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Umberfield EE, Fields MC, Lenko R, Morgan TP, Adair ES, Fromme EK, Lum HD, Moss AH, Wenger NS, Sudore RL, Hickman SE. An Integrative Review of the State of POLST Science: What Do We Know and Where Do We Go? J Am Med Dir Assoc 2024; 25:557-564.e8. [PMID: 38395413 PMCID: PMC10996838 DOI: 10.1016/j.jamda.2024.01.009] [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] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES POLST is widely used in the care of seriously ill patients to document decisions made during advance care planning (ACP) conversations as actionable medical orders. We conducted an integrative review of existing research to better understand associations between POLST use and key ACP outcomes as well as to identify directions for future research. DESIGN Integrative review. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS Not applicable. METHODS We queried PubMed and CINAHL databases using names of POLST programs to identify research on POLST. We abstracted study information and assessed study design quality. Study outcomes were categorized using the international ACP Outcomes Framework: Process, Action, Quality of Care, Health Status, and Healthcare Utilization. RESULTS Of 94 POLST studies identified, 38 (40%) had at least a moderate level of study design quality and 15 (16%) included comparisons between POLST vs non-POLST patient groups. There was a significant difference between groups for 40 of 70 (57%) ACP outcomes. The highest proportion of significant outcomes was in Quality of Care (15 of 19 or 79%). In subdomain analyses of Quality of Care, POLST use was significantly associated with concordance between treatment and documentation (14 of 18 or 78%) and preferences concordant with documentation (1 of 1 or 100%). The Action outcome domain had the second highest positive rate among outcome domains; 9 of 12 (75%) Action outcomes were significant. Healthcare Utilization outcomes were the most frequently assessed and approximately half (16 of 35 or 46%) were significant. Health Status outcomes were not significant (0 of 4 or 0%), and no Process outcomes were identified. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Findings of this review indicate that POLST use is significantly associated with a Quality of Care and Action outcomes, albeit in nonrandomized studies. Future research on POLST should focus on prospective mixed methods studies and high-quality pragmatic trials that assess a broad range of person and health system-level outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth E Umberfield
- Division of Nursing Research, Department of Nursing, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA; Department of Artificial Intelligence and Informatics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
| | - Matthew C Fields
- School of Nursing, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, USA; Research in Palliative and End-of-Life Communication and Training (RESPECT) Signature Center, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Rachel Lenko
- Department of Nursing, School of Health, Calvin University, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Teryn P Morgan
- Center for Biomedical Informatics, Regenstrief Institute, Inc, Indianapolis, IN, USA; Department of BioHealth Informatics, School of Informatics and Computing, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | | | - Erik K Fromme
- Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Ariadne Labs at Brigham and Women's Hospital and the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Hillary D Lum
- Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Alvin H Moss
- Center for Health Ethics and Law, West Virginia University Health Sciences Center, Morgantown, WV, USA; Divisions of Nephrology and Palliative Medicine, School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Neil S Wenger
- Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Rebecca L Sudore
- Division of Geriatrics, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Susan E Hickman
- School of Nursing, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, USA; Research in Palliative and End-of-Life Communication and Training (RESPECT) Signature Center, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana University Center for Aging Research, Regenstrief Institute, Inc, Indianapolis, IN, USA
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Piamjariyakul U, Keener TA, Smothers A, Young S, Shafique S, McDill S, Keech K, Petitte T, Pacheco C. Mentoring Undergraduate Nursing Students in Palliative Home Care Research. TEACHING AND LEARNING IN NURSING : OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR ASSCIATE DEGREE NURSING 2021; 16:423-428. [PMID: 34720774 PMCID: PMC8553230 DOI: 10.1016/j.teln.2021.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Saima Shafique
- West Virginia University, Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health
| | | | | | | | - Cinthia Pacheco
- West Virginia University, Office of Undergraduate Research, Honors College
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Osakwe ZT, Kim RS, Obioha CU, Osborne JC, Harun N, Saint Fleur-Calixte R. Impact of state scope-of-practice laws on nurse practitioner-provided home visits. Geriatr Nurs 2021; 42:674-680. [PMID: 33823425 DOI: 10.1016/j.gerinurse.2021.03.002] [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: 11/19/2020] [Revised: 02/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Millions of older Americans receive nurse practitioner (NP)-provided home based primary care (HBPC). Little is known about how state scope-of- practice (SOP) laws may impact use of NP-home visits. Using 2017 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Provider Utilization and Payment Data Public Use File (PUF), we examined the impact of state SOP laws on the use of NP-home visits. The PUF file was merged with the 2017 American Community Survey to assess area-level median income. Over 4.4 million home visits were provided to 1.6 million Medicare beneficiaries. NPs represented the largest share of providers (47.5%). In states with restricted SOP laws, compared to NPs, physicians and physician assistants had higher odds of providing HBPC. In states with reduced SOP laws, compared to NPs, physicians and PAs had decreased odds of providing HBPC. Our study provides evidence that SOP restrictions are associated with decreased utilization of NP-provided HBPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zainab Toteh Osakwe
- College of Nursing and Public Health at Adelphi University, 1 South Avenue, Garden City, NY, 11530, United States.
| | - Ryung S Kim
- Department of Epidemiology and Population, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY 10461, United States.
| | - Chinedu U Obioha
- College of Nursing and Public Health at Adelphi University, 1 South Avenue, Garden City, NY, 11530, United States.
| | - Jennel C Osborne
- Harriet Rothkopf Heilbrunn School of Nursing, Long Island University, 1 University Plaza, Brooklyn, NY 11201-5372, United States.
| | - Nafin Harun
- Center for Health workforce Studies, School of Public Health, University of Albany, SUNY, 1 University Place, Ste 220/Rensselaer, NY 12144, United States.
| | - Rose Saint Fleur-Calixte
- Department of Community Health and Social Medicine, CUNY School of Medicine, Townsend Harris Hall, Suite 313, 160 Covent Avenue, NY 10031, United States.
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Constantine LA, Wang K, Funk D, Speis A, Moss AH. Use of a State Registry to Compare Practices of Physicians and Nurse Practitioners in Completing Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment Forms. J Palliat Med 2020; 24:994-999. [PMID: 33259768 DOI: 10.1089/jpm.2020.0515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Understanding the role of nonphysicians in Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) completion is limited. Objectives: To examine the role that nurse practitioners (NPs) play in POLST completion and differences between NPs and physicians in POLST orders. Design: Retrospective observational study. Setting/Subjects: A total of 3829 POLST forms submitted to the West Virginia (WV) e-Directive Registry between July 1, 2018 and June 30, 2019, which was completed by 98 NPs and 511 physicians. Measurements: POLST forms completed and orders in POLST Section A and Section B by all physicians and NPs according to practice (primary care, palliative care, hospital, and nursing home) and by palliative care physicians and NPs only. Results: NPs completed almost twice as many forms on average as physicians (9.54 ± 20.82 vs. 5.66 ± 17.18, p = 0.0064). NPs constituted 16.10% (98/609) of the clinicians writing POLST forms but completed 24.40% (935/3829) of the forms (p < 0.001). Compared with physicians' orders, a greater percentage of NP's orders was for do-not-resuscitate in Section A (87.20% vs. 72.60%, p < 0.001) and comfort measures in Section B (42.90% vs. 33.10%, p < 0.001). There was a greater percentage of NPs in palliative care practice than physicians (23.50% vs. 6.07%, p < 0.001), and palliative care NPs completed 64.20% (600/935) of the forms submitted by NPs compared with palliative care physicians who completed 17.90% (517/2894) of the forms submitted by physicians (p < 0.001). Conclusions: In WV, physician and NP POLST completion differs based on practice. NPs completed significantly more POLST forms on average and more often ordered comfort measures. NPs can play a significant role in POLST completion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lori A Constantine
- Adult Health Department, School of Nursing, School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
| | - Kesheng Wang
- Department of Family/Community Health, School of Nursing, School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
| | - Danielle Funk
- WVU Center for End-of-Life Care, School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
| | - Atticus Speis
- WVU Center for End-of-Life Care, School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
| | - Alvin H Moss
- Sections of Nephrology and Supportive Care, School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
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Piamjariyakul U, Smothers A, Young S, Petitte T, Wen S, Morrissey E, Shafique S, Zulfikar R, Sangani R, Smith CE. Palliative care for rare advanced lung diseases in underserved Appalachia: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. J Adv Nurs 2020. [PMID: 32297352 DOI: 10.1111/jan.14395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2020] [Revised: 03/27/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
AIM To pilot test a home end-of-life and palliative care intervention for family caregivers and patients with rare advanced lung diseases and to estimate effect-size for the power analysis in a future clinical trial. DESIGN This study uses a parallel randomized control trial. Families are randomly assigned to the intervention group or the control group in a 1:1 fashion. METHODS The study population includes patients with rare advanced lung diseases and their family caregivers who are involved in patients' home care. The control group receives standard care through their hospital or outpatient clinics. The intervention group receives standard care plus 2-weekly home end-of-life and palliative care coaching by experienced community nurses. Primary outcome is breathlessness measured by shortness of breath scale. Secondary outcomes are: (a) caregivers' anxiety and depression measures; (b) the presence of patient's signed advance directives in the medical record or not; and (c) Helpfulness of intervention measured by self-report Helpfulness scale. The study was funded in October 2018 and received ethical Institutional Review Board approval in February 2019. DISCUSSION West Virginia has one of the highest incidence rates of lung disease deaths in the nation. However, there is inadequate home end-of-life and palliative care for this underserved population. This is an initial interventional study of nurse-led coaching home-based palliative care for rare advanced lung diseases in rural Appalachia. Developing research collaboration with clinicians is essential for enrolment. Enrolment was successful due to regular meetings with pulmonologists who screened patients per the study inclusion criteria in their specialty clinic and made direct referrals to the research assistants. Results of this study will be used in the future trial. IMPACT The findings will contribute to the evidence-based home nursing care, planning for family/patient preferences and supportive end-of-life palliative care for managing advanced lung diseases at home. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT03813667; registered January 23, 2019. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03813667.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Angel Smothers
- School of Nursing, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Stephanie Young
- School of Nursing, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Trisha Petitte
- School of Nursing, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Sijin Wen
- Department of Biostatistics School of Public Health, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | | | - Saima Shafique
- Department of Epidemiology School of Public Health, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Rafia Zulfikar
- Section of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Rahul Sangani
- Section of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Carol E Smith
- School of Nursing and School of Preventive Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
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Abbott J. The POLST Paradox: Opportunities and Challenges in Honoring Patient End-of-Life Wishes in the Emergency Department. Ann Emerg Med 2018; 73:294-301. [PMID: 30503382 DOI: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2018.10.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2018] [Revised: 10/06/2018] [Accepted: 10/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment forms convert patient wishes into physician orders to direct care patients receive near the end of life. Recent evidence of the challenges and opportunities for honoring patient end-of-life wishes in the emergency department (ED) is presented. The forms can be very helpful in directing whether cardiopulmonary resuscitation and intubation are desired in the first few minutes of a patient's presentation. After initial stabilization, understanding the intent of end-of-life orders and the scope of further interventions requires discussion with the patient or a surrogate. The emergency medicine provider must be committed both to honoring initial resuscitation orders and to the conversations required to narrow the gap between ED care and patient wishes so that people receive care best aligned with their wishes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean Abbott
- Center for Bioethics and Humanities, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO.
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