Is quitting cold turkey the best way to stop smoking? When should you transfuse a patient? How effective are current models of palliative care? We’re answering relevant and thought-provoking questions this week on The Rounds Table!

Ashley, like many family physicians, makes a point of advising and supporting smoking cessation at most visits she has with patients who smoke. She takes listeners through a randomized controlled non-inferiority trial that provides evidence as to which strategy – gradual or abrupt smoking cessation – is most effective.

Next, haven’t had time to catch up on the latest guidelines for blood transfusions? Sheliza and Emily break it down in a special segment, summarizing the recommendations outlined by the American Association of Blood Banks.

Kieran goes meta again examining palliative care outcomes. As the burden of illness, and its accompanying impact on quality of life, continues to rise in our aging population, so too are new community and outpatient models of palliative care. Listen to find out what the current literature says on the effectiveness of palliative care, particularly with respect to quality of life, symptom relief, and survival.

It wouldn’t be The Rounds Table without the Good Stuff segment! Did you know that heart related deaths peak during the holiday season? Or that Nestle is developing a 21^st century restructured sugar molecule? Listen for the details!

Like what you hear? Rate us on iTunes! Follow us on Twitter @roundstable and tweet at this week’s hosts directly @kieranlquinn and @ashleyminuk.

The Papers

1. Smoking Cessation: http://annals.org/aim/article/2501853/gradual-versus-abrupt-smoking-cessation-randomized-controlled-noninferiority-trial

2. PC Effectiveness: http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2585979

Transfusion Guidelines

1. http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2569053

2. http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2569055

3. http://www.aabb.org/press/Pages/pr161012.aspx

4. http://www.uptodate.com/contents/indications-and-hemoglobin-thresholds-for-red-blood-cell-transfusion-in-the-adult

5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4046243/

Good Stuff

1. Holiday Deaths: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/12/161222191335.htm

2. The future looks sweet: https://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/11/30/business/nestle-reformulates-sugar-so-it-can-use-less.html?referer

Music Credits (Creative Commons)

The Rounds Table Theme Music by Brendan Quinn, Creative Director and Composer, Vapor RMW

The post All Things Must End (Including Life and Smoking!): Gradual Versus Abrupt Smoking Cessation and Palliative Care Effectiveness appeared first on Healthy Debate.