Journal of pain and symptom management
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Aug 2016
Observational StudyPrevalence, Impact and Correlates of Severe Fatigue in Patients with Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors.
The introduction of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) imatinib in the treatment of gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) in 2000 was the start of a new era of targeted treatment. Since then, the median survival of patients with GIST has substantially increased. Prolonged survival and chronic TKI use are associated with treatment-induced symptoms, such as fatigue, which can compromise quality of life (QoL). ⋯ Severe fatigue occurs in 30% of GIST patients and in 33% of GIST patients on a TKI. The fatigue is disabling and is not only associated with current TKI use but also with psychological distress and physical functioning. GIST patients should be informed about these associated factors of fatigue that deserve appropriate management.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Aug 2016
Hospice Enrollment Following Referral to Community-Based, Specialist-Level Palliative Care: Incidence, Timing and Predictors.
Referral to community-based palliative care may increase the likelihood of hospice enrollment. ⋯ Almost one-quarter of patients were enrolled in hospice while receiving community-based palliative care, and hospice length of stay was relatively long for those who did. Both sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were associated with hospice-related outcomes. Studies are needed to further explore predictors and outcomes of hospice enrollment from palliative care.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Aug 2016
"I Can Breathe Again!" Patients' Self-Management Strategies for Episodic Breathlessness in Advanced Disease, Derived from Qualitative Interviews.
Episodic breathlessness causes additional distress to breathless patients with advanced disease, but management is still insufficient and there is a lack of knowledge on effective coping strategies. ⋯ Patients used a number of different strategies to cope with episodic breathlessness, adding more detailed understanding of existing strategies for breathlessness. The findings, therefore, may provide a valuable aid for health care providers, affected patients, and their relatives.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Aug 2016
Is it the Difference a Day Makes? Bereaved Caregivers' Perceptions of Short Hospice Enrollment.
Hospice enrollment for less than one month has been considered too late by some caregivers and at the right time for others. Perceptions of the appropriate time for hospice enrollment in cancer are not well understood. ⋯ The findings suggest that one more day of hospice care may increase perceived comfort, symptom management, and decreased suffering and signal the need for rapid response protocols.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Aug 2016
Differences in Terminal Hospitalization Care Between U.S. Men and Women.
In many settings, men and women receive different care. ⋯ Men who die in hospitals receive more aggressive care than women. Further research should examine potential causes of this overall pattern.