European journal of cancer : official journal for European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) [and] European Association for Cancer Research (EACR)
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The aim of this prospective study was to investigate associations of mammography pain and discomfort with sociodemographics, personal history and psychological and situational factors. Subjects were women with a negative screening finding (n = 883) from a random sample of 50-year-old Finnish women attending their first breast cancer screening. Questionnaires were sent 1 month before the screening invitation and 2 months after screening. ⋯ Linear regression analyses showed that anticipation of pain and discomfort was the most powerful factor explaining pain and discomfort among women with earlier mammography. However, it had no effect among women without earlier mammography, for whom screening-related nervousness and perceptions of staff were crucial. Suggested interventions include better information before screening, a friendly screening atmosphere and empathetic, supportive staff behaviour, especially towards women having their first mammogram, encouraging them to feel more at ease and distracted from pain.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Therapeutic equivalence of single oral doses of dolasetron mesilate and multiple doses of ondansetron for the prevention of emesis after moderately emetogenic chemotherapy. European Dolasetron Comparative Study Group.
This multicentre, randomised, double-blind study was designed to compare the anti-emetic efficacy and safety of single oral doses of dolasetron mesilate with that of the approved oral, multiple-dose regimen of ondansetron in 399 cancer patients receiving moderately emetogenic chemotherapy. Single oral doses of 25, 50, 100 or 200 mg of dolasetron mesilate were administered 1 h prior to the initiation of moderately emetogenic chemotherapy. Multiple doses of ondansetron (8 mg x 3 or 8 mg x 4) capsules, or matching placebo for patients randomised to dolasetron, were given 1.5 h before and 6.5, 14.5 and 22.5 h after the start of chemotherapy (total dose = 32 mg). ⋯ Headache was most frequently reported (approximately 15% for each drug). No clinically important changes in vital signs or clinical laboratory parameters were observed with either drug. In conclusion, a single oral 200 mg dolasetron mesilate dose was therapeutically equivalent to multiple-dose ondansetron in the prevention of emesis and nausea following moderately emetogenic chemotherapy.
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A European Conference on Continuing Medical Education (CME) in Oncology was designed and organised in Dublin (Ireland), on 12th and 13th October 1995 by the European School of Oncology in collaboration with University College Dublin and with the financial support of the European Commission (Europe Against Cancer Programme). Two experts were invited from each Member State and all attended the Conference with the sole exception of the representatives of Luxembourg, who did not attend due to unexpected important commitments. Observers were invited to contribute to the discussion as representatives of organisations that were involved either directly or indirectly in CME. ⋯ It should certainly be developed, maintained and monitored at national level but on the basis of a common European model to ensure scientific and cultural interchange among Member States. (d) It was agree that a credit system is needed to help doctors keep track of their CME activities: the system should be based on the accumulation of credit points (one credit equalling one hour of continuing medical education) and monitored at a national level. Credit transfer among Member States is vital to facilitate exchange between Member States. (e) Oncology provides a very useful model of CME within which guidelines can be proposed and tested. Harmonisation of CME systems among the different European cancer organisations and scientific societies within this model system may represent a useful basis that other specialities can follow.
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Comparative Study
Karnofsky and ECOG performance status scoring in lung cancer: a prospective, longitudinal study of 536 patients from a single institution.
The Karnofsky's index of performance status (KPS) and the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status Scale (ECOG PS) are widely used methods of assessing the functional status of cancer patients. In this study, we compare their predictive validity, and suggest a table of transformation between scales. 536 consecutive lung cancer patients were assigned both KPS and ECOG PS scores before, during and after treatment (in all, 1656 assignments). Patients were accurately staged at diagnosis, and carefully re-evaluated at each follow-up visit. ⋯ However, KPS showed less ability than ECOG PS to discriminate patients with different prognosis. Because of the better predictive ability shown in this study, ECOG PS should be preferred to KPS. A general consensus on the scale to use could avoid problems of conversion, which is not always easy and free of errors.