The Impact of Hospice on Mortality of Widowed Spouses (DRAFT)

Author(s):  
Kimberson Tanco ◽  
Regina Mackey

Caring for a sick spouse can have adverse health consequences and may increase mortality for the surviving spouse. This can be associated to a caregiver and widow/er effect, which may be related to the loss of beneficial social support and impact of stress from the advanced illness and death of the spouse. This study explores if the nature of end-of-life care that the decedent spouse received might be associated with the mortality risk of the surviving spouse. This is preceded by the hypothesis that “good deaths” may result in less stress on the families. At the same time, it is presumed that hospice care facilitates “good deaths” by optimizing symptom management, enables home deaths, and may enhance patient and family satisfaction.

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 166-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Si Won Lee ◽  
Hyun Jung Jho ◽  
Ji Yeon Baek ◽  
Eun Kyung Shim ◽  
Hyun Mi Kim ◽  
...  

Background: Palliative care in outpatient setting has been shown to promote better symptom management and transition to hospice care among patients with advanced cancer. Nevertheless, specialized palliative care is rarely provided at cancer centers in Korea. Herein, we aimed to assess aggressiveness of end-of-life care for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer according to the use of outpatient palliative care (OPC) at a single cancer center in Korea. Methods: We performed a retrospective medical record review for 132 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer who died between 2011 and 2014. Fifty patients used OPC (OPC group), while 82 patients did not (non-OPC group). Indicators of aggressiveness of end-of-life care including chemotherapy use, emergency department visits, hospitalization, and utilization of hospice care were analyzed according to the use of OPC. Results: More patients in the OPC group were admitted to hospice than those in the non-OPC group (32% vs 17%, P = .047). The mean of inpatient days within 30 days of death was shorter for the OPC group than the non-OPC group (4.02 days vs 7.77 days, respectively, P = .032). There were no differences in the proportions of patients who received chemotherapy and visited the emergency department within 30 days from death. Conclusion: Among patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, OPC was associated with shorter inpatient days near death and greater hospice utilization. Further prospective studies are needed to evaluate the impact of OPC on end-of-life care in Korea.


Author(s):  
Lisa C. Lindley ◽  
Melanie J. Cozad ◽  
Jennifer W. Mack ◽  
Jessica Keim-Malpass ◽  
Radion Svynarenko ◽  
...  

Background The 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) mandated landmark hospice care legislation for children at end of life. Little is known about the impact of pediatric concurrent hospice care. Objective The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of pediatric concurrent vs standard hospice care on end-of-life care continuity among Medicaid beneficiaries. Methods Using national Medicaid data, we conducted a quasi-experimental designed study to estimate the effect of concurrent vs standard hospice care to improve end-of-life care continuity for children. Care continuity (i.e., hospice length of stay, hospice disenrollment, emergency room transition, and inpatient transition) was measured via claims data. Exposures were concurrent hospice vs standard hospice care. Using instrumental variable analysis, the effectiveness of exposures on care continuity was compared. Results Concurrent hospice care affected care continuity. It resulted in longer lengths of stays in hospice ( β = 2.76, P < .001) and reduced hospice live discharges ( β = −2.80, P < .05), compared to standard hospice care. Concurrent care was not effective at reducing emergency room ( β = 2.09, P < .001) or inpatient care ( β = .007, P < .05) transitions during hospice enrollment. Conclusion Our study provides critical insight into the quality of care delivered for children at end of life. These findings have policy implications.


2014 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 173-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deborah Hinson ◽  
Aaron J. Goldsmith ◽  
Joseph Murray

This article addresses the unique roles of social work and speech-language pathologists (SLPs) in end-of-life and hospice care settings. The four levels of hospice care are explained. Suggested social work and SLP interventions for end-of-life nutrition and approaches to patient communication are offered. Case studies are used to illustrate the specialized roles that social work and SLP have in end-of-life care settings.


2007 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 61
Author(s):  
J. Downar ◽  
J. Mikhael

Although palliative and end-of-life is a critical part of in-hospital medical care, residents often have very little formal education in this field. To determine the efficacy of a symptom management pocket card in improving the comfort level and knowledge of residents in delivering end-of-life care on medical clinical teaching units, we performed a controlled trial involving residents on three clinical teaching units. Residents at each site were given a 5-minute questionnaire at the start and at the end of their medicine ward rotation. Measures of self-reported comfort levels were assessed, as were 5 multiple-choice questions reflecting key knowledge areas in end-of-life care. Residents at all three sites were given didactic teaching sessions covering key concepts in palliative and end-of-life care over the course of their medicine ward rotation. Residents at the intervention site were also given a pocket card with information regarding symptom management in end-of-life care. Over 10 months, 137 residents participated on the three clinical teaching units. Comfort levels improved in both control (p < 0.01) and intervention groups (p < 0.01), but the intervention group was significantly more comfortable than the control group at the end of their rotations (z=2.77, p < 0.01). Knowledge was not significantly improved in the control group (p=0.07), but was significantly improved in the intervention group (p < 0.01). The knowledge difference between the two groups approached but did not reach statistical significance at the end of their rotation. In conclusion, our pocket card is a feasible, economical educational intervention that improves resident comfort level and knowledge in delivering end-of-life care on clinical teaching units. Oneschuk D, Moloughney B, Jones-McLean E, Challis A. The Status of Undergraduate Palliative Medicine Education in Canada: a 2001 Survey. Journal Palliative Care 2004; 20:32. Tiernan E, Kearney M, Lynch AM, Holland N, Pyne P. Effectiveness of a teaching programme in pain and symptom management for junior house officers. Support Care Cancer 2001; 9:606-610. Okon TR, Evans JM, Gomez CF, Blackhall LJ. Palliative Educational Outcome with Implementation of PEACE Tool Integrated Clinical Pathway. Journal of Palliative Medicine 2004; 7:279-295.


Critical Care ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Siew Tzuh Tang ◽  
Chung-Chi Huang ◽  
Tsung-Hui Hu ◽  
Wen-Chi Chou ◽  
Li-Pang Chuang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background/Objective Death in intensive care units (ICUs) may increase bereaved family members’ risk for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, posttraumatic stress-related symptoms (hereafter as PTSD symptoms) and their precipitating factors were seldom examined among bereaved family members and primarily focused on associations between PTSD symptoms and patient/family characteristics. We aimed to investigate the course and predictors of clinically significant PTSD symptoms among family members of deceased ICU patients by focusing on modifiable quality indicators for end-of-life ICU care. Method In this longitudinal observational study, 319 family members of deceased ICU patients were consecutively recruited from medical ICUs from two Taiwanese medical centers. PTSD symptoms were assessed at 1, 3, 6, and 13 months post-loss using the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R). Family satisfaction with end-of-life care in ICUs was assessed at 1 month post-loss. End-of-life care received in ICUs was documented over the patient’s ICU stay. Predictors for developing clinically significant PTSD symptoms (IES-R score ≥ 33) were identified by multivariate logistic regression with generalized estimating equation modeling. Results The prevalence of clinically significant PTSD symptoms decreased significantly over time (from 11.0% at 1 month to 1.6% at 13 months post-loss). Longer ICU stays (adjusted odds ratio [95% confidence interval] = 1.036 [1.006, 1.066]), financial insufficiency (3.166 [1.159, 8.647]), and reported use of pain medications (3.408 [1.230, 9.441]) by family members were associated with a higher likelihood of clinically significant PTSD symptoms among family members during bereavement. Stronger perceived social support (0.937 [0.911, 0.965]) and having a Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR) order issued before the patient’s death (0.073 [0.011, 0.490]) were associated with a lower likelihood of clinically significant PTSD symptoms. No significant association was observed for family members’ satisfaction with end-of-life care (0.988 [0.944, 1.034]) or decision-making in ICUs (0.980 [0.944, 1.018]). Conclusions The likelihood of clinically significant PTSD symptoms among family members decreased significantly over the first bereavement year and was lower when a DNR order was issued before death. Enhancing social support and facilitating a DNR order may reduce the trauma of ICU death of a beloved for family members at risk for developing clinically significant PTSD symptoms.


2021 ◽  
pp. 082585972110220
Author(s):  
Gwen Levitt

There are a small number of articles in the literature discussing palliative and end-of-life care in the SMI population. Most tackle the questions relating to competency to refuse care in end-stage anorexia or terminal medical conditions. This is a case review of a 55 year old patient with a complex psychiatric and medical history, who despite extensive treatment and long hospitalizations has failed to regain any ability to care for her basic needs. She has exhausted all available treatment options and her prognosis is extremely poor. The mental health community is resistant to discussing and/ or confronting the fact that such a patient faces with the need for end-of-life care directly related to chronic psychiatric illness.


2019 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paola Di Giulio ◽  
Silvia Finetti ◽  
Fabrizio Giunco ◽  
Ines Basso ◽  
Debora Rosa ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (6) ◽  
pp. 366-382 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth Northway ◽  
Stuart Todd ◽  
Katherine Hunt ◽  
Paula Hopes ◽  
Rachel Morgan ◽  
...  

Background People with intellectual disability are believed to be at risk of receiving poor end-of-life care. Nurses, given their advocacy role and duty to provide compassionate end-of-life care, have the potential to change this situation but research regarding this aspect of their role is limited. Aims This paper thus seeks to answer the question ‘How and when are nurses involved in providing care at end of life for people with intellectual disability?’ Methods A total of 38 intellectual disability care providers in the UK providing support to 13,568 people with intellectual disability were surveyed. Data regarding 247 deaths within this population were gathered in two stages and subsequently entered into SPSSX for analysis. Results Findings revealed that the majority of deaths occurred between the ages of 50 and 69 years, the most commonly reported cause of death being respiratory problems. Both community and hospital-based nurses were involved in supporting individuals during their final 3 months of life, and sometimes more than one type of nurse provided support to individuals. Generally nursing care was rated positively, although room for improvement was also identified. Conclusions Nurses are involved in supporting people with intellectual disability at end of life and appropriate education is required to undertake this role. This may require change in curricula and subsequent research to determine the impact of such change on nursing support to this population.


2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 153-160
Author(s):  
Yumie Yokoi ◽  
Tomoko Tamaki ◽  
Anri Inumaru ◽  
Makoto Fujii ◽  
Mayumi Tsujikawa

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