Oncology nursing forum
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To review strategies to optimize the management of chronic pain in patients with cancer, with an emphasis on the role of opioid analgesics. ⋯ Opioid rotation may be useful for opening the therapeutic window and establishing a more advantageous analgesic-to-toxicity ratio in patients with cancer.
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Oncology nursing forum · Nov 2008
Physical symptoms of children receiving pediatric hospice care at home during the last week of life.
To identify symptoms of greatest parental concern on the last day and during the last week of their children's lives, the five most common symptoms of parental concern, and symptom-management strategies used during the last week of the children's lives. ⋯ Symptoms experienced by dying children during the last week of life and symptom-management strategies used by pediatric hospice programs to support dying children and their families have not been well described. Additional research is warranted to further identify pediatric symptoms at the end of life and effective symptom-management strategies.
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Oncology nursing forum · Nov 2008
ReviewOpioids and cancer survivors: issues in side-effect management.
To describe the most common side effects associated with the use of opioid treatment in patients with moderate to severe cancer pain; to discuss research findings specific to the use of opioids for cancer pain in long-term cancer survivors. ⋯ Oncology nurses recognize that patients often require the long-term use of opioids when they experience chronic pain as a result of their disease or its treatment. The long-term physical and cognitive effects of such opioid use are not well known, despite the advances that have been made in cancer pain control and research. Survivors should communicate their concerns about side effects to the treatment team. In addition, patients and family members must be encouraged to inform their providers about personal attitudes, beliefs, and practices that may affect decisions about taking their analgesics as prescribed. Most importantly, oncology nurses must teach patients and their families to self-advocate for optimal pain relief with minimal side effects.
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Oncology nursing forum · Nov 2008
ReviewThe use of risk-management approaches to protect patients with cancer-related pain and their healthcare providers.
To describe the factors that contribute to the risk for undertreatment of cancer pain, as well as the risk factors associated with misuse or abuse of opioid analgesics, and to describe approaches to identify and manage the risks. ⋯ Clinicians must be cognizant of the fact that a significant risk exists for undertreatment of cancer pain. In addition, oncology nurses should recognize patients who are at risk for abuse or addiction or who are actively abusing opioid analgesics and establish appropriate safeguards for patients with cancer and oncology clinicians.
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Oncology nursing forum · Nov 2008
Assessing nurses' attitudes toward death and caring for dying patients in a comprehensive cancer center.
To assess how nurses employed in a comprehensive cancer center feel about death and caring for dying patients and examine any relationships between their attitudes and demographic factors. ⋯ Based on the data collected in the study, less experienced oncology nurses will most likely benefit from increased education, training, and exposure to providing and coping effectively with end-of-life care.