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Disler R, Pascoe A, Chen XE, Lawson E, Cahyadi M, Paalendra A, Hickson H, Wright J, Phillips B, Subramaniam S, Glenister K, Philip J, Donesky D, Smallwood N. Palliative Approach Remains Lacking in Terminal Hospital Admissions for Chronic Disease Across Rural Settings: Multisite Retrospective Medical Record Audit. J Pain Symptom Manage 2024; 67:453-462. [PMID: 38365070 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2024.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION/AIM Despite clear benefit from palliative care in end-stage chronic diseases, access is often limited, and rural access largely undescribed. This study sought to determine if a palliative approach is provided to people with chronic disease in their terminal hospital admission. METHODS Multisite, retrospective medical record audit, of decedents with a primary diagnosis of chronic lung, heart, or renal failure, or multimorbidity of these conditions over 2019. RESULTS Of 241 decedents, across five clinical sites, 143 (59.3%) were men, with mean age 80.47 years (SD 11.509), and diagnoses of chronic lung (n = 56, 23.2%), heart (n = 56, 23.2%), renal (n = 24, 10.0%) or multimorbidity disease (n = 105, 43.6%), and had 2.88 (3.04SD) admissions within 12 months. Outpatient chronic disease care was evident (n = 171, 73.7%), however, contact with a private physician (n = 91, 37.8%), chronic disease program (n = 61, 25.3%), or specialist nurse (n = 17, 7.1%) were less apparent. "Not-for-resuscitation" orders were common (n = 139, 57.7%), however, advance care planning (n = 71, 29.5%), preferred place of death (n = 18, 7.9%), and spiritual support (n = 18, 7.5%) were rarely documented. Referral to and input from palliative services were low (n = 74, 30.7% and n = 49, 20.3%), as was review of nonessential medications or blood tests (n = 86, 35.7%, and n = 78, 32.4%). Opioids were prescribed in 45.2% (n = 109). Hospital site and diagnosis were significantly associated with outpatient care and palliative approach (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS End-of-life planning and specialist palliative care involvement occurred infrequently for people with chronic disease who died in rural hospitals. Targeted strategies are necessary to improve care for these prevalent and high needs rural populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Disler
- Respiratory Research@Alfred, Department of Immunology and Pathology (R.D., A.Y.P., N.S.), Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia; Department of Rural Health (R.D., E.L., H.H., J.W., S.S., K.G.), The University of Melbourne, Shepparton, VIC, Australia.
| | - Amy Pascoe
- Respiratory Research@Alfred, Department of Immunology and Pathology (R.D., A.Y.P., N.S.), Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | | | - Emily Lawson
- Department of Rural Health (R.D., E.L., H.H., J.W., S.S., K.G.), The University of Melbourne, Shepparton, VIC, Australia
| | | | | | - Helen Hickson
- Department of Rural Health (R.D., E.L., H.H., J.W., S.S., K.G.), The University of Melbourne, Shepparton, VIC, Australia
| | - Julian Wright
- Department of Rural Health (R.D., E.L., H.H., J.W., S.S., K.G.), The University of Melbourne, Shepparton, VIC, Australia; Goulburn Valley Health (J.W., S.S.), Shepparton, VIC, Australia
| | | | - Sivakumar Subramaniam
- Department of Rural Health (R.D., E.L., H.H., J.W., S.S., K.G.), The University of Melbourne, Shepparton, VIC, Australia; Goulburn Valley Health (J.W., S.S.), Shepparton, VIC, Australia
| | - Kristen Glenister
- Department of Rural Health (R.D., E.L., H.H., J.W., S.S., K.G.), The University of Melbourne, Shepparton, VIC, Australia
| | - Jennifer Philip
- The University of Melbourne (J.P.), Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Doranne Donesky
- Department of Physiological Nursing (D.D.), University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, USA
| | - Natasha Smallwood
- Respiratory Research@Alfred, Department of Immunology and Pathology (R.D., A.Y.P., N.S.), Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia; Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine (N.S.), The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
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Wang SE, Gozansky WS, Steiner C, Lee JS, Nguyen A, Shen E, Martel H, Mangels DB, Sterett AT, Zalavadia R, Hou N, Nguyen HQ. Association Between Intensity and Timing of Specialty Palliative Care and Hospice Exposure With Quality of End-of-Life Care. J Palliat Med 2024; 27:602-613. [PMID: 38483344 DOI: 10.1089/jpm.2023.0407] [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] [Indexed: 05/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Gaps remain in our understanding of the intensity and timing of specialty palliative care (SPC) exposure on end-of-life (EOL) outcomes. Objective: Examine the association between intensity and timing of SPC and hospice (HO) exposure on EOL care outcomes. Design, Settings, Participants: Data for this cohort study were drawn from 2021 adult decedents from Kaiser Permanente Southern California and Colorado (n = 26,251). Caregivers of a decedent subgroup completed a postdeath care experience survey from July to August 2022 (n = 424). Measurements: SPC intensity (inpatient, outpatient, and home-based) and HO exposure in the five years before death were categorized as: (1) No SPC or HO; (2) SPC-only; (3) HO-only; and (4) SPC-HO. Timing of SPC exposure (<90 or 90+ days) before death was stratified by HO enrollment. Death in the hospital and potentially burdensome treatments in the last 14 days of life were extracted from electronic medical records (EMRs) and claims. EOL care experience was obtained from the caregiver survey. Results: Among the EMR cohort, exposure to SPC and HO were: No SPC or HO (38%), SPC-only (14%; of whom, 55% received inpatient SPC only), HO-only (20%), and SPC-HO (28%). For decedents who did not enroll in HO, exposure to SPC 90+ days versus <90 days before death was associated with lower risk of receiving potentially burdensome treatments (adjusted relative risk, aRR: 0.69 [95% confidence interval, CI: 0.62-0.76], p < 0.001) and 23% lower risk of dying in the hospital (aRR: 0.77 [95% CI: 0.73-0.81], p < 0.001). Caregivers of patients in the HO-only (aRR: 1.27 [95% CI: 0.98-1.63], p = 0.07) and SPC-HO cohorts (aRR: 1.19 [95% CI: 0.93-1.52], p = 0.18) tended to report more positive care experience compared to the no SPC or HO cohort. Conclusion: Earlier exposure to SPC was important in reducing potentially burdensome treatments and death in the hospital for decedents who did not enroll in HO. Increasing availability and access to community-based SPC is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan E Wang
- The Permanente Federation, Oakland, California, USA
| | - Wendolyn S Gozansky
- Kaiser Permanente Colorado, Institute for Health Research, Denver, Colorado, USA
- Colorado Permanente Medical Group, Denver, Colorado, USA
| | - Claudia Steiner
- Kaiser Permanente Colorado, Institute for Health Research, Denver, Colorado, USA
- Colorado Permanente Medical Group, Denver, Colorado, USA
- Department of Health Systems Science, Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine, Pasadena, California, USA
| | - Janet S Lee
- Department of Research and Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Pasadena, California, USA
| | - AnMarie Nguyen
- Department of Research and Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Pasadena, California, USA
| | - Ernest Shen
- Department of Research and Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Pasadena, California, USA
| | - Helene Martel
- Kaiser Permanente Care Management Institute, Oakland, California, USA
| | - Diana B Mangels
- Kaiser Permanente Colorado, Institute for Health Research, Denver, Colorado, USA
| | - Andrew T Sterett
- Kaiser Permanente Colorado, Institute for Health Research, Denver, Colorado, USA
| | - Ravi Zalavadia
- Kaiser Permanente Colorado, Institute for Health Research, Denver, Colorado, USA
| | - Nanjiang Hou
- Kaiser Permanente Care Management Institute, Oakland, California, USA
| | - Huong Q Nguyen
- Department of Health Systems Science, Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine, Pasadena, California, USA
- Department of Research and Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Pasadena, California, USA
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Martino FK, Novara G, Nalesso F, Calò LA. Conservative Management in End-Stage Kidney Disease between the Dialysis Myth and Neglected Evidence-Based Medicine. J Clin Med 2023; 13:41. [PMID: 38202048 PMCID: PMC10779521 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13010041] [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: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
In the last few decades, the aging of the general population has significantly increased the number of elderly patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) who require renal replacement therapy. ESKD elders are often frail and highly comorbid with social issues and seem to not benefit from dialysis in terms of survival and quality of life. Conservative management (CM) could represent a valid treatment option, allowing them to live for months to years with a modest impact on their habits. Despite these possible advantages, CM remains underused due to the myth of dialysis as the only effective treatment option for all ESKD patients regardless of its impact on quality of life and survival. Both CM and dialysis remain valid alternatives in the management of ESKD. However, assessing comorbidities, disabilities, and social context should drive the choice of the best possible treatment for ESKD, while in elderly patients with short life expectancies, referring them to palliative care seems the most reasonable choice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca K. Martino
- Nephrology, Dialysis, Transplantation Unit, Department of Medicine (DIMED), University of Padova, 35124 Padua, Italy; (F.K.M.); (F.N.)
| | - Giacomo Novara
- Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, Urology Clinic University of Padua, 35124 Padua, Italy
| | - Federico Nalesso
- Nephrology, Dialysis, Transplantation Unit, Department of Medicine (DIMED), University of Padova, 35124 Padua, Italy; (F.K.M.); (F.N.)
| | - Lorenzo A. Calò
- Nephrology, Dialysis, Transplantation Unit, Department of Medicine (DIMED), University of Padova, 35124 Padua, Italy; (F.K.M.); (F.N.)
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Hsu NC, Huang CC, Hsu CH, Wang TD, Sheng WH. Does Hospitalist Care Enhance Palliative Care and Reduce Aggressive Treatments for Terminally Ill Patients? A Propensity Score-Matched Study. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3976. [PMID: 37568793 PMCID: PMC10417390 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15153976] [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: 05/07/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Information on the use of palliative care and aggressive treatments for terminally ill patients who receive care from hospitalists is limited. METHODS This three-year, retrospective, case-control study was conducted at an academic medical center in Taiwan. Among 7037 patients who died in the hospital, 41.7% had a primary diagnosis of cancer. A total of 815 deceased patients who received hospitalist care before death were compared with 3260 patients who received non-hospitalist care after matching for age, gender, catastrophic illness, and Charlson comorbidity score. Regression models with generalized estimating equations were performed. RESULTS Patients who received hospitalist care before death, compared to those who did not, had a higher probability of palliative care consultation (odds ratio (OR) = 3.41, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.63-4.41), and a lower probability to undergo invasive mechanical ventilation (OR = 0.13, 95% CI: 0.10-0.17), tracheostomy (OR = 0.14, 95% CI: 0.06-0.31), hemodialysis (OR = 0.70, 95% CI: 0.55-0.89), surgery (OR = 0.25, 95% CI: 0.19-0.31), and intensive care unit admission (OR = 0.11, 95% CI: 0.08-0.14). Hospitalist care was associated with reductions in length of stay (coefficient (B) = -0.54, 95% CI: -0.62--0.46) and daily medical costs. CONCLUSIONS Hospitalist care is associated with an improved palliative consultation rate and reduced life-sustaining treatments before death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nin-Chieh Hsu
- Division of Hospital Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10051, Taiwan; (N.-C.H.); (T.-D.W.)
- Division of Hospital Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Taipei City Hospital Zhongxing Branch, Taipei 103212, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Che Huang
- Department of Healthcare Administration, College of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 84001, Taiwan;
| | - Chia-Hao Hsu
- Department of Orthopedics, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
| | - Tzung-Dau Wang
- Division of Hospital Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10051, Taiwan; (N.-C.H.); (T.-D.W.)
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei 100229, Taiwan
| | - Wang-Huei Sheng
- College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10051, Taiwan;
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Powathil GG, Kr A. The Experience of Living with a Chronic Illness: A Qualitative Study among End-Stage Renal Disease Patients. JOURNAL OF SOCIAL WORK IN END-OF-LIFE & PALLIATIVE CARE 2023; 19:190-208. [PMID: 37433003 DOI: 10.1080/15524256.2023.2229034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/13/2023]
Abstract
The prevalence of End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) has been rising over time and substantially affects morbidity and mortality. ESRD requires lifelong treatment, and as a result, patients experience multiple physical and psychosocial stressors. ESRD patients struggle to retain their jobs, social lives, financial flexibility, and diet restrictions of liquids and solid foods. The present study aims to understand the experiences of ESRD patients undergoing hemodialysis. The study was conducted at Eldho Mor Baselious Dialysis Center in Perumbavoor, Kerala, in the hemodialysis outpatient unit. The Biopsychosocial model was used as the theoretical framework of the study. As the goal of the study was to investigate the inner experiences of ESRD patients, a qualitative research approach was employed. Twelve respondents were selected for the study using purposive sampling, and the data were organized and analyzed using Colaizzi's descriptive phenomenological method. Four theme categories emerged from data analysis: decline in physical function, psychosocial distress, economic hardships, and impact on the support system. The study shows that ESRD patients experience significant psychosocial and health-related issues. The role of the clinical social worker is vital as there is a need for social work interventions to resolve the psychosocial issues of patients with ESRD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ginu George Powathil
- Department of Social Work, Rajagiri College of Social Sciences (Autonomous), Kalamassery, Kerala, India
| | - Anish Kr
- Department of Social Work, Rajagiri College of Social Sciences (Autonomous), Kalamassery, Kerala, India
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Do We Need Palliative Care in Pediatric Nephrology? Patients' and Caregivers' Disease Experience. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 10:children10020324. [PMID: 36832453 PMCID: PMC9955394 DOI: 10.3390/children10020324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
Chronic life-limiting illnesses such as chronic kidney disease (CKD) require integral support to the families concerned in addition to medical care. Palliative care is an option to facilitate families to address future concerns, such as procedures for acute life-threatening complications, or to relieve physical and psychosocial suffering. The exact needs of patients or parents have not yet been investigated. To assess needs in supportive palliative care, we conducted a monocentric qualitative interview study. We included patients 14 to 24 years old as well as parents of younger children (below 14 years) with CKD ≥ stage 3. In total, fifteen interviews were conducted. Data were analyzed with a deductive and descriptive approach using qualitative content analysis as described by Mayring. Sociodemographic data and basic information of disease were collected using questionnaires. In contrast to caregivers, adolescents and young adults do not express worries about their own mortality or reduced life expectancy. Rather, they report about their limitations to everyday life associated with the disease, especially in the areas of school and work. They wish to live a normal life. Caregivers are concerned about the future and the disease trajectory. They also describe difficulties in balancing the management of the disease with other responsibilities such as work and healthy siblings' needs. Patients and caregivers appear to need a chance to talk about their everyday struggles and disease-related fears and concerns. Talking about their concerns and needs may help deal with their emotions and facilitate acceptance of their situation characterized by a life-limiting disease. Our study confirms the need for psychosocial support in pediatric nephrology to address the needs of the affected families. This can be offered by pediatric palliative care teams.
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