Journal of pain and symptom management
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Palliative care is often focused on cancer patients. Palliative sedation at the end of life is an intervention to address severe suffering in the last stage of life. ⋯ The practice of continuous palliative sedation in patients dying of cancer differs from patients dying of other diseases. These differences seem to be related to the less predictable course of noncancer diseases, which may reduce physicians' awareness of the imminence of death. Increased attention to noncancer diseases in palliative care practice and research is, therefore, crucial as is more attention to the potential benefits of palliative care consultation.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Feb 2012
Prevalence of secondary lymphedema in patients with head and neck cancer.
Because surgery, radiation, and/or chemotherapy disrupt lymphatic structures, damage soft tissue leading to scar tissue formation and fibrosis, and further affect lymphatic function, patients with head and neck cancer may be at high risk for developing secondary lymphedema. Yet, no published data are available regarding the prevalence of secondary lymphedema after head and neck cancer treatment. ⋯ Lymphedema is a common late effect in patients with head and neck cancer, and it develops in multiple external and internal anatomical locations. During physical examination and endoscopic procedures, clinicians should assess patients with head and neck cancer for late-effect lymphedema. Referral for treatment should be considered when lymphedema is noted. Research is needed to examine risk factors of lymphedema in patients with head and neck cancer and its effects on patients' symptoms, function, and quality of life.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Feb 2012
Understanding bereaved caregiver evaluations of the quality of dying and death: an application of cognitive interviewing methodology to the quality of dying and death questionnaire.
To increase the interpretability of quality of dying and death measures, research is needed to understand potential sources of response variation. ⋯ These results suggest that the quality of dying and death is a complex construct based on multiple perspectives and standards of comparison. These findings have implications for clinical care, which, if it aspires to improve how dying and death are evaluated, must ensure that the family is the unit of care and aid in preparation for the dying and death experience.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Feb 2012
A scale for measuring feelings of support and security regarding cancer care in a region of Japan: a potential new endpoint of cancer care.
Having a sense of security about the availability of care is important for cancer patients and their families. ⋯ A new scale that evaluates sense of security with regard to cancer care was developed. Future studies should examine whether establishing a regional health care system that provides quality palliative care could improve the sense of security of the general population.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Feb 2012
Drug disposal among hospice home care nurses: a pilot study of current practice and attitudes.
It is the role of the hospice home care nurse to dispose of unused medications after a patient's death. However, the methods of disposal, the nurses' attitudes, and beliefs regarding the environmental and health effects of disposal practices, as well as the knowledge of applicable federal guidelines, are unknown. ⋯ Findings from this study suggest further education, practice, and research directions.