Journal of palliative medicine
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Expanding Access to Home-Based Palliative Care: A Randomized Controlled Trial Protocol.
Introduction: Studies show that home-based palliative care (HBPC) improves participant outcomes and satisfaction with care while also decreasing hospitalizations and emergency department visits. U. S. health care payment reforms create financial opportunities to offer HBPC. ⋯ These include engaging primary care providers in the study and coordinating logistics with a health plan. Both challenges have contributed to a lag in participant enrollment. Despite these challenges, our study holds tremendous promise to accelerate adoption and spread of an evidence-based HBPC model across the country.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
A Qualitative Study of Serious Illness Conversations in Patients with Advanced Cancer.
Background: Conversations with seriously ill patients about their values and goals have been associated with reduced distress, a better quality of life, and goal-concordant care near the end of life. Yet, little is known about how such conversations are conducted. Objective: To characterize the content of serious illness conversations and identify opportunities for improvement. Design: Qualitative analysis of audio-recorded, serious illness conversations using an evidence-based guide and obtained through a cluster randomized controlled trial in an outpatient oncology setting. Setting/Measurements: Clinicians assigned to the intervention arm received training to use the "Serious Illness Conversation Guide" to have a serious illness conversation about values and goals with advanced cancer patients. Conversations were de-identified, transcribed verbatim, and independently coded by two researchers. ⋯ Thematic analyses demonstrated five key themes: (1) supportive dialogue between patients and clinicians; (2) patients' openness to discuss emotionally challenging topics; (3) patients' willingness to articulate preferences regarding life-sustaining treatments; (4) clinicians' difficulty in responding to emotional or ambiguous patient statements; and (5) challenges in discussing prognosis. Conclusions: Data from this exploratory study suggest that seriously ill patients are open to discussing values and goals with their clinician. Yet, clinicians may struggle when disclosing a time-based prognosis and in responding to patients' emotions. Such skills should be a focus for additional training for clinicians caring for seriously ill patients.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Integrating Advance Care Planning Videos into Surgical Oncologic Care: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
Background: Preoperative advance care planning (ACP) may benefit patients undergoing major surgery. Objective: To evaluate feasibility, safety, and early effectiveness of video-based ACP in a surgical population. Design: Randomized controlled trial with two study arms. Setting: Single, academic, inner-city tertiary care hospital. Subjects: Patients undergoing major cancer surgery were recruited from nine surgical clinics. Of 106 consecutive potential participants, 103 were eligible and 92 enrolled. Interventions: In the intervention arm, patients viewed an ACP video developed by patients, surgeons, palliative care clinicians, and other stakeholders. In the control arm, patients viewed an informational video about the hospital's surgical program. Measurements: Primary Outcomes-ACP content and patient-centeredness in patient-surgeon preoperative conversation. ⋯ There were no differences in secondary outcomes other than the intervention video was more helpful (p = 0.007). Conclusions: The ACP video was successfully integrated into surgical care without harm and was thought to be helpful, although video content did not significantly change the ACP content or patient-surgeon communication. Future studies could increase the ACP dose through modifying video content and/or who presents ACP. Trial Registration: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier NCT02489799.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Self-Care System for Family Caregivers of Cancer Patients Using Resonant Breathing with a Portable Home Device: A Randomized Open-Label Study.
Self-care systems for early-stage specialist palliative care for cancer patients and their family caregivers have received much attention recently. Resonant breathing is an established method for maximizing heart rate variability (HRV), but it has not been implemented for home self-care. ⋯ Because family caregivers in our study learned to quickly administer resonant breathing using a portable device at home, resonant breathing improved rapidly, along with autonomic nerve function and quality of life.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Concordance between Goals of Care and Treatment Decisions for Persons with Dementia.
Nursing home (NH) residents with dementia experience high rates of intensive treatment near the end of life. Limited research examines whether treatment is concordant with goals of care (GOC). ⋯ Most families chose comfort as the primary GOC. Further research is needed to translate this preference into comfort-focused treatment plans for late-stage dementia. Clinicaltrials.gov : NCT01565642 (3/26/12).