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AHRQ Research Studies
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Research Studies is a compilation of published research articles funded by AHRQ or authored by AHRQ researchers.
Results
1 to 7 of 7 Research Studies DisplayedBogetz JF, Revette A, Rosenberg AR
"I could never prepare for something like the death of my own child": parental perspectives on preparedness at end of life for children with complex chronic conditions.
This study’s goal was to elucidate aspects important to preparedness at end of life (EOL) among bereaved parents of children with complex chronic conditions (CCCs). Participants answered 21 open-response queries on communication, decision-making, and EOL experiences as part of the Survey of Caring for Children with CCCs. Findings showed that most bereaved parents of children with CCCs described feeling unprepared for their child's EOL, despite palliative care and advance care planning, suggesting preparedness is a nuanced concept beyond "readiness." Recommendations included more research to identify supportive elements among parents facing their child's EOL.
AHRQ-funded; HS022986.
Citation: Bogetz JF, Revette A, Rosenberg AR .
"I could never prepare for something like the death of my own child": parental perspectives on preparedness at end of life for children with complex chronic conditions.
J Pain Symptom Manage 2020 Dec;60(6):1154-62.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2020.06.035..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Caregiving, Mortality, Chronic Conditions, Palliative Care
Hadler RA, Goldstein NE, Bekelman DB
"Why would i choose death?": a qualitative study of patient understanding of the role and limitations of cardiac devices.
The aim of this study was to assess perceptions of cardiac devices in patients with heart failure and how these perceptions impacted advance care planning and future expectations. The investigators found that patients, in their sample, with cardiac devices overestimated the impact of their devices on preventing disease progression and death and deprioritized advance care planning as a result.
AHRQ-funded; HS022989.
Citation: Hadler RA, Goldstein NE, Bekelman DB .
"Why would i choose death?": a qualitative study of patient understanding of the role and limitations of cardiac devices.
J Cardiovasc Nurs 2019 May/Jun;34(3):275-82. doi: 10.1097/jcn.0000000000000565..
Keywords: Cardiovascular Conditions, Heart Disease and Health, Mortality, Palliative Care
Armstrong MJ, Alliance S, Corsentino P
Cause of death and end-of-life experiences in individuals with dementia with Lewy bodies.
Researchers investigate the natural history, cause of death, and end-of-life experiences of individuals diagnosed with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). In the 20-question survey, respondents indicated that physicians rarely discussed what to expect at the end of life and that the caregiver usually initiated such conversations. Failure to thrive was the most common cause of death, followed by pneumonia and swallowing difficulties, other medical conditions, and complications from falling. The researchers conclude that the study results highlight a critical need for better prognostic counseling and education for persons and families living with DLB, and they recommended further study.
AHRQ-funded; HS024159.
Citation: Armstrong MJ, Alliance S, Corsentino P .
Cause of death and end-of-life experiences in individuals with dementia with Lewy bodies.
J Am Geriatr Soc 2019 Jan;67(1):67-73. doi: 10.1111/jgs.15608..
Keywords: Dementia, Neurological Disorders, Patient Experience, Palliative Care, Mortality, Elderly
Leyenaar JK, Bogetz JF
Child mortality in the United States: bridging palliative care and public health perspectives.
This commentary discusses the findings of the article by Trowbridge et al in this same issue of Pediatrics, which examines modes of death rather than causes of death at a freestanding children’s hospital. Five distinct categories were created: withdrawal of life-sustaining technology; non-escalation of care; failed resuscitation; code then withdrawal; death by neurological criteria. More than 60% of the deaths were infants. The authors of this commentary note that conceptualizing the findings of this study from a public health perspective raises important questions about how causes of death are associated with end-of-life care in hospitals.
AHRQ-funded; HS024133.
Citation: Leyenaar JK, Bogetz JF .
Child mortality in the United States: bridging palliative care and public health perspectives.
Pediatrics 2018 Oct;142(4). doi: 10.1542/peds.2018-1927..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Hospitals, Mortality, Palliative Care, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Public Health
Chen LM, Levine DA, Hayward R
Relationship between hospital 30-day mortality rates for heart failure and patterns of early inpatient comfort care.
This study describes the use of early comfort care for patients with heart failure (HF), and whether hospitals that more commonly initiate comfort care have higher 30-day mortality rates. It found that hospital use of early comfort care for HF varies, has not increased over time, and on average, is not correlated with 30-day risk-standardized mortality rates.
AHRQ-funded; HS020671.
Citation: Chen LM, Levine DA, Hayward R .
Relationship between hospital 30-day mortality rates for heart failure and patterns of early inpatient comfort care.
J Hosp Med 2018 Mar;13(3):170-76. doi: 10.12788/jhm.2862.
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Keywords: Cardiovascular Conditions, Elderly, Heart Disease and Health, Inpatient Care, Mortality, Palliative Care
Dinan MA, Li Y, Zhang Y
Resource use in the last year of life among patients who died with versus of prostate cancer.
The researchers conducted a retrospective analysis of Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare data of men with prostate cancer. Patients who died of prostate cancer rather than from other causes had more hospice and outpatient use, less inpatient and ICU use, and lower overall costs. Efforts to shift care toward outpatient settings might provide more efficient and judicious care for patients during the end of life.
AHRQ-funded; HS022189.
Citation: Dinan MA, Li Y, Zhang Y .
Resource use in the last year of life among patients who died with versus of prostate cancer.
Clin Genitourin Cancer 2016 Feb;14(1):28-37.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.clgc.2015.07.006.
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Keywords: Cancer, Cancer: Prostate Cancer, Healthcare Costs, Healthcare Utilization, Men's Health, Mortality, Palliative Care, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research
DiBiasio EL, Clark MA, Gozalo PL
Timing of survey administration after hospice patient death: stability of bereaved respondents.
The authors examined the stability of bereaved family members' survey responses when administered three, six, and nine months after hospice patient death. They found that bereaved family member responses are stable between three and nine months after the death of the patient.
AHRQ-funded; HS019675.
Citation: DiBiasio EL, Clark MA, Gozalo PL .
Timing of survey administration after hospice patient death: stability of bereaved respondents.
J Pain Symptom Manage 2015 Jul;50(1):17-27. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2015.01.006.
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Keywords: Family Health and History, Mortality, Palliative Care