Journal of pain and symptom management
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Apr 2016
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyHow Accurately Do Consecutive Cohort Audits Predict Phase III Multisite Clinical Trial Recruitment in Palliative Care?
Audits have been proposed for estimating possible recruitment rates to randomized controlled trials (RCTs), but few studies have compared audit data with subsequent recruitment rates. ⋯ The retrospective consecutive case note audit in participating sites did not predict realistic recruitment rates, mostly underestimating the impact of study-specific inclusion criteria. These findings have implications for the applicability of the results of RCTs. Prospective pilot studies are more likely to predict actual recruitment.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Mar 2016
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyTai Chi Exercise for Cancer-Related Fatigue in Patients with Lung Cancer Undergoing Chemotherapy: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Tai Chi is a traditional Chinese health-promoting exercise. It has been shown to enhance mental health and improve psychological condition. ⋯ Tai Chi is an effective intervention for managing cancer-related fatigue in patients with lung cancer undergoing chemotherapy, especially for decreasing general fatigue and physical fatigue, and increasing vigor.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Feb 2016
Randomized Controlled TrialThe Social Convoy for Family Caregivers Over the Course of Hospice.
Family caregivers play a central role in the care of those in hospice care. Little is known about the social support networks for those providing this day-to-day care without training. ⋯ This result illustrates the potential importance of ongoing comprehensive assessment of caregiver networks and attention to interventions that may assist in capitalizing on both the quantity of support (numbers of individuals asked to help) and the quality of social support (attending to issues of support burden).
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Feb 2016
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyBlinded Patient Preference for Morphine Compared to Placebo in the Setting of Chronic Refractory Breathlessness - An Exploratory Study.
Patients' preference for morphine therapy has received little attention in the setting of chronic refractory breathlessness. However, this is one important factor in considering longer term therapy. ⋯ Participants preferred morphine over placebo for the relief of chronic refractory breathlessness. Morphine offers clinically important improvement, but net benefit can be easily outweighed by side effects, reducing net benefits. Side effects require aggressive management to allow more patients to realize benefits.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Jan 2016
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyDifferences in Physicians' Verbal and Nonverbal Communication with Black and White Patients at the End of Life.
Black patients are more likely than white patients to die in the intensive care unit with life-sustaining treatments. Differences in patient- and/or surrogate-provider communication may contribute to this phenomenon. ⋯ In this small regional sample, hospital-based physicians have similar verbal communication behaviors when discussing end-of-life care for otherwise similar black and white patients but exhibit significantly fewer positive, rapport-building nonverbal cues with black patients.