Journal of pain and symptom management
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Feb 2013
The Manchester cough in lung cancer scale: the development and preliminary validation of a new assessment tool.
Cough is a common distressing symptom in lung cancer patients. Its assessment is hampered by the lack of a validated scale to measure the complex cough experience in this population. ⋯ We have developed a promising tool to assess cough in lung cancer, but this needs validation, and future studies should determine whether this is a sensitive and responsive tool. A fully validated tool can be used in the clinical assessment of cough in cancer patients, and as a unidimensional impact scale in the measurement of cough as an outcome in intervention studies.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Feb 2013
Lack of energy: an important and distinct component of HIV-related fatigue and daytime function.
Fatigue is a prevalent symptom among adults living with HIV. There is increasing evidence that fatigue and energy are related, yet distinct constructs. Although HIV-related fatigue has been well studied, little is known about perceived energy and how it relates to fatigue, individual characteristics, and other symptoms. ⋯ Lack of energy interferes with daytime function and is not just the inverse of fatigue but a distinct perception that differs from fatigue.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Feb 2013
Growth of an academic palliative medicine program: patient encounters and clinical burden.
Information regarding the challenges of clinical growth and staffing of palliative care programs is limited. ⋯ Over the 10-year history, there has been an increase in the number of patient consultations seen by our palliative care program. The clinical burden was manageable during the first three years but quickly became too burdensome. Active recruitment of new faculty was required to sustain the increased clinical activity.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Feb 2013
Direct observation of prognosis communication in palliative care: a descriptive study.
Palliative care (PC) consultations result in improved patient understanding of prognosis and better quality of life, yet the content and processes of prognosis communication during PC consultations remain unknown. ⋯ Prognoses are routinely communicated in PC consultations with hospitalized patients and their families. The rate and characteristics of prognosis communication differ based on the length of time the patient is expected to live.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Feb 2013
Advance care planning and dying in nursing homes in Flanders, Belgium: a nationwide survey.
In Belgium, data on actual advance care planning (ACP) in nursing homes (NHs) are scarce. ⋯ Prevalence of ACPs and formal authorization of a legal representative was low among the deceased NH residents in Flanders, Belgium. There was a higher prevalence of physicians' orders, often established after the resident had lost capacity. Initiatives should be developed to stimulate more advance discussion on care options and making end-of-life decision with the residents while they retain capacity.