Journal of pain and symptom management
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Dec 2012
Clinical TrialConsiderations in developing and delivering a nonpharmacological intervention for symptom management in lung cancer: the views of patients and informal caregivers.
Few studies consider patient's and caregiver's preferences when developing nonpharmacological interventions. This is important to develop acceptable and accessible nonpharmacological interventions for patients with cancer. ⋯ The data from this study have provided insight into the key issues that are likely to influence the development, uptake, and delivery of a nonpharmacological intervention to help manage the respiratory symptom cluster of cough, breathlessness, and fatigue. It is crucial that these findings are considered when developing and modeling a nonpharmacological symptom management intervention.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Dec 2012
Organization position statements and the stance of "studied neutrality" on euthanasia in palliative care.
In recent years, palliative care and related organizations have increasingly adopted a stance of "studied neutrality" on the question of whether euthanasia should be legalized as a bona fide medical regimen in palliative care contexts. This stance, however, has attracted criticism from both opponents and proponents of euthanasia. Pro-euthanasia activists see the stance as an official position of indecision that is fundamentally disrespectful of a patient's right to "choose death" when life has become unbearable. ⋯ In this article, attention is given to examining critically the notion and possible unintended consequences of adopting a stance of studied neutrality on euthanasia in palliative care. It is argued that although palliative care and related organizations have an obvious stake in the outcome of the euthanasia debate, it is neither unreasonable nor inconsistent for such organizations to be unwilling to take a definitive stance on the issue. It is further contended that, given the long-standing tenets of palliative care, palliative care organizations have both a right and a responsibility to defend the integrity of the principles and practice of palliative care and to resist demands for euthanasia to be positioned either as an integral part or logical extension of palliative care.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Dec 2012
Meta AnalysisSafety and Tolerability of Once-Daily OROS(®) hydromorphone extended-release in opioid-tolerant adults with moderate-to-severe chronic cancer and noncancer pain: pooled analysis of 11 clinical studies.
The efficacy and tolerability of once-daily hydromorphone extended release (ER) (OROS(®) hydromorphone ER, Exalgo(®), Mallinckrodt Brand Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Hazelwood, MO) in patients with chronic cancer and noncancer pain have been reported in previous studies. ⋯ Once-daily OROS hydromorphone ER demonstrated a safety and tolerability profile in opioid-tolerant patients that is consistent with the known safety profiles of opioids.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Dec 2012
Randomized Controlled TrialPilot randomized controlled trial of a patient-controlled cognitive-behavioral intervention for the pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbance symptom cluster in cancer.
Pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbance commonly co-occur in patients receiving treatment for advanced cancer. ⋯ Findings suggest that the CB intervention may be an efficacious approach to treating the pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbance symptom cluster. Future research is planned to confirm efficacy and test mediators and moderators of intervention effects.