Journal of pain and symptom management
-
J Pain Symptom Manage · Dec 2015
ReviewThe Business Case for Palliative Care: Translating Research Into Program Development in the U.S.
Specialist palliative care (PC) often embraces a "less is more" philosophy that runs counter to the revenue-centric nature of most health care financing in the U. S. ⋯ These principles are relatively well established for inpatient PC but are only now emerging for community-based PC. Three developments that are key for the latter are the increasing penalties from payers for overutilization of hospital stays, the variety of alternative payment models such as accountable care organizations, which foster a population health management perspective, and payer-provider partnerships that allow for greater access to and funding of community-based PC.
-
J Pain Symptom Manage · Dec 2015
Randomized Controlled TrialComplex Decongestive Lymphatic Therapy With or Without Vodder II Manual Lymph Drainage in More Severe Chronic Postmastectomy Upper Limb Lymphedema: A Randomized Non-Inferiority Prospective Study.
Complex decongestive lymphatic therapy (CDT) has been the method of choice in conservative management of lymphedema. Although effective, it is time consuming and manual lymph drainage (MLD) usually requires skilled therapists. ⋯ These results indicate that parallel (immediate and delayed) results may be obtained by CDT without the use of Vodder MLD and CB may be an essential part of lymphedema management.
-
J Pain Symptom Manage · Dec 2015
Comparative StudyWhat Gives Meaning in Life to Patients with Advanced Cancer? A Comparison Between Spanish, German and Swiss Patients.
Meaning in life (MiL) is a construct that varies across individuals, situations, cultures, and countries, and protects against emotional distress at the end of life. ⋯ Differences were identified in the areas of MiL listed by the participants according to country of origin. Compared with their German and Swiss counterparts, the Spanish patients listed more areas involving interpersonal relationships. Interpersonal relationships, at both the family and wider social level, are reported to be the areas that give the greatest MiL to these patients. These aspects, therefore, should be considered when drawing up care plans designed to help patients achieve the maximum possible comfort and quality of life.
-
J Pain Symptom Manage · Dec 2015
Impact of Smoking Cessation on Subsequent Pain Intensity Among Chronically Ill Veterans Enrolled in a Smoking Cessation Trial.
Prior cross-sectional studies have reported greater pain intensity among persistent smokers compared with nonsmokers or former smokers; yet, few prospective studies have examined how smoking abstinence affects pain intensity. ⋯ Participants who were classified as abstainers did not report significantly different levels of pain intensity than patients who continued to smoke. Future studies should expand on our findings and monitor pain intensity in smoking cessation trials.
-
J Pain Symptom Manage · Dec 2015
Spanish Version of the Patient Dignity Inventory: Translation and Validation in Patients with Advanced Cancer.
The Patient Dignity Inventory (PDI) is an instrument to measure sources of distress related to dignity at the end of life. ⋯ The Spanish version of the PDI showed adequate psychometric properties when tested with advanced cancer patients. This research provides a three-factor alternative in Spanish to the PDI.