No abstract

Mindfulness-based programs may help providers recognize and address symptoms of depression and PTSD. Additional research is needed to enhance access and uptake of programming among larger groups of participants.

Posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms may be common among professionals working in palliative medicine. Professionals prone to avoidant coping and those with more rigid negative thought processes may be at higher risk for posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms.

palliative care inpatient unit were invited to participate. Preferences were elicited with regards to three symptom assessment scales. Participants selected their preferred scale for each symptom. We also determined the clinical utility of each scale, defined by ease of completion as judged by an observer. A total of 100 inpatients were recruited. Results. VAS was the least preferred measure. Scale preference was highly consistent across symptoms. 52% choose the same scale for all three, and 44% for two, with just 4% choosing a different individual scale for all three. There was moderate agreement between participant scale preference and observer-determined ease of scale completion (Pain: K ¼ 0.49; Fatigue: K ¼ 0.45; Appetite loss K ¼ 0.36). Conclusion. VAS were the least popular. Most participants had a specific scale preference with high intrapatient consistency between the three scales. CRS was preferred for appetite loss and tiredness, but NRS for pain. Research Objectives. To quantify the prevalence of loss and describe the bereavement experiences of 428 Poster Abstracts Vol. 51 No.