Journal of pain and symptom management
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Feb 2020
ReviewEnd-of-Life Care, Palliative Care Consultation, and Palliative Care Referral in the Emergency Department: A Systematic Review.
There is growing interest in providing palliative care (PC) in the emergency department (ED), but relatively little is known about the efficacy of ED-based PC interventions. A 2016 systematic review on this topic found no evidence that ED-based PC interventions affect patient outcomes or health care utilization, but new research has emerged since the publication of that review. ⋯ Existing data support that PC in the ED is feasible, may improve quality of life, and does not appear to affect survival.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Feb 2020
Symptom Clusters in Women with Breast Cancer During the First 18 Months of Adjuvant Therapy.
Women with breast cancer treated with aromatase inhibitor (AI) therapy experience multiple concurrent symptoms or symptom clusters. Understanding of the symptom experience and identifying symptom clusters before and during AI therapy are important for the development of interventions to improve clinical outcomes. ⋯ This study helps us to better understand the most common symptom clusters over the first 18 months of adjuvant therapy among postmenopausal women with early-stage breast cancer. It is critical for health care providers to know the symptom clusters commonly experienced by women receiving AI therapy with or without chemotherapy and manage them properly over time.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Feb 2020
Patterns of Storage, Use, and Disposal of Prescription Opioids by Parents of Children with Cancer.
Multiple studies have demonstrated that adults do not store prescription opioids safely. Increased prescription opioid rates have led to an increased incidence of opioid poisonings in children and adolescents. ⋯ Universal education about the safe use and disposal of opioids should be adopted when prescribing opioids. Pediatricians need to maintain vigilance about the nonmedical use of prescription opioid use by parents of children.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Feb 2020
Breathlessness, anxiety, depression and function - the BAD-F study: a cross-sectional, population prevalence study in adults.
Breathlessness is associated with depression, but its relationship to anxiety or impaired function is less clear. ⋯ Clinically important breathlessness (mMRC ≥2) was associated with depression, anxiety, and coexisting anxiety/depression. Poorer function that is associated with psychological morbidity in the general population requires further research.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Feb 2020
Preferences for end-of-life care and decision-making among older and seriously ill inpatients: a cross-sectional study.
Older and seriously ill Australians are often admitted to hospital in the last year of their life. The extent to which these individuals have considered important aspects of end-of-life (EOL) care, including location in which care is provided, goals of care, and involvement of others in decision making, is unclear. ⋯ Most inpatients would prefer EOL care that maintains quality and relieves suffering compared with life extension and to receive this care at home. Family involvement in resolution and documentation of EOL decisions should be prioritized.