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New Palliative Care research.

The strongest recent Palliative Care papers on PubMed, ranked by study design, topic and journal, with the same summaries subscribers get.

  1. randomized trial, 51 patients

    Effects of a Generative AI Virtual Patient on Serious Illness Communication Skills: Randomized Controlled Trial

    Haut KG, Hasan M, Carroll T, et al. JMIR Med Educ. Oct 2026.

    Findings
    Training with an AI virtual patient led to greater overall communication score gains (β=.09, 95% CI .04-.14; P=.001) than reading modules. Participants also reported higher confidence (mean score of 4.31 vs 3.83 on a 5-point Likert scale; P=.009).
    Bottom line
    AI virtual patient practice improves serious illness communication scores compared to passive reading (P=.001).
  2. randomized trial, 193 patients

    Impact of remote management using patient-reported outcomes on pain and anxiety after breast biopsy: the BIO-PSY randomized controlled trial

    Guerdoux E, Coutant L, Al Herk A, et al. Support Care Cancer. Oct 2026.

    Findings
    Among 193 women undergoing breast biopsy, anxiety was significantly lower in the PRO‑monitoring arms versus standard care at day 4 (p < 0.001) and remained lower at day 10 for the phone‑based arm (adjusted p = 0.008).
    Bottom line
    Remote PRO monitoring reduced post‑biopsy anxiety (p < 0.001 at day 4).
  3. randomized trial, 50 patients

    A Short Evidence-Based, Belief-Focused Educational Video Improves Back Pain Beliefs but Not Lifting Behaviour in Healthy Office Workers: An Exploratory Randomised Controlled Trial

    Müller-Schmid A, Bangerter C, Nagy P, et al. Musculoskeletal Care. Dec 2026.

    Findings
    The trial with 50 office workers found that the video reduced Back‑PAQ10 scores by Δ = 6.12 (p < 0.001) compared with a modest Δ = 0.88 in controls, while lumbar curvature RoM also decreased (p < 0.001) but lifting strategy showed only a time effect (p = 0.005).
    Bottom line
    The brief video markedly improves back‑pain beliefs (Δ = 6.12) but does not change lifting mechanics or spinal motion.
  4. randomized trial, 24 patients

    A comparative study of low-level laser therapy combined with drugs versus drug therapy alone in the management of myogenic TMJ pain

    Saeed SM, Dhahir MK, Alkurtas S. Wiad Lek. Jan 2026.

    Findings
    In 24 TMJ patients, adding low‑level laser therapy to standard drugs produced significantly greater VAS pain reductions (p < 0.05) and larger increases in maximum mouth opening (p < 0.05) across all follow‑up points compared with drugs alone.
    Bottom line
    Combining laser therapy with medication yields superior pain relief and jaw‑opening gains (p < 0.05).
  5. randomized trial, 143 patients

    A Conversation Tool to Enhance Care for People With Type 2 Diabetes: The QBSafe Cluster Randomized Clinical Trial

    Lipska KJ, Branda ME, Camp AW, et al. JAMA Netw Open. Oct 2026.

    Findings
    In 143 patients, the ASK intervention produced a mean HbA1c of 8.8% versus 9.1% in control (adjusted mean difference, -0.2%; 95% CI, -0.9% to 0.5%) and IIRS scores of 32.1 vs 37.1 (adjusted mean difference, -3.9).
    Bottom line
    ASK did not improve fit of care or glycemic control, showing only a -0.2% HbA1c difference.

Summaries are written by AI from PubMed abstracts, for keeping up with the literature. Check the source before it changes care. Editorial policy · Medical disclaimer

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