Orthopedic grand rounds can change resident practice.

This study sought to determine whether a grand rounds presentation could change resident practice. A 6-month review of all hip fracture patients 65 years and older at a single academic medical center was performed. The rate of addressing advanced directives and code status as documented in the medical record was noted. A grand rounds presentation was then given to the orthopedic department, and the medical records of hip fracture patients for the 12 months following the grand rounds were reviewed. In the 6 months prior to the grand rounds, orthopedic residents did not document code status or advanced directives in any of their admission or consultation notes. Following the grand rounds, orthopedic residents addressed advanced directives, code status, and contact person in 76% of their admission notes. There was a marked difference in the rate of documentation among residents who attended the grand rounds (88%), compared with residents who did not attend grand rounds (20%). Based on the results of this study, specifically whether residents attended grand rounds, this form of teaching can lead to changes in resident behavior.

Effect of initiating a multidisciplinary care clinic on access and time to treatment in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

PURPOSE: Neoadjuvant therapy for pancreatic adenocarcinoma requires referral to multiple specialists before initiating therapy. We evaluated the effect of establishing a multidisciplinary clinic (MDC) for patients with newly diagnosed pancreatic adenocarcinoma on treatment access and time to therapy. METHODS: Patients with newly diagnosed pancreatic adenocarcinoma diagnosed and treated at our center were included. Two patient groups were defined: preclinic represented those patients diagnosed before 2008 and MDC represented those patients diagnosed since 2009 who were treated in the newly created MDC and were initially candidates for neoadjuvant therapy. The primary outcomes were days from diagnosis to first treatment (initiation of chemotherapy or external beam radiation), days to completion of all required consultations, and number of visits needed before initiation of therapy. RESULTS: Ninety-seven patients were diagnosed and treated at our medical center from 2003 to 2008; 22 were treated in 2009 after the implementation of the MDC. Compared with the preclinic group, patients treated in the MDC had shorter times from biopsy to treatment (7.7 days v 29.5 days, P < .001), shorter time to completion of all required pretreatment consultations (7.1 days v 13.9 days, P < .001), and fewer visits to complete all consultations (1.1 v 4.3, P < .001). Thirty-three percent of patients seen in the MDC enrolled onto clinical research trials. CONCLUSION: In patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma undergoing neoadjuvant therapy, the establishment of a multidisciplinary pancreas tumor clinic led to improved patient access to consultations and shorter time to initial treatment.

Seriously ill patients' discussions of preparation and life completion: an intervention to assist with transition at the end of life.

OBJECTIVE: Patients approaching the end of life not only face challenges to physical well-being but also threats to emotional and spiritual integrity. Yet, identifying appropriate, effective, and brief interventions to address those concerns has proven elusive. We developed an intervention based on life review and emotional disclosure literatures and conducted a pilot study to determine feasibility and acceptability. This article presents qualitative intervention responses. METHOD: We conducted a three-armed randomized control trial to evaluate the effects of preparation and life completion discussion on health outcomes in patients with advanced serious illness. Hospice-eligible subjects were randomly assigned to one of three groups: (1) intervention (life completion discussion intervention), (2) attention control (relaxation meditation), and control (no intervention). Subjects in the intervention arm met with a facilitator three times. Session 1 focused on life story, Session 2 on forgiveness, and Session 3, on heritage and legacy. RESULTS: Eighteen subjects participated in the pilot intervention interviews. Subjects from a range of socioeconomic backgrounds completed the intervention with equal facility. Results from Session 1 demonstrate narrative responses participants gave as they reconnected with previous life roles, values, and accomplishments. The second session illustrated reflections of choices one might have made differently and exploration of forgiveness offered and sought. Content from the first and second sessions laid the foundation for discussing Session 3's lessons learned and heritage and legacy. Responses are summarized to assist clinicians in anticipating life review content that may improve overall quality of life at the end of life. SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS: Discussions of life completion may improve important health outcomes for patients at the end of life. This intervention may provide a brief, standardized, and transportable means for improving the quality of life of patients with advanced serious illness.

Effects of a palliative care intervention on clinical outcomes in patients with advanced cancer: the Project ENABLE II randomized controlled trial.

CONTEXT: There are few randomized controlled trials on the effectiveness of palliative care interventions to improve the care of patients with advanced cancer. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of a nursing-led intervention on quality of life, symptom intensity, mood, and resource use in patients with advanced cancer. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Randomized controlled trial conducted from November 2003 through May 2008 of 322 patients with advanced cancer in a rural, National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in New Hampshire and affiliated outreach clinics and a VA medical center in Vermont. INTERVENTIONS: A multicomponent, psychoeducational intervention (Project ENABLE [Educate, Nurture, Advise, Before Life Ends]) conducted by advanced practice nurses consisting of 4 weekly educational sessions and monthly follow-up sessions until death or study completion (n = 161) vs usual care (n = 161). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Quality of life was measured by the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy for Palliative Care (score range, 0-184). Symptom intensity was measured by the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (score range, 0-900). Mood was measured by the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (range, 0-60). These measures were assessed at baseline, 1 month, and every 3 months until death or study completion. Intensity of service was measured as the number of days in the hospital and in the intensive care unit (ICU) and the number of emergency department visits recorded in the electronic medical record. RESULTS: A total of 322 participants with cancer of the gastrointestinal tract (41%; 67 in the usual care group vs 66 in the intervention group), lung (36%; 58 vs 59), genitourinary tract (12%; 20 vs 19), and breast (10%; 16 vs 17) were randomized. The estimated treatment effects (intervention minus usual care) for all participants were a mean (SE) of 4.6 (2) for quality of life (P = .02), -27.8 (15) for symptom intensity (P = .06), and -1.8 (0.81) for depressed mood (P = .02). The estimated treatment effects in participants who died during the study were a mean (SE) of 8.6 (3.6) for quality of life (P = .02), -24.2 (20.5) for symptom intensity (P = .24), and -2.7 (1.2) for depressed mood (P = .03). Intensity of service did not differ between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION: Compared with participants receiving usual oncology care, those receiving a nurse-led, palliative care-focused intervention addressing physical, psychosocial, and care coordination provided concurrently with oncology care had higher scores for quality of life and mood, but did not have improvements in symptom intensity scores or reduced days in the hospital or ICU or emergency department visits. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00253383.

The project ENABLE II randomized controlled trial to improve palliative care for rural patients with advanced cancer: baseline findings, methodological challenges, and solutions.

OBJECTIVE: There is a paucity of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to evaluate models of palliative care. Although interventions vary, all have faced a variety of methodological challenges including adequate recruitment, missing data, and contamination of the control group. We describe the ENABLE II intervention, methods, and sample baseline characteristics to increase intervention and methodological transparency, and to describe our solutions to selected methodological issues. METHODS: Half of the participants recruited from our rural U.S. comprehensive cancer center and affiliated clinics were randomly assigned to a phone-based, nurse-led educational, care coordination palliative care intervention model. Intervention services were provided to half of the participants weekly for the first month and then monthly until death, including bereavement follow-up call to the caregiver. The other half of the participants were assigned to care as usual. Symptoms, quality of life, mood, and functional status were assessed every 3 months until death. RESULTS: Baseline data of 279 participants were similar to normative samples. Solutions to methodological challenges of recruitment, missing data, and "usual care" control group contamination are described. SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS: It is feasible to overcome many of the methodological challenges to conducting a rigorous palliative care RCT.

Beyond polarization, public preferences suggest policy opportunities to address aging, dying, and family caregiving.

Despite well-documented deficiencies and widespread suffering experienced by millions of elderly or ill Americans and their families, politicians rarely address end-of-life issues. Citizen Forums in New Hampshire surveyed 463 people regarding aging, serious illness, and caregiving. More than 80% indicated it was very or extremely important to have their dignity respected, preferences honored, pain controlled, and to not leave family with debt. Less than half strongly endorsed being kept alive as long as possible, prayed with or for, or having assisted-suicide available. Over 80% strongly endorsed palliative care requirements clinical licensure and reimbursement, expansion of family caregiver leave, respite care, and bereavement support. By avoiding actions which elicit strong divergence of opinion and focusing on actions on which consensus exists, public officials and candidates can respond to problems and improve care and experience for frail elders, dying Americans, and their families.

Palliative care in medical school curricula: a survey of United States medical schools.

OBJECTIVE: To provide an updated estimate of the extent and manner in which palliative care is incorporated in the curricula of U.S. medical schools. METHODS: Data were obtained from two sources: a 40-item written survey sent directly to deans of all 128 medical schools and corresponding information was obtained from the Curriculum Management and Information Tool (CurrMIT) national database of the Association of American Medical Colleges. RESULTS: Information was obtained from 47 of 128 (37%) medical schools; 30 through the survey and 17 through the CurrMIT database. "Palliative and Hospice Care" is a required course in 30% (n = 14) of responding medical schools and a required rotation in 19% (n = 9); 15% (n = 7) offer an elective course and 29% (n = 14) an elective rotation; and 53% (n = 25) integrate this subject into a required course. Of responding schools, 49% (n = 23) believe medical students should be evaluated in the care patients with advanced, incurable conditions during the clerkships; 30% (14) currently do so. CONCLUSIONS: A minority of U.S. medical schools from which information was obtained requires training in palliative care and evaluates students in their care of patients with advanced, incurable conditions. Most medical schools have chosen to include palliative care topics within existing courses. AAMC's existing database does not assess the scope or extent of coursework and rotations in palliative care. Guidelines are needed that address palliative care education and training of medical students.

Do preparation and life completion discussions improve functioning and quality of life in seriously ill patients? Pilot randomized control trial.

BACKGROUND: Significant palliative care intervention has focused on physical pain and symptom control; yet less empirical evidence supports efforts to address the psychosocial and spiritual dimensions of experience. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of an intervention (Outlook) that promotes discussions of end-of-life preparation and completion on health outcomes in dying persons, including pain and symptoms, physical function, emotional function (anxiety and depression), spiritual well-being, and quality of life at the end of life. DESIGN: A three-arm pilot randomized control trial. Subjects were recruited from inpatient and outpatient hospital, palliative care, and hospice settings. Intervention subjects met with a facilitator three times and discussed issues related to life review, forgiveness, and heritage and legacy. Attention control subjects met with a facilitator three times and listened to a nonguided relaxation CD. True control subjects received no intervention. MEASUREMENTS: Preoutcomes and postoutcomes included the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale, QUAL-E, Rosow-Breslau ADL Scale, Profile of Mood States anxiety sub-scale, the CESD short version, and the Daily Spiritual Experience Scale. RESULTS: Eighty-two hospice eligible patients enrolled in the study; 38 were women, 35 were African American. Participants' primary diagnoses included cancer (48), heart disease (5) lung disease (10), and other (19) Ages ranged from 28-96. Participants in the active discussion intervention showed improvements in functional status, anxiety, depression, and preparation for end of life. CONCLUSIONS: The Outlook intervention was acceptable to patients from a variety of educational and ethnic backgrounds and offers a brief, manualized, intervention for emotional and spiritual concerns.

Next of kin perspectives on the experience of end-of-life care in a community setting.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies of end-of-life experience have been conducted primarily in urban medical centers and mostly focused on preferences for rather than experience of care. OBJECTIVE: To describe family end-of-life experience and perceptions of care across clinical settings from a semirural community perspective, identifying experiences associated with patient quality of life as rated by next of kin. DESIGN: Retrospective study using structured interviews with decedents' next of kin and medical chart reviews. SETTING/SUBJECTS: Two hundred seven nonsudden deaths (24 hours of medical care immediately prior to death) in Missoula County, Montana, in 1996-1997. RESULTS: Family respondents rated quality of life for decedents at lifes's end on a 0-10 scale and were grouped according to their rating as good, moderate, or poor quality of life. Significant differences between groups were found for five elements of experience: severity and frequency of pain and other symptoms; ratings of pain management; adherence to care preferences; life enrichment activities; and communication between and among patients, family members, and professional caregivers. Higher family ratings were associated with a member of the health care team being responsible for the patient receiving the best care possible, and having someone familiar with the patient and family available nights and weekends. CONCLUSIONS: Opportunities exist in community health care settings to improve quality of life for people approaching life's end. Clinicians, patients, and patients' families can contribute by engaging in open and ongoing communication about preferences for care, symptoms and their management, activities designed to enrich patients' personal experiences, as well as having patient care coordination and continuity of care on nights and weekends.