Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Maternal quality of life in routine labor epidural analgesia versus labor analgesia on request: results of a randomized trial.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the changes in maternal quality of life (QOL) from pregnancy to 6 weeks after delivery between routine labor epidural analgesia (EA) and pain relief on maternal request only. ⋯ Routine administration of EA during labor and pain relief on maternal request only are associated with comparable changes of women's QOL antepartum to 6 weeks postpartum.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Minimal clinically important differences in the EORTC QLQ-C30 and brief pain inventory in patients undergoing re-irradiation for painful bone metastases.
The EORTC QLQ-C30 and the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) are validated tools for measuring quality of life (QOL) and the impact of pain in patients with advanced cancer. Interpretation of these instrument scores can be challenging and it is difficult to know what numerical changes translate to clinically significant impact in patients' lives. To address this issue, our study sought to establish the minimal clinically important differences (MCID) for these two instruments in a prospective cohort of patients with advanced cancer and painful bone metastases. ⋯ We present MCID scores for the QLQ-C30 and BPI instruments obtained from a large cohort of patients with advanced cancer undergoing re-irradiation for painful bone metastases. The results from this study were compared to other similar studies which showed larger MCID scores for improvement compared to deterioration. We hypothesize that disease trajectory and patient expectations are important factors in understanding the contrasting results. The results of this study can guide clinicians and researchers in the interpretation of these instruments.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Examining the effect of peer helping in a coping skills intervention: a randomized controlled trial for advanced gastrointestinal cancer patients and their family caregivers.
At the end of life, spiritual well-being is a central aspect of quality of life for many patients and their family caregivers. A prevalent spiritual value in advanced cancer patients is the need to actively give. To address this need, the current randomized trial examined whether adding a peer helping component to a coping skills intervention leads to improved meaning in life and peace for advanced gastrointestinal cancer patients and their caregivers. Feasibility and acceptability outcomes were also assessed. ⋯ Although a telephone-based intervention is feasible and acceptable for this population, peer helping in the context of a coping skills intervention does not enhance spiritual well-being relative to coping skills alone.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Comparing effects between music intervention and aromatherapy on anxiety of patients undergoing mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit: a randomized controlled trial.
Using patient-reported outcomes and physiological indicators to test the effects of music intervention and aromatherapy on reducing anxiety for intensive care unit (ICU) patients undergoing mechanical ventilation. ⋯ Music and aromatherapy interventions were both effective for ICU patients. The effects of music intervention were greater than that of aromatherapy; both interventions maintained the effects for at least 30 min.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Dynamic weight-bearing assessment of pain in knee osteoarthritis: a reliability and agreement study.
To evaluate the reliability, agreement and smallest detectable change in a measurement instrument for pain and function in knee osteoarthritis; the Dynamic weight-bearing Assessment of Pain (DAP). ⋯ The reproducibility of the DAP pain score meets the demands for use in clinical practice and research. The total knee bend could be useful for motivational purpose in clinical use. Testing of other psychometric properties of the DAP is pending.