Patient perceptions of an outpatient palliative care intervention: "It had been on my mind before, but I did not know how to start talking about death..."

Framework for Considering Primary and Subspecialty Palliative Care and Guiding Serious Illness Communication for Patients With Breast Cancer

Palliative care is a comprehensive approach aimed at enhancing the quality of life of patients and their families living with serious illnesses such as breast cancer. This approach includes assessing and managing pain and other physical symptoms, attending to psychosocial and spiritual aspects of care, fostering effective communication and decision making, and providing support in coordinating care that upholds a person's values and preferences from the time of diagnosis throughout the illness trajectory. This type of care can be provided by palliative care specialists (ideally an interprofessional team) working alongside the oncology team, referred to as subspecialty palliative care. Conversely, the fundamental aspects of this approach, which we sometimes call primary palliative care, are provided by all clinicians caring for patients with breast cancer. Given that access to subspecialty palliative care can vary globally, especially in rural and resource-constrained settings, it is imperative for all oncology clinicians to receive training in the core components of palliative care. This study aims to provide a basic framework to recognize what the core primary palliative care skills are in routine oncology practice, to delineate basic serious illness communication strategies, and to introduce when to consider the integration of subspecialty palliative care into the care of patients with breast cancer.

Palliative care interventions in chronic respiratory diseases: A systematic review

INTRODUCTION

Chronic respiratory diseases represent a significant burden of disease globally, with high morbidity and mortality. Individuals living with these conditions, as well as their families, face considerable physical, emotional and social challenges. Palliative care might be a valuable approach to address their complex needs, but evidence to prove this is still scarce.

OBJECTIVES

This systematic review aimed to study the effectiveness of palliative care interventions in health-related outcomes (quality of life, symptom control, symptom burden, psychological well-being, advance care planning, use of health services, and survival) in chronic respiratory patients.

METHODS

Pubmed, Cochrane and Web of Science were searched for trials published in the last 10 years, comparing palliative care interventions to usual care, in patients with chronic respiratory diseases. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were followed.

RESULTS

Eight studies were included, seven randomized controlled trials and one cluster-controlled trial; the former with moderate risk of bias and the latter with high risk of bias. Findings revealed that palliative interventions improve breathlessness control and advance care planning. There were no significant differences for the other outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Palliative care appears to have a beneficial effect on breathlessness, one of the most distressing symptoms in patients suffering from chronic respiratory diseases and allows for advanced care planning. Additional research, with more robust trials, is needed to draw further conclusions about other health-related outcomes.

European Respiratory Society clinical practice guideline: palliative care for people with COPD or interstitial lung disease

There is increased awareness of palliative care needs in people with COPD or interstitial lung disease (ILD). This European Respiratory Society (ERS) task force aimed to provide recommendations for initiation and integration of palliative care into the respiratory care of adult people with COPD or ILD. The ERS task force consisted of 20 members, including representatives of people with COPD or ILD and informal caregivers. Eight questions were formulated, four in the Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome format. These were addressed with full systematic reviews and application of Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation for assessing the evidence. Four additional questions were addressed narratively. An "evidence-to-decision" framework was used to formulate recommendations. The following definition of palliative care for people with COPD or ILD was agreed. A holistic and multidisciplinary person-centred approach aiming to control symptoms and improve quality of life of people with serious health-related suffering because of COPD or ILD, and to support their informal caregivers. Recommendations were made regarding people with COPD or ILD and their informal caregivers: to consider palliative care when physical, psychological, social or existential needs are identified through holistic needs assessment; to offer palliative care interventions, including support for informal caregivers, in accordance with such needs; to offer advance care planning in accordance with preferences; and to integrate palliative care into routine COPD and ILD care. Recommendations should be reconsidered as new evidence becomes available.

Outpatient Palliative Care for Noncancer Illnesses: One Program's Experience with Implementation, Impact, and Lessons Learned

Background: Despite substantial palliative care (PC) needs in people with serious illnesses other than cancer, outpatient PC is less available to these populations. Objectives: Describe the experience, impact, and lessons learned from implementing an outpatient PC service (OPCS) for people with noncancer illnesses. Design: Observational cohort study. Setting/Subjects: Patients seen by an OPCS at a United States academic medical center October 2, 2017-March 31, 2021. Measurements: Patient demographics and clinical characteristics, care processes, rates of advance care planning (ACP), and health care utilization. Results: During the study period, 736 patients were seen. Mean age was 66.7 years, 47.7% were women, and 61.4% were White. Nearly half (44.9%) had a neurologic diagnosis, 19.2% pulmonary, and 11.0% cardiovascular. Patients were most often referred for symptoms other than pain (62.2%), ACP (60.2%), and support for patient/family (48.2%). Three-quarters (74.1%) of visits occurred by video. A PC physician, nurse, social worker, and spiritual care provider addressed nonpain symptoms (for 79.2%), family caregiver needs (70.0%), psychosocial distress (69.9%), ACP (68.8%), care coordination (66.8%), pain (38.2%), and spiritual concerns (27.8%). Rates of advance directives increased from 24.6% to 31.8% (p < 0.001) and Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment forms from 15.6% to 27.3% (p < 0.001). Of 214 patients who died, 61.7% used hospice, with median hospice length-of-stay >30 days. Comparing the six months before initiating PC to the six months after, hospitalizations decreased by 31.3% (p = 0.001) and hospital days decreased by 29.8% (p = 0.02). Conclusions: Outpatient PC for people with noncancer illnesses is feasible, addresses needs in multiple domains, and is associated with increased rates of ACP and decreased health care utilization. Controlled studies are warranted.

Implementation and Effectiveness of Integrating Palliative Care Into Ambulatory Care of Noncancer Serious Chronic Illness: Mixed Methods Review and Meta-Analysis

PURPOSE

To perform a mixed methods review to evaluate the effectiveness and implementation of models for integrating palliative care into ambulatory care for US adults with noncancer serious chronic illness.

METHODS

We searched 3 electronic databases from January 2000 to May 2020 and included qualitative, mixed methods studies and randomized and nonrandomized controlled trials. For each study, 2 reviewers abstracted data and independently assessed for quality. We conducted meta-analyses as appropriate and graded strength of evidence (SOE) for quantitative outcomes.

RESULTS

Quantitative analysis included 14 studies of 2,934 patients. Compared to usual care, models evaluated were not more effective for improving patient health-related quality of life (HRQOL) (standardized mean difference [SMD] of 4 of 8 studies, 0.19; 95% CI, ‒0.03 to 0.41) (SOE: moderate) or for patient depressive symptom scores (SMD of 3 of 9 studies, ‒0.09; 95% CI, ‒0.35 to 0.16) (SOE: moderate). Models might have little to no effect on patient satisfaction (SOE: low) but were more effective for increasing advance directive (AD) documentation (relative risk, 1.62; 95% CI, 1.35 to 1.94) (SOE: moderate). Qualitative analysis included 5 studies of 146 patients. Patient preferences for appropriate timing of palliative care varied; costs, additional visits, and travel were considered barriers to implementation.

CONCLUSION

Models might have little to no effect on decreasing overall symptom burden and were not more effective than usual care for improving HRQOL or depressive symptom scores but were more effective for increasing AD documentation. Additional research should focus on identifying and addressing characteristics and implementation factors critical to integrating models to improve ambulatory, patient-centered outcomes.

Effectiveness and implementation of palliative care interventions for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Although guidelines recommend palliative care for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, there is little evidence for the effectiveness of palliative care interventions for this patient group specifically.

AIM

To describe the characteristics of palliative care interventions for patients with COPD and their informal caregivers and review the available evidence on effectiveness and implementation outcomes.

DESIGN

Systematic review and narrative synthesis (PROSPERO CRD42017079962).

DATA SOURCES

Seven databases were searched for articles reporting on multi-component palliative care interventions for study populations containing ⩾30% patients with COPD. Quantitative as well as qualitative and mixed-method studies were included. Intervention characteristics, effect outcomes, implementation outcomes and barriers and facilitators for successful implementation were extracted and synthesized qualitatively.

RESULTS

Thirty-one articles reporting on twenty unique interventions were included. Only four interventions (20%) were evaluated in an adequately powered controlled trial. Most interventions comprised of longitudinal palliative care, including care coordination and comprehensive needs assessments. Results on effectiveness were mixed and inconclusive. The feasibility level varied and was context-dependent. Acceptability of the interventions was high; having someone to call for support and education about breathlessness were most valued characteristics. Most frequently named barriers were uncertainty about the timing of referral due to the unpredictable disease trajectory (referrers), time availability (providers) and accessibility (patients).

CONCLUSION

Little high-quality evidence is yet available on the effectiveness and implementation of palliative care interventions for patients with COPD. There is a need for well-conducted effectiveness studies and adequate process evaluations using standardized methodologies to create higher-level evidence and inform successful implementation.

Models of Palliative Care Delivery for Patients With Cancer

Palliative care has evolved over the past five decades as an interprofessional specialty to improve quality of life and quality of care for patients with cancer and their families. Existing evidence supports that timely involvement of specialist palliative care teams can enhance the care delivered by oncology teams. This review provides a state-of-the-science synopsis of the literature that supports each of the five clinical models of specialist palliative care delivery, including outpatient clinics, inpatient consultation teams, acute palliative care units, community-based palliative care, and hospice care. The roles of embedded clinics, nurse-led models, telehealth interventions, and primary palliative care also will be discussed. Outpatient clinics represent the key point of entry for timely access to palliative care. In this setting, patient care can be enhanced longitudinally through impeccable symptom management, monitoring, education, and advance care planning. Inpatient consultation teams provide expert symptom management and facilitate discharge planning for acutely symptomatic hospitalized patients. Patients with the highest level of distress and complexity may benefit from an admission to acute palliative care units. In contrast, community-based palliative care and hospice care are more appropriate for patients with a poor performance status and low to moderate symptom burden. Each of these five models of specialist palliative care serve a different patient population along the disease continuum and complement one another to provide comprehensive supportive care. Additional research is needed to define the standards for palliative care interventions and to refine the models to further improve access to quality palliative care.

A systematic review of the impact of outpatient clinical pharmacy services on medication-related outcomes in patients receiving anticancer therapies

BACKGROUND

Patients receiving anticancer therapies are frequently prescribed complex and high-risk medication regimens, which at times can result in medication misadventures. The objective of this review was to assess the effect of outpatient clinical pharmacy services on medication-related outcomes in patients receiving anticancer therapies, including patients undergoing radiotherapy.

METHODS

A systematic review of original publications indexed in EMBASE, MEDLINE and Cochrane Library from June 2007 to June 2017. Eligible studies evaluated outpatient pharmacy clinic services for cancer patients and reported at least one medication-related quantitative outcome measure. Two authors independently reviewed full-text articles for inclusion, then extracted data and performed quality and risk of bias assessments.

RESULTS

Of 908 identified publications, 13 met predefined eligibility criteria; 1 randomised control trial, 2 controlled cohort studies and 10 uncontrolled before-after studies. Many excluded studies described outpatient pharmacy services but lacked medication-related outcomes. All included studies had informative practice model designs, with interventions for drug-related problems including drug dose optimisation ( n = 8), reduced drug interaction ( n = 6) and adverse drug reaction reporting ( n = 3). Most studies ( n = 11) reported on symptom improvement, commonly nausea ( n = 7) and pain ( n = 5). Of four studies in radiotherapy cohorts, pharmacist involvement was associated with improved symptoms, satisfaction and wellbeing scores.

CONCLUSION

Few studies have objectively assessed outpatient pharmacy cancer services, even fewer in the radiotherapy settings. Although the results support these services, significant heterogeneity and bias in the study designs prohibit robust conclusions and further controlled trials are required.

Ethics of a therapeutic trial: addressing limitations of an active intervention in optic nerve lymphoma

We report a unique case of optic nerve lymphoma after completion of chemotherapy for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The uncommon nature of presentation, our therapeutic dilemma and the further course of treatment are reported. In cases with extremely poor prognosis, unnecessary treatment puts additional strain both financially and psychologically on the patients and their family. Therapeutic focus should be on hospice care and family counselling. The decision to not treat is a crucial component of cancer management; however, the ethics of this decision are yet to be suitably addressed by the literature.

Awareness and Misperceptions of Hospice and Palliative Care: A Population-Based Survey Study

BACKGROUND

Despite the documented benefits of palliative and hospice care on improving patients' quality of life, these services remain underutilized. Multiple factors limit the utilization of these services, including patients' and caregivers' lack of knowledge and misperceptions.

OBJECTIVES

To examine palliative and hospice care awareness, misperceptions, and receptivity among community-dwelling adults.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SUBJECTS

New York State residents ≥18 years old who participated in the 2016 Empire State Poll.

OUTCOMES MEASURED

Palliative and hospice care awareness, misperceptions, and receptivity.

RESULTS

Of the 800 participants, 664 (83%) and 216 (27%) provided a definition of hospice care and palliative care, respectively. Of those who defined hospice care, 399 (60%) associated it with end-of-life care, 89 (13.4%) mentioned it was comfort care, and 35 (5.3%) reported hospice care provides care to patients and families. Of those who defined palliative care (n = 216), 57 (26.4%) mentioned it provided symptom management to patients, 47 (21.9%) stated it was comfort care, and 19 (8.8%) reported it was applicable in any course of an illness. Of those who defined hospice or palliative care, 248 (37.3%) had a misperception about hospice care and 115 (53.2%) had a misperception about palliative care.

CONCLUSIONS

Most community-dwelling adults did not mention the major components of palliative and hospice care in their definitions, implying a low level of awareness of these services, and misinformation is common among community-dwelling adults. Palliative and hospice care education initiatives are needed to both increase awareness of and reduce misperceptions about these services.

Effect of a Whole-Person Model of Care on Patient Experience in Patients With Complex Chronic Illness in Late Life

Background:

Patients with serious chronic illness are at a greater risk of depersonalized, overmedicalized care as they move into later life. Existing intervention research on person-focused care for persons in this transitional period is limited.

Objective:

To test the effects of LifeCourse, a team-based, whole-person intervention emphasizing listening to and knowing patients, on patient experience at 6 months.

Design:

This is a quasi-experimental study with patients allocated to LifeCourse and comparison groups based on 2 geographic locations. Robust change-score regression models adjusted for baseline differences and confounding.

Setting/Participants:

Patients (113 intervention, 99 comparison in analyses) were individuals with heart failure or other serious chronic illness, cancer, or dementia who had visits to hospitals at a large multipractice health system in the United States Midwest.

Measurements:

Primary outcome was 6-month change in patient experience measured via a novel, validated 21-item patient experience tool developed specifically for this intervention. Covariates included demographics, comorbidity score, and primary diagnosis.

Results:

At 6 months, LifeCourse was associated with a moderate improvement in overall patient experience versus usual care. Individual domain subscales for care team, communication, and patient goals were not individually significant but trended positively in the direction of effect.

Conclusion:

Person-focused, team-based interventions can improve patient experience with care at a stage fraught with overmedicalization and many care needs. Improvement in patient experience in LifeCourse represents the sum effect of small improvements across different domains/aspects of care such as relationships with and work by the care team.

Integrating Palliative Care: A Postmodern Perspective

Hospice and palliative care philosophy is becoming increasingly incorporated into medical practice, education, and research. However, this process of integration may be hindered by continued adherence to several perceived conceptual dichotomies: natural and medicalized death, research and clinical care, and acceptance and denial of dying. These dichotomies were perhaps essential for the initial development of palliative care but could undermine the continuing evolution of care for the terminally ill. In this article, the authors deconstruct these dichotomies and advocate for a fully integrated model of palliative care.

Integration of a Clinical Pharmacist into an Interdisciplinary Palliative Care Outpatient Clinic

OBJECTIVES

The primary objective of this quality improvement (QI) project was to determine if the Interdisciplinary Palliative Care Outpatient Clinic (IPCOC) at the West Palm Beach Veterans Affairs Medical Center offered improved symptom assessment and palliative care treatment outcomes. Secondary objectives were to identify, classify, and resolve medication problems and calculate the number of pharmacist recommendations accepted by prescribing providers.

METHODS

An IPCOC was created by selecting disciplines for a core group including a nurse practitioner, clinical pharmacist, social worker, chaplain, and physician. Consult referrals were recruited by providing educational sessions. The patient assessments were completed using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System: (revised version; ESAS-R). The clinical pharmacist classified and resolved drug-related problems. The pharmacy resident telephoned veterans for completion of the "Patient Assessment: Overall Satisfaction with Outpatient Palliative Care Clinic."

RESULTS

Seventeen consults were received, 6 patients were excluded, and 11 were seen in clinic. One (9%) of 11 patients met the outcomes measure of system assessment documentation in the past year. At completion, 11 (100%) of 11 patients met the outcomes data measure. The Patient Satisfaction Assessment revealed veterans strongly agree to recommend the IPCOC. The clinical pharmacist identified 20 drug-related problems, made 16 recommendations, had a 93.7% implementation rate, and facilitated implementation of medication changes.

CONCLUSION

This QI project demonstrates that an IPCOC improved symptom assessment and palliative care outcomes in addition to resolution of medication prescribing issues in veterans with advanced cancer by integration of a clinical pharmacist into the core team.

Challenges in home-based palliative care in Norway: a qualitative study of spouses' experiences

INTRODUCTION

Issues around patients' preferred place of care and death are taking greater precedence of late. However, little is known about patients' and carers' experiences of palliative care in the home setting. This study explored carers' views of what determines the quality of home care at the end of life.

METHODS

The study made use of systems theory, the purpose of which is to obtain a broad understanding of a phenomenon by looking at the relations between its individual elements. Seven carers (spouses) of people who died having received home-based palliative care in three different municipalities in Norway were interviewed.

RESULTS

None of the participants had planned to give or receive palliative care in the home. However, they did not regret that the home had been the place of care. Factors deemed important to acheiving the best possible home-based palliative care included around-the-clock help, holistic care, and affirmation of the significance of the carer's role.

CONCLUSION

Health professionals should be more forthcoming in discussing the benefits and challenges of home-based palliative care and make greater acknowledgment of the carer's role. Treatment plans may be helpful in acheiving these goals.

Barriers and Facilitators to Scaling Up Outpatient Palliative Care

BACKGROUND

The Institute of Medicine recommends people with serious advanced illness have access to skilled palliative care. However, the predominant delivery model of nonhospice palliative care is inpatient, consultative care focused on the end of life, with a small specialist palliative care workforce.

OBJECTIVE

The study objective was to understand organizational factors that could influence the adoption and scale-up of outpatient palliative care in chronic advanced illness, using the example of heart failure.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional qualitative study. Participants were 17 health care providers and local, regional, and national health system leaders from the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) who were considering whether and how to adopt and sustain outpatient palliative care. Individual interviews using semistructured questions assessed domains of the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Science.

RESULTS

Most providers and leaders perceived outpatient palliative care as high priority in the VHA given its patient-centeredness and potential to decrease health care use and costs associated with conditions like heart failure. They also supported a collaborative care team model of outpatient palliative care delivery where a palliative care specialist collaborates with medical nurses and social workers. They reported lack of performance measures/incentives for patient-centered care processes and outcomes as a potential barrier to implementation. Features of outpatient palliative care viewed as important for successful adoption and scale-up included coordination and communication with other providers, ease of integration into existing programs, and evidence of improving quality of care while not substantially increasing overall health care costs.

CONCLUSION

Incentives such as performance measures and collaboration with local VHA providers and leaders could improve adoption and scale-up of outpatient palliative care.

Clinical impact of a home-based palliative care program: a hospice-private payer partnership

CONTEXT

Outpatient programs have been traditionally offered in the U.S. under programs such as the Medicare Hospice Benefit. Recommendations now emphasize a blended model in which palliative care is offered concurrently with curative approaches at the onset of serious or life-limiting disease. The efficacy of nonhospice outpatient palliative care programs is not well understood.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical impact of a home-based palliative care program, Home Connections, implemented as a partnership between a not-for-profit hospice and two private insurers.

METHODS

This was a prospective, observational, database study of 499 Home Connections participants enrolled between July 1, 2008, and May 31, 2013. Measured outcomes were advance directive completion, site of death, symptom severity over time, program satisfaction, and hospice referral and average length of stay.

RESULTS

Seventy-one percent of participants completed actionable advance directives after enrollment, and the site of death was home for 47% of those who died during or after participation in the program. Six of eight symptom domains (anxiety, appetite, dyspnea, well-being, depression, and nausea) showed improvement. Patients, caregivers, and physicians gave high program satisfaction scores (93%-96%). Home Connections participants who subsequently enrolled in hospice care had a longer average length of stay of 77.9 days compared with all other hospice referrals (average length of stay 56.5 days).

CONCLUSION

A home-based palliative care program was developed between two local commercial payers and a not-for-profit hospice. Not only did this program improve symptom management, advance directive completion, and satisfaction, but it also facilitated the transition of patients into hospice care, when appropriate.

Helping patients with serious illness live well through the promotion of adaptive coping: a report from the improving outpatient palliative care (IPAL-OP) initiative

Continuity outpatient palliative care practice is characterized by long relationships between patients, families, and palliative care clinicians and by periods of relative stability when the disease and resultant symptoms are less active. Compared to inpatient palliative care, outpatient practice requires a greater focus on encouraging healthy coping and on helping patients to live well with serious illness. This paper discusses the opportunities to promote adaptive coping in the delivery of outpatient palliative care.

Moving upstream: a review of the evidence of the impact of outpatient palliative care

BACKGROUND

There is good evidence for the efficacy of inpatient palliative care in improving clinical care, patient and provider satisfaction, quality of life, and health care utilization. However, the evidence for the efficacy of nonhospice outpatient palliative care is less well known and has not been comprehensively reviewed.

OBJECTIVE

To review and assess the evidence of the impact of outpatient palliative care.

METHODS

Our study was a review of published, peer-reviewed outcomes research, including both observational studies and controlled trials of nonhospice outpatient palliative care services. We assessed patient, family caregiver, and clinician satisfaction; clinical outcomes including symptom management, quality of life, and mortality; and heath care utilization outcomes including readmission rates, hospice use, and cost.

RESULTS

Four well-designed randomized interventions as well as a growing body of nonrandomized studies indicate that outpatient palliative care services can: 1) improve patient satisfaction, 2) improve symptom control and quality of life, 3) reduce health care utilization, and 4) lengthen survival in a population of lung cancer patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The available evidence supports the ongoing expansion of innovative outpatient palliative care service models throughout the care continuum to all patients with serious illness.

Understanding the experience of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who access specialist palliative care: a qualitative study

BACKGROUND

Palliative care for people with life-limiting non-malignant disease is increasingly prioritised. People with end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are among a key group of non-cancer patients likely to benefit from specialist palliative care, but it remains uncertain whether the needs of this group are met by existing services.

AIM

To evaluate the experiences of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who accessed specialist palliative care.

DESIGN

Data from semi-structured interviews were analysed using a hermeneutic phenomenological approach.

SETTING/PARTICIPANTS

Eight patients accessing specialist palliative care within one city in North West England.

RESULTS

Perceived benefits of specialist palliative care included reduced frequency of hospital admission, improved physical and psychological symptoms, reduced social isolation and a broadened physical environment. Participants were mainly aware of their poor prognosis, but discussion of referral to palliative care sometimes caused distress owing to the historical associations between dying and hospice care. Following engagement with services, participants' perceptions changed: palliative care was associated with social inclusion and opportunities to engage in reciprocal and altruistic social action. Negative associations were replaced by uncertainty and anxiety about the prospect of discharge.

CONCLUSIONS

Much within existing services works well for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, but opportunities to enhance palliative care for this underserved group remain. Future research might focus on prospectively evaluating the impact of key components of palliative care on core patient-centred outcomes. Additionally, work must be done to raise awareness of the benefits of specialist palliative care for non-cancer patients, as negative associations can form a barrier to access.

Family caregiver satisfaction with home-based nursing and physician care over the palliative care trajectory: results from a longitudinal survey questionnaire

BACKGROUND

A limited understanding of satisfaction with home-based palliative care currently exists.

AIM

This study measured family caregivers' satisfaction with home-based physician and nursing palliative care services, and explored predictors of satisfaction, across the palliative care trajectory.

DESIGN

A longitudinal, cohort design was used. Family caregivers were interviewed by telephone by-weekly from palliative care admission until death. Satisfaction was assessed using the Quality of End-of-Life care and Satisfaction with Treatment (QUEST) questionnaire. Multiple logistic regression models were used to determine the extent to which demographic, quality of care, and service related variables predicted satisfaction.

SETTING/PARTICIPANTS

Family caregivers (N=104) of palliative care patients.

RESULTS

Each of the nine quality of care parameters were consistently found to be significant predictors of overall satisfaction with palliative care.

CONCLUSIONS

The results may inform key health policy issues. Specifically, knowledge of how quality of care parameters predict family caregivers' satisfaction over the course of the palliative care trajectory may aid managers responsible for resource allocation and the determination of home care standards.

Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of home palliative care services for adults with advanced illness and their caregivers

BACKGROUND

Extensive evidence shows that well over 50% of people prefer to be cared for and to die at home provided circumstances allow choice. Despite best efforts and policies, one-third or less of all deaths take place at home in many countries of the world.

OBJECTIVES

1. To quantify the effect of home palliative care services for adult patients with advanced illness and their family caregivers on patients' odds of dying at home; 2. to examine the clinical effectiveness of home palliative care services on other outcomes for patients and their caregivers such as symptom control, quality of life, caregiver distress and satisfaction with care; 3. to compare the resource use and costs associated with these services; 4. to critically appraise and summarise the current evidence on cost-effectiveness.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched 12 electronic databases up to November 2012. We checked the reference lists of all included studies, 49 relevant systematic reviews, four key textbooks and recent conference abstracts. We contacted 17 experts and researchers for unpublished data.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs), controlled clinical trials (CCTs), controlled before and after studies (CBAs) and interrupted time series (ITSs) evaluating the impact of home palliative care services on outcomes for adults with advanced illness or their family caregivers, or both.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

One review author assessed the identified titles and abstracts. Two independent reviewers performed assessment of all potentially relevant studies, data extraction and assessment of methodological quality. We carried out meta-analysis where appropriate and calculated numbers needed to treat to benefit (NNTBs) for the primary outcome (death at home).

MAIN RESULTS

We identified 23 studies (16 RCTs, 6 of high quality), including 37,561 participants and 4042 family caregivers, largely with advanced cancer but also congestive heart failure (CHF), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), HIV/AIDS and multiple sclerosis (MS), among other conditions. Meta-analysis showed increased odds of dying at home (odds ratio (OR) 2.21, 95% CI 1.31 to 3.71; Z = 2.98, P value = 0.003; Chi(2) = 20.57, degrees of freedom (df) = 6, P value = 0.002; I(2) = 71%; NNTB 5, 95% CI 3 to 14 (seven trials with 1222 participants, three of high quality)). In addition, narrative synthesis showed evidence of small but statistically significant beneficial effects of home palliative care services compared to usual care on reducing symptom burden for patients (three trials, two of high quality, and one CBA with 2107 participants) and of no effect on caregiver grief (three RCTs, two of high quality, and one CBA with 2113 caregivers). Evidence on cost-effectiveness (six studies) is inconclusive.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

The results provide clear and reliable evidence that home palliative care increases the chance of dying at home and reduces symptom burden in particular for patients with cancer, without impacting on caregiver grief. This justifies providing home palliative care for patients who wish to die at home. More work is needed to study cost-effectiveness especially for people with non-malignant conditions, assessing place of death and appropriate outcomes that are sensitive to change and valid in these populations, and to compare different models of home palliative care, in powered studies.

Mapping hospice patients' perception and verbal communication of end-of-life needs: an exploratory mixed methods inquiry

BACKGROUND

Comprehensive "Total Pain" assessments of patients' end-of-life needs are critical for providing improved patient-clinician communication, assessing needs, and offering high quality palliative care. However, patients' needs-based research methodologies and findings remain highly diverse with their lack of consensus preventing optimum needs assessments and care planning. Mixed-methods is an underused yet robust "patient-based" approach for reported lived experiences to map both the incidence and prevalence of what patients perceive as important end of life needs.

METHODS

Findings often include methodological artifacts and their own selection bias. Moving beyond diverse findings therefore requires revisiting methodological choices. A mixed methods research cross-sectional design is therefore used to reduce limitations inherent in both qualitative and quantitative methodologies. Audio-taped phenomenological "thinking aloud" interviews of a purposive sample of 30 hospice patients are used to identify their vocabulary for communicating perceptions of end-of-life needs. Grounded theory procedures assisted by QSR-NVivo software is then used for discovering domains of needs embedded in the interview narratives. Summary findings are translated into quantified format for presentation and analytical purposes.

RESULTS

Findings from this mixed-methods feasibility study indicate patients' narratives represent 7 core domains of end-of-life needs. These are (1) time, (2) social, (3) physiological, (4) death and dying, (5) safety, (6) spirituality, (7) change & adaptation. The prevalence, rather than just the occurrence, of patients' reported needs provides further insight into their relative importance.

CONCLUSION

Patients' perceptions of end-of-life needs are multidimensional, often ambiguous and uncertain. Mixed methodology appears to hold considerable promise for unpacking both the occurrence and prevalence of cognitive structures represented by verbal encoding that constitute patients' narratives. Communication is a key currency for delivering optimal palliative care. Therefore understanding the domains of needs that emerge from patient-based vocabularies indicate potential for: (1) developing more comprehensive clinical-patient needs assessment tools; (2) improved patient-clinician communication; and (3) moving toward a theoretical model of human needs that can emerge at the end of life.

A qualitative study exploring perceptions and experiences of patients and clinicians of palliative medicine outpatient clinics in different settings

Palliative care exists in a variety of settings and palliative care teams form many guises within this. A Palliative Medicine Outpatient Clinic (PMOC) exists to meet the flexible provision of the needs and preferences of individuals within whatever care setting they reside. This explorative study used a qualitative methodology, capturing patients' actual experience of care in preference to their satisfaction, as this is a more accurate measure of how and what patients judge as important in their healthcare. The overall themes in this paper point to the 'value' that patients perceived from attending the PMOC and how important the clinics were to clinicians that provided the care. The clinic facilitates much more than symptom control and here lies the challenge in how we convert the very positive experience of individuals into a language of outcome measures that captures the 'essence' of our work in this fiscally driven health economy.

Discussions with physicians about hospice among patients with metastatic lung cancer

BACKGROUND

Many terminally ill patients enroll in hospice only in the final days before death or not at all. Discussing hospice with a health care provider could increase awareness of hospice and possibly result in earlier use.

METHODS

We used data on 1517 patients diagnosed as having stage IV lung cancer from a multiregional study. We estimated logistic regression models for the probability that a patient discussed hospice with a physician or other health care provider before an interview 4 to 7 months after diagnosis as reported by either the patient or surrogate or documented in the medical record.

RESULTS

Half (53%) of the patients had discussed hospice with a provider. Patients who were black, Hispanic, non-English speaking, married or living with a partner, Medicaid beneficiaries, or had received chemotherapy were less likely to have discussed hospice. Only 53% of individuals who died within 2 months after the interview had discussed hospice, and rates were lower among those who lived longer. Patients who reported that they expected to live less than 2 years had much higher rates of discussion than those expecting to live longer. Patients reporting the most severe pain or dyspnea were no more likely to have discussed hospice than those reporting less severe or no symptoms. A third of patients who reported discussing do-not-resuscitate preferences with a physician had also discussed hospice.

CONCLUSIONS

Many patients diagnosed as having metastatic lung cancer had not discussed hospice with a provider within 4 to 7 months after diagnosis. Increased communication with physicians could address patients' lack of awareness about hospice and misunderstandings about prognosis.

The role of chemotherapy at the end of life: "when is enough, enough?"

Patients face difficult decisions about chemotherapy near the end of life. Such treatment might prolong survival or reduce symptoms but cause adverse effects, prevent the patient from engaging in meaningful life review and preparing for death, and preclude entry into hospice. Palliative care and oncology clinicians should be logical partners in caring for patients with serious cancers for which symptom control, medically appropriate goal setting, and communication are paramount, but some studies have shown limited cooperation. We illustrate how clinicians involved in palliative care and oncology can more effectively work together with the story of Mr L, a previously healthy 56-year-old man, who wanted to survive his lung cancer at all costs. He lived 14 months with 3 types of chemotherapy, received chemotherapy just 6 days before his death, and resisted entering hospice until his prognosis and options were explicitly communicated. Approaches to communication about prognosis and treatment options and questions that patients may want to ask are discussed.

Characteristics, Findings, and Outcomes of Palliative Care Inpatient Consultations at a Comprehensive Cancer Center

PURPOSE

There is limited information available about the role and effect of a palliative care consultation service (mobile team, MT) in patient care. The purpose of this retrospective chart review was to determine the characteristics, findings, and outcomes of patients referred to MT in a comprehensive cancer center and to thereby gain information about its role in this setting.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study group was 61 consecutive patients assessed by one MT during 2-month period. We reviewed their charts for information about demographic and disease features, reasons for consultation, findings, interventions, and outcomes.

RESULTS

Patients were mainly referred by thoracic (n = 21; 34%), genitourinary (n = 10; 16%), and gynecology (n = 9; 15%) services. The majority of patients had metastatic disease (n = 56; 92%). Evaluation of pain was the main reason for the consultation (n = 47; 77%) followed by delirium (n = 10; 16%). The MT found a total of 449 symptoms (median 8 per patient), whereas the referring team had mentioned only 86 (1 symptom per patient) in their requests. Twenty patients (38%) screened positive for a history of alcoholism. The MT diagnosed delirium in 34 patients (56%) and frequently found features of opioid-induced side effects, such as sedation (n = 46; 75%), constipation (n = 43; 70%), and confusion (n = 34; 56%). Frequent MT interventions were: administration of neuroleptics (n = 33; 54%), opioid rotation (n = 30; 49%), and enema (n = 33; 54%). Seventeen patients (28%) showed symptoms improvement within 24 hours and 23 patients within 72 hours (38%). Twenty-five patients (41%) required transfer to the palliative care unit.

CONCLUSIONS

The MT had a positive impact on these patients' care in terms of clinical findings and outcomes. Further investigations are warranted.

Perceptions and utilization of palliative care services in acute care hospitals

OBJECTIVE

To understand perceptions of palliative care in acute care hospitals and identify barriers to earlier use of palliative care in the illness trajectory.

METHODS

In Pennsylvania hospitals, we completed semistructured interviews with 131 providers involved in decision making or discharge planning. We used qualitative methods to analyze transcripts.

RESULTS

Most interviewees characterized palliative care as end-of-life or hospice care that is initiated after the decision to limit curative treatment is made. Few recognized the role of palliative care in managing symptoms and addressing psychosocial needs of patients with chronic illnesses other than cancer. Interviewees viewed earlier and broader palliative care consultations less in terms of clinical benefits than in terms of cost savings accrued from shorter terminal hospitalizations. In general, they thought nurses were most likely to facilitate these consultations, surgeons were most likely to resist them, and intensive care specialists were most likely to view palliative care as within their own scope of practice. Suggestions for broadening palliative care utilization included providing education and training, improving financial reimbursement and sustainability for palliative care, and fostering a hospital culture that turns to high-intensity care only if it meets individual needs and goals of chronically ill patients.

CONCLUSIONS

In acute care hospitals, palliative care is primarily perceived as a means to limit life-sustaining treatment or allow death. Moving consultation earlier in the hospitalization of "dying" patients is a greater preoccupation than increasing palliative service use earlier in the illness trajectory. Any move short of far upstream will require palliative care specialists to market benefits to patients and referring providers in ways that emphasize compatibility with parallel treatment plans and do not threaten provider autonomy.

Promoting excellence in end-of-life care: a report on innovative models of palliative care

BACKGROUND

Promoting Excellence in End-of Life Care, a national program of The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, funded 22 demonstration projects representing a wide range of health care settings and patient populations to develop innovative models for delivering palliative care that addressed documented deficiencies in the care of patients and families facing the final stage of life.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the practicality (feasibility of development and operation as well as acceptance by stakeholders) of new models of care and to determine the impact of the models on access to, quality of and financing for palliative care.

DESIGN

The program cannot report scientifically rigorous outcomes, but the grant-funded projects used a variety of methods and measures to assess acceptance of new models and their impact from the perspectives of various stakeholders, including patients and their families, clinicians, administrators and payers. While it is not possible to aggregate data across projects, the data reported to the Promoting Excellence national program office were used to describe program impact with respect to the practicality of palliative care service integration into existing clinical care settings (feasibility and acceptance by stakeholders), the availability and use of palliative care services (access), quality of care (conformance to patient expectations and accepted clinical standards) and costs of care.

SETTINGS AND SUBJECTS

The 22 projects provided services in urban as well as rural settings, in integrated health systems, hospitals, outpatient clinics, cancer centers, nursing homes, renal dialysis clinics, inner city public health and safety net systems and prisons. Populations served included prison inmates, military veterans, renal dialysis patients, Native Americans, Native Alaskans, and African American patients, inner-city medically underserved patients, pediatric patients, and persons with serious mental illness patients.

RESULTS

Hosting or adopting institutions sustained or expanded twenty of the 22 models, and feedback from all stakeholders was positive. Project sites developed and utilized new palliative care services and addressed quality through implementation of new standards and clinical protocols. Costs of care, where they could be assessed, were unaffected or decreased for project patients versus historical or concurrent controls.

CONCLUSIONS

The 22 Promoting Excellence in End-of Life Care projects demonstrated that by individualizing patient and family assessment, effectively employing existing resources and aligning services with specific patient and family needs, it is possible to expand access to palliative services and improve quality of care in ways that are financially feasible and acceptable to patients, families, clinicians, administrators, and payers.

Ethnic differences in pain among outpatients with terminal and end-stage chronic illness

OBJECTIVE

To explore ethnic and country of origin differences in pain among outpatients with terminal and end-stage chronic illness.

DESIGN

Cohort study within a year-long trial of a palliative care consultation.

SETTING

Outpatient general medicine practice in an academic medical center.

PATIENTS

Ninety patients with advanced congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or cancer, and with a prognosis between 1 and 5 years.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Patients' report of pain using the Brief Pain Inventory and analgesic medications prescribed by primary care physicians. Differences in pain report and treatment were assessed at study entry, at 6 and 12 months.

RESULTS

The overall burden of pain was high. Patients of color reported more pain than white patients, including measures of least pain (P = 0.02), average pain (P = 0.05), and current pain (P = 0.03). No significant ethnic group differences in pain were found comparing Asian, black, and Latino patients. Although nearly all patients who were offered opioid analgesics reported using them, opioids were rarely prescribed to any patient. There were no differences in pain between patients born in the U.S. and immigrants.

CONCLUSIONS

Pain is common among outpatients with both terminal and end-stage chronic illness. There do not appear to be any differences in pain with regard to country of origin, but patients of color report more pain than white patients. Patients of all ethnicities are inadequately treated for their pain, and further study is warranted to explore the relative patient and physician contributions to the finding of unequal symptom burden and inadequate treatment effort.

A Community Needs Assessment for Palliative Care Services from a Hospice Organization

BACKGROUND

Palliative care is described as comprehensive care focused on preventing or relieving physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual suffering in patients with life-threatening illnesses. As national interest in increasing access to palliative care grows, hospice organizations may consider expanding their missions to provide palliative care to individuals with chronic and life-limiting illnesses who do not meet traditional hospice criteria. Before expanding operations, hospice organizations must know if there is need and support within the communities they serve.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to assess perceived need for palliative care services in a small metropolitan area in the Midwest served by a nonprofit community-based hospice organization.

DESIGN

A survey approach was used.

SETTINGS/SUBJECTS

Surveys were distributed to health care professionals and lay individuals in the community by mail or in person. A total of 576 surveys were distributed; 195 were completed and returned.

RESULTS

While the majority of professionals reported being comfortable providing palliative care, services were not perceived as widely available. Both health care professional and lay respondents knew someone who could benefit from palliative care services and believed it would be helpful to develop or increase palliative care for persons with chronic illnesses who are not yet terminally ill. A majority of professionals reported they were willing to refer patients for services, but were concerned that patients would be hesitant to accept such care from a hospice organization. Lay individuals indicated they would be willing to accept such services, particularly if insurance covered the cost.

CONCLUSIONS

Several issues need further exploration before hospice organizations expand their missions.