Abstract
Letters to the Editor
A literature review to identify mortality prediction tools and tools to identify risk of dying for people with a hematological malignancy in their final three months of life. (page 802)
Brief Reports
Findings of a pilot project in home-based palliative care, community bridges (CB), for patients with advanced cancer. Assessed were baseline symptom severity, caregiver burden, patient and caregiver program satisfaction, and CB team experience. (page 875)
Fast Facts and Concepts
Transplant Medication Management for Patients Nearing End of Life #333 (page 895)
The Role of Clinical Pharmacists on the Interdisciplinary Team #334 (page 897)
Personal Reflection
Among my patients, the waging of the anticancer fight is often seen as paramount and, as is so often encountered in palliative medicine overall, the loss of this war as death ensues is sadly viewed as personal and medical inadequacy, succumbing to the night.
Here, in tribute to the human spirit and Dylan Thomas, is an alternative stance: to go gentle into that good night. (page 901)
Book and Media Reviews
(page 904)
Recent Literature
(page 905)
Qualitative Research in Palliative Care
This article provides case examples of qualitative research within palliative care and serves as a framework for use by other palliative care researchers interested in qualitative methodologies. (page 857)
Assessing Risk of Substance Misuse in Hospice
Among a random sample of 105 U.S. Medicare-certified hospices, researchers found more than two-thirds of agencies assessed substance misuse by patient and/or family members. Assessments tended to focus broadly on whether substance misuse was a current problem, and there was little standardization of screening, monitoring, and management approaches. (page 850)
Screening for Suffering
The authors describe their “suffering pictogram” as a brief, reliable, and valid instrument to screen for suffering in palliative care patients. (page 869)
Two-Minute Walking Test for COPD Patients
In this observational study, a two-minute walking test identified chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients with high mortality, functional dependence, dyspnea, and lower quality of life. As a result, the test might enhance prognostic accuracy and promote earlier palliative care referrals. (page 821)
Palliative Care Quality Network
The authors describe the creation of the Palliative Care Quality Network (PCQN) a nationwide collaborative dedicated to improving the quality of palliative care. PCQN members identified five activities to support their home programs: (1) collection of standardized data including clinical outcomes, (2) real-time data analyses with benchmarking, (3) a quality-improvement group, (4) a forum for education and personal development, and (5) analysis of financial impact. (page 862)
Palliative Care in Argentina
In this pilot study, the authors measured the regional development of palliative care in Argentina by using a selection of indicators developed by the Latin American Association for Palliative Care, and identified the needs and challenges facing providers in the field. (page 829)
Caring for Children with End-Stage Kidney Disease
This study describes one institution's experience with pediatric palliative care services in caring for children with end-stage renal disease. (page 845)
End-of-Life Trends in Taiwan
In an analysis of nearly 7900 patients with end-stage cancer, hospice utilization at a tertiary hospital in Taiwan increased over a six-year period. However, the rate of late referrals also increased over time. (page 838)