Journal of pain and symptom management
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Feb 2020
Challenges in Implementing Hospice Clinical Trials: Preserving Scientific Integrity While Facing Changing Environments.
Numerous changes can occur between the original design plans for clinical trials, the submission of funding proposals, and the implementation of the clinical trial. In the hospice setting, environmental changes can present significant obstacles, which require changes to the original plan designs, recruitment, and staffing. The purpose of the study was to share lessons and problem-solving strategies that can assist in future hospice trials. ⋯ Researchers would do well to review their protocol and statistics early in a clinical trial. They should be prepared for adjustments to accommodate market and environmental changes outside their control. Ongoing data monitoring, specifically related to recruitment, is advised.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Feb 2020
Development and Validation of a Uremic Pruritus Treatment Algorithm and Patient Information Toolkit in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and End Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD).
Uremic pruritus (UP) affects up to half of all patients with kidney disease and has been independently associated with poor patient outcomes. UP is a challenging symptom for clinicians to manage as there are no validated guidelines for its treatment. ⋯ A treatment algorithm and patient information toolkit for managing UP in patients with kidney disease were developed and validated through expert review. Further research will be conducted on implementation of the treatment algorithm and evaluating patient-reported outcomes.