Literature Review
All posts tagged with “Research News.”
Hospice - The time is now for additional integrity oversight
02/15/25 at 02:00 AMHospice - The time is now for additional integrity oversightJAMA Forum; by Joan M. Teno; 4/23...Leading hospice organizations are calling for more oversight. The National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation, LeadingAge, the National Association for Home Care & Hospice, and the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization provided a comprehensive set of recommendations to preserve the integrity of hospice. These organizations are returning to the historic mission of hospice: to improve care for dying persons and support for their family members... The recommendations put forth by the 4 hospice organizations are important. Further reforms also are needed.
Access tops list of Americans' healthcare concerns: 4 survey findings
02/11/25 at 03:00 AMAccess tops list of Americans' healthcare concerns: 4 survey findings Becker's Clinical Leadership; by Erica Carbajal; 2/5/25A quarter of Americans rank healthcare access and affordability as the top public health priority they want government leaders to focus on, according to poll findings from Gallup and Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health. ... Four key findings:
Researchers outline new research priorities in neuropalliative care
02/10/25 at 03:00 AMResearchers outline new research priorities in neuropalliative care UNC Health and UNC School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC; by Winnie K. Lau, MD and David Y. Hwang, MD2/7/25... An emerging field, termed “neuropalliative care,” has taken shape over the past few years to help provide impactful, holistic care for patients with serious neurological disease. And now, experts in the field are seeking ways to improve the overall wellbeing of their patients and loved ones through the power of research. ... A special communication in JAMA Neurology, first-authored by Winnie K. Lau, MD, a neurocritical care physician and associate professor of neurology and senior-authored by David Y. Hwang, MD, professor of neurology and division chief of neurocritical care, describes needed research that can help advance patient care, including:
Care for patients with a history of immigration
02/08/25 at 03:45 AMCare for patients with a history of immigrationJAMA; Margaret Wheeler, MS, MD; Juan Raul Gutierrez, MD; Alicia Fernandez, MD; 1/25Home to 20% of the world’s immigrants, the US is the leading destination for people leaving their birth countries, and the US Census estimates that almost 14% of the US population in 2022 was born outside the US. ... The 2023 US Preventive Services Task Force Guideline on screening for latent tuberculosis recommends screening for tuberculosis in patients from Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and Russia because in 2020, 71% of cases of active tuberculosis in the US occurred among individuals from these areas. Assessment of clinically relevant premigration factors involves consideration of the epidemiology of disease, health care practices, and sociopolitical and environmental exposures in an immigrant’s country of origin. These factors can alter risk assessment in differential diagnoses; for example, neurocysticercosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of seizures in a patient from Central America.
Medically recommended vs nonmedical cannabis use among US adults
02/08/25 at 03:40 AMMedically recommended vs nonmedical cannabis use among US adultsJAMA Psychiatry; Beth Han, MD, PhD, MPH; Wilson M. Compton, MD, MPE; Emily B. Einstein, PhD; Nora D. Volkow, MD; 1/25With increases in cannabis use for medical purposes and its perceived benefits, patients and clinicians need to be aware of its potential risks. Results showed that adults aged 18 to 49 years reporting medical-only or medical-nonmedical cannabis use vs nonmedical-only use had higher prevalence of CUD [cannabis use disorder] at all severity levels and reported more frequent cannabis use. These findings suggest that medically recommended cannabis is not associated with reduced addiction risk compared with nonmedical use. Clinicians should consider addiction risk before recommending medical cannabis and, if they do, should monitor for CUD emergence.
The National Donor Family Council: History, activities, achievements, and legacies
02/08/25 at 03:35 AMThe National Donor Family Council: History, activities, achievements, and legaciesOmega-Journal of Death and Dying; Margaret B Coolican, Charles A Corr; 1/25The National Donor Family Council (NDFC) functioned under the sponsorship of the National Kidney Foundation from 1992-2014. Giving voice to the needs and views of donor families, the NDFC had an important impact on the support for those families. This article records significant points in the advocacy of donor families, summarizes the history of the NDFC, highlights the various activities and achievements of the NDFC, and offers some impressions of its legacies.
Assessment of organ donation knowledge and attitudes among patients visiting the nephrology outpatient clinic at a tertiary healthcare facility
02/08/25 at 03:30 AMAssessment of organ donation knowledge and attitudes among patients visiting the nephrology outpatient clinic at a tertiary healthcare facilityOmega-Journal of Death and Dying; Ezgi Yarasir, Mehtap Gomleksiz, Muhammet Ridvan Gomleksiz, Ayhan Dogukan; 1/25This study aims to assess the knowledge levels, attitudes, and influencing factors related to organ donation among patients who visited the Nephrology outpatient clinic. A total of 37.5% of the participants stated that they were considering organ donation. Participants with a high school education or higher, those who believed they had sufficient knowledge about organ donation, and those who had a family member awaiting organ transplantation demonstrated a positive attitude toward organ donation ... Understanding societal knowledge and attitudes about organ donation is crucial for assessing individual awareness of this issue.
Flaws in the Medicare Advantage Star Ratings
02/08/25 at 03:25 AMFlaws in the Medicare Advantage Star RatingsJAMA Health Forum; David J. Meyers, PhD, MPH; Amal N. Trivedi, MD; Andrew M. Ryan, PhD; 1/25The objective of the star ratings is to help beneficiaries select better plans, and to reward plans that deliver high-quality care. In June 2024, a US district court judge ruled that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) inappropriately calculated Medicare Advantage (MA) Star ratings due to not implementing a previously announced statistical adjustment. First, it is not clear if the star ratings are actually capturing a higher quality, as several measures in the star rating are reported by the plans themselves and plans often overstate their performance. Second, over 80% of contracts by enrollment are rated 4 stars or higher, which is the threshold needed to earn bonus payments, and a single star rating is assigned to each contract even when contracts may cover many different states and regions. Third, while bonus payments for star ratings are costly, plans eligible for enhanced bonuses have not shown greater improvement in measures related to clinical quality or administrative effectiveness. Taken together, the current star ratings are neither useful for all beneficiaries to make their plan decisions, nor do they appear to be capturing quality or catalyzing improvement.
What matters to older Native Hawaiians?: A qualitative study of care preferences
02/08/25 at 03:20 AMWhat matters to older Native Hawaiians?: A qualitative study of care preferencesJournal of Palliative Medicine; by Miquela Ibrao, Rachel Burrage, Shelley Muneoka, Keilyn L Kawakami, Tarin T Tanji, Leslie Tanoue, Kathryn L Braun; 12/24Formal assessment of What Matters in end-of-life care is often done in medical settings through legal forms. Past research indicates that Native Hawaiians are less likely to complete these forms than Whites. The purpose of this study was to explore health care preferences among Native Hawaiian elders and to identify cultural themes that may impact quality care at end of life. Themes suggest the criticality of: (1) incorporating cultural traditions into health care routines; (2) involving family in health and end-of-life decisions; (3) supporting home-based care at the end of life; and (4) building strong patient-provider relationships. Although findings parallel preferences expressed in other populations, the data provide additional insights into the preferences of Native Hawaiian elders anticipating end-of-life care. Recommendations for culturally competent care include: (1) develop relationships with Native Hawaiian patients well before end-of-life care is needed to facilitate discussions of care preferences; (2) work collaboratively with the patient and the patient's defined family; (3) ask about cultural practices and engage traditional healers as directed by the patient; and (4) provide services in patients' homes and communities.
Suzetrigine: First-in-class nonopioid pain therapy is approved by FDA
02/08/25 at 03:15 AMSuzetrigine: First-in-class nonopioid pain therapy is approved by FDAAmerican Journal of Managed Care; Giuliana Grossi; 1/25Suzetrigine (Journavx; Vertex Pharmaceuticals) received approval from the FDA for the treatment of adults with moderate-to-severe acute pain, according to an announcement from Vertex. The therapy is a novel oral, non-opioid, highly selective NaV1.8 pain signal inhibitor ... offering a non-opioid alternative amid the opioid crisis. Clinical trials demonstrated significant efficacy in postsurgical pain relief, though results varied across different conditions. Despite this, suzetrigine offers the potential to energize the nonopioid pain market, which includes other companies like Tris Pharma, Latigo Biotherapeutics, and SiteOne Therapeutics—all actively developing alternatives to opioids. Key findings from the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review analysis of the phase 3 trials include potential lifetime cost savings of $200 per patient when comparing suzetrigine with opioids, assuming a 1-week course priced at $420.
What is renal cell carcinoma?
02/08/25 at 03:10 AMWhat is renal cell carcinoma?JAMA; Rebecca Voelker, MSJ; 1/25Renal cell carcinoma is a common cancer that forms in the kidneys. In 2023, an estimated 81,800 people were diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma in the US, making it the sixth most common cancer among males and the ninth among females. Renal cell carcinoma is most often diagnosed in people aged 60 to 70 years. Although the diagnosis has increased slightly in the US in recent years, deaths from renal cell carcinoma have declined. Although the survival rate of stage IV renal cell carcinoma varies among individuals, the average 5-year survival is 28%.
Palliative care initiated in the Emergency Department-A cluster randomized clinical trial
02/08/25 at 03:05 AMPalliative care initiated in the Emergency Department-A cluster randomized clinical trialJAMA; Corita R. Grudzen, MD, MSHS; Nina Siman, MA, MSEd; Allison M. Cuthel, MPH; Oluwaseun Adeyemi, MBBS, PhD; Rebecca Liddicoat Yamarik, MD; Keith S. Goldfeld, DrPH, MS, MPA; PRIM-ER Investigators; 1/25Question-What is the effect of a multicomponent intervention to initiate palliative care in the emergency department on hospital admission in older adults with serious, life-limiting illness? In this cluster randomized clinical trial, which was conducted at 29 US emergency departments and included 98,922 initial visits, there was no difference in the rate of hospital admission in older adults with serious, life-limiting illness receiving care before (64.4%) vs after (61.3%) emergency department clinical staff receipt of a multicomponent primary palliative care intervention. Relevance-This multicomponent intervention to initiate palliative care in the ED did not have an effect on hospital admission, subsequent health care use, or short-term mortality in older adults with serious, life-limiting illness.
Palliative care program for community-dwelling individuals with dementia and caregivers: The IN-PEACE randomized clinical trial
02/08/25 at 03:00 AMPalliative care program for community-dwelling individuals with dementia and caregivers: The IN-PEACE randomized clinical trialJAMA Network; by Greg A. Sachs, Nina M. Johnson, Sujuan Gao, Alexia M. Torke, Susan E. Hickman, Amy Pemberton, Andrea Vrobel, Minmin Pan, Jennifer West, Kurt Kroenke; 1/25Among community-dwelling individuals with moderate to severe dementia, does a dementia care management program with integrated palliative care reduce patients’ neuropsychiatric symptoms? In this randomized clinical trial, a dementia care management program with integrated palliative care did not significantly improve patients’ neuropsychiatric symptoms.
Study explores Native Hawaiian end-of-life care
02/07/25 at 03:00 AMStudy explores Native Hawaiian end-of-life careNational Indigenous Times; by Joseph Guenzler; 2/4/25A study by the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa's Hā Kūpuna – National Resource Center for Native Hawaiian Elders has examined the end-of-life care preferences of Native Hawaiian kūpuna (Elders). Led by Laguna Pueblo and Quechan woman, Assistant Professor Miquela Ibrao, researchers from UH and ALU LIKE, Inc. identified culturally specific approaches to support kūpuna values in healthcare. "Death is not an end but a transition that honors relationality, ancestors and the land,' Assistant Professor Ibrao said. "Decolonizing end-of-life care means respecting cultural beliefs and embracing Indigenous wisdom about healing and living well." The study, published in the Journal of Palliative Medicine, is based on interviews with 20 kūpuna aged 60 and over from rural areas across Hawaiʻi. It highlights four key themes.
Well-being and choosing the best job for you
02/01/25 at 03:45 AMWell-being and choosing the best job for youJAMA Internal Medicine; Jamile A. Ashmore, PhD; J. Michael DiMaio, MD; 1/25Well-being is emerging as the catch-all term describing the field dedicated to understanding and addressing the way in which the health care system, work environment, and individual interact to influence the fulfillment and meaning that health care workers derive from their work. Clinician well-being is often led by a chief wellness officer (CWO) or other executive leader who is compensated to focus on well-being. In addition to strategic planning and oversight, the CWO’s role is to ensure that well-being is considered in administrative and operational decisions including in those related to governance, rewards systems, and culture. Health care systems’ moving from the triple to the quadruple aim are signaling that they are committed to taking care of those that care for the patients. Indeed, health care systems cannot have optimal patient care without a healthy and fulfilled workforce.
Use of digital health technologies by older US adults
02/01/25 at 03:40 AMUse of digital health technologies by older US adultsJAMA Network Open; Cornelius A. James, MD; Tanima Basu, MS, MA; Brahmajee K. Nallamothu, MD, MPH; Jeffery T. Kullgren, MD, MPH, MS; 1/25Older adults use various types of DHT [digital health technologies], and they use patient portals most often. Although some older adults have unique physical and cognitive needs that can affect the utility and usability of DHTs, in aggregate they share some predictors of DHT use with younger adults. Additionally, our study showed a statistically significant association between non-Hispanic Black race and ethnicity and DHT use. Various factors may contribute to this finding, including medical mistrust among Black patients leading to decreased engagement with the health system and increased reliance on DHTs. This study highlights the need to carefully consider the unique characteristics of older adults when developing and deploying DHTs to avoid worsening the digital divide.
Digital meditation to target employee stress-A randomized clinical trial
02/01/25 at 03:35 AMDigital meditation to target employee stress-A randomized clinical trialJAMA Network Open; Rachel M. Radin, PhD; Julie Vacarro, MA; Elena Fromer, BA; Sarah E. Ahmadi, BA; Joanna Y. Guan, BA; Sarah M. Fisher, MS; Sarah D. Pressman, PhD; John F. Hunter, PhD; Kate Sweeny, PhD; A. Janet Tomiyama, PhD; Lauren Tiongco Hofschneider, PhD; Matthew J. Zawadzki, PhD; Larisa Gavrilova, PhD; Elissa S. Epel, PhD; Aric A. Prather, PhD; 1/25Mental health is at an historic low in the US, and work stress may be a primary contributor. Work stress is associated with poorer emotional and physical well-being, as well as high absenteeism and low presenteeism. Participants were randomized 1:1 to a digital meditation program or the waiting list control condition. Participants in the intervention group were instructed to complete 10 minutes of meditation per day for 8 weeks. The findings suggest that participating in a brief digital mindfulness-based program is an effective method for reducing general and work-related stress in employees.
Hospice care in the Emergency Department: An evolving landscape
02/01/25 at 03:30 AMHospice care in the Emergency Department: An evolving landscapeJournal of Palliative Medicine; by Eliot Hill, Ky Stoltzfus, Joanna Brooks; 1/25Despite the increasing focus on goal-concordant care in the emergency department (ED), there is limited data about patients who receive a new hospice referral and the care paths of patients on hospice who present there. [In this study,] six patients received a new hospice referral. Of these, four had a primary diagnosis of cancer, three received a palliative care consult, and three were discharged to an inpatient hospice facility (hospice house). No patients had repeat health care encounters at our hospital. 42% (31/74) of patients enrolled in hospice required admission. Conclusion: New hospice referrals in the ED are possible but rare. Further research should investigate possible missed opportunities to provide goal-concordant care.
Nurses' perspectives on end-of-life care for Black/African American patients
02/01/25 at 03:25 AMNurses' perspectives on end-of-life care for Black/African American patientsJournal of Hospice & Palliative Nursing; Aaron, Siobhan P. PhD, RN, FNP-BC; Supiano, Katherine PhD, LCSW, FT, FGSA, APHSW-C; DeSimio, Samantha BS; 2/25In this qualitative examination of health care disparities based on race and ethnicity, the accounts of Black/African American nurses shed light on a range of critical issues within the health care system. These issues encompass stereotyping, bias, and a notable absence of cultural competence among health care providers, which often result in unequitable treatment for patients of color. Socioeconomic factors, including insurance and income disparities, further exacerbate these inequalities. Discrimination, whether implicit or explicit, continues to affect diagnosis and treatment, with a particular focus on disparities in pain management. Furthermore, the cultural perspectives and historical context surrounding treatment preferences were explored, emphasizing the profound impact of health care literacy, cultural viewpoints, and historical mistrust, especially within the Black/African American community.
Experts are debating whether some cancers shouldn’t be called that
02/01/25 at 03:20 AMExperts are debating whether some cancers shouldn’t be called thatJAMA; Rita Rubin, MA; 1/25Back in 2012, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) convened a conference to discuss the overdiagnosis and overtreatment of indolent tumors—asymptomatic lesions unlikely to progress for years—that are detected by mammography, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing, and other screening tools. “I don’t think the name is that important,” acknowledged Hwang, who participated in the 2012 NCI conference about overdiagnosis and overtreatment. “It’s how we react to the diagnosis and how we convey risk to the patients.” In other words, stop calling low-risk tumors cancer, but make sure patients understand that such lesions are risk factors for cancer and, therefore, require diligent monitoring. Or keep calling the tumors cancer, but make sure patients understand that these lesions are unlikely to cause problems, so active surveillance, not immediate treatment, is appropriate.
Defining spine cancer pain syndromes: A systematic review and proposed terminology
02/01/25 at 03:15 AMDefining spine cancer pain syndromes: A systematic review and proposed terminologyGlobal Spine Journal; Markian Pahuta, MD, PhD, FRCSC; Ilya Laufer, MD; Sheng-fu Larry Lo, MD; Stefano Boriani, MD; Charles Fisher, MD, MHSC, FRCSC; Nicolas Dea, MD, MSc, FRCSC; Michael H. Weber, MD, MSc, PhD, FRCSC; Dean Chou, MD; Arjun Sahgal, MD, FRCPC; Laurence Rhines, MD; Jeremy Reynolds, MB.ChB, BSc (Hons), FRCS; Aron Lazary, MD, PhD; Alessandro Gasbarrinni, MD; Jorrit-Jan Verlaan, MD, PhD; Ziya Gokaslan, MD, FACS; Chetan Bettegowda, MD, PhD; Mohamed Sarraj, MD; Ori Barzilai, MD; AO Spine Knowledge Forum Tumor; 1/25The spine is the most common site of osseous metastasis, and over one-third of patients with carcinoma or hematological malignancy will develop spinal metastases. Vertebral metastases have a negative impact on patient function and heath related quality of life (HRQoL). We consolidate the terminology used in the literature and consolidated into clinically relevant nomenclature of biologic tumor pain, mechanical pain, radicular pain, neuropathic pain, and treatment related pain. This review helps standardize terminology for cancer-related pain which may help clinicians identify pain generators.
Overcoming barriers to make patient-reported outcome collection the standard of care in oncology
02/01/25 at 03:10 AMOvercoming barriers to make patient-reported outcome collection the standard of care in oncologyJAMA Oncology; James A. Colbert, MD, MBA; Louis Potters, MD; 1/25Multiple studies have demonstrated the clear benefits of collecting patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in oncology care. These benefits include measurable effects on patient symptom burden, toxicity, emergency department (ED) use, and even cancer survival. Despite these well-recorded advantages, adoption of PRO collection beyond research studies and clinical trials remains low. Barriers to more widespread adoption in oncology care include clinician skepticism, historical technological limitations, and the challenges related to change management. We owe it to patients to make PRO collection standard practice. Achieving this will require additional education, the embrace of new technologies, and a willingness among clinicians to follow the data and adopt new routines that will necessitate changing established patient care models.
Outpatient palliative care and end-of-life care intensity: Linking Massachusetts Cancer Registry with all-payer claims
02/01/25 at 03:05 AMOutpatient palliative care and end-of-life care intensity: Linking Massachusetts Cancer Registry with all-payer claimsJNCI Cancer Spectrum; Nancy L Keating, Joel S Weissman, Alexi A Wright, Robert Wolf, Susan Gershman, Richard Knowlton, John Z Ayanian; 1/25Early palliative care is associated with better outcomes for patients with advanced-stage cancers. Using a novel data linkage, we assessed outpatient palliative care use before death and its association with end-of-life care intensity and variation across eight provider networks. End-of-life care intensity varied across provider networks. Patients with palliative care visits had lower adjusted odds of receiving intensive end-of-life care ...
Special Series: Betty Ferrell
02/01/25 at 02:00 AMSpecial Series: Betty FerrellJournal of Pain and Symptom Management; 1/25[A wonderful collection of articles honoring Betty Ferrell, including:]
Grant renews funding for pain and aging center
01/31/25 at 03:00 AMGrant renews funding for pain and aging center Cornell Chronicle; by Weill Cornell Medicine; 1/30/25 The Translational Research Institute for Pain in Later Life (TRIPLL), a New York City-based center to help older adults prevent and manage pain, has been awarded a five-year, $5 million renewal grant from the National Institute on Aging (NIA). ... The institute seeks to apply insights from psychology, sociology, economics and communications to develop and implement effective pain management techniques that are acceptable to and practical for older adults.