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Course Development and Integration of a Skills-Based Assessment for an Elective Palliative Care Course - PubMed

Pitt Palliative Research Center (PaRC) @pittpalcare.bsky.social · 1d

Faculty in the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy and UPMC's Palliative and Supportive Institute recently developed and piloted a palliative care elective course for pharmacy students. Read about the course:

Integrating skills-based assessment was an objective way to assess the impact of our palliative care elective course on student pharmacist skill development. The course improved student attitudes and…

Pitt Palliative Research Center (PaRC) @pittpalcare.bsky.social · 14d

Current and former PaRC faculty and staff are coauthors on this paper which proposes a three-phase model of cancer pain. Read more in Cancer: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40931912/

GITalk: Communication Skills Training for Gastroenterology Fellows Improves Self-Assessed Preparedness for Serious Illness Conversations - PubMed

Reposted by Pitt Palliative Research Center (PaRC)

Pitt General Internal Medicine @pittgim.bsky.social · 14d

Mentorship matters.

@pittpalcare.bsky.social Director Dr. Yael Schenker has been recognized with the Hillman Cancer Center's Outstanding Research Mentor Award for her exceptional support and guidance of the next generation of researchers. We are so proud to celebrate her leadership and impact! 👏

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Pitt Palliative Research Center (PaRC) @pittpalcare.bsky.social · 14d

Dr. Amar Bansal is senior author on a study in JPM; participants in a communications training for Gastro-Intestinal fellows reported self-assessed improvement in readiness to have conversations about serious illness. Read more:

Background: Despite caring for patients with serious illnesses, gastroenterology (GI) fellows rarely receive training in serious illness conversations (SIC).…

Factors Associated With the Delay of Chemotherapy Initiation Among Patients Receiving Neoadjuvant or Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer - PubMed

Pitt Palliative Research Center (PaRC) @pittpalcare.bsky.social · 16d

Congratulations to Dr. Yael Schenker, who was the recipient of the Hillman Outstanding Research Mentor Award at the 2025 UPMC Hillman Cancer Center Scientific Retreat! www.palcare.pitt.edu/dr-yael-sche...

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Pitt Palliative Research Center (PaRC) @pittpalcare.bsky.social · 16d

Dr. Margaret Rosenzweig is senior author on this descriptive study looking at correlates of delay among patients receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer; correlates included social support and symptom distress. Read more, in Cancer Nursing:

Targeted interventions to alleviate symptom distress and enhance interpersonal support may facilitate timely chemotherapy initiation.

Top Ten Tips Palliative Care Clinicians Should Know About Intensive Care Unit Consultation - PubMed

Pitt Palliative Research Center (PaRC) @pittpalcare.bsky.social · 18d

PaRC and Pitt School of Nursing's Dr. Jennifer Seaman writes in the Journal of Palliative Medicine about things HPC clinicians should know about consulting with the ICU.

The intensive care unit (ICU) is distinct in population, culture, and palliative care needs. Critical illness and ICU stays can be extremely distressing for patients and their loved ones. Providing…

Patient Perceptions of a Population Health Management Program to Improve Kidney Care: Optimizing care in CKD - PubMed

Pitt Palliative Research Center (PaRC) @pittpalcare.bsky.social · 21d

Faculty member & Section of Palliative Care Chief Jane Schell is a co-author on this study of an intervention which evaluated co-management of Chronic Kidney Disease by nephrologists and PCPs. Read more:

Patients with CKD who are managed by their PCP were supportive of remote comanagement by a nephrologist. Patients perceive some aspects of CKD health education to be beneficial; however, more…

Consumer Wearable Device Measures of Gait Cadence and Activity Fragmentation as Predictors of Survival Among Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy - PubMed

Reposted by Pitt Palliative Research Center (PaRC)

Pitt General Internal Medicine @pittgim.bsky.social · Sep 9

Dr. Gina Piscitello spoke with @medpagetoday.com about a review she led that found a lack of uniformity surrounding US laws guiding clinician decision-making for initiating or maintaining life-sustaining treatment.

Read it here: www.medpagetoday.com/publichealth...

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Pitt Palliative Research Center (PaRC) @pittpalcare.bsky.social · Aug 29

Dr. @carissalow.bsky.social is first author on a new study which suggests information captured by consumer-grade wearable devices may be able to predict survival among cancer patients. Read more:

Activity fragmentation and gait cadence metrics derived from consumer wearable devices were associated with overall survival in patients receiving chemotherapy for any solid tumor. These associations…

Interpersonal Processes of Care Disparities, Symptom Distress, and Chemotherapy Dosing in Women With Early-Stage Breast Cancer - PubMed

Pitt Palliative Research Center (PaRC) @pittpalcare.bsky.social · Aug 29

Dr. Margaret Rosenzweig is senior author on a new study of communication between patients and providers, symptom distress, and chemotherapy adherence. Read what the study team found:

Symptom distress during ESBC chemotherapy must be communicated via patient-provider interaction. Patients' perceptions of discrimination and bias may inhibit this process. This interaction requires…

Assessing Pediatric Resident Needs in Grief and Bereavement Education - PubMed

Pitt Palliative Research Center (PaRC) @pittpalcare.bsky.social · Aug 27

ICYMI: From Childrens Hospital of PGH Palliative Care, with co-author Dr. Kelly Harris (PaRC Faculty) comes a study assessing the need for bereavement education among pediatric residents. #MedEd

Pediatric residents indicate a strong desire for structured curricula on grief and bereavement focusing on resources that exist for families, approaches to grieving as a healthcare professional, and…

Pharmacist-led Opioid Deprescribing Pilot Clinic within Outpatient Palliative Care - PubMed

Pitt Palliative Research Center (PaRC) @pittpalcare.bsky.social · Aug 27

Dr. Yael Schenker was senior author on this article about a pharmacist-led deprescribing clinic for cancer patients in remission, which was piloted at UPMC. Read the results in @jpsmjournal.bsky.social:

Opioid deprescribing clinic was time-intensive and patients required close monitoring for implementation of patient-specific opioid deprescribing plans.

Development and Acceptability of a Rebuilding Osteo Strength With Exercise (ROSE) Program for Women With Breast Cancer - PubMed

Pitt Palliative Research Center (PaRC) @pittpalcare.bsky.social · Aug 26

Dr. Teresa Hagan Thomas is senior author on this study, which developed and tested the feasibility and acceptability of a bone health management intervention for women with breast cancer. Read more:

The study was retrospectively registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, registration number ChiCTR2300072208.

Pitt Palliative Research Center (PaRC) @pittpalcare.bsky.social · Aug 26

This past spring, former Gleitsman Scholar Angeline Zhou published a qualitative, exploratory study investigating the experiences of patients at the Palliative Recovery Engagement Program, a clinic for patients with palliative care needs & substance use disorder. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40156553/

Patient Perceptions of the Palliative Recovery Engagement Program (P-REP) Clinic, a Novel Outpatient Model for Patients With Advanced Illness and Substance Misuse
Angeline Zhou, Megan Hamm, Jessica S Merlin, Julie W Childers
American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care

Pitt Palliative Research Center (PaRC) @pittpalcare.bsky.social · Aug 25

ICYMI: Amar Bansal wrote an editorial for Kidney360 about a recent study of Chronic Kidney Disease patients, who participated in an educational intervention before initiation of dialysis. Read more: forhttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40014435/

Improving Integration of Palliative Care and Nephrology
Amar D. Bansal
Kidney360 journal

Pitt Palliative Research Center (PaRC) @pittpalcare.bsky.social · Aug 25

Dr. Justin Yu was a co-author on this protocol paper for a study which aims to investigate the effectiveness of a new Cognitive Behavioral Therapy intervention in patients with stage IV cancer: #palliative #hapc #clinicaltrial pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40834926/

Engage: Protocol of a randomized controlled trial of a telehealth-delivered psychosocial intervention to decrease symptom interference in patients with advanced cancer
Joseph G Winger, Sarah A Kelleher, Justin A Yu, Jessica E Ma, Catherine M Majestic, Elizabeth B Martinson, Maren K Olsen, Reginald Lerebours, Linda M Sutton, Tamara J Somers
Contemporary Clinical Trials

Challenges in Measuring Goals of Care Documentation for Critically Ill Patients - PubMed

Pitt Palliative Research Center (PaRC) @pittpalcare.bsky.social · Aug 22

Also new: Dr. Piscitello had a Corresponding Article published in Critical Care Medicine: #hapc #palliative: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40249218/

Challenges in Measuring Goals of Care Documentation for Critically Ill Patients

Pitt Palliative Research Center (PaRC) @pittpalcare.bsky.social · Aug 22

Today we're sharing two recent publications on goals of care by Dr. Gina Piscitello. First, a study which evaluates how often and in what ways time-limited trials are described in Goals of Care documentation, now available @jpsmjournal.bsky.social pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40252856/

Pitt Palliative Research Center (PaRC) @pittpalcare.bsky.social · Aug 21

Dr. Margaret Rosenzweig was senior author on this study of symptom burden in patients receiving chemotherapy, published in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management. Read more: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40107464/

The Effect of Race and Area Deprivation on Symptom Profiles Over the Course of Early-Stage Breast Cancer
Hiba Abujaradeh, Julia O'Brien, Susan R Mazanec, Catherine M Bender, Isabelle M Schlemmer, Adam M Brufsky, Elham Nasrollahi, Margaret Rosenzweig
In Journal of Pain and Symptom Management

Pitt Palliative Research Center (PaRC) @pittpalcare.bsky.social · Aug 21

In case you missed it: Dr. Teresa Hagan Thomas was first author on this protocol report of a study which focuses on integrating family caregivers into cancer care. Future research will study impact on patients and caregivers. #hapc #caregivers #oncology pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39167743/

Integrating Family Caregivers Into Cancer Care: Implementation of Evidence-Based Caregiver Protocols Into Gynecologic Oncology Practice
Authors: Teresa Hagan Thomas, Grace Campbell, Kelly R Tan, Patty Jo Murray, Kimm Loughlin , Mary C Roberge, Youjia Wang , Young Ji Lee , Ryan DiLello , Heidi S Donovan
In: JCO Oncology Practice

Pitt Palliative Research Center (PaRC) @pittpalcare.bsky.social · Aug 20

Dr. Julie Childers is co-author on this edition of "Fast Facts" on opioid diversion risk and management, from the Journal of Palliative Medicine. #hapc Read more: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38916071/

Pitt Palliative Research Center (PaRC) @pittpalcare.bsky.social · Aug 20

Dr. Gina Piscitello is first author on a study of ICU nurses and physicians which suggests that hospital policies may have little influence on clinician behavior when making decisions to withhold/withdraw life-sustaining care in difficult situations. #hapc pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40617397/

The Influence of Hospital Policies on Clinicians’ Decisions to Withhold or Withdraw Life-sustaining Treatment
Gina M. Piscitello MD MS
Edlyn Lopez Wolwowicz
Michael T. Huber MD MS
Kelly C. Vranas MD, MCR
Donald R. Sullivan MD MA MCR
Katrina E. Hauschildt PhD BCPA
Patrick G. Lyons MD MSc
In CHEST journal