Journal of pain and symptom management
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Jun 2017
Multicenter Study Comparative StudyComparing the palliative care needs of those with cancer to those with common non-cancer serious illness.
Historically, palliative care has been focused on those with cancer. Although these ties persist, palliative care is rapidly integrating into the care of patients with common, non-cancer serious illnesses. Despite this, the bulk of literature informing palliative care practices stems from the care of cancer patients. ⋯ Patients with COPD, ESRD, and HF were less functional and more likely to be hospitalized at time of referral to palliative care than cancer patients. These findings may be reflective of the slower and more varied trajectory of non-cancer serious illness. One aim of palliative care for those with non-cancer severe illness should be directed toward improving and assisting with functionality and decreasing frequency of hospital admissions. These interventions could take place in the palliative care office, but could also be integrated into hospital discharge plans.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Jun 2017
Randomized Controlled TrialA Randomized Trial of Yoga for Children Hospitalized with Sickle Cell Vaso-Occlusive Crisis.
Sickle cell disease (SCD) vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC) remains an important cause of acute pain in pediatrics and the most common SCD complication. Pain management recommendations in SCD include nonpharmacological interventions. Yoga is one nonpharmacological intervention that has been shown to reduce pain in some populations; however, evidence is lacking in children with VOC. ⋯ This study provides evidence that yoga is an acceptable, feasible, and helpful intervention for hospitalized children with VOC. Future research should further examine yoga for children with SCD pain in the inpatient and outpatient settings.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Jun 2017
ReviewUse of preventive medication in patients with limited life expectancy: a systematic review.
Optimal prescribing in patients with limited life expectancy (LLE) remains unclear. ⋯ Patients continue to receive medications that are not prescribed as symptomatic treatment despite having a LLE. Very few rigorous studies have been conducted on minimizing preventive medications in patients with LLE, and expert opinion varies on medication optimization at the end of life. A consensus guideline that addresses this gap is of paramount importance.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Jun 2017
Lack of patient-clinician concordance in cancer patients: Its relation with patient variables.
Patients with cancer are bothered by its diagnosis, treatment, and associated uncertainty. Lack of concordance (LOC) of patients' reporting of their symptoms and quality of life (QOL) with that of their clinicians has been observed in cancer care. However, information regarding the reporting of patients' bother due to aspects of cancer experience and their clinicians' assessment is lacking. ⋯ Majority of clinicians tended to underestimate cancer patients' bother, and this was associated with poor QOL of cancer patients and their distress. Future studies should examine the LOC and its correlates to confirm the results of this study.