van der Heide A, van der Rijt CCD. Physicians' views on the usefulness and feasibility of identifying and disclosing patients' last phase of life: a focus group study. BMJ Support Palliat Care 2021:bmjspcare-2020-002764. [PMID: 33619221 DOI: 10.1136/bmjspcare-2020-002764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2020] [Revised: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Accurate assessment that a patient is in the last phase of life is a prerequisite for timely initiation of palliative care in patients with a life-limiting disease, such as advanced cancer or advanced organ failure. Several palliative care quality standards recommend the surprise question (SQ) to identify those patients. Little is known about physicians' views on identifying and disclosing the last phase of life of patients with different illness trajectories. METHODS Data from two focus groups were analysed using thematic analysis with a phenomenological approach. RESULTS Fifteen medical specialists and general practitioners participated. Participants thought prediction of patients' last phase of life, i.e. expected death within 1 year, is important. They seemed to find that prediction is more difficult in patients with advanced organ failure compared with cancer. The SQ was considered a useful prognostic tool; its use is facilitated by its simplicity but hampered by its subjective character. The medical specialist was considered mainly responsible for prognosticating and gradually disclosing the last phase. Participants' reluctance to such disclosure was related to uncertainty around prognostication, concerns about depriving patients of hope, affecting the physician-patient relationship, or a lack of time or availability of palliative care services. CONCLUSIONS Physicians consider the assessment of patients' last phase of life important and support use of the SQ in patients with different illness trajectories. However, barriers in disclosing expected death are prognostic uncertainty, possible deprivation of hope, physician-patient relationship, and lack of time or palliative care services. Future studies should examine patients' preferences for those discussions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Owusuaa
- Medical Oncology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
| | - Irene van Beelen
- Medical Oncology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
| | - Agnes van der Heide
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
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Barnes-Harris M, Allingham S, Morgan D, Ferreira D, Johnson MJ, Eagar K, Currow D. Comparing functional decline and distress from symptoms in people with thoracic life-limiting illnesses: lung cancers and non-malignant end-stage respiratory diseases. Thorax 2021; 76:989-995. [PMID: 33593929 DOI: 10.1136/thoraxjnl-2020-216039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2020] [Revised: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Malignant and non-malignant respiratory diseases account for >4.6 million deaths annually worldwide. Despite similar symptom burdens, serious inequities in access to palliative care persists for people with non-malignant respiratory diseases. AIM To compare functional decline and symptom distress in advanced malignant and non-malignant lung diseases using consecutive, routinely collected, point-of-care national data. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS The Australian national Palliative Care Outcomes Collaboration collects functional status (Australia-modified Karnofsky Performance Status (AKPS)) and symptom distress (patient-reported 0-10 numerical rating scale) in inpatient and community settings. Five years of data used Joinpoint and weighted scatterplot smoothing. RESULTS In lung cancers (89 904 observations; 18 586 patients) and non-malignant end-stage respiratory diseases (14 827 observations; 4279 patients), age at death was significantly lower in people with lung cancer (73 years; IQR 65-81) than non-malignant end-stage respiratory diseases (81 years; IQR 73-87 years; p<0.001). Four months before death, median AKPS was 40 in lung cancers and 30 in non-malignant end-stage respiratory diseases (p<0.001). Functional decline was similar in the two groups and accelerated in the last month of life. People with non-malignant diseases accessed palliative care later.Pain-related distress was greater with cancer and breathing-related distress with non-malignant disease. Breathing-related distress increased towards death in malignant, but decreased in non-malignant disease. Distress from fatigue and poor sleep were similar for both. CONCLUSIONS In this large dataset unlike previous datasets, the pattern of functional decline was similar as was overall symptom burden. Timely access to palliative care should be based on needs not diagnoses.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Samuel Allingham
- Australian Health Services Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Deidre Morgan
- Research Centre for Palliative Care, Death and Dying, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Diana Ferreira
- Research Centre for Palliative Care, Death and Dying, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Miriam J Johnson
- Hull York Medical School, University of Hull, Hull, England.,Wolfson Palliative Care Research Centre, University of Hull, Hull, England
| | - Kathy Eagar
- Australian Health Services Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
| | - David Currow
- Wolfson Palliative Care Research Centre, University of Hull, Hull, England .,IMPACCT, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Sofronas M, Wright DK. Neuropalliative care: An integrative review of the nursing literature. Int J Nurs Stud 2021; 117:103879. [PMID: 33582395 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2021.103879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Revised: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the last few decades, research and clinical care have attempted to identify and meet the palliative care needs, concerns and challenges of patients of all ages with neurologic disease, under the newly defined subspecialty of neuropalliative care. However, the role of nurses in care organization and provision, as well as nursing priorities with regards to the needs and concerns of patients and families, have not been well articulated. The purpose of this review is to outline priorities in neuropalliative care nursing and examine what questions have been investigated to date. METHODS The integrative review approach was used to produce an analysis of existing nursing literature on neuropalliative care. As the broadest of research review methods, integrative review includes experimental and non-experimental research, as well as theoretical work, allowing us to engage with concepts and evidence from multiple perspectives. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Six themes of concern for nursing care and research were identified: (1) managing a heavy symptom burden, (2) unmet care needs, (3) the need for care pathways and protocols, (4) caregiver burden, (5) poor recognition of the dying, and (6) the impact of communication and cognition changes. An analysis and critique of the literature yielded the following recommendations for clinical and research priorities: (1) a paradigm shift in how neurologic disorders is perceived and managed, (2) redefining the scope of neuropalliative care and services, (3) understanding and addressing the needs of family members and caregivers and including them in assessments, care planning and provision; (4) having the difficult conversations and asking the right questions. CONCLUSIONS Nurses and nursing studies pay attention to things that matter to patients and their families. As the health professionals who spend the most time with patients and families at the bedside and in the community, nurses are well placed to build strong relationships, recognize needs and concerns, and recommend strategies and interventions to enhance comfort and alleviate suffering. In neuropalliative care nursing, this relational engagement becomes critical since patients experience changes to their cognition and communication as a result of disease progression. To enhance patient agency during a vulnerable time, methodologies to include patients who think and communicate differently in clinical care and research are urgently needed. Tweetable abstract: Neuropalliative nursing researchers call for better prognostication, recognition of the dying process, including patients in care decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianne Sofronas
- Doctoral Candidate and Faculty Lecturer, Ingram School of Nursing, McGill University, Nurse Clinician, Montreal Neurological Hospital, 1800-680 Sherbrooke Ouest, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2M7 Canada.
| | - David Kenneth Wright
- Associate Professor, School of Nursing, University of Ottawa, Roger Guindon Hall, Room 3247A, 451 Smyth Rd, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L1 Canada.
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Boyce-Fappiano D, Liao K, Miller C, Peterson SK, Elting LS, Guadagnolo BA. Greater preferences for death in hospital and mechanical ventilation at the end of life among non-whites recently diagnosed with cancer. Support Care Cancer 2021; 29:6555-6564. [PMID: 33913005 PMCID: PMC8081562 DOI: 10.1007/s00520-021-06226-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Non-white cancer patients receive more aggressive care at the end-of-life (EOL). This may indicate low quality EOL care if discordant with patient preferences. We investigated preferred potential place of death and preferences regarding use of mechanical ventilation in a cohort of Texas cancer patients. METHODS A population-based convenience sample of recently diagnosed cancer patients from the Texas Cancer Registry was surveyed using a multi-scale inventory between March 2018 and June 2020. Item responses to questions about preferences regarding location of death and mechanical ventilation were the outcome measures of this investigation. Inverse probability weighting analysis was used to construct multivariable logistic regression examining the associations of covariates. RESULTS Of the 1460 respondents, a majority (82%) preferred to die at home compared to 8% who preferred dying at the hospital. In total, 25% of respondents expressed a preference for undergoing mechanical ventilation at the EOL. Adjusted analysis showed increased preference among Black (OR = 1.81; 95% CI: 1.19-2.73) and other non-white, non-Hispanic race individuals (OR = 3.53; 95% CI: 1.99-6.27) for dying at a hospital. Males, married individuals, those of higher education and poor self-reported health showed significantly higher preference for dying at home. Non-white respondents of all races were more likely to prefer mechanical ventilation at the EOL as were individuals who lived with another person at home. CONCLUSION Non-white cancer patients were more likely to express preferences coinciding with aggressive EOL care including dying at the hospital and utilizing mechanical ventilation. These findings were independent of other sociodemographic characteristics, including decisional self-efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Boyce-Fappiano
- grid.240145.60000 0001 2291 4776Department of Radiation Oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd. Unit 97, Houston, TX 77030 USA
| | - Kaiping Liao
- grid.240145.60000 0001 2291 4776Department of Health Services Research, MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd. Unit 97, Houston, TX 77030 USA
| | - Christopher Miller
- grid.240145.60000 0001 2291 4776Department of Behavioral Science, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX USA
| | - Susan K. Peterson
- grid.240145.60000 0001 2291 4776Department of Behavioral Science, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX USA
| | - Linda S. Elting
- grid.240145.60000 0001 2291 4776Department of Health Services Research, MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd. Unit 97, Houston, TX 77030 USA
| | - B. Ashleigh Guadagnolo
- grid.240145.60000 0001 2291 4776Department of Radiation Oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd. Unit 97, Houston, TX 77030 USA ,grid.240145.60000 0001 2291 4776Department of Health Services Research, MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd. Unit 97, Houston, TX 77030 USA
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Gidwani R, Asch SM, Needleman J, Faricy-Anderson K, Boothroyd DB, Illarmo S, Lorenz KA, Patel MI, Hsin G, Ramchandran K, Wagner TH. End-of-Life Cost Trajectories in Cancer Patients Treated by Medicare versus the Veterans Health Administration. J Am Geriatr Soc 2020; 69:916-923. [PMID: 33368171 DOI: 10.1111/jgs.16941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Revised: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES To evaluate differences in end-of-life cost trajectories for cancer patients treated through Medicare versus by the Veterans Health Administration (VA). DESIGN A retrospective analysis of VA and Medicare administrative data from FY 2010 to 2014. We employed three-level generalized estimating equations to evaluate monthly cost trajectories experienced by patients in their last year of life, with patients nested within hospital referral region. SETTING Care received at VA facilities or by Medicare-reimbursed providers nationwide. PARTICIPANTS A total of 36,401 patients dying from cancer and dually enrolled in VA and Medicare. MEASUREMENTS We evaluated trajectories for total, inpatient, outpatient, and drug costs, using the last 12 months of life. Cost trajectories were prioritized as costs are not directly comparable across Medicare and VA. Patients were assigned to be VA-reliant, Medicare-reliant or Mixed-reliant based on their healthcare utilization in the last year of life. RESULTS All three groups experienced significantly different cost trajectories for total costs in the last year of life. Inpatient cost trajectories were significantly different between Medicare-reliant and VA-reliant patients, but did not differ between VA-reliant and Mixed-reliant patients. Outpatient and drug cost trajectories exhibited the inverse pattern: they were significantly different between VA-reliant and Mixed-reliant patients, but not between VA-reliant and Medicare-reliant patients. However, visual examination of cost trajectories revealed similar cost patterns in the last year of life among all three groups; there was a sharp rise in costs as patients approach death, largely due to inpatient care. CONCLUSION Despite substantially different financial incentives and organization, VA- and Medicare-treated patients exhibit similar patterns of increasing end-of-life costs, largely driven by inpatient costs. Both systems require improvement to ensure quality of end-of-life care is aligned with recommended practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Risha Gidwani
- Health Economics Resource Center, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California, USA.,Center for Innovation to Implementation, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California, USA.,Department of Health Policy and Management, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Steven M Asch
- Center for Innovation to Implementation, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California, USA.,Division of Primary Care and Population Health, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Jack Needleman
- Department of Health Policy and Management, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Katherine Faricy-Anderson
- Providence VA Medical Center, Providence, Rhode Island, USA.,Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Derek B Boothroyd
- Quantitative Sciences Unit, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Samantha Illarmo
- Health Economics Resource Center, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California, USA
| | - Karl A Lorenz
- Center for Innovation to Implementation, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California, USA.,Division of Primary Care and Population Health, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Manali I Patel
- Center for Health Policy/Center for Primary Care and Outcomes Research, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA.,VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California, USA.,Division of Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Gary Hsin
- Division of Primary Care and Population Health, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA.,VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California, USA
| | - Kavitha Ramchandran
- Division of Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Todd H Wagner
- Health Economics Resource Center, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California, USA.,Center for Innovation to Implementation, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California, USA.,Department of Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
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24
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Cha E, Kim J, Sohn MK, Lee BS, Jung SS, Lee S, Lee I. Perceptions on good-life, good-death, and advance care planning in Koreans with non-cancerous chronic diseases. J Adv Nurs 2020; 77:889-898. [PMID: 33222194 DOI: 10.1111/jan.14633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Revised: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
AIMS This study explored perceptions on a good-life, good-death, and advance care planning in Koreans with non-cancerous chronic diseases with the goal to develop a culture-specific advance care planning intervention in this population. DESIGN A qualitative descriptive design was used. METHODS Data collections were conducted between September 2017 - June 2018. Twenty-nine patients aged 41-82 years (85.8% men) participated in the interviews lasting 40-60 min. The verbatim transcriptions of the semi-structured interview data were analysed using conventional content analysis. RESULTS Good-life was described as 'present with physical and financial independence,' 'not burdensome to the family,' 'completed life responsibility', and 'helping others.' Some participants described good-death as 'prepared death' while others considered it as 'sudden death during sleep.' All participants wanted to have a painless death and not burden the family. Advance care planning was a new concept to many participants. It was likened to 'insurance.' Some participants believed that decision-making on life-sustaining treatment should be done by their family, not themselves, because of economic or emotional distress. Some participants wanted to discuss medical and non-medical care services to reduce the burden on self and family. CONCLUSION Family is key when it comes to the meaning of good-life and good-death. Cultural adaptation is necessary to meet the advance care planning needs of Koreans with non-cancerous chronic diseases. IMPACT Successfully implementing advance care planning in Koreans with non-cancerous chronic diseases depends on how it is adapted to the disease-specific characteristics compared with cancer, and the cultural norms and social context. Nurses need to be prepared to offer advance care planning to persons with non-cancerous chronic diseases based on a keen sense of and empathetic cultural competence.
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Affiliation(s)
- EunSeok Cha
- College of Nursing, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.,Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - JinShil Kim
- College of Nursing, Gachon University, Incheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Min Kyun Sohn
- College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Byung Seok Lee
- College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung Soo Jung
- College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - SoJung Lee
- Department of Nursing, Korean Bible University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Insil Lee
- College of Nursing, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
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Ornstein KA, Roth DL, Huang J, Levitan EB, Rhodes JD, Fabius CD, Safford MM, Sheehan OC. Evaluation of Racial Disparities in Hospice Use and End-of-Life Treatment Intensity in the REGARDS Cohort. JAMA Netw Open 2020; 3:e2014639. [PMID: 32833020 PMCID: PMC7445597 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.14639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2020] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Importance Although hospice use is increasing and patients in the US are increasingly dying at home, racial disparities in treatment intensity at the end of life, including hospice use, remain. Objective To examine differences between Black and White patients in end-of-life care in a population sample with well-characterized causes of death. Design, Setting, and Participants This study used data from the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study, an ongoing population-based cohort study with enrollment between January 25, 2003, and October 3, 2007, with linkage to Medicare claims data. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine racial and regional differences in end-of-life outcomes and in stroke mortality among 1212 participants with fee-for-service Medicare who died between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2015, owing to natural causes and excluding sudden death, with oversampling of Black individuals and residents of Southeastern states in the United States. Initial analyses were conducted in March 2019, and final primary analyses were conducted in February 2020. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcomes of interest were hospice use of 3 or more days in the last 6 months of life derived from Medicare claims files. Other outcomes included multiple hospitalizations, emergency department visits, and use of intensive procedures in the last 6 months of life. Cause of death was adjudicated by an expert panel of clinicians using death certificates, proxy interviews, autopsy reports, and medical records. Results The sample consisted of 1212 participants (630 men [52.0%]; 378 Black individuals [31.2%]; mean [SD] age at death, 81.0 [8.6] years) of 2542 total deaths. Black decedents were less likely than White decedents to use hospice for 3 or more days (132 of 378 [34.9%] vs 385 of 834 [46.2%]; P < .001). After stratification by cause of death, substantial racial differences in treatment intensity and service use were found among persons who died of cardiovascular disease but not among patients who died of cancer. In analyses adjusted for cause of death (dementia, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and other) and clinical and demographic variables, Black decedents were significantly less likely to use 3 or more days of hospice (odds ratio [OR], 0.72; 95% CI, 0.54-0.96) and were more likely to have multiple emergency department visits (OR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.01-1.80) and hospitalizations (OR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.02-1.89) and undergo intensive treatment (OR, 1.94; 95% CI, 1.40-2.70) in the last 6 months of life compared with White decedents. Conclusions and Relevance Despite the increase in the use of hospice care in recent decades, racial disparities in the use of hospice remain, especially for noncancer deaths. More research is required to better understand racial disparities in access to and quality of end-of-life care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine A. Ornstein
- Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - David L. Roth
- Center on Aging and Health, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Jin Huang
- Center on Aging and Health, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Emily B. Levitan
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health, Birmingham
| | - J. David Rhodes
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health, Birmingham
| | - Chanee D. Fabius
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Monika M. Safford
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York
| | - Orla C. Sheehan
- Center on Aging and Health, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
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Borgstrom E. What is a good death? A critical discourse policy analysis. BMJ Support Palliat Care 2020:bmjspcare-2019-002173. [PMID: 32631959 DOI: 10.1136/bmjspcare-2019-002173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2020] [Revised: 04/16/2020] [Accepted: 05/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The concept of a good death is a motivating factor for end of life care policy; this article examines what English end-of-life care (EOLC) policy defines as a good death. METHODS Critical discourse analysis of policy documents and policy-promoting materials published between 2008 and 2016. RESULTS Policy explicitly defines a good death as having the following attributes: being treated as an individual, with dignity and respect; being without pain and other symptoms; being in familiar surroundings and being in the company of close family and/or friends. Critical discourse analysis of 54 documents found that rather than just being an outcome or event, descriptions of what makes a death good also include many processes. A more extended definition includes: the person receives holistic EOLC; the dying person is treated with dignity and respect; the death is not sudden and unexpected; people are prepared and have ideally done some advance care planning; people are aware that someone is dying and openly discuss this; on knowing the dying person's preferences, all involved are to work towards achieving these; the place of death is important; the person's family are involved and the needs of the bereaved are considered. CONCLUSION This analysis indicates the complex nature of the current discourses around good death in EOLC policy, which often focuses on care rather than death. Policy should focus on outlining what quality end-of-life care looks like, rather than assume 'good death' is a suitable outcome statement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica Borgstrom
- School of Health, Wellbeing and Social Care, Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
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27
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Vestergaard AHS, Neergaard MA, Christiansen CF, Nielsen H, Lyngaa T, Laut KG, Johnsen SP. Hospitalisation at the end of life among cancer and non-cancer patients in Denmark: a nationwide register-based cohort study. BMJ Open 2020; 10:e033493. [PMID: 32595146 PMCID: PMC7322325 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-033493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES End-of-life hospitalisations may not be associated with improved quality of life. Studies indicate differences in end-of-life care for cancer and non-cancer patients; however, data on hospital utilisation are sparse. This study aimed to compare end-of-life hospitalisation and place of death among patients dying from cancer, heart failure or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). DESIGN A nationwide register-based cohort study. SETTING Data on all in-hospital admissions obtained from nationwide Danish medical registries. PARTICIPANTS All decedents dying from cancer, heart failure or COPD disease in Denmark between 2006 and 2015. OUTCOME MEASURES Data on all in-hospital admissions within 6 months and 30 days before death as well as place of death. Comparisons were made according to cause of death while adjusting for age, sex, comorbidity, partner status and residential region. RESULTS Among 154 235 decedents, the median total bed days in hospital within 6 months before death was 19 days for cancer patients, 10 days for patients with heart failure and 11 days for patients with COPD. Within 30 days before death, this was 9 days for cancer patients, and 6 days for patients with heart failure and COPD. Compared with cancer patients, the adjusted relative bed day use was 0.65 (95% CI, 0.63 to 0.68) for heart failure patients and 0.68 (95% CI, 0.66 to 0.69) for patients with COPD within 6 months before death. Correspondingly, this was 0.65 (95% CI, 0.63 to 0.68) and 0.70 (95% CI, 0.68 to 0.71) within 30 days before death.Patients had almost the same risk of dying in hospital independently of death cause (46.2% to 56.0%). CONCLUSION Patients with cancer, heart failure and COPD all spent considerable part of their end of life in hospital. Hospital use was highest among cancer patients; however, absolute differences were small.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Henrik Nielsen
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Thomas Lyngaa
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | | | - Søren Paaske Johnsen
- Danish Center for Clinical Health Services Research, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
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Coelho A, de Brito M, Teixeira P, Frade P, Barros L, Barbosa A. Family Caregivers' Anticipatory Grief: A Conceptual Framework for Understanding Its Multiple Challenges. QUALITATIVE HEALTH RESEARCH 2020; 30:693-703. [PMID: 31526106 DOI: 10.1177/1049732319873330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The end-of-life trajectory of cancer patients in palliative care (PC) elicits an anticipatory grief (AG) process in family caregivers (FCs). Although widely recognized, AG lacks conceptual clarification. This study aims to qualitatively explore the experience of FCs of patients with terminal cancer to identify the core characteristics and the specific adaptive challenges related to AG in the context of end-of-life caregiving. Data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews conducted in a clinical sample of 26 FCs of cancer patients in PC. Findings from thematic analysis suggest that the AG experience is characterized by traumatic distress from being exposed to life-threatening conditions and the separation distress induced by loss anticipation and current relational losses, challenging the FCs to long-term emotional regulation effort demands. These results contribute to the conceptualization of AG and may inform intervention programs for the main challenges the FCs face when adjusting to loss during end-of-life caregiving.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Coelho
- Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
- Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, EPE, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Maja de Brito
- Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Pedro Teixeira
- Escola de Medicina, Universidade do Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Pedro Frade
- Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
- Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, EPE, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Luísa Barros
- Faculdade de Psicologia, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - António Barbosa
- Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
- Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, EPE, Lisboa, Portugal
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Krikorian A, Maldonado C, Pastrana T. Patient's Perspectives on the Notion of a Good Death: A Systematic Review of the Literature. J Pain Symptom Manage 2020; 59:152-164. [PMID: 31404643 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2019.07.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2019] [Revised: 07/26/2019] [Accepted: 07/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT There is no clear definition of what constitutes a good death or its features. Patients, caregivers, physicians, and relatives have different notions of a good death. Discussions have been driven by academic perspectives, with little research available on the patients' perspectives. OBJECTIVES To explore the notions of a good death from the patients' perspective. METHODS A systematic literature search was conducted up to November 2017 using CINAHL®, MEDLINE®, EMBASE®, and PsycINFO® databases. Search terms used were "quality of death," "good death," "quality of dying," or "good dying." Scientific empirical studies that included the exploration of the notion of a good death in adult patients with advanced and life-threatening diseases were selected separately by two researchers. Hawker's et al. criteria were used to assess the quality of articles. The analysis was conducted using a thematic analysis. RESULTS Two thousand six hundred and fifty two titles were identified; after elimination of duplicates, screening, and final selection, 29 relevant publications remained for analysis. Sample populations included patients with terminal diseases (AIDS, cardiovascular disease, and cancer). Core elements for a "good death" included control of pain and symptoms, clear decision-making, feeling of closure, being seen and perceived as a person, preparation for death, and being still able to give something to others; whereas other factors such as culture, financial issues, religion, disease, age, and life circumstances were found to shape the concept across groups. Studies agree on the individuality of death and dying while revealing a diverse set of preferences, regarding not only particular attributes but also specific ways in which they contribute to a good death. CONCLUSIONS Although sharing common core elements, patients' notions of good death are individual, unique, and different. They are dynamic in nature, fluctuating within particular groups and during the actual process of dying. Formal and informal caregivers should carefully follow-up and respect the patient's individual concepts and preferences regarding death and dying, while attending to shared core elements, to better adjust clinical decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia Krikorian
- Group of Pain and Palliative Care, School of Health Sciences, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Medellín, Colombia.
| | - Camilo Maldonado
- Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Tania Pastrana
- Department of Palliative Medicine, Medical Faculty RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
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30
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Cagle JG, Lee J, Ornstein KA, Guralnik JM. Hospice Utilization in the United States: A Prospective Cohort Study Comparing Cancer and Noncancer Deaths. J Am Geriatr Soc 2019; 68:783-793. [DOI: 10.1111/jgs.16294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2019] [Revised: 10/24/2019] [Accepted: 11/20/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- John G. Cagle
- University of Maryland School of Social Work Baltimore Maryland
| | - Joonyup Lee
- University of Maryland School of Social Work Baltimore Maryland
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31
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Gidwani-Marszowski R, Asch SM, Mor V, Wagner TH, Faricy-Anderson K, Illarmo S, Hsin G, Patel MI, Ramchandran K, Lorenz KA, Needleman J. Health System and Beneficiary Costs Associated With Intensive End-of-Life Medical Services. JAMA Netw Open 2019; 2:e1912161. [PMID: 31560384 PMCID: PMC6777391 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.12161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Despite recommendations to reduce intensive medical treatment at the end of life, many patients with cancer continue to receive such services. OBJECTIVE To quantify expected beneficiary and health system costs incurred in association with receipt of intensive medical services in the last month of life. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This retrospective cohort study used data collected nationally from Medicare and the Veterans Health Administration for care provided in fiscal years 2010 to 2014. Participants were 48 937 adults aged 66 years or older who died of solid tumor and were continuously enrolled in fee-for-service Medicare and the Veterans Health Administration in the 12 months prior to death. The data were analyzed from February to August 2019. EXPOSURES American Society of Clinical Oncology metrics regarding medically intensive services provided in the last month of life, including hospital stay, intensive care unit stay, chemotherapy, 2 or more emergency department visits, or hospice for 3 or fewer days. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Costs in the last month of life associated with receipt of intensive medical services were evaluated for both beneficiaries and the health system. Costs were estimated from generalized linear models, adjusting for patient demographics and comorbidities and conditioning on geographic region. RESULTS Of 48 937 veterans who received care through the Veterans Health Administration and Medicare, most were white (90.8%) and male (98.9%). More than half (58.9%) received at least 1 medically intensive service in the last month of life. Patients who received no medically intensive service generated a mean (SD) health system cost of $7660 ($1793), whereas patients who received 1 or more medically intensive services generated a mean (SD) health system cost of $23 612 ($5528); thus, the additional financial consequence to the health care system for medically intensive services was $15 952 (95% CI, $15 676-$16 206; P < .001). The biggest contributor to these differences was $21 093 (95% CI, $20 364-$21 689) for intensive care unit stay, while the smallest contributor was $3460 (95% CI, $2927-$3880) for chemotherapy. Mean (SD) expected beneficiary costs for the last month of life were $133 ($50) for patients with no medically intensive service and $1257 ($408) for patients with at least 1 medically intensive service (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Given the low income of many elderly patients in the United States, the financial consequences of medically intensive services may be substantial. Costs of medically intensive services at the end of life, including patient financial consequences, should be considered by both physicians and families.
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Affiliation(s)
- Risha Gidwani-Marszowski
- Health Economics Resource Center, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Menlo Park, California
- Center for Innovation to Implementation, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Menlo Park, California
- Division of Primary Care and Population Health, Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | - Steven M. Asch
- Center for Innovation to Implementation, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Menlo Park, California
- Division of Primary Care and Population Health, Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | - Vincent Mor
- Department of Health Services, Policy, and Practice, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, Rhode Island
- Providence VA Medical Center, Providence, Rhode Island
| | - Todd H. Wagner
- Health Economics Resource Center, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Menlo Park, California
- Center for Innovation to Implementation, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Menlo Park, California
- Department of Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | - Katherine Faricy-Anderson
- Providence VA Medical Center, Providence, Rhode Island
- Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
| | - Samantha Illarmo
- Health Economics Resource Center, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Menlo Park, California
| | - Gary Hsin
- Division of Primary Care and Population Health, Stanford University, Stanford, California
- VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California
| | - Manali I. Patel
- VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California
- Division of Medical Oncology, Stanford University, Stanford, California
- Center for Health Policy/Center for Primary Care and Outcomes Research, Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | | | - Karl A. Lorenz
- Center for Innovation to Implementation, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Menlo Park, California
- Division of Primary Care and Population Health, Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | - Jack Needleman
- Department of Health Policy and Management, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles
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Kuo SC, Wen FH, Chen JS, Chou WC, Shen WC, Tang ST. Preloss Psychosocial Resources Predict Depressive Symptom Trajectories Among Terminally Ill Cancer Patients' Caregivers in Their First Two Years of Bereavement. J Pain Symptom Manage 2019; 58:29-38.e2. [PMID: 30999066 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2019.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2019] [Revised: 04/02/2019] [Accepted: 04/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT Postloss depressive symptom trajectories are heterogeneous and predicted by preloss psychosocial resources, but this evidence was from one old study on caregivers of patients with terminal cancer for whom these issues are highly relevant. OBJECTIVES To identify depressive symptom trajectories among cancer patients' bereaved caregivers and examine if they are predicted by preloss psychosocial resources while considering caregiving burden. METHODS Preloss psychosocial resources (sense of coherence and social support) were measured among 282 caregivers. Depressive symptoms were measured by the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scale at one, three, six, 13, 18, and 24 months after loss (Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scores ≥16 indicate severe depressive symptoms). Distinct depressive symptom trajectories and their predictors were identified by latent-class growth analysis. RESULTS We identified five depressive symptom trajectories (prevalence): endurance (47.2%), resilience (16.7%), transient reaction (20.2%), prolonged symptomatic (11.7%), and chronically distressed (4.2%). Over two years after loss, the endurance group never experienced severe depressive symptoms. Severe depressive symptoms lasted six, seven to 12, and 18 months for the resilience, transient-reaction, and prolonged-symptomatic groups, respectively. The chronically distressed group's severe depressive symptoms persisted. The endurance and chronically distressed groups had the best and weakest psychological resources, respectively. Endurance-group caregivers perceived the greatest social support, whereas the resilience and transient-reaction groups had higher social support than the prolonged-symptomatic group. CONCLUSIONS Most (84.1%) caregivers' depressive symptoms subsided within one year after loss. Preloss psychosocial resources predicted depressive symptom trajectories for bereaved caregivers. Health care professionals can help caregivers adjust their bereavement by providing support to enhance their sense of coherence and encouraging social contacts while they are providing end-of-life care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Su-Ching Kuo
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, Chang Gung University, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan; Department of Nursing, Yuanpei University of Medical Technology, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Fur-Hsing Wen
- Department of International Business, Soochow University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jen-Shi Chen
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Chi Chou
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Chi Shen
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan
| | - Siew Tzuh Tang
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan; Department of Nursing, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Kaohsiung, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; School of Nursing, Chang Gung University, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan.
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Besedovsky L, Lange T, Haack M. The Sleep-Immune Crosstalk in Health and Disease. Physiol Rev 2019; 99:1325-1380. [PMID: 30920354 PMCID: PMC6689741 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00010.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 636] [Impact Index Per Article: 127.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2018] [Revised: 10/29/2018] [Accepted: 10/29/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Sleep and immunity are bidirectionally linked. Immune system activation alters sleep, and sleep in turn affects the innate and adaptive arm of our body's defense system. Stimulation of the immune system by microbial challenges triggers an inflammatory response, which, depending on its magnitude and time course, can induce an increase in sleep duration and intensity, but also a disruption of sleep. Enhancement of sleep during an infection is assumed to feedback to the immune system to promote host defense. Indeed, sleep affects various immune parameters, is associated with a reduced infection risk, and can improve infection outcome and vaccination responses. The induction of a hormonal constellation that supports immune functions is one likely mechanism underlying the immune-supporting effects of sleep. In the absence of an infectious challenge, sleep appears to promote inflammatory homeostasis through effects on several inflammatory mediators, such as cytokines. This notion is supported by findings that prolonged sleep deficiency (e.g., short sleep duration, sleep disturbance) can lead to chronic, systemic low-grade inflammation and is associated with various diseases that have an inflammatory component, like diabetes, atherosclerosis, and neurodegeneration. Here, we review available data on this regulatory sleep-immune crosstalk, point out methodological challenges, and suggest questions open for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciana Besedovsky
- Institute of Medical Psychology and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Tübingen , Tübingen , Germany ; Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School , Boston, Massachusetts ; and Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University of Lübeck , Lübeck , Germany
| | - Tanja Lange
- Institute of Medical Psychology and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Tübingen , Tübingen , Germany ; Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School , Boston, Massachusetts ; and Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University of Lübeck , Lübeck , Germany
| | - Monika Haack
- Institute of Medical Psychology and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Tübingen , Tübingen , Germany ; Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School , Boston, Massachusetts ; and Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University of Lübeck , Lübeck , Germany
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Morgan DD, Tieman JJ, Allingham SF, Ekström MP, Connolly A, Currow DC. The trajectory of functional decline over the last 4 months of life in a palliative care population: A prospective, consecutive cohort study. Palliat Med 2019; 33:693-703. [PMID: 30916620 DOI: 10.1177/0269216319839024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding current patterns of functional decline will inform patient care and has health service and resource implications. AIM This prospective consecutive cohort study aims to map the shape of functional decline trajectories at the end of life by diagnosis. DESIGN Changes in functional status were measured using the Australia-modified Karnofsky Performance Status Scale. Segmented regression was used to identify time points prior to death associated with significant changes in the slope of functional decline for each diagnostic cohort. Sensitivity analyses explored the impact of severe symptoms and late referrals, age and sex. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS In all, 115 specialist palliative care services submit prospectively collected patient data to the national Palliative Care Outcomes Collaboration across Australia. Data on 55,954 patients who died in the care of these services between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2015 were included. RESULTS Two simplified functional decline trajectories were identified in the last 4 months of life. Trajectory 1 has an almost uniform slow decline until the last 14 days of life when function declines more rapidly. Trajectory 2 has a flatter more stable trajectory with greater functional impairment at 120 days before death, followed by a more rapid decline in the last 2 weeks of life. The most rapid rate of decline occurs in the last 2 weeks of life for all cohorts. CONCLUSIONS Two simplified trajectories of functional decline in the last 4 months of life were identified for five patient cohorts. Both trajectories present opportunities to plan for responsive healthcare that will support patients and families.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deidre D Morgan
- 1 Palliative and Supportive Services, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Jennifer J Tieman
- 1 Palliative and Supportive Services, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Samuel F Allingham
- 2 Palliative Care Outcomes Collaboration (PCOC), Australian Health Services Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Magnus P Ekström
- 3 Division of Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.,4 Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia
| | - Alanna Connolly
- 2 Palliative Care Outcomes Collaboration (PCOC), Australian Health Services Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - David C Currow
- 1 Palliative and Supportive Services, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia.,2 Palliative Care Outcomes Collaboration (PCOC), Australian Health Services Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia.,4 Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia
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Seto Nielsen L, Goldstein Z, Leung D, Lee C, Buick C. A Scoping Review of Undocumented Immigrants and Palliative Care: Implications for the Canadian Context. J Immigr Minor Health 2019; 21:1394-1405. [DOI: 10.1007/s10903-019-00882-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Skorstengaard MH, Jensen AB, Andreassen P, Brogaard T, Brendstrup E, Løkke A, Aagaard S, Wiggers H, Neergaard MA. Advance care planning and place of death, hospitalisation and actual place of death in lung, heart and cancer disease: a randomised controlled trial. BMJ Support Palliat Care 2019; 10:e37. [DOI: 10.1136/bmjspcare-2018-001677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2018] [Revised: 02/04/2019] [Accepted: 02/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
ObjectivesAdvance 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.MethodsThe study was designed as a randomised controlled trial. Patients were assessed using general and disease-specific criteria and randomised into groups: one received usual care and one received usual care plus ACP. The intervention consisted of a discussion between a healthcare professional, the patient and their relatives about preferences for end-of-life care. The discussion was documented in the hospital file.ResultsIn total, 205 patients were randomised, of which 111 died during follow-up. No significant differences in fulfilment of PPOD (35% vs 52%, p=0.221) or in amount of time spent in hospital among deceased patients (49% vs 23%, p=0.074) were found between groups. A significant difference in APOD was found favouring home death in the intervention group (17% vs 40%, p=0.013).ConclusionConcerning the primary outcome, fulfilment of PPOD, and the secondary outcome, time spent in hospital, no differences were found. A significant difference concerning APOD was found, as more patients in the intervention group died at home, compared with the usual care group.Trial registration numberNCT01944813.
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Downing M, Lau F, Lesperance M, Karlson N, Shaw J, Kuziemsky C, Bernard S, Hanson L, Olajide L, Head B, Ritchie C, Harrold J, Casareti D. Meta-analysis of Survival Prediction with Palliative Performance Scale. J Palliat Care 2019. [DOI: 10.1177/082585970702300402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Michael Downing
- Division of Palliative Care, University of British Columbia, and Victoria Hospice Society, Victoria
| | - Francis Lau
- School of Health Information Science, University of Victoria, Victoria
| | - Mary Lesperance
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Victoria, Victoria
| | | | - Jack Shaw
- School of Health Information Science, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Craig Kuziemsky
- School of Health Information Science, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Steve Bernard
- School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Laura Hanson
- School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Lola Olajide
- School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | | | | | - Joan Harrold
- Hospice of Lancaster County, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
| | - David Casareti
- Division of Geriatric Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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Currow DC, Burns CM, Abernethy AP. Place of Death for People with Noncancer and Cancer Illness in South Australia: A Population-Based Survey. J Palliat Care 2019. [DOI: 10.1177/082585970802400303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
A large representative population survey of 9,500 households reports the association between place of death, diagnosis (cancer vs. noncancer), and use of palliative care services of terminally ill South Australians. Thirty-one percent (1,920) indicated that someone close to them had died of a terminal illness in the preceding five years; 18% had died of noncancer illness and 82% of cancer. Sixty-two percent of deceased individuals accessed palliative care services. More patients with cancer than noncancer had had palliative care (65% vs. 48%; p<0.0001). Compared with cancer patients, those with noncancer illness had died in hospices less frequently (9% vs. 15%; p=0.0015) and in nursing homes more frequently (15% vs. 5%; p<0.0001). Similar proportions had died in hospital (60%) and at home (16%–20%). Palliative care service involvement did not reduce institutional deaths, but shifted them from hospital to hospice.
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Affiliation(s)
- David C. Currow
- Department of Palliative and Supportive Services, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia
| | - Catherine M. Burns
- Department of Palliative and Supportive Services, and Australian Centre for Community Services Research, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia
| | - Amy P. Abernethy
- Department of Palliative and Supportive Services, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia, and Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Centre, Durham, North Carolina, USA
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Maetens A, Beernaert K, Deliens L, Gielen B, Cohen J. Who finds the road to palliative home care support? A nationwide analysis on the use of supportive measures for palliative home care using linked administrative databases. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0213731. [PMID: 30861057 PMCID: PMC6414004 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0213731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2018] [Accepted: 02/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Many countries developed supportive measures for palliative home care, such as financial incentives or multidisciplinary palliative home care teams. For policy makers, it is important to evaluate the use of these national palliative home care supportive measures on a population level. Methods and findings Using routinely-collected data on all deaths in Belgium in 2012 (n = 107,847) we measured the use of four statutory supportive measures, specifically intended for patients who have obtained the legal palliative status, and three non-statutory supportive measures. Factors associated with uptake were analysed using multivariable logistic regression. Of all deaths of adult home-dwelling persons in Belgium (n = 87,007), 17.9 percent used at least one statutory supportive measure and 51.5 percent used at least one non-statutory supportive measure. In those who died of an illness indicative of palliative care needs 33.1 percent used at least one statutory supportive measure and 62.2 percent used at least one non-statutory supportive measure. Younger people and persons dying from cancer were more likely to use a statutory policy measure. Older people and persons dying from COPD were most likely to use a non-statutory policy measure. Women, non-single people, and those living in less urbanised areas were most likely to use any supportive measure. Conclusions Statutory supportive measures for palliative home care are underused, even in a subpopulation of persons with potential palliative care needs. Policy makers should stimulate an equitable uptake, and reducing the observed inequalities is an important focus for health care policy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arno Maetens
- Department of Family Medicine & Chronic Care, End-of-Life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) & Ghent University, Brussels, Belgium
- * E-mail:
| | - Kim Beernaert
- Department of Family Medicine & Chronic Care, End-of-Life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) & Ghent University, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Luc Deliens
- Department of Family Medicine & Chronic Care, End-of-Life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) & Ghent University, Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Birgit Gielen
- Intermutualistic Agency (IMA-AIM), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Joachim Cohen
- Department of Family Medicine & Chronic Care, End-of-Life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) & Ghent University, Brussels, Belgium
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40
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Wilson DM, Shen Y, Birch S. Who Are High Users of Hospitals in Canada? Findings From a Population-Based Study. Can J Nurs Res 2019; 51:245-254. [PMID: 30845831 DOI: 10.1177/0844562119833584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Dying people and older people have often been thought of as high users of hospitals, but current population-based evidence is needed to confirm or refute this claim. Purpose Quantitative population-based study designed to identify and describe hospital patients who are high users. Methods Data for all 2014–2015 Canadian hospital patients (excluding Quebec) were analyzed to identify and describe high users through descriptive-comparative and regression analysis tests. Results Only a small proportion of patients are high users in relation to multiple admissions or 30+ inpatient days of care, and with considerable diversity among them and relatively few of these advanced in age or dying in hospital. Conclusions Relatively few patients are high users of hospitals. These people are most often under age 65, so they have the potential to be ill and high users for many years. Flagging would enable individualized care planning to reduce illness exacerbations or slow disease progression and address other risk factors for long or repeat hospitalizations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donna M Wilson
- Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.,Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.,Faculty of Education & Health Sciences, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Ye Shen
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Stephen Birch
- Centre for the Business and Economics of Health, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
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Cha E, Lee J, Lee K, Hwang Y. Illness Experiences and Palliative Care Needs in Community Dwelling Persons with Cardiometabolic Diseases. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019. [DOI: 10.14475/kjhpc.2019.22.1.8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- EunSeok Cha
- Chungnam National University College of Nursing, Departments of Cardiology
| | - JaeHwan Lee
- Cardiology , Chungnam National University Hospital, Chungnam National University College of Medicine
| | - KangWook Lee
- Nephrology, Chungnam National University Hospital, Chungnam National University College of Medicine
| | - Yujin Hwang
- Department of Psychology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Korea
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Falck RS, Best JR, Davis JC, Eng JJ, Middleton LE, Hall PA, Liu-Ambrose T. Sleep and cognitive function in chronic stroke: a comparative cross-sectional study. Sleep 2019; 42:5364812. [DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsz040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2018] [Revised: 01/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ryan S Falck
- University of British Columbia, Faculty of Medicine, Aging, Mobility and Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health and Centre for Hip Health and Mobility, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - John R Best
- University of British Columbia, Faculty of Medicine, Aging, Mobility and Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health and Centre for Hip Health and Mobility, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Jennifer C Davis
- University of British Columbia-Okanagan Campus, Faculty of Management, Kelowna, BC, Canada
| | - Janice J Eng
- Department of Physical Therapy, University of British Columbia, Faculty of Medicine, Neurorehabilitation Research Program, GFS Rehabilitation Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Laura E Middleton
- Department of Kinesiology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - Peter A Hall
- University of Waterloo, School of Public Health and Health Systems, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - Teresa Liu-Ambrose
- University of British Columbia, Faculty of Medicine, Aging, Mobility and Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health and Centre for Hip Health and Mobility, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Gidwani-Marszowski R, Needleman J, Mor V, Faricy-Anderson K, Boothroyd DB, Hsin G, Wagner TH, Lorenz KA, Patel MI, Joyce VR, Murrell SS, Ramchandran K, Asch SM. Quality Of End-Of-Life Care Is Higher In The VA Compared To Care Paid For By Traditional Medicare. Health Aff (Millwood) 2019; 37:95-103. [PMID: 29309227 DOI: 10.1377/hlthaff.2017.0883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Congressional and Veterans Affairs (VA) leaders have recommended the VA become more of a purchaser than a provider of health care. Fee-for-service Medicare provides an example of how purchased care differs from the VA's directly provided care. Using established indicators of overly intensive end-of-life care, we compared the quality of care provided through the two systems to veterans dying of cancer in fiscal years 2010-14. The Medicare-reliant veterans were significantly more likely to receive high-intensity care, in the form of chemotherapy, hospital stays, admission to the intensive care unit, more days spent in the hospital, and death in the hospital. However, they were significantly less likely than VA-reliant patients to have multiple emergency department visits. Higher-intensity end-of-life care may be driven by financial incentives present in fee-for-service Medicare but not in the VA's integrated system. To avoid putting VA-reliant veterans at risk of receiving lower-quality care, VA care-purchasing programs should develop coordination and quality monitoring programs to guard against overly intensive end-of-life care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Risha Gidwani-Marszowski
- Risha Gidwani-Marszowski ( ) is a health economist in the Health Economics Resource Center and a core investigator in the Center for Innovation to Implementation, both at the Veterans Affairs (VA) Palo Alto Health Care System in Menlo Park, and a consulting assistant professor in the Division of Primary Care and Population Health, Stanford University, all in California
| | - Jack Needleman
- Jack Needleman is a professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles
| | - Vincent Mor
- Vincent Mor is a professor in the Department of Health Services, Policy, and Practice at the Brown University School of Public Health, in Providence, and a health scientist at the Providence VA Medical Center, both in Rhode Island
| | - Katherine Faricy-Anderson
- Katherine Faricy-Anderson is a medical oncologist at the Providence VA Medical Center and an assistant professor of medicine at the Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University
| | - Derek B Boothroyd
- Derek B. Boothroyd is a statistician in the Quantitative Sciences Unit, Department of Medicine, Stanford University
| | - Gary Hsin
- Gary Hsin is medical director of the Hospice and Palliative Care Center, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, and an affiliated clinical associate professor in the Division of Primary Care and Population Health, Stanford University
| | - Todd H Wagner
- Todd H. Wagner is director of the Health Economics Resource Center and associate director of the Center for Innovation to Implementation, both at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System, and an associate professor in the Department of Surgery, Stanford University
| | - Karl A Lorenz
- Karl A. Lorenz is an investigator in the Center for Innovation to Implementation, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, and a professor of medicine in the Division of Primary Care and Population Health, Stanford University
| | - Manali I Patel
- Manali I. Patel is an assistant professor in the Division of Oncology, affiliate faculty in the Center for Health Policy and the Center for Primary Care and Outcomes Research, all at Stanford University; and a staff oncologist at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System
| | - Vilija R Joyce
- Vilija R. Joyce is a research associate in the Health Economics Resource Center, VA Palo Alto Health Care System
| | - Samantha S Murrell
- Samantha S. Murrell is a research associate in the Health Economics Resource Center, VA Palo Alto Health Care System
| | - Kavitha Ramchandran
- Kavitha Ramchandran is a clinical assistant professor in the Division of Medical Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine
| | - Steven M Asch
- Steven M. Asch is director of the Center for Innovation to Implementation, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, and a professor in the Division of Primary Care and Population Health, Stanford University
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Timmons MJ, MacIver J, Alba AC, Tibbles A, Greenwood S, Ross HJ. Using Heart Failure Instruments to Determine when to Refer Heart Failure Patients to Palliative Care. J Palliat Care 2018. [DOI: 10.1177/082585971302900403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Aim: The purpose of this study was to determine whether the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) or the Palliative Performance Scale (PPS) are associated with traditionally used scores for heart failure patients — specifically, the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ), an overall health visual analog scale (VAS), and the Seattle Heart Failure Model (SHFM). Furthermore, we sought to determine whether the PPS or the ESAS provided additional information on quality of life, symptom severity, or prognosis above that provided by the traditional scores for patients with heart failure. Methods: We administered the ESAS, MLHFQ, VAS, PPS, and SHFM in a shuffled manner to 78 New York Heart Association Functional Classification (NYHA-FC) III-IV ambulatory heart failure patients. Pearson's r correlation was used to determine whether the scores from the ESAS and PPS correlated with the scores from the MLHFQ, VAS, and SHFM. Results: The sample was predominately male (62.8 percent), mean age 60.1 ± 13 years, with a diagnosis of idiopathic cardiomyopathy (45 percent). Moderate correlations were found between the ESAS and MLHFQ (r=0.483, p<0.01), the ESAS and VAS (r=-0.345, p<0.01), the PPS and MLHFQ (r=-0.54, p<0.01), and the PPS and VAS (r=0.53, p<0.01). There was no significant correlation between the PPS and SHFM. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that administration of the ESAS and PPS provides additional information on symptom severity and functional decline for patients with heart failure. Standardized administration of these scales may aid in the assessment and evaluation of heart failure patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J. Timmons
- HJ Ross (corresponding author): Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, University Health Network, 11C-1203-585 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 2N2
| | - Jane MacIver
- Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ana C. Alba
- Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Alana Tibbles
- Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sarah Greenwood
- Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Heather J. Ross
- Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Wilson DM, Cohen J, Birch S, MacLeod R, Mohankumar D, Armstrong P, Froggatt K, Francke AL, Low G, McCormack B, Hollis V, Williams A. “No One dies of Old Age”: Implications for Research, Practice, and Policy. J Palliat Care 2018. [DOI: 10.1177/082585971102700211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Donna M. Wilson
- DM Wilson (corresponding author) Faculty of Nursing, Third Floor Clinical Sciences Building, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2G3
| | - Joachim Cohen
- End-of-Life Care Research Group, Ghent University, and Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Stephen Birch
- Centre for Health Economics and Policy Analysis, Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Rod MacLeod
- Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, School of Population Health, University of Auckland, Auckland, and North Shore Hospice, Takapuna, New Zealand
| | - Deepthi Mohankumar
- Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, School of Population Health, University of Auckland, Auckland, and North Shore Hospice, Takapuna, New Zealand
| | - Paul Armstrong
- Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Katherine Froggatt
- Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Anneke L. Francke
- International Observatory on End of Life Care, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK; AL Francke: VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam (EMGO Institute), and Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Gail Low
- Institute of Nursing Research and School of Nursing, University of Ulster, Newtownabbey, County Antrim, Northern Ireland
| | - Brendan McCormack
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Vivien Hollis
- School of Geography and Earth Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Allison Williams
- School of Geography and Earth Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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O’Connor NR. Hospice Among Hemodialysis Patients: Too Little, Too Late to Impact Care Delivery or Costs? Am J Kidney Dis 2018; 72:903-905. [DOI: 10.1053/j.ajkd.2018.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2018] [Accepted: 06/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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Rajala K, Lehto JT, Sutinen E, Kautiainen H, Myllärniemi M, Saarto T. Marked deterioration in the quality of life of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis during the last two years of life. BMC Pulm Med 2018; 18:172. [PMID: 30458739 PMCID: PMC6247520 DOI: 10.1186/s12890-018-0738-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2018] [Accepted: 11/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic disease with a high symptom burden and poor survival that influences patients' health-related quality of life (HRQOL). We aimed to evaluate IPF patients' symptoms and HRQOL in a well-documented clinical cohort during their last two years of life. METHODS In April 2015, we sent the Modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale (MMRC), the modified Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) and a self-rating HRQOL questionnaire (RAND-36) to 300 IPF patients, of which 247 (82%) responded. Thereafter, follow-up questionnaires were sent every six months for two years. RESULTS Ninety-two patients died by August 2017. Among these patients, HRQOL was found to be considerably low already two years before death. The most prominent declines in HRQOL occurred in physical function, vitality, emotional role and social functioning (p < 0.001). The proportion of patients with MMRC scores ≥3 increased near death. Breathlessness and fatigue were the most severe symptoms. Symptom severity for the following symptoms increased significantly and reached the highest mean scores during the last six months of life (numeric rating scale/standard deviation): breathlessness (7.1/2.8), tiredness (7.0/2.3), dry mouth (6.0/3.0), cough (5.8/2.9), and pain with movement (5.0/3.5). CONCLUSIONS To our knowledge this is the first study demonstrating, that IPF patients experience remarkably low HRQOL already two years before death, especially regarding physical role. In addition, they suffer from severe breathlessness and fatigue. Furthermore, physical, social and emotional wellbeing deteriorate, and symptom burden increases near death. Regular symptom and HRQOL measurements are essential to assess palliative care needs in patients with IPF.
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Affiliation(s)
- K. Rajala
- Department of Palliative Care, Comprehensive Cancer Center,, Helsinki University Hospital, Paciuksenkatu 21, Po BOX 180, FI-00290 Helsinki, Finland
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - J. T. Lehto
- Department of Oncology, Palliative Care Unit, Tampere University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland
| | - E. Sutinen
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - H. Kautiainen
- Primary Health Care Unit, Kuopio University Hospital, Finland and Folkhälsan Research Center, Helsinki, Finland
| | - M. Myllärniemi
- University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Heart and Lung Center, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Helsinki, Finland
| | - T. Saarto
- Helsinki University Hospital, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Palliative Care and Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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48
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Chen X, Douglas CE, Preisser JS, Naorungroj S, Beck JD. Oral health trajectories in community-dwelling older adults in the last 3 years of life. SPECIAL CARE IN DENTISTRY 2018; 38:337-344. [PMID: 30203517 PMCID: PMC6246779 DOI: 10.1111/scd.12320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2018] [Revised: 07/17/2018] [Accepted: 07/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Systemic health and physical, cognitive, and social function gradually decline at the end of life. How oral health change at the end of life in community-dwelling older adults remains unknown, increasing the difficulty in treatment planning for these individuals. METHODS A total of 250 community-dwelling decedents of a longitudinal study were included in the analysis. Decedents' clinical and interview data collected at baseline, 18, 36, 60, and 84 months were linked to their death dates and plotted on an inverted time scale to study their oral health changes in the 3 years prior to death. Mixed effect models with random intercepts and slopes of months from death and sociodemographic variables were used to model the subjective and objective oral health trajectories in the last 3 years of life. The association of the change in the outcomes with a linear trend of months from death were assessed using the F-test. RESULTS Number of missing teeth was significantly associated with a linear trend of months from death. With every month in proximity to death, the expected number of missing teeth increased by 0.03 (SE = 0.004; p < 0.001), resulting in an average of 1.08 missing teeth in 3 years. Among subjective outcomes, the odds of good versus poor or "neither" self-rated systemic health (p = 0.009) and mouth appearance (p = 0.008) significantly decreased as death approached. CONCLUSION Although other oral health measures remained relatively stable, tooth loss and dissatisfaction with mouth appearance steadily increased in community-dwelling older adults as death approached. These changes were gradual and parallel the end-of-life general health decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Chen
- Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry, College of Dentistry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Christian E Douglas
- Center for Nursing Research, School of Nursing, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - John S Preisser
- Department of Biostatistics, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Supawadee Naorungroj
- Division of Operative Dentistry, Department of Conservative Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Thailand
| | - James D Beck
- Department of Dental Ecology, School of Dentistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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Walshe C, Preston N, Payne S, Dodd S, Perez Algorta G. Quality of Life Trends in People With and Without Cancer Referred to Volunteer-Provided Palliative Care Services (ELSA): A Longitudinal Study. J Pain Symptom Manage 2018; 56:689-698. [PMID: 30096440 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2018.07.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2018] [Revised: 07/30/2018] [Accepted: 07/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Trends in symptoms and functional ability are known toward the end of life, but less is understood about quality of life, particularly prospectively following service referral. OBJECTIVES This study compares quality of life trajectories of people with and without cancer, referred to volunteer-provided palliative care services. METHODS A secondary analysis of the ELSA trial (n = 85 people with cancer and n = 72 without cancer) was performed. Quality of life data (WHOQOL-BREF) were collected at baseline (referral), four weeks, eight weeks, and 12 weeks. Sociodemographic data were collected at baseline. We specified a series of joint models to estimate differences on quality of life trajectories between groups adjusting for participants who die earlier in the study. RESULTS People with cancer had a significantly better quality of life at referral to the volunteer-provided palliative care services than those with nonmalignant disease despite similar demographic characteristics (Cohen d's = 0.37 to 0.45). More people with cancer died during the period of the study. We observed significant differences in quality of life physical and environmental domain trajectories between groups (b = -2.35, CI -4.49, -0.21, and b = -4.11, CI -6.45, -1.76). People with cancer experienced a greater decline in quality of life than those with nonmalignant disease. CONCLUSION Referral triggers for those with and without cancer may be different. People with cancer can be expected to have a more rapid decline in quality of life from the point of service referral. This may indicate greater support needs, including from volunteer-provided palliative care services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Walshe
- The International Observatory on End of Life Care, Division of Health Research, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK.
| | - Nancy Preston
- The International Observatory on End of Life Care, Division of Health Research, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
| | - Sheila Payne
- The International Observatory on End of Life Care, Division of Health Research, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
| | - Steven Dodd
- The International Observatory on End of Life Care, Division of Health Research, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
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50
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Makaroun LK, Teno JM, Freedman VA, Kasper JD, Gozalo P, Mor V. Late Transitions and Bereaved Family Member Perceptions of Quality of End-of-Life Care. J Am Geriatr Soc 2018; 66:1730-1736. [PMID: 29972587 DOI: 10.1111/jgs.15455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2017] [Revised: 04/21/2018] [Accepted: 04/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To examine associations between healthcare transitions at the end of life (EOL; late transitions) and bereaved family members' and friends' assessment of EOL quality of care (QOC). DESIGN National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS), a prospective cohort of Medicare enrollees aged 65 and older. SETTING United States, all sites of death. PARTICIPANTS Family members and close friends of decedents from NHATS Rounds 2 through 6 (N=1,653; weighted 6.0 million Medicare deaths). MEASUREMENTS Multivariable logistic regression with survey weights was used to examine the association between having a late transition and reports of perceived unmet needs for symptom management, spiritual support, concerns with communication, and overall QOC. RESULTS Seventeen percent of decedents had a late transition. Bereaved respondents for decedents experiencing late transitions were more likely to report that the decedent was treated without respect (21.3% vs 15.6%; adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=1.59, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.09-2.33), had more unmet needs for spiritual support (67.4% v 55.2%; AOR=1.48, 95% CI=1.03-2.13), and were more likely to report they were not kept informed about the person's condition (31.0% vs 20.9%; AOR=1.54, 95% CI=1.07-2.23). Bereaved respondents were less likely to rate QOC as excellent when there was a late transition (43.6% vs 48.2%; AOR=0.79, 95% CI=0.58-1.06). Subgroup analyses of those experiencing a transition between a nursing home and hospital (13% of all late transitions) revealed such transitions to be associated with even worse QOC. CONCLUSION Transitions in the last 3 days of life are associated with more unmet needs, higher rate of concerns, and lower rating of QOC than when such late transitions are absent, especially when that transition is between a nursing home and hospital.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lena K Makaroun
- Health Services Research and Development, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Healthcare System, Seattle, Washington, Seattle, Washington.,Division of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Joan M Teno
- Provisional Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon.,Department of Health Services, Policy, and Practice, School of Public Health, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
| | - Vicki A Freedman
- Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Judith D Kasper
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Pedro Gozalo
- Department of Health Services, Policy, and Practice, School of Public Health, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.,Providence Veterans Administration Medical Center, Providence, Rhode Island
| | - Vincent Mor
- Department of Health Services, Policy, and Practice, School of Public Health, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.,Providence Veterans Administration Medical Center, Providence, Rhode Island
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