Journal of pain and symptom management
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Aug 2005
Patient appointment process, symptom control and prediction of follow-up compliance in a palliative care outpatient clinic.
Activities and outcomes in an outpatient palliative care clinic (PCC) have attracted little attention in the literature. We describe the results of our patient appointment scheduling process, our efficacy in relieving cancer-associated symptoms and an analysis of risk factors for patient non-compliance with the appointment schedule. Over a one-year study period, 730 first-time appointments were scheduled and 73.1% of them were kept. ⋯ History of alcohol abuse was not associated with poorer pain control. A low Karnofsky index and high anxiety levels were identified as risk factors for early withdrawal from the PCC scheduled appointment. These data indicate that the PCC is an effective place for symptom management, but specific organizational strategies are needed to encourage patients to comply with scheduled appointments.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Aug 2005
Symptom distress in patients attending an outpatient palliative radiotherapy clinic.
Patients with advanced cancer are often polysymptomatic. Different symptoms occur with varying frequency, intensity, and impact. Despite the high prevalence of symptoms in this population, reports of symptomatology in palliative outpatients have been limited. ⋯ We conclude that the symptoms of metastatic cancer, including pain, fatigue, depression, anxiety, drowsiness, poor appetite, and sense of well-being, are common among patients attending outpatient palliative clinics. Symptom assessment tools, such as the ESAS, allow for the identification of symptoms and their severity. The appropriate regimen for management of pain and symptoms in metastatic cancer patients can then be planned.