scholarly journals P072: Comparing met vs. unmet palliative care needs in patients with end-stage conditions presenting to two Canadian emergency departments

CJEM ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (S1) ◽  
pp. S89 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Garrido Clua ◽  
M. Kruhlak ◽  
S. Kirkland ◽  
C. Villa-Roel ◽  
A. Elwi ◽  
...  

Introduction: Patients with end-stage conditions require integrated physical, spiritual, psychological and social care. Despite efforts to provide comprehensive community care, those with severe symptoms often present to emergency departments (EDs) with palliative care (PC) needs. The objective of this study was to identify patients with end-stage diagnoses presenting to EDs, and to document and compare their PC needs. Methods: A four-month prospective cohort study was conducted in two Canadian EDs. Using a modified PC screening tool, volunteer emergency physicians identified adult patients with end-stage illnesses and documented their PC needs. This tool has the ability to classify patients as having met vs. unmet PC needs based on the documentation of risk factors. Research assistants documented demographic information, severity at presentation (Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale {CTAS}), disposition and revisits from an electronic repository. Bivariate comparisons between patients with met vs. unmet PC needs were completed. Results: Overall, 663 patients were enrolled, of which 78% (n = 518/663) were identified as having unmet PC needs according to the screening tool. Cancer was the most prevalent condition in each group (43% unmet needs, 37% met needs). There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of age, sex or CTAS score. The unmet PC needs group was more likely to be admitted (68% vs. 50%; p = 0.0001) when compared to patients with PC needs assessed as being met. No significant difference was noted in terms of time to physician assessment or ED length of stay. The two groups did not significantly differ in the proportion of return visits within 30 days (34% vs. 32%) or the average number of return visits (3 vs. 2 visits). A higher proportion of patients with unmet PC needs made at least one visit to the ED in the 6 months prior to their index visit compared to patients with met PC needs (74% vs. 51%, p < 0.001); yet, the average number of ED visits was similar between the groups (3 visits). Conclusion: This study revealed that patients with end-stage diagnoses, especially cancer, commonly have unmet PC needs. They are also more likely to present to the ED and to require hospitalization than patients in whom PC needs have been met. Further investigations into their clinical profile and health care utilization may clarify the impact of their unmet PC needs on the healthcare system.

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 473-477 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandria Bear ◽  
Tucker Keuter ◽  
Jayshil J. Patel

Background: Providing accurate and valid prognostic information significantly influences end-of-life care. Disclosing a poor prognosis can be among the most difficult of physician responsibilities, thus having appropriate knowledge during training is crucial for appropriate prognostication. Objective: To provide internal medicine (IM) house staff with a pre- and posteducational survey to determine their ability to accurately prognosticate 5 common end-stage diseases. Design: We conducted a pre- and posteducational intervention survey-based study. A preintervention survey was administered to IM postgraduate year 1 (PGY-1) and PGY-2-4 house staff. The survey consisted of case scenarios for 5 common end-stage diseases, containing 1 question on comfort level and 2 on prognostication (totaling 10 points). A 30-minute educational intervention was presented immediately after the initial survey. The same survey was readministered 4 weeks thereafter. An identical survey was administered once to palliative care faculty. Results: Forty house staff completed pre- and posteducational surveys. Eight palliative care faculty completed the survey. No difference was found between all house staff pre- and postscores (mean 2.70 [1.45] vs 2.78 [1.59], P = .141). There was no significant difference between PGY-1 and PGY-2-4 pretest scores (mean 2.63 [1.71] vs 2.81 [1.42], P = .72). The PGY-2-4 posttest score was significantly greater than PGY-1 posttest score (3.38 [1.58] vs 2.38 [1.58], P = .05). Total house staff posttest score was significantly lower than gold standard palliative care faculty (mean 4.71 [1.98] vs 2.78 [1.59], P = .006). Conclusions: Our pre–post intervention survey-based study demonstrates no significant increases in all house staff scores. The PGY-2-4 postintervention scores improved significantly. We speculate the optimal time for prognostication education may be after the PGY-1 year when house staff have had sufficient exposure to common conditions.


Gut ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. gutjnl-2021-324879
Author(s):  
Luca Saverio Belli ◽  
Christophe Duvoux ◽  
Paolo Angelo Cortesi ◽  
Rita Facchetti ◽  
Speranta Iacob ◽  
...  

ObjectiveExplore the impact of COVID-19 on patients on the waiting list for liver transplantation (LT) and on their post-LT course.DesignData from consecutive adult LT candidates with COVID-19 were collected across Europe in a dedicated registry and were analysed.ResultsFrom 21 February to 20 November 2020, 136 adult cases with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection from 33 centres in 11 European countries were collected, with 113 having COVID-19. Thirty-seven (37/113, 32.7%) patients died after a median of 18 (10–30) days, with respiratory failure being the major cause (33/37, 89.2%). The 60-day mortality risk did not significantly change between first (35.3%, 95% CI 23.9% to 50.0%) and second (26.0%, 95% CI 16.2% to 40.2%) waves. Multivariable Cox regression analysis showed Laboratory Model for End-stage Liver Disease (Lab-MELD) score of ≥15 (Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) score 15–19, HR 5.46, 95% CI 1.81 to 16.50; MELD score≥20, HR 5.24, 95% CI 1.77 to 15.55) and dyspnoea on presentation (HR 3.89, 95% CI 2.02 to 7.51) being the two negative independent factors for mortality. Twenty-six patients underwent an LT after a median time of 78.5 (IQR 44–102) days, and 25 (96%) were alive after a median follow-up of 118 days (IQR 31–170).ConclusionsIncreased mortality in LT candidates with COVID-19 (32.7%), reaching 45% in those with decompensated cirrhosis (DC) and Lab-MELD score of ≥15, was observed, with no significant difference between first and second waves of the pandemic. Respiratory failure was the major cause of death. The dismal prognosis of patients with DC supports the adoption of strict preventative measures and the urgent testing of vaccination efficacy in this population. Prior SARS-CoV-2 symptomatic infection did not affect early post-transplant survival (96%).


2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 485-492 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jackie Robinson ◽  
Merryn Gott ◽  
Clare Gardiner ◽  
Christine Ingleton

ObjectiveTo explore the impact of environment on experiences of hospitalisation from the perspective of patient's with palliative care needs.MethodsA qualitative study design using longitudinal semistructured, face-to-face interviews were used to elicit the views of patients with palliative care needs admitted to hospital in 1 large urban acute hospital in New Zealand. The sample comprised of 14 patients admitted to hospital between July 2013 and March 2014 who met one of the Gold Standard Framework Prognostic Indicators for palliative care need.ResultsAlmost all participants described a range of factors associated with the environment which impacted negatively on their experiences of hospitalisation. This included challenges with the physical surroundings, the impact on social relationships with other patients, families and health professionals and the influence of the cultural milieu of the hospital setting.ConclusionsEmulating the ‘ideal’ environment for palliative care such as that provided in a hospice setting is an unrealistic goal for acute hospitals. Paying attention to the things that can be changed, such as enabling family to stay and improving the flexibility of the physical environment while improving the social interplay between patients and health professionals, may be a more realistic approach than replicating the hospice environment in order to reduce the burden of hospitalisations for patients with palliative care needs.


2019 ◽  
Vol 57 (2) ◽  
pp. 510-511
Author(s):  
Sandhya Mudumbi ◽  
Macy Stockdill ◽  
Nicholas Hoppmann ◽  
James Dionne-Odom ◽  
Brendan McGuire ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S36-S36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annica Backman ◽  
Anders Sköldunger

Abstract A critical challenge facing aged care systems throughout the world is to meet the complex care needs of a growing population of older persons. Although person-centred care has been advocated as the “gold standard” and a key component of high quality of care, the significance of care utilization in person-centred units as well as the impact of person-centred care on resident quality of life and staff job strain in nursing home care is yet to be explored. Thus, the aim was to explore person-centred care and its association to resource use, resident quality of life and staff job strain. The study is based on a cross-sectional national survey and data on 4831 residents and 3605 staff were collected by staff in 2014, deriving from nursing homes in 35 Swedish municipalities. In this study, descriptive statistics and regression modelling were used to explore this association. The preliminary results showed that person-centred care was positively associated to resource use (i.e care hours) and resident quality of life in Swedish nursing homes, when controlling for resident age, gender and cognitive status. Person-centred care was negatively associated to staff perception of job strain. This indicates that person-centred care provision seem to increase resource use (i.e. slightly more care hours utilized) but also beneficially impact resident quality of life as well as alleviate care burden in terms job strain among staff.


Sexualities ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 136346072093238
Author(s):  
Claude Chidiac

The available evidence demonstrates that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people face challenges when accessing palliative care services, and receive suboptimal care at the end of life. This is mainly attributed to assumed heterosexuality, lack of knowledge and understanding of LGBT issues and specific healthcare needs, discrimination, homophobia, and transphobia. In Lebanon, legal and institutional support for LGBT individuals is minimal, and palliative care provision remains scarce and fragmented. This compounds the impact of social stigma and marginalisation, and results in unrecognised palliative and end of life care needs for the LGBT individual. This short commentary discusses the development of an LGBT palliative care workshop in Lebanon, which was the first initiative of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. It also explores how this initiative has led to further developments, and how these efforts can be replicated in other countries in the MENA region.


2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 263-266
Author(s):  
Bharath Lakkappa ◽  
Sanjay Shah ◽  
Stephen Rogers ◽  
Leanne Helen Holman

ObjectivesIntermediate care services have been introduced to help mitigate unnecessary hospital demand and premature placement in long-term residential care. Many patients are elderly and/or with complex comorbidities, but little consideration has been given to the palliative care needs of patients referred to intermediate care services. The objective of this study is to determine the proportion of patients referred to a community-based intermediate care team who died during care and up to 24 months after discharge and so to help inform the development of supportive and palliative care in this setting.MethodsA retrospective cohort study of all 4770 adult patients referred to Northamptonshire Intermediate Care Team (ICT) between 11 April 2010 and 10 April 2011.ResultsOf 4770 patients referred, 60% were 75 years or older and 32% were 85 years of age or older. 4.0% of patients died during their ICT stay and 11% within 30 days of discharge. At the end of 12 months, 25% of the patients had died, increasing to 32% before the end of the second year. About 34% of all deaths occurred during the ICT stay or within 30 days of discharge, and a further 46% by the end of the first year. Male gender and higher age were associated with greater likelihood of death.ConclusionsIt is important for ICT clinicians to consider immediate and longer-term palliative care needs among patients referred to ICTs. Care models involving ICTs and palliative care teams working together could enable more people with end-stage non-cancer illnesses to die at home.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1321-1327
Author(s):  
Quang V. Le ◽  
Huy L. Trinh ◽  
Kim Ngan T. Mai ◽  
Manh D. Pham ◽  
Paul A. Glare

PURPOSE To evaluate a screening tool for identifying which patients admitted to the oncology ward of a Vietnamese hospital should be referred to specialist palliative care (PC). METHODS We performed a cross-sectional survey of consecutive patients hospitalized in the Department of Oncology and Palliative Care at Hanoi Medical University Hospital between June 2019 and September 2019. We translated a validated 11-item screening tool into Vietnamese and used a total score of ≥ 5 as a positive screen. RESULTS One hundred participants were recruited. Forty-four patients (44%) screened positive. Of these, 37 (84%) had locally advanced or metastatic disease, 31 (70%) had uncontrolled symptoms, and 43 (98%) requested a PC consultation. A score ≥ 5 was significantly more common in patients with stage IV disease versus earlier stage, performance status of Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) 2 versus ECOG 0, and when life-limiting complications of cancer were present. Screening identified four patients overlooked by oncologists as needing referral, and 34% of patients requesting a referral had scores < 5. CONCLUSION This screening tool provided oncologists with easy-to-use criteria for referring patients for PC. At the same time, it relieved the work load for under-resourced PC physicians by screening out requests with low-level need. This tool should be part of routine assessment on admission in all oncology units in Vietnam.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Anahita Dua ◽  
Sapan S. Desai ◽  
Harvey J. Woehlck ◽  
Cheong J. Lee

Introduction. A deficiency in vitamin K through the utilization of warfarin may result in increased vascular calcification and complications. This study aimed to determine the impact of warfarin administration on patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) in a large, national sample. Methods. A retrospective analysis using the 2005–2010 National Inpatient Sample (NIS), a part of the Health Care Utilization Project (HCUP), was completed using ICD-9 diagnosis codes to capture patients with ESRD prescribed and not prescribed warfarin. Statistical analysis was through ANOVA and chi-squared testing. Results. From 2005–2010, 927,814 patients with ESRD were identified nationally. 3.5% (32,737) were prescribed warfarin. Patients prescribed warfarin had an average age of 64 years and 51% were male. For every comorbid condition (amputation, congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, cerebrovascular accident, diabetes, hypertension, myocardial infarction, peripheral vascular diasese, and valvular disease) patients prescribed Warfarin had significantly higher rates of disease as compared to their nonwarfarin ESRD counterparts. ESRD patients prescribed warfarin had significantly shorter length of stay but increased hospital charges. They were more likely to be discharged to home and had significantly decreased in-hospital mortality. Conclusion. Patients with ESRD taking warfarin are more likely to have comorbidities and/or complications but have a decreased LOS and in-hospital mortality compared to their ESRD counterparts not administered warfarin.


2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (8_suppl) ◽  
pp. 80-80
Author(s):  
Mohammad Omar Atiq ◽  
Rahul Ravilla ◽  
Ajay Kumar ◽  
Sajjad Haider ◽  
Ji-Ling Tang ◽  
...  

80 Background: Numerous studies established that early utilization of palliative care-hospice services are beneficial to cancer patients. To reduce the incidence of aggressive care in terminal cancer patients, we conducted a quality improvement study to identify pertinent risk factors and develop interventions. Methods: Through chart review, we retrospectively identified patients with stage IV cancer that were followed by oncology clinic and were admitted to the University Hospital between 8/1/2015-10/31/15. For those patients who died during the last hospitalization or were discharged to hospice care, we obtained demographic, cancer related and practice related variables listed in Table. We used Mann Whitney U test and multivariable regression to find effects of factors related to length of stay (LOS) and cost of stay (COS). Results: Length of stay was significantly prolonged in those receiving chemotherapy within the past month (6 vs 3 p=0.035). Multivariate analyses found that patients with goals of care documented in the clinic had lower COS by 36.7% and LOS by 46.7%. On average, an ICU stay resulted in COS 2.2 times higher. No significant difference was seen in LOS based on a documented palliative care clinic visit or presence of an advanced directive. Conclusions: We identified practice based factors that need improvement including earlier goals of care conversations and less chemotherapy at the end of life. Identifying end stage patients in earlier admissions, collaborating with palliative care, and adding goals of care documentation to clinic note templates, are all interventions we are studying to improve care for end stage cancer patients. [Table: see text]


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