Abstract
Letters to the Editor
In this letter we would like to raise some questions concerning the edema conservative management and its assessment at the end of life, following the article by S. Cobbe et al. in the Journal of Palliative Medicine. (page 585)
Brief Reports
In this study, we determined the main demographic and clinical characteristics, interventions, and outcomes of patients with advanced cancer evaluated by a palliative care team at a public hospital and those at a comprehensive cancer center. (page 678)
Fast Facts and Concepts
Antimicrobial Therapy at the End of Life #351 (page 718)
Management of Ischemic Limb Pain #352 (page 720)
Personal Reflection
My white coat is too heavy—I fill the pockets with notebooks and reference, my stethoscope, and eye charts. Putting it on weighs me down. The physical weight of responsibility pushes me to the ground. (page 726)
Case Discussions in Palliative Medicine
A case of a cancer patient with an intrathecal drug delivery system for management of cancer pain who developed a cryptogenic brain abscess with profound mental status changes and clinical management challenges. (page 727)
Book and Media Reviews
(page 730)
Recent Literature
(page 732)
“Before I Die”: Bucket-List Themes
The “bucket list” was a simple framework for engaging patients about their healthcare decision making, and helped clinicians to relate treatment options to patients' life goals. (page 652)
Symptom Burden in End-Stage Leukemia
In this study, patients with acute myeloid leukemia had marked symptoms and quality-of-life impairments that escalated in the final six months of life. Patients who entered the healthcare system for active cancer treatment were likely to continue disease-oriented care until death. High rates of hospitalization and blood product transfusion were direct barriers to hospice care. (page 592)
Medicare Changes in Hospice Payment
The authors analyzed whether the Medicare hospice benefit's potential for cost savings could change as a result of the January 2016 change in payment structure. (page 645)
Integrating Primary and Palliative Care
This study illustrated the characteristics of patients with palliative care needs identified by general practitioners and a model for integrating primary and palliative care in the home. (page 631)
Identifying Patients for Palliative Care
The authors describe the use of a new tool to identify high-risk patients for palliative care based on predicted hospital mortality rates. (page 665)
Disparities in Palliative Care
The authors report on extensive unmet palliative care needs in Ethiopia, describing untreated pain and high costs of illness as major contributors to psychosocial distress and financial crises within the community. (page 622)
Palliative Care in Clinical Trials
In interviews with clinical trial investigators, oncology fellows, and research nurses, the authors found great variability in respondents' perception of palliative care, particularly within cancer clinical trials. (page 616)
Pain and Functional Status in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
A multicenter study found that most patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis suffered from pain, and the intensity of pain worsened as their function declined. (page 588)
Teaching Teamwork through Palliative Care
This qualitative study demonstrated that medical students consistently learned the value of interprofessional teamwork in healthcare through their palliative care rotations. (page 638)
Use of Bioethical Guidelines
In this qualitative study, palliative care practices in Portugal were aligned with a European guideline on ethical decision making at end of life. The authors call for further research on the actual use, effectiveness, and impact of these guidelines on professionals and patients alike. (page 604)
Early Palliative Care in Brazil
Among cancer patients in Brazil, late referral to palliative care was common; however, patients with early palliative care received less aggressive treatment at end of life. (page 659)