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Background: The decision to initiate antibiotics in hospice patients that are very near end-of-life is a complex ethical and stewardship decision. Antibiotics may be ordered to improve urinary tract infection-related symptoms, such as delirium. However, infection symptoms may be managed using antipsychotics, antipyretics, antispasmodics, and analgesics instead. Currently, there are no studies that compare symptom management between those who receive antibiotics and those who do not. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted for patients admitted to a hospice inpatient unit. Charts were included if the patient was admitted for delirium and had a Palliative Performance Scale score ≤40%, the urine culture was positive for organism growth, and the patient died while in the HIU. Clinical and demographic data was collected. Medication use was tallied for the 5 days prior to the date of death. Results: Sixty-one charts met the inclusion criteria. Thirty-five patients received antibiotics (ABX+) and 26 did not (ABX-). There was no difference in any medication consumption between groups during the 5 days prior to death. The ABX+ group died 8.2 days after obtaining the urine sample vs 6 days ( P =0.046). The ABX+ group had more documented urinary tract-specific infection symptoms (66% vs 38%, P =0.042). More than half of antibiotic courses were discontinued prematurely. Conclusion: The results of this study do not show a difference in overall medication consumption between groups, which suggests that antibiotics may not help improve terminal delirium symptoms in those with a suspected urinary tract infection at end-of-life.

Background: While the majority of research assesses the impact of end-of-life dreams and visions (ELDVs) on patients, more recent research has begun to explore their impact on family caregivers (FCG)., Objective: This study evaluates the relationship between general attitudes about dreams, perspectives of ELDV and their role the bereaved FCG experience., Design: Mixed-methods using a cross-sectional survey and five focus groups., Settings/subjects: A total of 500 FCGs of patients who died under hospice care were recruited for the survey. Focus group members were self-selected through identified interest from the survey., Measurements: In addition to demographics and ELDV prevalence, general attitude toward dreams, ELDV perspectives, and impact on grief were assessed using ad hoc surveys., Results: Participants reporting ELDVs were significantly more validating of everyday dreams ( p < .001). Positive attitudes toward dreams strongly correlated with comfort from ELDVs for both patients and FCGs. Openness correlated positively with comfort from the ELDV for both the patient ( r = .149, p = .038) and FCG ( r = .217, p = 0.002) and negatively with fear/anxiety ( r = -.141, p = 0.050). Negative ELDV perceptions (ex. ELDVs were caused by medications) affected grief in areas such as accepting the loss ( r = -.235, p = .010) or maintaining connection ( r = -.255, p = .010) with the deceased. Focus group discussions were thematically analyzed resulting in 4 themes: ELDV narrative , Connection , Reflection , and Other Experiences ., Conclusions: Positive general attitudes toward dreams and positive ELDV perceptions are correlated with better bereavement outcomes. Therefore, patient and family education on ELDVs that focuses on awareness and understanding of ELDVs may enhance clinical outcomes for both family and patients.

Background: The ability to perceive care goals of the dying may be an indicator of future quality patient-centered care. Research conducted on end-of-life goals indicates discrepancies between patients and physicians., Objective: The aim of this study is to compare end-of-life care goals of hospice patients and medical student perceptions of patient care goals., Design: Hospice patients and medical students were surveyed on their care goals and perceptions, respectively, using an 11-item survey of goals previously identified in palliative care literature. Medical student empathy was measured using the Interpersonal Reactivity Index., Settings/participants: Eighty hospice patients and 176 medical students (97 first-year and 79 third-year) in a New York State medical school., Results: Medical students ranked 7 of the 11 care goals differently than hospice patients: not being a burden to family ( p < .001), time with family and friends ( p = .002), being at peace with God ( p < .001), dying at home ( p = .004), feeling that life was meaningful ( p < .001), living as long as possible ( p < .001), and resolving conflicts ( p < .001). Third-year students were less successful than first-year students in perceiving patient care goals of hospice patients. No significant differences in medical student empathy were found based on student year., Conclusions: Medical students, while empathetic, were generally unsuccessful in perceiving end-of-life care goals of hospice patients in the psychosocial and spiritual domains. Differences impeding the ability of medical students to understand these care goals may be generationally based. Increased age awareness and sensitivity may improve future end-of-life care discussions. Overall, there is a need to recognize the greater dimensionality of the dying in order to provide the most complete patient-centered care.

The Photographs of Meaning Program for pediatric palliative caregivers (POM-PPCG) is an innovative, meaning-based intervention utilizing photovoice and social media components. In 2017, 9 pediatric palliative caregivers participated in this intervention. During the social media portion of the POM-PPCG, participants were presented with weekly themes based on a meaning-making curriculum. In response, they took photographs, applied either audio or typed narratives, and shared them via social media. Ninety-five photographs with narratives were produced during the intervention. Through thematic qualitative analysis with consensual qualitative research components, 5 themes were identified: Love , Challenges , Loss , Coping , and The New Normal . This study adds to existing literature by shedding light on the experiences of caregivers of children with palliative care needs. Findings from this research contribute not only to the innovative use of qualitative methods but also to the clinical knowledge and practice regarding the pediatric palliative caregiver experience.

Background: Research indicates that informal caregiving can have intense physical and mental impact on the individual. Relative to caregivers of adults, pediatric palliative caregivers appear less in literature despite experiencing greater mental, physical, financial, and social strain. There is limited research on the creation and evaluation of interventions specifically for this population despite clear need., Objective: This study aims to evaluate the feasibility and engagement of the Photographs of Meaning Program, a modified meaning-making intervention for pediatric palliative caregivers., Design: Participants completed a pre-post intervention meaning-in-life measure. Over a 9-week period, participants followed a meaning-making curriculum whereby they created and shared photo narratives via social media. As part of the intervention, a community photo exhibition was held featuring these photo narratives. Exit interviews were also conducted at study close., Setting/participants: Nine individuals providing informal care to children in a pediatric palliative care program participated in the intervention. All participants were female and are older than 18 years. Settings for research include participant homes and at The Center for Hospice and Palliative Care in Cheektowaga, New York., Results: Participants posted 95 photographs and 96 narratives during the intervention, posting on average once each week. Statistical analysis within the small sample indicated an increased presence of meaning in the lives of participants ( P = .022). Exit interviews conveyed satisfaction with the intervention., Conclusions: Findings suggest that the Photographs of Meaning Program is a practical intervention with life-enhancing potential for pediatric palliative. Future research should aim to collect additional evidence of the intervention's effectiveness.

Background: Delirium is a challenging occurrence among people at end of life. It can be difficult to detect and treat because of its episodic nature. The Buffalo Delirium Scale (BDS) was designed to identify risk factors for hospice patients in the prodromal stage of delirium., Objective: This study evaluated the psychometric properties of items assessing delirium risk factors related to cognitive problems, psychological distress, and sleep problems., Methods: Hospice nursing staff assessed patients with the 11-item BDS over a 6-month period as part of standard weekly visits to monitor for emerging signs of delirium, for example, sleep patterns, cognition, and behavior., Setting/participants: The rating period produced 4992 assessments from 817 hospice home care patients., Results: Factor analysis of nurses' ratings identified 3 factors: (1) cognitive problems, (2) distress, and (3) sleep problems. Coefficient αs for these factors and total score were moderate to high (range = .66-.82). Nurses' ratings of presence of delirium highly correlated with scores on distress ( r = .40, P < .01), while dementia highly correlated with cognitive problems ( r = .50, P < .01). Analysis of at-risk cases with high BDS total scores where no delirium was assessed indicated that quality sleep may mitigate delirium onset., Conclusion: Preliminary psychometric testing suggests BDS to be a valid and appropriate measure for hospice patients. Use of BDS may help differentiate individuals in prodromal stage of delirium versus dementia. Examination of BDS scores may help identify patients for whom sleep interventions may delay onset of or reduce the frequency of delirium.

End-of-life dreams and visions (ELDVs) are well documented throughout history and across cultures with impact on the dying person and their loved ones having profound meaning. Published studies on ELDVs are primarily based on surveys or interviews with clinicians or families of dead persons. This study uniquely examined patient dreams and visions from their personal perspective. This article reports the qualitative findings from dreams and visions of 63 hospice patients. Inductive content analysis was used to examine the content and subjective significance of ELDVs. Six categories emerged: comforting presence, preparing to go, watching or engaging with the deceased, loved ones waiting, distressing experiences, and unfinished business., (© The Author(s) 2014.)