To estimate 30‐day statin discontinuation among newly admitted nursing home residents overall and... more To estimate 30‐day statin discontinuation among newly admitted nursing home residents overall and within categories of life‐limiting illness.
Background U.S. nursing homes provide long-term care to over 1.2 million older adults, 60% of who... more Background U.S. nursing homes provide long-term care to over 1.2 million older adults, 60% of whom were physically frail and 68% had moderate or severe cognitive impairment. Limited research has examined the longitudinal experience of these two conditions in older nursing home residents. Methods This national longitudinal study included newly-admitted non-skilled nursing care older residents who had Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 (2014–16) assessments at admission, 3 months, and 6 months (n = 266,001). Physical frailty was measured by FRAIL-NH and cognitive impairment by the Brief Interview for Mental Status. Separate sets of group-based trajectory models were fitted to identify the trajectories of physical frailty and trajectories of cognitive impairment, and to estimate the association between older residents’ characteristics at admission with each set of trajectories. A dual trajectory model was used to quantify the association between the physical frailty trajectories and cognitive ...
Background: The prevalence of untreated pain in nursing home residents with cancer is unacceptabl... more Background: The prevalence of untreated pain in nursing home residents with cancer is unacceptably high. Hospice may increase the likelihood of receiving pain management at the end of life. Objectives: To estimate whether receipt of hospice in nursing homes increases the receipt of pain management for nursing home residents with cancer at the end of life. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study on a national sample of Medicare decedents who had cancer and were nursing home residents during the last 90 days of life in 2011–2012. We used the last Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 assessment before death and the Medicare Beneficiary Summary File to measure hospice use, pain, and pain management at the last MDS assessment. We matched residents with cancer and in pain who received hospice care to residents in pain not receiving hospice care on nursing home facility and time from last MDS assessment to death. The primary outcomes were receipt of pharmacologic pain management including sche...
Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 2021
OBJECTIVES To quantify geographic variation in anticoagulant use and explore what resident, nursi... more OBJECTIVES To quantify geographic variation in anticoagulant use and explore what resident, nursing home, and county characteristics were associated with anticoagulant use in a clinically complex population. DESIGN A repeated cross-sectional design was used to estimate current oral anticoagulant use on December 31, 2014, 2015, and 2016. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS Secondary data for United States nursing home residents during the period 2014-2016 were drawn from the Minimum Data Set 3.0 and Medicare Parts A and D. Nursing home residents (≥65 years) with a diagnosis of atrial fibrillation and ≥6 months of Medicare fee-for-service enrollment were eligible for inclusion. Residents in a coma or on hospice were excluded. METHODS Multilevel logistic models evaluated the extent to which variation in anticoagulant use between counties could be explained by resident, nursing home, and county characteristics and state of residence. Proportional changes in cluster variation (PCVs), intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs), and adjusted odds ratios (aORs) were estimated. RESULTS Among 86,736 nursing home residents from 11,860 nursing homes and 1694 counties, 45% used oral anticoagulants. The odds of oral anticoagulant use were 18% higher in 2016 than 2014 (aOR: 1.18; 95% confidence interval: 1.14-1.22). Most states had counties in the highest (51.3-58.9%) and lowest (31.1%-41.4%) deciles of anticoagulant use. Compared with the null model, adjustment for resident characteristics explained one-third of the variation between counties (PCV: 34.8%). The full model explained 65.5% of between-county variation. Within-county correlation was a small proportion (ICC < 2.2%) of total variation. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS In this older adult population at high risk for ischemic stroke, less than half of the residents received treatment with anticoagulants. Variation in treatment across counties was partially attributable to the characteristics of residents, nursing homes, and counties. Comparative evidence and refinement of predictive algorithms specific to the nursing home setting may be warranted.
Evidence to guide clinical decision making for pain management in nursing home residents is scant... more Evidence to guide clinical decision making for pain management in nursing home residents is scant. Our objective was to explore the extent of consensus among expert stakeholders regarding what analgesic issues should be prioritized for comparative-effectiveness studies of beneficial and adverse effects of analgesic regimens in nursing home residents. Two stakeholder panels (nurses only and a mix of clinicians/researchers) were engaged (n = 83). During a three-round online modified Delphi process, participants rated and commented on the need for new evidence on nonopioid analgesic regimens and opioid regimens, short-term adverse effects, long-term adverse effects, comorbid conditions, and other factors in the nursing home setting (9-point scale; 1 = not essential to 9 = very essential to obtain new evidence). The quantitative data were analyzed to determine the existence of consensus using an approach from the RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method User’s Manual. The qualitative data, consisting of participant explanations of their numeric ratings, were thematically analyzed by an experienced qualitative researcher. For nursing home residents, evidence generation was deemed essential for opioids, gabapentin (alone or with serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors [SNRIs]), and nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drugs with SNRIs. Experts prioritized the following outcomes as essential: long-term adverse effects, including delirium, cognitive decline, and decline in activities of daily living (ADLs). Kidney disease and depression were deemed essential conditions to consider in studies of pain medications. Coprescribing analgesic regimens with benzodiazepines, sedating medications, serotonergic medications, and non-SNRI antidepressants were considered essential areas of study. Experts noted that additional study was essential in residents with moderate/severe cognitive impairment and limitations in ADLs. Stakeholder priorities for more evidence reflect concerns related to treating medically complex residents with complex drug regimens and included long-term adverse effects, coprescribing, and sedating medications. Carefully conducted observational studies are needed to address the vast evidence gap for nursing home residents.
Purpose of Review To describe approaches to measuring deprescribing and associated outcomes in st... more Purpose of Review To describe approaches to measuring deprescribing and associated outcomes in studies of patients approaching end of life (EOL). Recent Findings We reviewed studies published through 2020 that evaluated deprescribing in patients with limited life expectancy and approaching EOL. Deprescribing includes reducing the number of medications, decreasing medication dose(s), and eliminating potentially inappropriate medications. Tools such as STOPPFrail, OncPal, and the Unnecessary Drug Use Measure can facilitate deprescribing. Outcome measures vary and selection of measures should align with the operationalized deprescribing definition used by study investigators. Summary EOL deprescribing considerations include medication appropriateness in the context of patient goals for care, expected benefit from medication given life expectancy, and heightened potential for medication-related harm as death nears. Additional data are needed on how EOL deprescribing impacts patient qual...
Previous studies estimate that >40% of long-stay nursing home (NH) residents experience persis... more Previous studies estimate that >40% of long-stay nursing home (NH) residents experience persistent pain, with 20% of residents in pain receiving no analgesics. Strengthened NH surveyor guidance and improved pain measures on the Minimum Data Set 3.0 were introduced in March 2009 and October 2010, respectively. This study aimed to provide estimates after the important initiatives of (1) prevalence and correlates of persistent pain; and (2) prevalence and correlates of untreated or undertreated persistent pain. We identified 1,387,405 long-stay residents in U.S. NHs between 2011 and 2012 with 2 Minimum Data Set assessments 90 days apart. Pain was categorized as persistent (pain on both assessments), intermittent (pain on either assessment), or none. Pharmacologic pain management was classified as untreated pain (no scheduled or as needed medications received) or potentially undertreated (no scheduled received). Modified Poisson models adjusting for resident clustering within NHs pro...
Background : Healthcare professionals have negative implicit biases toward minority and poor pati... more Background : Healthcare professionals have negative implicit biases toward minority and poor patients. Few communication skills interventions target implicit bias as a factor contributing to disparities in health outcomes. We report the protocol from the COmmuNity-engaged SimULation Training for Blood Pressure Control (CONSULT-BP), a trial evaluating a novel intervention targeting graduate medical and nursing trainees designed to mitigate the effects of implicit bias in clinical encounters. The CONSULT-BP intervention combines knowledge acquisition, bias awareness, and practice of bias mitigating skills in simulation-based communication encounters with racially/ethnically diverse standardized patients. The trial evaluates the effect of this 3-part program on patient BP outcomes, self-reported patient medication adherence, patient-reported quality of provider communication, and trainee bias awareness.Methods : We are conducting a cluster randomized trial of the intervention among coh...
Objective: To characterize FCG burden of medication administration for older adults in home hospi... more Objective: To characterize FCG burden of medication administration for older adults in home hospice. Methods: Pilot clinical trial of a hospice-staff level communication and medication review program to facilitate goal-concordant prescribing, including deprescribing, for older adults in home hospice. Patients newly admitted to hospice were eligible if >=65 years, prescribed >= 5 medications and had a FCG. Exclusion criteria included being non-English speaking or having a Palliative Performance Score<40. Measurements include 24-item FCG Medication Administration Hassle Scale (range 0-96) at hospice admission and at 2-, 4-, 6-, 8-weeks and monthly until death. Descriptive statistics characterize baseline FCG Hassle score. Results: In this actively recruiting study, n=9 patient-caregiver dyads are enrolled to date. Mean patient age is 80.6 years (range 69-101). Of 9 caregivers, 7 were female, 5 children, and 3 spouses. The majority (67%) of caregivers were extremely involved i...
Deprescribing is emerging as a clinical intervention to optimize quality of life, improve patient... more Deprescribing is emerging as a clinical intervention to optimize quality of life, improve patient safety, and reduce burden for older adults with serious illness and their caregivers. Few resources are available to educate and engage clinicians, older adults and their families in discussions about deprescribing. This presentation describes the development of educational intervention materials, including clinician, patient and family-facing materials, about medication management and deprescribing for seriously ill older adults in home hospice. An environmental scan of the existing deprescribing resources was conducted; a state-of-the-art educational program for hospice deprescribing was located and used as the basis for an innovative clinician-facing educational intervention. A stakeholder panel of 2 hospice administrators, 3 nurses, 2 physicians, 2 pharmacists, and 2 former family caregivers, drawn from 2 geographically diverse hospice agencies, reviewed the content of the education...
Background Structurally marginalized groups experience disproportionately low rates of advance ca... more Background Structurally marginalized groups experience disproportionately low rates of advance care planning (ACP). To improve equitable patient-centered end-of-life care, we examine barriers and facilitators to ACP among clinicians as they are central participants in these discussions. Method In this national study, we conducted semi-structured interviews with purposively selected clinicians from 6 diverse health systems between August 2018 and June 2019. Thematic analysis yielded themes characterizing clinicians’ perceptions of barriers and facilitators to ACP among patients, and patient-centered ways of overcoming them. Results Among 74 participants, 49 (66.2%) were physicians, 16.2% were nurses, and 13.5% were social workers. Most worked in primary care (35.1%), geriatrics (21.1%), and palliative care (19.3%) settings. Clinicians most frequently expressed difficulty discussing ACP with certain racial and ethnic groups (African American, Hispanic, Asian, and Native American) (31....
American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine®, 2020
Background: This study examined the feasibility, burden and acceptability of a legacy-making inte... more Background: This study examined the feasibility, burden and acceptability of a legacy-making intervention in adults with cancer and preliminary effects on patient quality-of-life (QOL) measures. Method: We conducted a Stage IB pilot, intervention study. The intervention was a digital video legacy-making interview of adults with advanced cancer to create a digital video of their memories and experiences. Baseline and post-video QOL assessments included: Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy—General (FACT-G), Patient Dignity Inventory (PDI), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and Emotional Thermometers for distress, anxiety, anger, help and depression. Participants received a final copy of the digital video for distribution to their families. Results: Adults (n = 16) ages 38-83 years old with an advanced or life-limiting cancer diagnosis completed an intervention. Feasibility and acceptability was strong with 0% attrition. While the pilot study was not powered for quantit...
Background Antibiotic use in nursing homes (NHs) is frequently initiated in acute care hospitals.... more Background Antibiotic use in nursing homes (NHs) is frequently initiated in acute care hospitals. Comprehensive antibiotic administration instructions are critical to inform antimicrobial stewardship efforts in NHs. However; little is known about the quality of discharge communication for residents transitioning from hospitals to NHs with an antibiotic prescription. Methods We reviewed hospital discharge summaries from a 10% random sample of hospital-initiated antibiotic prescriptions among residents of 17 for-profit NHs in Oregon, California, and Nevada admitted between January 1 and December 31, 2017. Data elements of interest were documentation of antibiotic choice, indication, instructions, and pending microbiology tests. Results Among 217 hospital-initiated antibiotic prescriptions, mean (standard deviation) age was 64 (29) years and 57% were female. The most frequently prescribed hospital-initiated antibiotics were cephalosporins (36%), fluoroquinolones (16%), and penicillins ...
Nurses who care for patients with life-limiting illness operate at the interface of family caregi... more Nurses who care for patients with life-limiting illness operate at the interface of family caregivers (FCGs), patients, and prescribers and are uniquely positioned to guide late-life medication management, including challenging discussions about deprescribing. The study objective was to describe nurses' perspectives about their role in hospice FCG medication management. Content analysis was used to analyze qualitative interviews with nurses from a parent study exploring views on medication management and deprescribing for advanced cancer patients. Ten home and inpatient hospice nurses, drawn from 3 hospice agencies and their referring hospital systems in New England, were asked to describe current practices of medication management and deprescribing and to evaluate a pilot tool to standardize hospice medication review. Analysis of the 10 interviews revealed that hospice nurses are receptive to a standardized approach for comprehensive medication review upon hospice transition and responded favorably to opportunities to discuss medication discontinuation with FCGs and prescribers. Effective framing for discussions included focus on reducing harmful and nonessential medications and reducing caregiver burden. Results indicate that nurses who care for hospice-eligible and enrolled patients are willing to discuss deprescribing with FCGs and prescribers when conversations are framed around medication harms and their impact on quality of life.
To estimate 30‐day statin discontinuation among newly admitted nursing home residents overall and... more To estimate 30‐day statin discontinuation among newly admitted nursing home residents overall and within categories of life‐limiting illness.
Background U.S. nursing homes provide long-term care to over 1.2 million older adults, 60% of who... more Background U.S. nursing homes provide long-term care to over 1.2 million older adults, 60% of whom were physically frail and 68% had moderate or severe cognitive impairment. Limited research has examined the longitudinal experience of these two conditions in older nursing home residents. Methods This national longitudinal study included newly-admitted non-skilled nursing care older residents who had Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 (2014–16) assessments at admission, 3 months, and 6 months (n = 266,001). Physical frailty was measured by FRAIL-NH and cognitive impairment by the Brief Interview for Mental Status. Separate sets of group-based trajectory models were fitted to identify the trajectories of physical frailty and trajectories of cognitive impairment, and to estimate the association between older residents’ characteristics at admission with each set of trajectories. A dual trajectory model was used to quantify the association between the physical frailty trajectories and cognitive ...
Background: The prevalence of untreated pain in nursing home residents with cancer is unacceptabl... more Background: The prevalence of untreated pain in nursing home residents with cancer is unacceptably high. Hospice may increase the likelihood of receiving pain management at the end of life. Objectives: To estimate whether receipt of hospice in nursing homes increases the receipt of pain management for nursing home residents with cancer at the end of life. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study on a national sample of Medicare decedents who had cancer and were nursing home residents during the last 90 days of life in 2011–2012. We used the last Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 assessment before death and the Medicare Beneficiary Summary File to measure hospice use, pain, and pain management at the last MDS assessment. We matched residents with cancer and in pain who received hospice care to residents in pain not receiving hospice care on nursing home facility and time from last MDS assessment to death. The primary outcomes were receipt of pharmacologic pain management including sche...
Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 2021
OBJECTIVES To quantify geographic variation in anticoagulant use and explore what resident, nursi... more OBJECTIVES To quantify geographic variation in anticoagulant use and explore what resident, nursing home, and county characteristics were associated with anticoagulant use in a clinically complex population. DESIGN A repeated cross-sectional design was used to estimate current oral anticoagulant use on December 31, 2014, 2015, and 2016. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS Secondary data for United States nursing home residents during the period 2014-2016 were drawn from the Minimum Data Set 3.0 and Medicare Parts A and D. Nursing home residents (≥65 years) with a diagnosis of atrial fibrillation and ≥6 months of Medicare fee-for-service enrollment were eligible for inclusion. Residents in a coma or on hospice were excluded. METHODS Multilevel logistic models evaluated the extent to which variation in anticoagulant use between counties could be explained by resident, nursing home, and county characteristics and state of residence. Proportional changes in cluster variation (PCVs), intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs), and adjusted odds ratios (aORs) were estimated. RESULTS Among 86,736 nursing home residents from 11,860 nursing homes and 1694 counties, 45% used oral anticoagulants. The odds of oral anticoagulant use were 18% higher in 2016 than 2014 (aOR: 1.18; 95% confidence interval: 1.14-1.22). Most states had counties in the highest (51.3-58.9%) and lowest (31.1%-41.4%) deciles of anticoagulant use. Compared with the null model, adjustment for resident characteristics explained one-third of the variation between counties (PCV: 34.8%). The full model explained 65.5% of between-county variation. Within-county correlation was a small proportion (ICC < 2.2%) of total variation. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS In this older adult population at high risk for ischemic stroke, less than half of the residents received treatment with anticoagulants. Variation in treatment across counties was partially attributable to the characteristics of residents, nursing homes, and counties. Comparative evidence and refinement of predictive algorithms specific to the nursing home setting may be warranted.
Evidence to guide clinical decision making for pain management in nursing home residents is scant... more Evidence to guide clinical decision making for pain management in nursing home residents is scant. Our objective was to explore the extent of consensus among expert stakeholders regarding what analgesic issues should be prioritized for comparative-effectiveness studies of beneficial and adverse effects of analgesic regimens in nursing home residents. Two stakeholder panels (nurses only and a mix of clinicians/researchers) were engaged (n = 83). During a three-round online modified Delphi process, participants rated and commented on the need for new evidence on nonopioid analgesic regimens and opioid regimens, short-term adverse effects, long-term adverse effects, comorbid conditions, and other factors in the nursing home setting (9-point scale; 1 = not essential to 9 = very essential to obtain new evidence). The quantitative data were analyzed to determine the existence of consensus using an approach from the RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method User’s Manual. The qualitative data, consisting of participant explanations of their numeric ratings, were thematically analyzed by an experienced qualitative researcher. For nursing home residents, evidence generation was deemed essential for opioids, gabapentin (alone or with serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors [SNRIs]), and nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drugs with SNRIs. Experts prioritized the following outcomes as essential: long-term adverse effects, including delirium, cognitive decline, and decline in activities of daily living (ADLs). Kidney disease and depression were deemed essential conditions to consider in studies of pain medications. Coprescribing analgesic regimens with benzodiazepines, sedating medications, serotonergic medications, and non-SNRI antidepressants were considered essential areas of study. Experts noted that additional study was essential in residents with moderate/severe cognitive impairment and limitations in ADLs. Stakeholder priorities for more evidence reflect concerns related to treating medically complex residents with complex drug regimens and included long-term adverse effects, coprescribing, and sedating medications. Carefully conducted observational studies are needed to address the vast evidence gap for nursing home residents.
Purpose of Review To describe approaches to measuring deprescribing and associated outcomes in st... more Purpose of Review To describe approaches to measuring deprescribing and associated outcomes in studies of patients approaching end of life (EOL). Recent Findings We reviewed studies published through 2020 that evaluated deprescribing in patients with limited life expectancy and approaching EOL. Deprescribing includes reducing the number of medications, decreasing medication dose(s), and eliminating potentially inappropriate medications. Tools such as STOPPFrail, OncPal, and the Unnecessary Drug Use Measure can facilitate deprescribing. Outcome measures vary and selection of measures should align with the operationalized deprescribing definition used by study investigators. Summary EOL deprescribing considerations include medication appropriateness in the context of patient goals for care, expected benefit from medication given life expectancy, and heightened potential for medication-related harm as death nears. Additional data are needed on how EOL deprescribing impacts patient qual...
Previous studies estimate that >40% of long-stay nursing home (NH) residents experience persis... more Previous studies estimate that >40% of long-stay nursing home (NH) residents experience persistent pain, with 20% of residents in pain receiving no analgesics. Strengthened NH surveyor guidance and improved pain measures on the Minimum Data Set 3.0 were introduced in March 2009 and October 2010, respectively. This study aimed to provide estimates after the important initiatives of (1) prevalence and correlates of persistent pain; and (2) prevalence and correlates of untreated or undertreated persistent pain. We identified 1,387,405 long-stay residents in U.S. NHs between 2011 and 2012 with 2 Minimum Data Set assessments 90 days apart. Pain was categorized as persistent (pain on both assessments), intermittent (pain on either assessment), or none. Pharmacologic pain management was classified as untreated pain (no scheduled or as needed medications received) or potentially undertreated (no scheduled received). Modified Poisson models adjusting for resident clustering within NHs pro...
Background : Healthcare professionals have negative implicit biases toward minority and poor pati... more Background : Healthcare professionals have negative implicit biases toward minority and poor patients. Few communication skills interventions target implicit bias as a factor contributing to disparities in health outcomes. We report the protocol from the COmmuNity-engaged SimULation Training for Blood Pressure Control (CONSULT-BP), a trial evaluating a novel intervention targeting graduate medical and nursing trainees designed to mitigate the effects of implicit bias in clinical encounters. The CONSULT-BP intervention combines knowledge acquisition, bias awareness, and practice of bias mitigating skills in simulation-based communication encounters with racially/ethnically diverse standardized patients. The trial evaluates the effect of this 3-part program on patient BP outcomes, self-reported patient medication adherence, patient-reported quality of provider communication, and trainee bias awareness.Methods : We are conducting a cluster randomized trial of the intervention among coh...
Objective: To characterize FCG burden of medication administration for older adults in home hospi... more Objective: To characterize FCG burden of medication administration for older adults in home hospice. Methods: Pilot clinical trial of a hospice-staff level communication and medication review program to facilitate goal-concordant prescribing, including deprescribing, for older adults in home hospice. Patients newly admitted to hospice were eligible if >=65 years, prescribed >= 5 medications and had a FCG. Exclusion criteria included being non-English speaking or having a Palliative Performance Score<40. Measurements include 24-item FCG Medication Administration Hassle Scale (range 0-96) at hospice admission and at 2-, 4-, 6-, 8-weeks and monthly until death. Descriptive statistics characterize baseline FCG Hassle score. Results: In this actively recruiting study, n=9 patient-caregiver dyads are enrolled to date. Mean patient age is 80.6 years (range 69-101). Of 9 caregivers, 7 were female, 5 children, and 3 spouses. The majority (67%) of caregivers were extremely involved i...
Deprescribing is emerging as a clinical intervention to optimize quality of life, improve patient... more Deprescribing is emerging as a clinical intervention to optimize quality of life, improve patient safety, and reduce burden for older adults with serious illness and their caregivers. Few resources are available to educate and engage clinicians, older adults and their families in discussions about deprescribing. This presentation describes the development of educational intervention materials, including clinician, patient and family-facing materials, about medication management and deprescribing for seriously ill older adults in home hospice. An environmental scan of the existing deprescribing resources was conducted; a state-of-the-art educational program for hospice deprescribing was located and used as the basis for an innovative clinician-facing educational intervention. A stakeholder panel of 2 hospice administrators, 3 nurses, 2 physicians, 2 pharmacists, and 2 former family caregivers, drawn from 2 geographically diverse hospice agencies, reviewed the content of the education...
Background Structurally marginalized groups experience disproportionately low rates of advance ca... more Background Structurally marginalized groups experience disproportionately low rates of advance care planning (ACP). To improve equitable patient-centered end-of-life care, we examine barriers and facilitators to ACP among clinicians as they are central participants in these discussions. Method In this national study, we conducted semi-structured interviews with purposively selected clinicians from 6 diverse health systems between August 2018 and June 2019. Thematic analysis yielded themes characterizing clinicians’ perceptions of barriers and facilitators to ACP among patients, and patient-centered ways of overcoming them. Results Among 74 participants, 49 (66.2%) were physicians, 16.2% were nurses, and 13.5% were social workers. Most worked in primary care (35.1%), geriatrics (21.1%), and palliative care (19.3%) settings. Clinicians most frequently expressed difficulty discussing ACP with certain racial and ethnic groups (African American, Hispanic, Asian, and Native American) (31....
American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine®, 2020
Background: This study examined the feasibility, burden and acceptability of a legacy-making inte... more Background: This study examined the feasibility, burden and acceptability of a legacy-making intervention in adults with cancer and preliminary effects on patient quality-of-life (QOL) measures. Method: We conducted a Stage IB pilot, intervention study. The intervention was a digital video legacy-making interview of adults with advanced cancer to create a digital video of their memories and experiences. Baseline and post-video QOL assessments included: Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy—General (FACT-G), Patient Dignity Inventory (PDI), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and Emotional Thermometers for distress, anxiety, anger, help and depression. Participants received a final copy of the digital video for distribution to their families. Results: Adults (n = 16) ages 38-83 years old with an advanced or life-limiting cancer diagnosis completed an intervention. Feasibility and acceptability was strong with 0% attrition. While the pilot study was not powered for quantit...
Background Antibiotic use in nursing homes (NHs) is frequently initiated in acute care hospitals.... more Background Antibiotic use in nursing homes (NHs) is frequently initiated in acute care hospitals. Comprehensive antibiotic administration instructions are critical to inform antimicrobial stewardship efforts in NHs. However; little is known about the quality of discharge communication for residents transitioning from hospitals to NHs with an antibiotic prescription. Methods We reviewed hospital discharge summaries from a 10% random sample of hospital-initiated antibiotic prescriptions among residents of 17 for-profit NHs in Oregon, California, and Nevada admitted between January 1 and December 31, 2017. Data elements of interest were documentation of antibiotic choice, indication, instructions, and pending microbiology tests. Results Among 217 hospital-initiated antibiotic prescriptions, mean (standard deviation) age was 64 (29) years and 57% were female. The most frequently prescribed hospital-initiated antibiotics were cephalosporins (36%), fluoroquinolones (16%), and penicillins ...
Nurses who care for patients with life-limiting illness operate at the interface of family caregi... more Nurses who care for patients with life-limiting illness operate at the interface of family caregivers (FCGs), patients, and prescribers and are uniquely positioned to guide late-life medication management, including challenging discussions about deprescribing. The study objective was to describe nurses' perspectives about their role in hospice FCG medication management. Content analysis was used to analyze qualitative interviews with nurses from a parent study exploring views on medication management and deprescribing for advanced cancer patients. Ten home and inpatient hospice nurses, drawn from 3 hospice agencies and their referring hospital systems in New England, were asked to describe current practices of medication management and deprescribing and to evaluate a pilot tool to standardize hospice medication review. Analysis of the 10 interviews revealed that hospice nurses are receptive to a standardized approach for comprehensive medication review upon hospice transition and responded favorably to opportunities to discuss medication discontinuation with FCGs and prescribers. Effective framing for discussions included focus on reducing harmful and nonessential medications and reducing caregiver burden. Results indicate that nurses who care for hospice-eligible and enrolled patients are willing to discuss deprescribing with FCGs and prescribers when conversations are framed around medication harms and their impact on quality of life.
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Papers by Jennifer Tjia