Journal of pain and symptom management
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Mar 2025
ReviewHome Hospitalization in Palliative Care for Advanced Cancer and Dementia: A Systematic Review.
Home hospitalization (HHOSP) is an alternative care model aimed at alleviating pressure on healthcare systems and catering to the increasing patient population. It aligns with the preference for home-based palliative care (PALC) and end-of-life care. ⋯ The findings highlight HHOSP's potential as an alternative for delivering PALC, reducing hospital readmissions, and improving patient and caregiver satisfaction. Despite heterogeneity in study designs and outcomes, HHOSP aligns with patient and caregiver preferences, enhancing the quality of end-of-life care. Further standardized research is needed to optimize HHOSP implementation.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Mar 2025
Multicenter StudyIdentifying factors associated with disparities in accessing an Integrative Oncology program.
Integrative oncology (IO) programs provide patients with evidence-based complementary medicine therapies within a supportive and palliative cancer care setting. This study retrospectively examined characteristics of patients with lung cancer predicting utilization of a freely-provided IO consultation at two medical centers in Israel. ⋯ The present study suggests that age, gender and culture-related factors (reflected by the patient's primary language) may contribute to disparities in accessing a freely-provided IO consultation, as shown in a diverse population of patients with lung cancer from two medical centers in Israel. Further research is needed to better understand the role of these programs within a diverse, equitable and inclusive setting of effective and safe integrative care of oncology patients.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Mar 2025
AAHPM Assessment Workgroup: Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship Assessment Needs & Directions.
Medical education is moving towards competency based medical education (CBME). This provides opportunities and challenges for the field of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (HPM). The American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM) created the Assessment Workgroup to spearhead a shared vision and process to implement high-quality assessment of fellow performance. ⋯ There is a lack of training and resources for HPM PDs in fellow assessment, and a need for faculty development. Fellows are engaged and should be invited as collaborators in this work. The AAHPM Assessment Workgroup is creating a nationally available resource of tools and accompanying faculty development materials.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Mar 2025
ReviewLanguage justice as health equity in palliative care: A scoping review.
Communication is the foundation of optimal healthcare provision. Linguistic diversity is a reality in palliative care settings. ⋯ To provide equitable care reflecting language justice, investigators and clinicians should include interpreters, patients, and families as integral team members. The increase in number of interventional studies suggests evidence of the value interpreters add to the palliative care team. Collaborating with linguistically diverse stakeholders reflects language justice and holds promise for ensuring optimal communication.