Expert review of pharmacoeconomics & outcomes research
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Expert Rev Pharmacoecon Outcomes Res · Oct 2011
Comparative StudyComparison of the EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL and the FACIT-Pal for assessment of quality of life in patients with advanced cancer.
Shorter quality-of-life (QoL) assessments are beneficial for palliative patients as they reduce burden associated with completing personal, and at times stressful, questionnaires. The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 15 Palliative (QLQ-C15-PAL) and the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy - Palliative Care (FACIT-Pal) are two palliative QoL tools that have been validated for use in this population. The purpose of this article was to conduct a review of studies utilizing these two palliative-specific QoL instruments, their development and their relative strengths for use in advanced cancer patients. ⋯ Both QLQ-C15-PAL and FACIT-Pal allow for assessment of QoL issues specific to patients with advanced diseases. Each instrument has unique strengths and weaknesses and choice between these tools is dependent on the investigator and study needs. Future studies should directly compare these two tools and validate their use through a number of administration modes.
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Expert Rev Pharmacoecon Outcomes Res · Aug 2011
ReviewSymptom clusters in patients with lung cancer: a literature review.
To provide a review of literature reporting empirically determined symptom clusters in lung cancer patients. ⋯ Symptom cluster exploration is a developing area of research in the oncology field and is promising in providing insights into diagnosis, prognostication and symptom management. Disparities in methodology are significant barriers to producing comparable results. These inconsistencies result in a lack of consensus in symptom clusters in lung cancer populations, thus impeding the determination of clinically relevant findings.
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Expert Rev Pharmacoecon Outcomes Res · Aug 2011
Comparative StudyImpact of 5-HT(3) RA selection within triple antiemetic regimens on uncontrolled highly emetogenic chemotherapy-induced nausea/vomiting.
It is recommended that patients initiate triple antiemetic therapy with one of the 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor antagonists (5-HT(3) RAs), aprepitant (or its intravenous prodrug fosaprepitant) and dexamethasone prior to the start of highly emetogenic chemotherapy (HEC). However, the impact of 5-HT(3) RA selection within triple antiemetic regimens on the risk of uncontrolled chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) with HEC has not been well studied. ⋯ In this retrospective claims data analysis, single-day HEC cycles administered with palonosetron + aprepitant/fosaprepitant + dexamethasone had a lower risk for an uncontrolled CINV event versus other 5-HT(3) RAs + aprepitant/fosaprepitant + dexamethasone.
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Expert Rev Pharmacoecon Outcomes Res · Aug 2011
Influence of demand-side measures to enhance renin-angiotensin prescribing efficiency in Europe: implications for the future.
European countries strive to enhance prescribing efficiency. This includes renin-angiotensin drugs following the availability of generic angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs). ⋯ Multiple and intensive demand-side measures enhanced prescribing efficiency. The more intense follow-up of ARB prescribing restrictions in Croatia had a greater influence on subsequent utilization patterns than Austria. Both findings confirm earlier studies. Reforms also favorably enhanced the prescribing of generic losartan once available.
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Expert Rev Pharmacoecon Outcomes Res · Jun 2011
ReviewBetter guidelines for better care: enhancing the implementability of clinical practice guidelines.
The potential of clinical practice guidelines to promote evidence-based care has not been consistently realized. This article outlines how modifying guidelines, and specifically their implementability (the perceived characteristics that influence their use in practice), could be an inexpensive way to improve care. ⋯ It describes each step from knowledge synthesis, to barrier analysis, intervention development and evaluation of a guideline implementability tool that could facilitate uptake of guidelines in clinical practice. This tool targets guideline developers, so that better guidelines may result in better care.