Journal of pain and symptom management
-
J Pain Symptom Manage · Jan 2023
Review Meta AnalysisAcupuncture for uremic pruritus: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Uremic pruritus (UP) is a chronic disease that can seriously affect the quality of life of dialysis patients. Acupuncture is a non-medication therapy that has been used to treat pruritus disorders. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for the treatment of UP. ⋯ Adverse events were reported in only three studies, including one case of hyperphosphatemia in the medications group (RR=0.29, 95% CI=0.01 to 7.06, P=0.45). None of the studies reported recurrence rates. In conclusion, acupuncture is a safe treatment modality for patients with UP receiving hemodialysis that can effectively improve UP symptoms, and acupuncture in combination with hemodialysis has more efficacy than hemodialysis alone in improving the UP symptoms.
-
J Pain Symptom Manage · Jan 2023
Operationalizing Depression Screening in Ambulatory Palliative Care: A Quality Improvement Project.
Depression is common in the palliative care setting and impacts outcomes. Operationalized screening is unusual in palliative care. ⋯ Operationalized depression screening is feasible in ambulatory palliative care workflow, though optimization through having screening be completed prior to clinician visit might improve uptake.