Journal of pain and symptom management
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Jan 2013
Self-reported constipation in patients with advanced cancer: a preliminary report.
Constipation is often inadequately assessed and underdiagnosed in patients with advanced cancer. Many studies use patient-reported constipation (PRC) as an outcome. ⋯ We found a high frequency of constipation. The limited agreement with modified ROME criteria suggests that a patient's self-report as yes or no is not useful for clinical practice. Patient self-rating on a 0 to 10 scale (score of three or greater) seems to be the best tool for constipation screening among this population. More research is needed to identify the best way to assess constipation in patients with advanced cancer.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Jan 2013
An examination of adherence to pain medication plans in older cancer patients in hospice care.
Timely and appropriate management of pain is essential to promote comfort at the end of life. ⋯ This study identified that pain medication adherence among older adults with cancer receiving hospice care is high. However, hospices must be alert to the fact that even as patients become more comfortable, adherence must continue to be emphasized to ensure that pain does not redevelop or exacerbate, if pain relief is a patient priority.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Jan 2013
The Spanish version of the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System-revised (ESAS-r): first psychometric analysis involving patients with advanced cancer.
The Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) is a measure widely used in palliative care for the assessment of symptoms in patients with advanced cancer. The tool has been validated in different languages, including Spanish. A revised version (ESAS-r) was developed by Watanabe et al. in 2010. ⋯ The ESAS-r is a valid instrument with adequate psychometric characteristics. This version is preferred by patients with advanced cancer. The Spanish version of the ESAS-r can, therefore, replace the use of the ESAS.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Jan 2013
Prevalence and severity of pruritus and quality of life in patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.
Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), although rare, is associated with a significant symptom burden. Pruritus appears to be one of the most prominent and disturbing symptoms. ⋯ All aspects of QOL are affected in CTCL. Pruritus is a common and troublesome symptom. A more advanced disease stage and more severe pruritus symptoms were associated with poorer QOL in this study.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Jan 2013
Prognostic factors of survival in patients with advanced cancer admitted to home care.
Data regarding prognostication of life expectancy in patients with advanced cancer are of paramount importance to patients, families, and clinicians. However, data regarding patients followed at home are lacking. ⋯ Low systolic blood pressure and high heart rate, male gender, poor KPS score, anorexia, and dyspnea were correlated with a shorter survival. Moreover, patients with low systolic blood pressure and high heart rate, male gender, poor KPS score, and greater intensity of anorexia and dyspnea are more likely to die within one week. The combination of physical symptoms from the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System and other parameters included in this study, which are simple to assess and are repeatable at home, should be further explored in future studies to provide a simple tool for use with patients with advanced cancer admitted to a home care program.