Palliative medicine
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Palliative medicine · May 2021
Review Case ReportsImmunotherapy associated pain crisis and the haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis syndrome in advanced melanoma: Case report and review of the literature.
Immunotherapy is increasingly used in the management of early and advanced malignancy. There is limited data regarding the associations between immunotherapy, malignancy, pain and haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. ⋯ There is laboratory evidence suggesting an association between immunotherapy, malignancy, pain and haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. Further clinical evidence is required in order to understand these intersecting phenomena.
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Palliative medicine · May 2021
Randomized Controlled TrialCaregiver-guided pain coping skills training for patients with advanced cancer: Results from a randomized clinical trial.
Pain is a major concern among patients with advanced cancer and their family caregivers. Evidence suggests that pain coping skills training interventions can improve outcomes, however they have rarely been tested in this population. ⋯ This is the first study to test a pain coping skills intervention targeted to patients and caregivers facing advanced cancer. Findings suggest that pain education provides benefits for patients and caregivers, and coping skills training may be beneficial for caregivers. Further research is needed to optimize the benefits of education and pain coping skills training for improving cancer pain outcomes.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02430467, Caregiver-Guided Pain Management Training in Palliative Care.
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Palliative medicine · May 2021
Mutual support between patients and family caregivers in palliative care: A systematic review and narrative synthesis.
Patients in palliative care are usually conceptualised as recipients of support from family caregivers. Family caregivers in palliative care are typically defined as providers of support to patients. Little is known about reciprocal dimensions of support provision between patients and family caregivers in palliative care. ⋯ Few studies have focused in whole or in part, on reciprocal dimensions of support provision between patients with advancing non-curable conditions, and their family caregivers in palliative care. Further research is required to identify key domains of mutual support between patients and family caregivers in palliative care.
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Palliative medicine · May 2021
End-of-life cost trajectories and the trade-off between treatment costs and life-extension: Findings from the Cost and Medical Care of Patients with Advanced Serious Illness (COMPASS) cohort study.
Few studies have assessed how patient preferences influence end-of-life costs. ⋯ On average, cancer patients in Singapore can expect to spend $61,680 in the last year of life. Of broader relevance is that patient preferences and other observable factors clearly influence these costs, suggesting that policymakers and patients can better predict and budget for end-of-life costs by considering these factors.
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Palliative medicine · May 2021
'Necessity is the mother of invention': Specialist palliative care service innovation and practice change in response to COVID-19. Results from a multinational survey (CovPall).
Specialist palliative care services have a key role in a whole system response to COVID-19, a disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. There is a need to understand service response to share good practice and prepare for future care. ⋯ Specialist palliative care services have been flexible, highly adaptive and have adopted low-cost solutions, also called 'frugal innovations', in response to COVID-19. In addition to financial support, greater collaboration is essential to minimise duplication of effort and optimise resource use.ISRCTN16561225 https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN16561225.