Journal of pain and symptom management
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PC-FACS (FastArticleCriticalSummaries for Clinicians inPalliativeCare) provides hospice and palliative care clinicians with concise summaries of the most important findings from more than 100 medical and scientific journals. If you have colleagues who would benefit from receiving PCFACS, please encourage them to join the AAHPM at aahpm.org. Comments from readers are welcomed at pcfacs@aahpm.org.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Feb 2020
Review Meta AnalysisAcupuncture for breathlessness in advanced diseases: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Nonpharmacological approaches are effective strategies for difficult to palliate breathlessness. Although acupuncture is effective for dyspnea in early-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), little is known about its effects in patients with advanced (non)malignant diseases. ⋯ Acupuncture improved breathlessness severity in patients with advanced diseases. The methodological heterogeneity, low power, and potential morphine-sparing effects of acupuncture as add-on should be further addressed in future trials.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Feb 2020
Review Controlled Clinical TrialImpact of Specialized Pediatric Palliative Care: A Systematic Review.
Specialized pediatric palliative care (SPPC) is increasingly involved in the care of seriously ill children, yet the evidence on its impact has not been comprehensively reviewed. ⋯ Receiving SPPC was associated with better child quality of life. However, the paucity and low certainty of the evidence precluded any firm recommendations about SPPC practice. Larger collaborative networks and greater consensus regarding SPPC research standards are needed.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Feb 2020
Multicenter Study Observational StudyPalliative sedation in patients hospitalized in internal medicine departments.
Palliative sedation is used to relieve end-of-life refractory symptoms. ⋯ Palliative sedation is used more often for terminal patients. There are differences in the administration of palliative sedation between patients with and without cancer.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Feb 2020
Observational StudyThe Association of Surrogate Decision Makers' Religious and Spiritual Beliefs with End of Life Decisions.
Although religion and spirituality are important to surrogate decision makers, little is known about the role of religion in decision making regarding life-sustaining treatments. ⋯ Few religious variables are associated with end-of-life preferences or treatment. Belief in miracles and intrinsic religiosity may affect treatment and should be identified and explored with surrogates by trained chaplains or other clinicians with appropriate training.