Journal of pain and symptom management
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Dec 2019
Randomized Controlled TrialPhysical activity for symptom management in women with metastatic breast cancer: a randomised feasibility trial.
Physical activity for women with early-stage breast cancer is well recognized for managing cancer-related symptoms and improving quality of life. While typically excluded from interventions, women with metastatic breast cancer may also benefit from physical activity. ⋯ A partially supervised home-based physical activity program for women with metastatic breast cancer is feasible and safe. The dose of the resistance training component was well tolerated and achievable in this population. In contrast, adherence and compliance to the walking program were poor. Preliminary data suggest a physical activity program, comprising predominantly resistance training, may lead to improvements in physical capacity and may help women to live well with their disease.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Dec 2019
Support Network Factors Associated with Naming a Health Care Decision-Maker and Talking about Advance Care Planning among People Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus.
Little attention has been given to social environmental factors associated with advance care planning (ACP) among African Americans or people living with advanced HIV (PLHIV). ⋯ The findings revealed aspects of family/support network structures and caregiving function associated with ACP in a population with often vital yet vulnerable networks.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Dec 2019
Optimising clinical screening for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.
Efficient and accurate clinical screening for treatment-related toxicities is a critical component of optimal patient management. A number of alternate screening tools for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) have been proposed in response to demonstrated limitations with standard clinical screening, although their relative diagnostic value is unclear. ⋯ PRO screening tools provide adequate CIPN screening while avoiding potential biases demonstrated to limit currently used clinician-rated screening tools. Addition of a brief objective test did not add value to PRO screening. Up to 23% of patients would be misidentified through screening, providing quantitative evidence of the limitations of available screening tools. More extensive CIPN evaluations are critical in patients at risk of serious neurotoxicity.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Dec 2019
Palliative Care-Related Knowledge, Attitudes and Self-Assessment among Physicians in Vietnam.
Palliative care is rarely accessible in low- and middle-income countries, and lack of adequate training for health care providers is a key reason. In Vietnam, the Ministry of Health, major hospitals and medical universities, and foreign physician-educators have partnered to initiate palliative care training for physicians. ⋯ There is a great need among Vietnam's physicians for training in palliative care and especially in nonpain and psychological symptom control. Rational, balanced, and clear opioid-prescribing policies are needed to enable physicians to treat pain without fear of repercussions.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Dec 2019
A video decision aid improves informed decision-making in patients with advanced cancer considering palliative radiation therapy.
Advanced cancer patients have unrecognized gaps in their understanding about palliative radiation therapy (PRT). ⋯ Among hospitalized patients with advanced cancer, a video decision aid reduced decisional uncertainty, improved knowledge of PRT, increased readiness for PRT, and was well received by patient viewers.