Current opinion in supportive and palliative care
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Curr Opin Support Palliat Care · Jun 2012
ReviewThe placebo in practice: how to use it in clinical routine.
Recent placebo literature provides the scientific basis for the different psychological factors that influence the outcome of a medical treatment. The aim of the present review is to summarize the recent findings of placebo research offering useful tools for everyday medical routine. ⋯ Placebo research provides solid scientific ground for all those psychological aspects that characterize every medical treatment. It also gives us information on the functioning of the human brain, with the possibility to exploit some of these mechanisms in routine medical practice.
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Curr Opin Support Palliat Care · Jun 2012
ReviewThe role of chaplains within oncology interdisciplinary teams.
The role of chaplains/spiritual care professionals and the importance of addressing spiritual needs within interdisciplinary oncology teams are in need of systematic review and critical appraisal. This review focuses on four key areas: basic concepts of spirituality within the healthcare domain; the relevance of spirituality within cancer care; the role of spiritual care within interdisciplinary cancer teams; and the current status of spiritual care professionals in interdisciplinary cancer teams. ⋯ Spiritual care professionals are increasingly recognized as integral members of interdisciplinary oncology teams. However, the full integration of spiritual care professionals within the standard practice of oncology interdisciplinary teams is lacking, as spiritual care services continue to be treated as ancillary services within cancer care organizations.
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The purpose of this review is to look at the options available for the management of pain in victims of conflict, from the point of wounding, through a chain of evacuation, to rehabilitation in the home country. This is relevant for all healthcare workers as any could find themselves treating veterans and having a clear understanding of what occurred will help. ⋯ The current agents, routes and techniques found in any civilian medical service can be brought to bear with great benefit. However, the secret appears to lie in a robust approach to the importance of treating pain, encouraged in all healthcare professionals, and the recognition of the role of integrating the healthcare package throughout the chain of evacuation. Research remains difficult.
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Curr Opin Support Palliat Care · Jun 2012
ReviewAcute pain management in patients with persistent pain.
Over the past 20 years, prescriptions of opioids for chronic pain have increased dramatically. This review addresses the difficulties in managing acute pain in this growing group of patients and discusses evidence relating to opioid tolerance and hyperalgesia and new avenues of research in specific painful conditions. ⋯ Much of the evidence regarding the acute pain management of chronic pain patients is extrapolated from studies of opioid-naïve patients undergoing surgery. More focused research is needed to ascertain whether this model is an appropriate one to follow for such a complex group of patients.