Journal of pain and symptom management
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Mar 2023
Higher Stress In Oncology Patients Is Associated With Cognitive and Evening Physical Fatigue Severity.
Cognitive and physical fatigue are common symptoms experienced by oncology patients. Exposure to stressful life events (SLE), cancer-related stressors, coping styles, and levels of resilience may influence the severity of both dimensions of fatigue. ⋯ To decrease both cognitive and evening physical fatigue, clinicians need to assess for relevant stressors and initiate interventions to increase resilience and the use of engagement coping strategies. Additional research is warranted on the relative contribution of various social determinants of health to both cognitive and physical fatigue in oncology patients receiving chemotherapy.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Mar 2023
How important is spirometry for identifying patients with COPD appropriate for palliative care?
Providing palliative care to patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a priority. Spirometry demonstrating airflow limitation is a diagnostic test for COPD and a common inclusion criterion for palliative care research. However, requiring spirometry with airflow limitation may exclude appropriate patients unable to complete spirometry, or patients with preserved-ratio impaired spirometry and symptoms or imaging consistent with COPD. ⋯ These results imply that spirometry may not need to be a requirement for inclusion into palliative care research or clinical care for patients with poor quality of life and at high risk for adverse outcomes.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Mar 2023
Home hospice family caregivers' use of audio diaries and reported prevalence of patient and caregiver symptoms.
Family caregivers are essential to home hospice care for patients with advanced cancer, including reporting patient symptoms to hospice providers for follow-up. Hospice caregiving can also impact personal well-being. ⋯ Prospective audio diaries offer a viable avenue for communicating symptoms and support needs. Future research will focus on leveraging longitudinal data for developing focused and tailored caregiver support interventions.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Mar 2023
Randomized Controlled TrialExamining Caregiver Outcomes in the CONNECT Intervention for Patients with Advanced Cancer.
Palliative care offers patient and family centered approaches that may mitigate risk of caregiver burden and poor mood. ⋯ Caregivers in CONNECT did not experience improved burden or mood, however, they reported higher self-efficacy compared to caregivers receiving standard care. This study highlights the need for strategies to optimize caregiver outcomes in palliative care interventions.