title: End-of-life care: pathways and evidence.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Studies in different countries and settings of care have reported the quality of care for the dying patients as suboptimal. Care pathways have been developed with the aim of ensuring that dying patients and their family members received by health professionals the most appropriate care. This review presents and discusses the evidence supporting the effectiveness of the end-of-life care pathways.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two Cochrane systematic reviews updated at June 2013 did not identify studies that met minimal criteria for inclusion. One randomized cluster trial aimed at assessing the effectiveness of the Liverpool Care Pathway in hospitalized cancer patients was subsequently published. The trial did not find a significant difference in the overall quality of care, the primary end-point, but two out of nine secondary outcomes - respect, dignity, and kindness, and control of breathlessness showed significant improvements. Afterwards, we did not find any other potentially eligible published study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The overall amount of evidence supporting the dissemination of end-of-life care pathways is rather poor. One negative randomized trial suggests the pathways have the potential to reduce the gap between hospital and hospices. Further research is needed to understand the potential benefit of end-of-life care pathways.
authors.affiliation: Palliative Care Unit, IRCCS Arcispedale S. Maria Nuova, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Costantini
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alquati
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Di Leo
mesh_terms: D019091:Critical Pathways; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000458:organization & administration*