Journal of pain and symptom management
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Jul 2010
Clinical TrialThe efficacy of haloperidol in the management of nausea and vomiting in patients with cancer.
Haloperidol is used commonly for the control of nausea and vomiting (N/V) in palliative care patients, but there is very little evidence to support its use. ⋯ Haloperidol has some efficacy in the treatment of N/V in this patient group. The results from this uncontrolled study provide pilot data from which to plan future controlled trials of antiemetics in the palliative care population.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Jul 2010
Expanding the reach of palliative care to community-based home care programs.
This article describes a pilot project, run over a two-year period in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It was aimed at assessing the impact of a model of introducing a palliative care component and professional supervision of community caregivers on the quality of care given to people living with HIV/AIDS and their families. The use of the African Palliative Care Association African Palliative Outcome Scale as an assessment tool is outlined, and the challenges and outcomes encountered by the various role players are listed. The overall conclusion is that this model is a cost-effective way of increasing access to palliative care in resource poor settings.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Jul 2010
Palliative care in correctional centers-HPCA making progress in South Africa.
In KwaZulu Natal (KZN), the Hospice Palliative Care Association of South Africa (HPCA) has made a significant start in terms of addressing the palliative care needs of prisoners. A formal partnership has been established between the KZN Department of Correctional Services and the HPCA that allows staff at two correctional facilities to be mentored and equipped to provide palliative care to offenders. This pilot project has the potential for rollout at other facilities across the country. It is hoped that this vulnerable population group will be better able to access palliative care, which is a basic human right, for life-threatening and terminal conditions.