Research Priorities in Subspecialty Palliative Care: Policy Initiatives

Awareness, information sources, and beliefs regarding palliative care in the general population in Japan: a nationwide cross-sectional survey (INFORM study 2023)

BACKGROUND

The diversification of information sources and changes in social structures necessitates updates on the state of public awareness of palliative care. Therefore, we clarified the status and determinants of awareness, information sources, and beliefs, regarding palliative care in Japan.

METHODS

This nationwide cross-sectional survey included 10 000 participants aged ≥20 years enrolled through random sampling using a two-stage stratification in 2023. We used a mailed self-administered questionnaire (INFORM Study 2023). The questionnaire items were selected (partially modified) from the Health Information National Trends Survey (USA) to ensure comparability, included palliative care awareness, information sources, and beliefs. Weighted logistic regression was conducted to explore the determinants of awareness.

RESULTS

Of the 3452 participants that responded (response rate: 35.3%), 65.2% had palliative care awareness. The weighted logistic regression analysis revealed that respondents less likely to have any palliative care awareness were younger, were male, had limited education history, had lower household income, and were non-Internet users. Of these, sex had the clear association (adjusted odds ratio for female vs. male: 3.20 [95% CI: 2.66-3.85]). Across all age groups, healthcare professionals (58.5%) and the Internet (30.5%) were the most trusted source of information. Younger participants frequently received information online. Most participants believed that palliative care was beneficial, although 82.0% associated it with death.

CONCLUSIONS

The Japanese population had a relatively high palliative care awareness, with the majority trusting information from healthcare professionals rather than the Internet. Further efforts are warranted to address barriers to receiving trustworthy palliative care information.

Navigating end-of-life decision-making in nursing: a systematic review of ethical challenges and palliative care practices

OBJECTIVES

This systematic review aimed to synthesize evidence on the ethical dilemma's nurses encounter in end-of-life care and effective palliative care practices. The objectives were to understand key ethical issues, evaluate communication and decision-making strategies, and identify approaches to support nurses and patients.

METHODS

A comprehensive search of major databases was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. Studies directly relating to nursing ethics, challenges in end-of-life decision-making, and palliative care practices were included. The risk of bias was assessed using ROBVIS-II. Data on ethical issues, palliative interventions, and outcomes was extracted and analyzed thematically.

RESULTS

22 studies met the inclusion criteria. Key themes that emerged were: (1) Effective communication and involving patients in decision-making are essential but complex. (2) Nurses face dilemmas around balancing autonomy, beneficence and relational issues. (3) Integrating palliative care principles enhances symptom management and aligns care with patient values. (4) Education and organizational support are needed to equip nurses with skills and coping strategies.

CONCLUSION

Navigating end-of-life care requires addressing interconnected ethical, communication and support needs. While studies provided insights, further research is required on cultural competence training, standardized education programs and longitudinal evaluations.

What Are the Priorities in Surgical Palliative Care Research?

In the 20 years since the American College of Surgeons outlined the first research agenda for surgical palliative care, there has been immense growth in the evidence. In this article, we briefly review the state of the science and priority research areas in surgical palliative care.

Development of a national health policy logic model to accelerate the integration of oncology and palliative care: a nationwide Delphi survey in Japan

BACKGROUND

Despite recommendations to deliver palliative care to cancer patients and their caregivers, their distress has not been alleviated satisfactorily. National health policies play a pivotal role in achieving a comprehensive range of quality palliative care delivery for the public. However, there is no standardised logic model to appraise the efficacy of these policies. This study aimed to develop a logic model of a national health policy to deliver cancer palliative care and to reach consensus towards specific policy proposals.

METHODS

A draft version of the logic model and specific policy proposals were formulated by the research team and the internal expert panel, and the independent external expert panel evaluated the policy proposals based on the Delphi survey to reach consensus.

RESULTS

The logic model was divided into three major conceptual categories: 'care-delivery at cancer hospitals', 'community care coordination', and 'social awareness of palliative care'. There were 18 and 45 major and minor policy proposals, which were categorised into four groups: requirement of government-designated cancer hospitals; financial support; Basic Plan to Promote Cancer Control Programs; and others. These policy proposals were independently evaluated by 64 external experts and the first to third Delphi round response rates were 96.9-98.4%. Finally, 47 policy proposals reached consensus. The priority of each proposal was evaluated within the four policy groups.

CONCLUSIONS

A national health policy logic model was developed to accelerate the provision of cancer palliative care. Further research is warranted to verify the study design to investigate the efficacy of the logic model.

The Association Between Hospital End-of-Life Care Quality and the Care Received Among Patients With Heart Failure

CONTEXT

Improving end-of-life care (EOLC) quality among heart failure patients is imperative. Data are limited as to the hospital processes of care that facilitate this goal.

OBJECTIVES

To determine associations between hospital-level EOLC quality ratings and the EOLC delivered to heart failure patients.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of the Veterans Health Administration (VA) and the Bereaved Family Survey data of heart failure patients from 2013 to 2015 who died in 107 VA hospitals. We calculated hospital-level observed-to-expected casemix-adjusted ratios of family reported excellent EOLC, dividing hospitals into quintiles. Using logistic regression, we examined associations between quintiles and palliative care consultation, receipt of chaplain and bereavement services, inpatient hospice, and intensive care unit death.

RESULTS

Of 6256 patients, mean age was 77.4 (SD = 11.1), 98.3% were male, 75.7% were white, and 18.2% were black. Median hospital scores of "excellent" EOLC ranged from 41.3% (interquartile range 37.0%-44.8%) in the lowest quintile to 76.4% (interquartile range 72.9%-80.3%) in the highest quintile. Patients who died in hospitals in the highest quintile, relative to the lowest, were slightly although not significantly more likely to receive a palliative care consultation (adjusted proportions 57.6% vs. 51.2%; P = 0.32) but were more likely to receive chaplaincy (92.6% vs. 81.2%), bereavement (86.0% vs. 72.2%), and hospice (59.7% vs. 35.9%) and were less likely to die in the intensive care unit (15.9% vs. 31.0%; P < 0.05 for all).

CONCLUSION

Patients with heart failure who die in VA hospitals with higher overall EOLC quality receive more supportive EOLC. Research is needed that integrates care processes and develops scalable best practices in EOLC across health care systems.

National trends in palliative care use among older adults with cardiopulmonary and malignant conditions

BACKGROUND

Palliative care consultation (PCC) is recommended for older adults hospitalized with cardiopulmonary conditions, but frequently is reserved for patients with malignant conditions and those with advanced age.

OBJECTIVES

To compare age-adjusted PCC trends and the relationship between increasing age and PCC among older adults with cardiopulmonary and malignant conditions.

METHODS

Observational analysis of patients age ≥ 65 years, stratified by age and cardiopulmonary (heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) vs. malignant (lung and gastrointestinal) conditions. Age-adjusted PCC trends over time and compound annual growth rates (CAGR) were compared.

RESULTS

Discharges with cardiopulmonary vs. malignant conditions were older, more likely to be female, and white. Relative to malignant conditions, discharges with cardiopulmonary conditions had lower age-adjusted PCC rates but higher CAGRS. Increasing age was associated with PCC in both groups but had a stronger effect among cardiopulmonary conditions.

CONCLUSIONS

Older adults with cardiopulmonary conditions experienced lower rates of PCC, but higher rates of growth over time relative to those with malignant conditions.

Lower Extremity Amputation and Health Care Utilization in the Last Year of Life among Medicare Beneficiaries with ESRD

BACKGROUND

Lower extremity amputation is common among patients with ESRD, and often portends a poor prognosis. However, little is known about end-of-life care among patients with ESRD who undergo amputation.

METHODS

We conducted a mortality follow-back study of Medicare beneficiaries with ESRD who died in 2002 through 2014 to analyze patterns of lower extremity amputation in the last year of life compared with a parallel cohort of beneficiaries without ESRD. We also examined the relationship between amputation and end-of-life care among the patients with ESRD.

RESULTS

Overall, 8% of 754,777 beneficiaries with ESRD underwent at least one lower extremity amputation in their last year of life compared with 1% of 958,412 beneficiaries without ESRD. Adjusted analyses of patients with ESRD showed that those who had undergone lower extremity amputation were substantially more likely than those who had not to have been admitted to-and to have had prolonged stays in-acute and subacute care settings during their final year of life. Amputation was also associated with a greater likelihood of dying in the hospital, dialysis discontinuation before death, and less time receiving hospice services.

CONCLUSIONS

Nearly one in ten patients with ESRD undergoes lower extremity amputation in their last year of life. These patients have prolonged stays in acute and subacute health care settings and appear to have limited access to hospice services. These findings likely signal unmet palliative care needs among seriously ill patients with ESRD who undergo amputation as well as opportunities to improve their care.

Association between the Availability of Hospital-based Palliative Care and Treatment Intensity for Critically Ill Patients

RATIONALE

In the intensive care unit (ICU), studies involving specialized palliative care services have shown decreases in the use of nonbeneficial life-sustaining therapies and ICU length of stay for patients. However, whether widespread availability of hospital-based palliative care is associated with less frequent use of high intensity care is unknown.

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether availability of hospital-based palliative care is associated with decreased markers of treatment intensity for ICU patients.

METHODS

Retrospective cohort study of adult ICU patients in New York State hospitals, 2008-2014. Multilevel regression was used to assess the relationship between availability of hospital-based palliative care during the year of admission and hospital length of stay, use of mechanical ventilation, dialysis and artificial nutrition, placement of a tracheostomy or gastrostomy tube, days in ICU and discharge to hospice.

RESULTS

Of 1,025,503 ICU patients in 151 hospitals, 814,794 (79.5%) received care in a hospital with a palliative care program. Hospital length of stay was similar for patients in hospitals with and without palliative care programs (6 d [interquartile range, 3-12] vs. 6 d [interquartile range, 3-11]; adjusted rate ratio, 1.04 [95% confidence interval 1.03-1.05]; P < 0.001), as were other healthcare use outcomes. However, patients in hospitals with palliative care programs were 46% more likely to be discharged to hospice than those in hospitals without palliative care programs (1.7% vs. 1.4%; adjusted odds ratio, 1.46 [95% confidence interval 1.30-1.64]; P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The availability of hospital-based palliative care was not associated with differences in in-hospital treatment intensity, but it was associated with significantly increased hospice use for ICU patients. Currently, the measurable benefit of palliative care programs for critically ill patients may be the increased use of hospice facilities, as opposed to decreased healthcare use during an ICU-associated hospitalization.

The National Palliative Care Research Center: Ten Years of Promoting and Developing Research in Palliative Care

BACKGROUND

The evidence base to support high-quality clinical care and number of scientists available to develop this evidence base are inadequate.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the first 10 years of the National Palliative Care Research Center's (NPCRC) programs and their outcomes.

DESIGN

Established in 2005, NPCRC was created in direct response to the recommendations of the Institute of Medicine. Specifically, NPCRC was created to expand the palliative care evidence-based needed for both health policy and clinical practice by supporting research scientists, stimulating research and innovation, and creating a community of researchers focused on the needs of persons with serious illness and their families.

MEASUREMENTS

Subsequent grant funding following NPCRC investment (web searches of NIH Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tools [RePORT], Veterans Administration and Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute [PCORI] grant databases, grantee on-line surveys, and grantee annual reports) promotions (grantee on-line surveys and annual reports), publications (PubMed searches), and NPCRC participant satisfaction (grantee questionnaires).

RESULTS

As of July 2017, NPCRC has funded 47 junior investigators representing over 10 disciplines. These investigators have leveraged NPCRC's $7.8 million investment into 52 federal grants totaling $74.8 million dollars and 69 foundation grants totaling $16 million. Thirty-five grants ($5.8 million) have been awarded to experienced investigators, resulting in additional grant funding of $104.5 million dollars ($78.5 million federal, $26 million nonfederal). Satisfaction with NPCRC's program has been uniformly high and policy efforts have resulted in enhanced federal funding opportunities in palliative care research.

CONCLUSIONS

NPCRC's focus on people and infrastructure in conjunction with a top-down bottom-up strategy has been critical in improving the palliative care evidence base.

The potential of palliative care for patients with respiratory diseases

Based on the demonstrated effectiveness of palliative care in the alleviation of symptoms and enhancement of life quality, it is important to incorporate palliative care early in the respiratory disease trajectory. Quality palliative care addresses eight domains that are all patient and family centred. Palliative care interventions in respiratory conditions include management of symptoms such as dyspnoea, cough, haemoptysis, sputum production, fatigue and respiratory secretion management, especially as the end-of-life nears. A practical checklist of activities based on the domains of palliative care can assist clinicians to integrate palliative care into their practice. Clinical management of patients receiving palliative care requires consideration of human factors and related organisational characteristics that involve cultural, educational and motivational aspects of the patient/family and clinicians.

Early palliative care can relieve suffering and provide support for people with respiratory diseaseshttp://ow.ly/z0Hd30jpsb4