Abstract
Letters to the Editor
Preliminary analysis of an ethics-approved retrospective case series of 100 community-dwelling hospice patients found 32% had recorded falls, yet only 4% had a falls risk identified in routine risk assessment. (page 827)
Brief Reports
Health social workers have the potential to integrate primary palliative social work skills into their practice, addressing the needs of seriously ill persons and an aging population. While there is an evolving clarity on the particular knowledge and competencies exemplifying advanced practice in health social work, much less attention has been paid to the process of acquiring these skills. (page 881)
Fast Facts and Concepts
Opioid-Induced Constipation Part II: Newer Therapies #295 (page 893)
Personal Reflection
As an upcoming palliative care fellow and K's primary oncology fellow, I did feel shame in not being the person to hand him the pen and paper to enable him to sign his advance care documents, because these papers so boldly honor both his wishes and his voice. To honor this process through to the actual paperwork is an opportunity to honor our patients. (page 899)
Book and Media Reviews
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Recent Literature
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Discussing Goals and End-of-Life Care Intensity
Among more than 600 veterans with metastatic cancer, early care planning discussions were associated with lower rates of acute care use at the end of their lives. (page 834)
Assessing Caregiver Perceptions of Care
Findings from a Coping with Cancer study suggest that place of death and hospice length of stay best predict bereaved caregiver evaluations of quality of end-of-life care. These findings may equip health care providers with modifiable targets to improve caregivers' experience of end-of-life care and subsequent bereavement. (page 849)
Nursing-Driven Discussions on Prognosis
The authors surveyed more than 270 nurses in outpatient heart failure clinics in Sweden and the Netherlands and found they infrequently discussed prognosis and end-of-life care. Many nurses did not identify these topics as a part of their professional role. (page 865)
Exploring Nonresponse Bias
Using an analysis of national survey data from bereaved families, the authors describe the importance of appropriately addressing nonresponses in the use of quality metrics. (page 858)
Measuring Quality of Life
Researchers report on the reliability and validity of a tool to measure quality of life in Chinese patients with malignant ascites. (page 829)
Evaluating Fellows' Self-Efficacy
The authors tested a new questionnaire for assessing self-efficacy and knowledge among pediatric palliative care fellows. They recommend the tool for fellowship programs, as well as for research studies assessing the effectiveness of palliative care educational interventions. (page 842)
Assessing Parents' Satisfaction with Perinatal Care
Researchers describe a valid and reliable instrument for measuring quality of care and satisfaction among parents who elect to continue a pregnancy after learning of a life-limiting fetal diagnosis. (page 872)