Journal of pain and symptom management
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Sep 2024
Randomized Controlled TrialA digital therapeutic application (ePAL) to manage pain in patients with advanced cancer: A randomized controlled trial.
Patients with advanced cancer often experience immense cancer pain that negatively impacts their quality of life. Interventions to address cancer-related pain are limited. ⋯ We enrolled 112 patients who were randomly assigned to ePAL (N = 56) or usual care (N = 56). Patients utilized ePAL on average 2.1 times per week to report pain symptoms, and 47.6% reported their pain at least once per week over eight weeks. Patients randomized to ePAL reported lower pain scores at Week-4 (mean: 3.16 vs. 4.28, P = 0.010) and week-8 (mean:2.99 vs. 4.05, P = 0.017), compared to those receiving usual care. Participants randomized to ePAL were less likely to experience a pain-related hospitalization compared to those in the usual care group (7.1% vs. 23.2% P = 0.018) CONCLUSIONS: ePAL was associated with lower patient-reported pain and fewer pain-related hospitalizations compared to usual care in patients with advanced cancer. This study demonstrates the promise of digital therapeutics for improving patients' symptoms while reducing burdensome hospitalizations.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Sep 2024
Randomized Controlled TrialFeasibility of Weekly Integrated Palliative Care Outcome Scale (IPOS) Within a Stepped Care Model.
Patients with advanced cancer may experience symptoms and concerns that are inadequately identified by the healthcare team, leading to calls for patient-reported symptom monitoring. ⋯ In our study, there was suboptimal completion of patient-reported IPOS questionnaire. Further research is needed to improve the uptake of patient-reported outcomes in real-world clinical settings.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Aug 2024
Randomized Controlled TrialAssessing Advance Care Planning Fidelity within the Context of Cognitive Impairment: The SHARE Trial.
Advance care planning (ACP) is critical among primary care patients with cognitive impairment, but few interventions have tested ACP with this population. ⋯ Assessing the fidelity of ACP conversations involving primary care patients living with cognitive impairment and their care partners is feasible.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Aug 2024
Randomized Controlled TrialTai Chi and aerobic exercise on cancer-related dyspnea in advanced lung cancer patients: A randomized clinical trial.
Dyspnea, a prevalent and debilitating symptom in patients with advanced lung cancer, negatively affects symptom burden and prognosis. Physical activity has emerged as a promising non-pharmacological intervention for managing dyspnea. ⋯ Both TC and AE alleviate dyspnea severity in patients with advanced lung cancer, and continuous exercise can yield substantial improvements. Due to its multi-component nature, Tai Chi has a greater effect on dyspnea.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Jul 2024
Randomized Controlled TrialCulturally Sensitive Advance Care Planning for African American Advanced Cancer Patients: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.
Racial disparities in advance care planning (ACP) have been consistently identified in the literature. Few interventions have been designed to address the disparities identified. ⋯ This culturally sensitive ACP program proved to be feasible, acceptable to participants, and showed some promise in promoting discussion about ACP among participants and members of their healthcare team.