CONTEXT: A small proportion of patients with serious illness or multiple chronic conditions account for the majority of health care spending. Despite the high cost, evidence demonstrates that these patients receive health care of inadequate quality,…
The number of births in the United States decreased between 2007 and 2008 (preliminary estimate: 4 251 095). Birth rates declined among all women aged 15 to 39 years; the decrease among teenagers reverses the increases seen in the previous 2 years.…
It has been two decades since advance directives have become an integral part of health care. Impediments to their optimal usage are common and multifactorial. Decisions commonly have to be made when patients are unable to do so or choose not to…
We examined the psychometric properties of one part of the Sleep Questionnaire developed by Simonds and Parraga (SQ-SP; 1982), a questionnaire that is frequently used to explore sleep problems and behaviors related to sleep in individuals with…
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of a palliative medicine consultation on medical intensive care unit (MICU) and hospital length of stay, Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) designation, and location of death for MICU patients who…
BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to adapt and validate culturally the dementia-specific health-related quality of life instrument (HRQoL) into Spanish for patients with mild to moderate dementia. METHODS: Two forward translations, a reconciled…
Pain is a key component of most rheumatologic diseases. In fibromyalgia, the importance of central nervous system pain mechanisms (for example, loss of descending analgesic activity and central sensitization) is well documented. A few studies have…
BACKGROUND: Although the extent of hospital and intensive-care use at the end of life is well known, patterns of surgical care during this period are poorly understood. We examined national patterns of surgical care in the USA among elderly…
Abstract Aims: To determine the spirituality of parents whose children have life-limiting illnesses and to determine the factors associated with parents' spirituality. Methods: Telephone survey of 129 parents whose children were enrolled in a…
BACKGROUND: Discussions about DNR (do not resuscitate) orders or code status are common but can be difficult and may not lead to accurate understanding between clinicians and patients. These discussion are often isolated from the larger context of a…
Mucopolysaccharidosis type VI (MPS VI) is a lysosomal storage disease that affects an enzyme responsible for the degradation of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). Partially degraded GAGs accumulate in several tissues, such as the upper airways (UA), which…
The objective of this qualitative study was to explore the perceptions and needs of families who care for a child with a life-limiting disease. Considering the heterogeneity of life-limiting diseases in childhood, three diagnostic groups were…
A child’s early experiences and environments have a significant, measurable effect on later life trajectories of health and well-being. Each child’s own world, especially parents and other caregivers, literally sculpts the brain and impacts stress…
Communication with children who have life-threatening illnesses is a major challenge. Communication practices are greatly influenced by factors such as the child’s age, the parents’ wishes, and the cultural norms. This article presents the case…
The aim of this study was to identify and describe resilience qualities in families after losing a child. Questionnaires, including an open-ended question, were utilized to collect data independently from the parents and siblings of the deceased in…
Purpose: Preliminary validation of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Infant Test of Neuromuscular Disorders (CHOP INTEND) for motor skill assessment in spinal muscular atrophy type I. Methods: A total of 27 subjects 3 to 260 months old (mean =…
Neonatal nosocomial infection (NNI) is a major complication of neonatal care, increasing mortality, morbidity and the costs of healthcare. Management of NNI involves attention to many details of care, creating a culture of change within a neonatal…
OBJECTIVE: To determine where children die following discharge from paediatric intensive care units (PICUs) in Great Britain and to investigate if this varies by discharge to palliative care. DESIGN: National cohort of PICU admissions linked to…
AIM: To identify the nature of services for children and young people with progressive neuromuscular disorders (NMD) provided by Children's Hospices in the UK. METHODS: A questionnaire requesting aggregate data on the number of patients with a…
Objectives: To demonstrate feasibility and estimate the effect of an intervention to increase parental involvement in infant pain management in the NICU on parents' stress and postdischarge parenting competence and confidence. Methods: The study…
Rett syndrome is a rare but severe neurological disorder typically associated with a mutation in the MECP2 gene. We describe change in gross motor function over 3 to 4 years for 70 subjects participating in the Australian Rett Syndrome Database.…
Purpose Research has only begun to examine the complexity of transition to adulthood under illness conditions. A Delphi method may be utilized to identify pertinent research priorities for academics and clinicians in adolescent healthcare transitions…