title: Palliative Care Issues in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: An Evidenced-Based Review.
abstract: As palliative care physicians become increasingly involved in the care of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), they will be asked to provide guidance regarding the use of supplements, diet, exercise, and other common preventive medicine interventions. Moreover, palliative care physicians have a crucial role assisting patients with ALS in addressing health care decisions to maximize quality of life and cope with a rapidly disabling disease. It is therefore important for palliative care physicians to be familiar with commonly encountered palliative care issues in ALS. This article provides an evidenced-based review of palliative care options not usually addressed in national and international ALS guidelines.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA chafickaram@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Chafic Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Karam
authors.affiliation: Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, and Boston VA Healthcare System.
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Paganoni
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Neuromuscular Section, University of California, Davis Medical School, Sacramento, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Nanette
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Joyce
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation St Luke's Rehabilitation Institute, Spokane, WA, USA.
authors.forename: Gregory T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.affiliation: Duke University School of Medicine, and Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bedlack
mesh_terms: D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000451:nursing*; D017028:Caregivers; D018575:Home Care Services, Hospital-Based / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000592:standards*; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011788:Quality of Life; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000458:organization & administration*
keywords: alternative medicine; amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; hospice; palliative care; quality of life