Journal of pain and symptom management
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Jan 2016
ReviewPalliative Care Screening and Assessment in the Emergency Department: A Systematic Review.
Emergency department (ED) providers and policy makers are increasingly interested in developing palliative care (PC) interventions for ED patients. Many patients in the ED may benefit from PC screening and referral. Multiple ED-based PC screening projects have been undertaken, but there has been no study of these projects or their effects. ⋯ We have identified multiple studies demonstrating that screening and referral for PC consultation are feasible in the ED setting. The strengths and limitations of these studies were explored. Further evidence for the development of an effective, evidence-based PC screening, and referral process is needed. We recommend a screening framework based on a synthesis of available evidence.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Jan 2016
Preferences for Life-Sustaining Treatments and Associations With Accurate Prognostic Awareness and Depressive Symptoms In Terminally Ill Cancer Patients' Last Year of Life.
The stability of life-sustaining treatment (LST) preferences at end of life (EOL) has been established. However, few studies have assessed preferences more than two times. Furthermore, associations of LST preferences with modifiable variables of accurate prognostic awareness, physician-patient EOL care discussions, and depressive symptoms have been investigated in cross-sectional studies only. ⋯ LST preferences are stable in cancer patients' last year. Facilitating accurate prognostic awareness and providing adequate psychological support may counteract the increasing trend for aggressive EOL care and minimize emotional distress during EOL care decisions.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Jan 2016
Pain in amaXhosa Women Living with HIV/AIDS: Translation and Validation of the Brief Pain Inventory-Xhosa.
Pain has been reported as the second most commonly reported symptom in people living with HIV/AIDS. In South Africa, there are more than five million people living with HIV/AIDS. Approximately, two million belong to the Xhosa cultural group. The prevalence of pain in amaXhosa living with HIV/AIDS was unknown at the commencement of the study. A culturally appropriate, valid, and reliable instrument is required to measure pain and its impact in this population. ⋯ The BPI-Xhosa is a valid instrument which can be used to measure pain prevalence, severity, and interference in amaXhosa women living with HIV/AIDS.