Current opinion in supportive and palliative care
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Curr Opin Support Palliat Care · Mar 2013
ReviewEvidence-based approach to manage persistent wound-related pain.
Pain is a significant concern in people with chronic wounds. A systematized approach is recommended for the management of wound-associated pain with the objectives to address pain relief, increase function, and restore overall quality of life. ⋯ Pain is a complex biopsychosocial phenomenon that requires multiple pharmacological and nonpharmacological management approach.
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Curr Opin Support Palliat Care · Mar 2013
ReviewThe management of wound-related procedural pain (volitional incident pain) in advanced illness.
The prevention and treatment of wound-related procedural pain is one of the greatest areas of unmet need within wound management. Also referred to as 'Volitional Incident Pain', it is the most prevalent subtype of breakthrough pain experienced by patients afflicted with wounds. Novel formulations of existing analgesics are now available to address this challenge. ⋯ Novel formulations of fentanyl citrate, delivered through an array of noninvasive routes, allow for rapid-onset and short-acting effects that better match the onset and duration of wound-related procedural pain.
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Curr Opin Support Palliat Care · Mar 2013
Review Case ReportsSelf-care and communication issues at the end of life of recipients of a left-ventricular assist device as destination therapy.
The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of self- care and communication issues at the end of life of patients with left-ventricular assist devices (LVADs) for destination therapy, based on recent research on end-of-life communication in other diseases. ⋯ Healthcare professionals treating patients before and after LVAD implantation need to take an active role in end-of-life discussions and be able to communicate information regarding expected complications, quality of life and prognosis to the patients and caregivers. Research is needed addressing optimal ways and timing of communication with LVAD patients and families.
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Curr Opin Support Palliat Care · Dec 2012
ReviewIntegrating technology into palliative care research.
As palliative care research evolves and grows within resource-strained environments, further integration of novel methods to assist in completing protocols is needed. Technology-assisted techniques, including the use of software and hardware, to aid in data collection, analysis and reporting are increasingly being incorporated into research investigations in palliative care. Reviewing reported successes of technology use in palliative care research is important to communicate lessons learned and principles to guide further implementation. ⋯ Technology has been successfully integrated into some aspects of palliative care research. The growth of both palliative care research and use of electronic methods for data collection predict increased incorporation between the two fields.
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Curr Opin Support Palliat Care · Dec 2012
ReviewAchieving palliative care research efficiency through defining and benchmarking performance metrics.
Research efficiency is gaining increasing attention in the research enterprise, including palliative care research. The importance of generating meaningful findings and translating these scientific advances to improved patient care creates urgency in the field to address well documented system inefficiencies. The Palliative Care Research Cooperative Group (PCRC) provides useful examples for ensuring research efficiency in palliative care. ⋯ Examples from the PCRC affirm and expand the existing literature on research efficiency, providing a palliative care focus. Operating procedures, performance metrics, prioritization, and monitoring for success should all be informed by and inform the process map to achieve maximum research efficiency.