Goals of care discussions in acute hospital admissions - Qualitative description of perspectives from patients, family and their doctors.

OBJECTIVE: Goals of care discussions guide care for hospital inpatients at risk of deterioration. We aimed to explore patient and family experience of goals of care during the first 72 h of admission along with their doctor's perspective. METHODS: A qualitative descriptive study. Patients, family and doctors who participated in a goals of care discussion during an acute hospital admission at an Australian tertiary teaching hospital were interviewed in 2019. RESULTS: Many participants found goals of care discussions appropriate and reported understanding. However, communication was commonly procedure-focused, with questioning about preferences for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and intubation. Some considered the discussion as inapplicable to their state of health, and occasionally surprising. Participants commonly related goals of care with death, and without context, this led to fear of abandonment. Previous experience with end of life care influenced decision-making. Preference for family presence was clear. CONCLUSIONS: This study identifies deficiencies in goals of care communication in the acute hospital setting. Discussions are life-saving-procedure focused, leading to poor understanding and potentially distress, and jeopardising patient-centred care. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Assessment of patient values and clear communication on the aims of goals of care discussions is essential to optimise patient and institutional outcomes. Clinicians should consider environment and invite family participation.

Psychiatric admission during pregnancy in women with schizophrenia who attended a specialist antenatal clinic.

Objectives: The mental health and wellbeing of pregnant women with schizophrenia is an area of research interest. We aim to explore this relationship particularly in regards to psychiatric admission rates, timing and their associated contributing factors. Methods: A total of 98 pregnancies to women with schizophrenia, who attended a specialist antenatal clinic and delivered from July 2007 to February 2016, were retrospectively examined. The cohort was divided into two groups based on psychiatric admission. Descriptive data were analyzed using SPSS software. Results: Overall, 40.8% required psychiatric admission during pregnancy. A higher proportion of subjects had their initial psychiatric admission in the first trimester compared to the third trimester (p = .002). Of note, 10.2% were admitted within one month either side of conception. Women with admission also presented later for their first antenatal appointment (p = .04, 95% CI -2.1 to -1.9). Psychiatric admission was associated with substance (p = .014) and alcohol use (p = .001), child protective services involvement (p = .022) and infant being placed in out-of-home care (p = .01), but not with poorer obstetric or neonatal outcomes. Conclusion: High rates of psychiatric admission are evident throughout pregnancy for women with schizophrenia, with a high proportion of first presentations for admission occurring in the first trimester. Psychiatric admission is associated with poorer antenatal care attendance and adverse psychosocial outcomes, highlighting the need for enhanced multidisciplinary pregnancy care for this at risk group. Inpatient psychiatric services should consider pregnancy testing and contraception review for all women of childbearing age, admitted with schizophrenia.

Meta-analysis to determine if surgical resection of the primary tumour in the setting of stage IV breast cancer impacts on survival.

INTRODUCTION: The role of primary tumor excision in patients with stage IV breast cancer is unclear. Therefore, a meta-analysis of relevant studies was performed to determine whether surgical excision of the primary tumor enhances oncological outcome in the setting of stage IV breast cancer. METHODS: A comprehensive search for relevant published trials that evaluated outcomes following excision of the primary tumor in stage IV breast cancer was performed using MEDLINE and available data were cross-referenced. Data were extracted following review of appropriate studies by authors. The primary outcome was overall survival following surgical removal of the primary tumor. RESULTS: Data from ten studies included 28,693 patients with stage IV disease of whom 52.8% underwent excision of the primary carcinoma. Surgical excision of the primary tumor in the setting of stage IV breast cancer was associated with a superior survival at 3 years (40% (surgery) versus 22% (no surgery) (odds ratio 2.32, 95% confidence interval 2.08-2.6, p<0.01). Subgroup analyses for selection of patients for surgery or not, favored smaller primary tumors, less competing medical comorbidities and lower metastatic burden (p<0.01). There was no statistical difference between the two groups regarding location of metastatic disease, grade of tumor, or receptor status. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with stage IV disease undergoing surgical excision of the primary tumor achieve a superior survival rate then their nonsurgical counterparts. In the absence of robust evidence, this meta-analysis provides evidence base for primary resection in the setting of stage IV breast cancer for appropriately selected patients.