Palliative Care Commons^™

Conference Proceedings: Select Abstracts Presented At 2021 Advocate Aurora Health Scientific Day

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Abstracts published within this supplement were presented at the 47th annual Advocate Aurora Health Scientific Day, held virtually on May 26, 2021. This research symposium provides a forum for disseminating results from studies conducted by faculty, fellows, residents, and other allied health professionals associated with Midwest-based health system Advocate Aurora Health, which publishes the Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews.

A Light In The Dark: End-Of-Life Conversations In Advanced Cancer Patients Improve Caregiver Grief, Nicole Meeks

Clinical Research in Practice: The Journal of Team Hippocrates

A clinical decision report using:

Wright AA, Zhang B, Ray A, Mack JW, Trice E, Balboni T, Mitchell SL, Jackson VA, Block SD, Maciejewski PK, & Prigerson HG. Associations between end-of-life discussions, patient mental health, medical care near death, and caregiver bereavement adjustment. JAMA. 2008;300(14):1665-1673. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.300.14.1665

for a patient with end stage cancer and an anxious caregiver.

Social Networks And Barriers To Art Adherence Among Young Adults (18–24 Years) Living With Hiv At Selected Primary Health Facilities Of South-Western Uganda: A Qualitative Study, Noble Ajuna, Brian Tumusiime, Joseph Amanya, Sharon Awori, Godfrey Z. Rukundo, John Baptist Asiimwe

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Background

Young adults living with HIV (YALWH) struggle to maintain high levels of adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) because of numerous barriers. This study describes the social networks of YALWH (18–24 years), their barriers to ART adherence, and the perceived role of social networks in overcoming those barriers.

Methods

This study used a qualitative descriptive research design. Twenty-three (23) YALWH who were on ART for a period of greater than one (1) month and had consented to participate in the study were purposively selected from two primary health care facilities in southwestern Uganda. We held four (4) focus group discussions …

Palliative Care And Life-Sustaining/Local Procedures In Colorectal Cancer In The United States Hospitals: A Ten-Year Perspective, Zahra Mojtahedi, Ja Seol Koo, Ji Yoo, Pearl Kim, Hee-Taik Kang, Jinwook Hwang, Moon Kyung Joo, Jay J. Shen

School of Medicine Faculty Research

Background: In recent years, palliative care utilization has been increasing while life-sustaining/local procedures have been declining at the end of life. Palliative care utilization widely varies based on tumor type. Limited information is available on inpatient palliative care in colorectal cancer. Aims: This study investigated inpatient palliative care utilization and its association with patient demographics, hospital charges, and procedures among colorectal cancer patients admitted to US hospitals between 2008 and 2017. Receipt of life-sustaining and local procedures and surgeries were also investigated during the ten years. Methods: Data were extracted from the National inpatient sample (NIS) database containing de-identified information …

Inpatient Palliative Care Is Less Utilized In Rare, Fatal Extrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma: A Ten-Year National Perspective, Zahra Mojtahedi, Ji Won Yoo, Karen Callahan, Neeraj Bhandari, Donghui Lou, Katayoon Ghodsi, Jay J. Shen

School of Medicine Faculty Research

Background—Extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ECC) is a rare, morbid, fatal cancer with distressing symptoms. Maintaining a high quality of life while reducing hospital charges and length of stay (LOS) for the end-of-life period remains a major challenge for the healthcare system. Palliative care utilization has been shown to address these challenges; moreover, its use has increased in recent years among cancer patients. However, the utilization of palliative care in rare cancers, such as ECC, has not yet been explored. Objectives—To investigate palliative care utilization among ECC patients admitted to US hospitals between 2007 and 2016 and its association with patient demographics, clinical …

Data From Emergency Medicine Palliative Care Access (Empalla): A Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing The Effectiveness Of Specialty Outpatient Versus Telephonic Palliative Care Of Older Adults With Advanced Illness Presenting To The Emergency Department., Abigail M. Schmucker, Mara Flannery, Jeanne Cho, Keith S. Goldfeld, Corita Grudzen, Empalla Investigators

Student Papers, Posters & Projects

BACKGROUND: The Emergency Medicine Palliative Care Access (EMPallA) trial is a large, multicenter, parallel, two-arm randomized controlled trial in emergency department (ED) patients comparing two models of palliative care: nurse-led telephonic case management and specialty, outpatient palliative care. This report aims to: 1) report baseline demographic and quality of life (QOL) data for the EMPallA cohort, 2) identify the association between illness type and baseline QOL while controlling for other factors, and 3) explore baseline relationships between illness type, symptom burden, and loneliness.

METHODS: Patients aged 50+ years with advanced cancer (metastatic solid tumor) or end-stage organ failure (New York …

A Telehealth Palliative Care Objective Structured Clinical Examination, Lindsey Q. Mcintyre

Dissertations

Problem: Palliative care is a service focused on symptom management and improved quality of life for persons with serious or chronic illnesses and is widely underutilized. Although advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) possess a unique skillset to contribute to palliative care, there is minimal reporting on palliative care training for this professional group. The purpose of this clinical scholarship project was to implement the End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) online training program for APRN students in the BSN-DNP program and evaluate its effect on student performance during a telehealth objective structured clinical examination (OSCE).

Methods: An observational, descriptive …

Deprescribing In The Hospice Population, Who Is Eligible And Who Is Agreeable: A Quality Improvement Project, Ashlee Nicole Smith

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Current evidence recommends and supports deprescribing medications to reduce polypharmacy in the hospice population. The project aim was to determine accurate percentages of deprescribing at three time periods: before hospice admission, at hospice enrollment, and four weeks post hospice enrollment. This project was a retrospective review of the medication administration record (MAR) of patients admitted into Sharp Hospice from a Sharp Healthcare facility. Sharp Hospice, in California, USA, admitted 164 patients during August 2020. Of those, 34 patients were eligible for inclusion in this retrospective quality improvement review. Prior to discharge from a Sharp facility, the percentage of target medications …

Utilization Of A Palliative Care Trigger In The Surgical Intensive Care Unit, Gillian Love, Md, Shawn Mangan, Msn, Rnfa, Anp-Bc, Agacnp-Bc, Michelle Mckay, Phd, Rn, Ccrn, Joshua Marks, Md, Facs, John Liantonio, Md, Mba, Hmdc

Health Equity and Quality Improvement (HEQI) Summit

• Our project aims to expand palliative care availability in the SICU by implementing a consult trigger program.
• We also aim to learn about and measure compassion fatigue of providers within the SICU.

A Fully-Automated, Deep Learning-Based Framework For Ct-Based Localization, Segmentation, Verification And Planning Of Metastatic Vertebrae, Tucker Netherton, Tucker James Netherton

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Palliative radiotherapy is an effective treatment for the palliation of symptoms caused by vertebral metastases. Visible evidence of disease is localized on medical images as part of the treatment planning process. However, complicating factors such as time pressures, anatomic variants in the spine, and similarities in adjacent vertebrae are associated with wrong level treatments of the spine. In addition, erroneous manual contouring of anatomic structures is a major failure mode in radiotherapy treatment planning.

The purpose of this study is to mitigate the challenges associated with treatment planning of the spine by automating the treatment planning process for three-dimensional conformal …

Support For Family Members Who Are Caregivers To Relatives With Acquired Brain Injury, Janet Walker, Lourens Schlebusch, Bernhard Gaede

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

Objectives. Family members caring for a patient with acquired brain injury (ABI) are coping with inordinate levels of stress partially due to their lack of understanding of the neuropsychological effects of acquired brain injury in the patient. The objective of this research is to show that as the caregivers’ stress levels increase, there is an increase in suicidal ideation. This highlights the causal relationship between unhealthy stress and reduced psychological well-being in these caregivers. In addition, qualitative research evidence regarding the caregivers’ views of their main sources of stress are presented. Methods. The participants were a random sample of 80 …

Goals-Of-Care & End-Of-Life Quality In Relapsed High-Risk Leukemia: Silent Conversations, Lacy Jo Graham

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Project

BACKGROUND: The distorted association of “end of life (EOL)” with “goals of care (GOC)” has “silenced” crucial goals discussions in patients with relapsed high-risk leukemia, which raises concerns for the provision of care that is inconsistent with patient’s values and preferences.

AIM: The two main goals of this study were to quantify hematologists rate of participation in a GOC pathway initiative during two separate months, then explore their definition and barriers to having/documenting GOC discussions.

DESIGN: Mixed-methods, explanatory sequential design (follow-up explanations variant).

SAMPLE: Quan: Hematology inpatient admissions during the months of October 2020 and January …

Hospice Care For The Primary Physician, Katie Mechler, Md

Department of Family & Community Medicine Presentations and Grand Rounds

Objectives

• Palliative vs Hospice Care
• History of Hospice Care
• Description of the Hospice Benefit
• Review of Hospice Eligibility
• Discussing Hospice with your Patients

Catholic Terminal Sedation-A New Framework For Providing Terminal Palliative Sedation As A Requirement In Catholic Healthcare Organizations, Noah Dimas

Graduate Student Research Symposium

The present attitudes surrounding death and dying in the United States have been trending toward the acceptance of so-called “Assisted Death” interventions at the end-of-life (EoL), specifically Physician-Assisted Suicide. The acceptance of these interventions is rooted in the notion of autonomy within the American culture of medicine that generally states a patient is allowed to request whatever medical interventions they wish. As such, legislative bodies around the United States have begun to legalize Assisted Death in response to the regularly cited desire to die peacefully and without pain from an expected terminal illness. However, for Catholic healthcare organizations, there is …

Cultures Of Practice: Specialty-Specific Differences In End-Of-Life Conversations., Andre Morales, Kevan C Schultz, Shasha Gao, Alan Murphy, Amber E Barnato, Joseph B Fanning, Daniel E Hall

Ambulatory and Primary Care Articles

No abstract provided.

Addressing Psychosocial Outcomes Of Social Isolation In Older Adults, Megan Friesen, Madeline M. Christensen

Nursing DNP Projects

Purpose and Rationale

The aim of the evidence-based practice (EBP) project is to improve psychological outcomes for socially isolated older adults enrolled in a Homebound Program (HP) through the implementation of an EBP intervention. Social isolation has a multitude of negative consequences, including impacting the psychological health (e.g. depression, loneliness, anxiety) of the older adult population.

Synthesis of Evidence

Meta-analyses, systematic reviews, and randomized controlled trials addressing the clinical problem of social isolation were identified. Through critical appraisal of the evidence, physical activity, psychotherapy, and socialization interventions have shown to decrease depression and loneliness in older adults. There were mixed …

Treatment Of Orbital Lesions Using Cyberknife Stereotactic Radiosurgery, Emily Morahan

Student Research Poster Presentations 2021

The purpose of the research done was to evaluate the use of CyberKnife Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) for treating orbital lesions. Efficacy and tolerability of such treatment was analyzed with data drawn from multiple sources, regarding dose and fractionation, quality of life following treatment(s) and prognosis. CyberKnife SRS is the newest, most advanced model of radiation delivery systems, featuring a robotic arm capable of manipulating the linear accelerator into thousands of unique angles. The addition of new angles allows for a more precise concentration of radiation delivered to the lesions. In the case of optic lesions, it is crucial to minimize …

Studying Emotions In Tele-Palliative Care, A Small Formative Study, Eric Anderson, Rebecca Hutchinson, Mollie Ruben, Noah Manning, Kathleen Walsh, Robert Gramling, Paul Han

Costas T. Lambrew Research Retreat 2021

Can emotional connection be formed in virtual consults?

Partnership Between Islam And Palliative Care At Swedish Health Services (First Hill And Cherry Hill), Hodo Mohamud

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

INTRODUCTION  The spiritual practice of Islam is considered one of the three major monotheistic religions. There is minimal research about Palliative care and Muslim patients in both Muslim majority and Muslim minority countries. Engaging in internal assessment of palliative care provision to Muslim patients is important for quality care. This project aimed to examine gaps in Palliative needs assessment of Muslims in one institution.

OBJECTIVES Assess Swedish palliative care team’s barriers to spiritual care (SC) and baseline knowledge of Islamic influences on healthcare. Interview Muslim patients and insights from a Muslim Imam trained in chaplaincy about PC experience. Develop …

Palliative Performance Scale As A Prognostic Tool For Patients With Dementia In Hospice, Alexandria Nasr

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Objective: Palliative and hospice care have been shown to benefit people with dementia and their families. However, for patients with dementia who are nearing the end of life, hospice referral can be challenging because of the difficulty in predicting prognosis. The objective of this retrospective, exploratory study is two-fold: (1) to describe trajectories by analyzing trends in Palliative Performance Scale (PPS) scores for patients admitted to hospice with a neurocognitive disorder from time of enrollment to time of disenrollment and (2) to determine the relationship between PPS and length of stay (LOS) in hospice care.

Methods: The setting for the …

Promotion Of Most Forms Through Education About Importance Of Advance Care Planning In Seriously Ill Patients, Nidhi More

DNP Projects

Abstract

Purpose: To establish the importance of early Advance Care Planning (ACP) and improve the utilization of Medical Orders for Scope of Treatment (MOST) forms in seriously ill patients by educating providers and nurses to identify patients who meet specified criteria. The goals of this intervention are reduction of readmissions and better quality of life for this patient population.

Methods: A quasi-experimental design was used for evaluation of an Educational intervention to promote MOST forms, Advance Directives (AD) and Palliative Care (PC) consults. A retrospective and prospective chart review was conducted to determine the number of patients who met criteria …

Association Of Incident Cancer To Low-Value Care And Healthcare Cost Burden Among Elderly Medicare Beneficiaries, Chibuzo Iloabuchi

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In the United States (US), 25% of healthcare spending is considered wasteful because it is spent reimbursing low-value care. Low-value care is the utilization of healthcare services, medical tests, and procedures that have unclear or no clinical benefit to patients but still exposes them to risk. World-wide, low-value care imposes a significant economic burden on patients, payers, governments, and society. Cancer care among older adults > 65 years is one of the biggest drivers of healthcare expenditure in the US and accounts for nearly 40% of all spending, and low-value care among cancer patients is prevalent and contributes to the financial …

Advance Care Planning And Palliative Care In Heart Failure: A Literature Review, Laura Dack

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Despite advancing therapies, heart failure remains a progressive disease with high symptom burden. Advance care planning and palliative care assist in maximizing the quality of life for affected individuals. These interventions are supported by current heart failure guidelines yet application into practice is poor. The purpose of this literature review is to investigate the relationship between advance care planning and palliative care interventions on the quality of life of adults with heart failure. A search of the literature was completed between October 20^th, 2020 to November 10^th, 2020. Databases searched include Academic Search Premier, CINAHL Plus, …

Reducing Polypharmacy In Older Adults At End Of Life: The Outcome On Quality Of Life, Melissa Jenson

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Background: Older adults at the end of life are commonly prescribed multiple medications which can lead to polypharmacy. Research has shown that optimizing medications through targeted deprescribing reduces inappropriate medications, reduces adverse effects and improves select outcomes. However, the impact of deprescribing remains uncertain--specifically whether this intervention improves quality of life (QOL). Objective: Explore polypharmacy in older adults at the end of life examining outcomes of deprescribing on the QOL. Methods: A systematic literature search using Academic Search Premier, CINAHL, Medline, JSTOR and Nursing and Allied Health Database was conducted between October 2020 to November 2020. Select articles …

Sleep-Related Problems, Sleep-Related Distress, And Sleep-Related Functional Status Among Adult Inpatients Receiving Palliative Care, Lisa C. Sievers

Theses and Dissertations

Palliative care patients may be at a higher risk for sleep-related problems and their negative effects compared to the general population, yet limited sleep research has been done with this population. The purpose of this dissertation was to determine prevalence rates for excessive sleepiness, insomnia, restless legs syndrome (RLS), and high risk for sleep apnea (HRSA); examine relationships between the aforementioned sleep-related problems, sleep-related distress (SD), and sleep-related functional status (SFS); and to determine which sleep-related problem measures along with age and gender predicted SD and SFS among a sample of adult palliative care inpatients. Secondary aims were to understand …

Hospice Response To Covid-19: Promoting Sustainable Inclusion Strategies For Racial And Ethnic Minorities, M. Courtney Hughes, Erin Vernon

Faculty Articles, Papers, and Other Scholarship

There is a disproportionate burden of illness and death among racial/ethnic minorities related to COVID-19. The importance of reaching groups suffering the most with resources such as advance directive guidance, telehealth, and culturally sensitive education materials is vital to providing quality, inclusive care. A crisis presents an opportunity to unite and problem-solve to help avoid the dire consequences facing inaction. In this way, inclusive responses by hospices, social workers, other community partners during the COVID-19 pandemic can help reach and alleviate the pain of those groups most afflicted. We offer hospice inclusion strategies that align with general pandemic response trends …

The Use Of Life-Like Robotic Animals In The Acute Care Setting To Assist In The Care Of Patients With Dementia, Abby Denby

Doctors of Nursing Practice (DNP) Final Projects, 2020-current

The purpose of this pilot project was to describe the effect of life-like robotic animals on the nurses’ ability to provide care, patients’ level of agitation, use of antipsychotic medications, restraint and sitter use for patients with dementia in an acute care setting. Nurses report challenges and feelings of helplessness while caring for patients with dementia. Dementia may cause depression, agitation, aggression (physical or verbal) and a decrease quality of life. Animal Assisted Therapy (ATT) is a growing therapy in many healthcare settings but there is a lack of literature specifically related to the use of AAT in the acute …

Earlier Palliative Care Referrals For Nephrology Patients, Jerold Cohen

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Palliative care prevents and relieves suffering through the early identification and treatment of pain and other symptoms, which can be physical, psychosocial, or spiritual (World Health Organization, 2018). It is usually considered a service provided to oncology patients and has positively impacted their treatment. However, it is not as common for many other diseases where the patient would benefit from palliative care involvement. Presently, if palliative care is offered to nephrology patients, it is after they have started dialysis and are having second thoughts whether to continue this treatment plan as it has either become less effective or is interfering …

Bhsf Palliative Care: Covid-19 Response, Ana Viamonte Ros, Nivia Ruiz, Brenda Daniels, Mayra Villalba

Nursing & Health Sciences Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Nurses' Attitudes Toward Physician-Assisted Suicide, Cheyenne Star Lowrey-Lagrone

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Physician-assisted suicide, or PAS, is end-of-life option in which patients self-administer physician-prescribed lethal medication to end their life. Nurses' own interpretations and understandings of the legalities, ethical dilemmas, and factors that influence their attitudes can be analyzed to determine the nurses’ role in the support or opposition of the practice. Although nurses do not have an active role in PAS, they play a pivotal role in patient advocacy and education. This paper analyzes the factors that contribute to nurses’ attitudes toward the practice, along with the benefits of education of this topic going forth.