Journal of pain and symptom management
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Mar 2018
Clinical TrialAcute pain perception during different sampling methods for respiratory culture in cystic fibrosis patients.
Reliable identification of lower respiratory tract pathogens is crucial in the management of cystic fibrosis (CF). The multitude of treatments and clinical procedures are a considerable burden and are potentially provoking pain. ⋯ A relatively large range of pain experiences was observed in patients with CF during respiratory culture sampling, which underlines the importance of individual pain assessment. Nevertheless, clinicians can confidently choose the sampling method based on validity over patients' preference.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Mar 2018
Changes in the occurrence, severity, and distress of symptoms in patients with gastrointestinal cancers receiving chemotherapy.
Studies on multiple dimensions of the symptom experience of patients with gastrointestinal cancers are extremely limited. ⋯ Demographic and clinical characteristics associated with differences in enrollment levels as well as changes over time in occurrence, severity, and distress of these seven common symptoms were highly variable. These findings can be used to identify patients who are at higher risk for more severe and distressing symptoms during CTX and to enable the initiation of preemptive symptom management interventions.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Mar 2018
Clinical TrialPilot Testing of a Brief Couple-Based Mind-Body Intervention for Patients With Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer and Their Partners.
Given the generally incurable nature of metastatic lung cancer, patients and their spouses/partners are at risk for psychological and spiritual distress. To address this concern, we developed a couple-based mind-body (CBMB) intervention. ⋯ Based on these results, the CBMB intervention appears to be acceptable and subjectively useful. In addition, we observed preliminary evidence of quality of life gains in both patients and their partners.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Mar 2018
Prevailing Ethical Dilemmas Encountered by Physicians in Terminal Cancer Care Changed After the Enactment of the Natural Death Act: 15 Years' Follow-up Survey.
Advance directive laws have influences on ethical dilemmas encountered by physicians caring for terminal cancer patients. ⋯ The prevailing ethical dilemmas have changed in Taiwan 15 years after the enactment of the Natural Death Act, supporting that some previous strategies had worked. Our results suggest that education on the core values of palliative care, improvement of community-based hospice care program, and creating treatment guidelines with prognostication may resolve the current dilemmas. This type of survey should be adapted by individual countries to guide policy decisions on end-of-life care.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Mar 2018
Observational StudyRapid Response Events in Hospitalized Patients: Patient Symptoms and Clinician Communication.
Patients triggering rapid response team (RRT) intervention are at high risk for adverse outcomes. Data on symptom burden of these patients do not currently exist, and current symptom management and communication practices of RRT clinicians are unknown. ⋯ Hospitalized patients triggering RRT events have a high degree of uncontrolled symptoms that are infrequently assessed and treated. Although these patients experience an acute change in medical status and are at high risk for adverse outcomes, goals-of-care discussions with RRT patients or families are rarely documented in the period after the events.