End of life counseling for dying cancer patients

[question everything]

improved their mood and quality of life, a JAMA study

http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/302/7/741


Effects of a Palliative Care Intervention on Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Advanced Cancer

The Project ENABLE II Randomized Controlled Trial

We translated effective strategies from the literature and our prior work, including a 3-year palliative care demonstration project, Project ENABLE (Educate, Nurture, Advise, Before Life Ends), into a multicomponent intervention that was consistent with guideline-essential core elements. Specifically, the intervention included an advanced practice nurse–administered, telephone-based, intensive curriculum, and ongoing assessment and coaching in problem solving, advance care planning, family and health care team communication strategies, symptom management and crisis prevention, and timely referral to palliative care and hospice resources.

(snip)

Comprehensive, high-quality cancer care includes interdisciplinary attention to improving physical, psychological, social, spiritual, and existential concerns for the patient and his or her family. While our study did not show that early intervention for patients with advanced cancer by a nurse-led program improved symptoms or reduced use of some resources, the study did show that it provides some patients with advanced cancer a higher quality of life and mood.

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I admit, I did not follow the details of the study, only the introduction and conclusion. Perhaps others can add.

[BOSSHOG]

1. I certainly appreciated

the end of life counseling we got when my father was dying five years ago. Its just incredibly hard for me to believe that people (conservatives) would not want such service, as I've heard many say. However there is no doubt in my mind that they do use it. They (conservatives) no doubt have made the decision, after counseling, to pull the plug on granny. Their lives must be incredibly pathetic.