Journal of pain and symptom management
-
J Pain Symptom Manage · Feb 2023
Patient reported outcomes and unscheduled health services use during oral anti-cancer treatment.
People on oral anti-cancer agents must self-manage their symptoms with less interaction with oncology providers compared to infusion treatments. Symptoms and physical function are key patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and may lead to unscheduled health services uses (urgent care and emergency department [ED] visits, hospitalizations), which in turn lead to increased health care costs. ⋯ Monitoring of PROs has the potential of reducing unscheduled health services use if supportive care interventions are deployed based on their levels.
-
J Pain Symptom Manage · Feb 2023
Using Latent Class Analysis to Identify Different Clinical Profiles Among Patients With Advanced Heart Failure.
Although palliative care is guideline-indicated for patients with advanced heart failure (HF), the scarcity of a specialty-trained palliative care workforce demands better identification of patients who are most burdened by the disease. ⋯ Among advanced HF patients, we identified a distinct subgroup characterized by a conjunction of high symptom burden, anxiety, depression, multimorbidity, and functional status impairment, which might profit particularly from palliative care interventions. J Pain Symptom Manage 2022;000:1-9.
-
J Pain Symptom Manage · Feb 2023
Anticholinergic Medications and Parent-Reported Anticholinergic Symptoms in Neurologically Impaired Children.
Children with severe neurological impairment and polypharmacy are exposed to anticholinergic (AC) medications that may have anticholinergic side effects, but this is understudied. Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden (ACB) scores measure total anticholinergic burden for a medication regimen, and scores ≥3 have been associated with increased morbidity and mortality in adults. ⋯ If replicated in larger populations, the association between elevated total ACB scores and anticholinergic side effects in children should prompt clinicians to consider deprescribing potentially unneeded anticholinergic medications.
-
J Pain Symptom Manage · Feb 2023
Palliative Care Needs Assessment for Pediatric Complex Care Providers.
Children with medical complexity (CMC) are often cared for by both complex care and palliative care pediatric teams. No prior research has investigated the relationship between these two disciplines. ⋯ The evolving field of pediatric complex care is associated with an array of challenges in caring for CMC. Many of these challenges include competency areas where palliative care providers receive concerted training. Our research suggests greater palliative care involvement in the CMC population can benefit complex care teams and patients, given the expertise palliative providers can bring to the population and the discipline of complex care.
-
J Pain Symptom Manage · Feb 2023
Priority Research Topics and Patient and Family Needs in a National Sample of Hospice Agencies.
Various contextual factors surrounding hospice care have reinforced the need for scholars to pursue practice-relevant research questions. Although priority-setting is a primary approach to streamline such efforts, research appears yet to have conducted priority-setting with hospice professionals. ⋯ These findings presented by hospice agency representatives reflect directions for research and clinical development. Efforts are needed to cohere professional- and patient-reported areas of needed attention.