Journal of palliative medicine
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Missing data is a common phenomenon with survey-based research; patterns of missing data may elucidate why participants decline to answer certain questions. ⋯ Parents of children with cancer commonly refrain from answering questions about their child's prognosis, however, they may be more likely to address general cure likelihood than explicit life expectancy. Understanding acceptability of sensitive questions in survey-based research will foster higher quality palliative care research.
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Patients and families can make informed decisions at the end-of-life if they have had discussions regarding their wishes, but this is not regularly done due to poor understanding of advance directives (AD). ⋯ AD video education is helpful to patients, improving perceived understanding of AD and increasing patients' intent to discuss and complete AD with family and providers.
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Addressing the emotional needs of dying patients is rarely found to have a place in formal medical curriculum and is also a difficult area to teach through classical medical lectures. "Cinemeducation" is a wonderful way to educate health care providers about the magnitude of emotions that arise during those difficult situations. ⋯ The film 'Wit' gave the students an opportunity to explore their beliefs, values and attitudes in terms of the bio-psycho-social-spiritual aspects of health care and encouraged them to think more about the humanitarian issues of the medical profession.