Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer
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Support Care Cancer · Jun 2008
Specialized palliative care services are associated with improved short- and long-term caregiver outcomes.
The goal of this study was to evaluate, at a population level, the association between specialized palliative care services (SPCS) and short- and long-term caregiver outcomes. ⋯ At a population level, SPCS were associated with meaningful improvements in short-term ("unmet needs") and long-term ("moving on") caregiver-defined outcomes.
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Support Care Cancer · Jun 2008
ReviewA "TNM" classification system for cancer pain: the Edmonton Classification System for Cancer Pain (ECS-CP).
The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the development of a "TNM" cancer pain classification system for advanced cancer patients, the Edmonton Classification System for Cancer Pain (ECS-CP). Until we have a common international language to discuss cancer pain, understanding differences in clinical and research experience in opioid rotation and use remains problematic. The complexity of the cancer pain experience presents unique challenges for the classification of pain. To date, no universally accepted pain classification measure can accurately predict the complexity of pain management, particularly for patients with cancer pain that is difficult to treat. ⋯ The development of a standardized classification system that is comprehensive, prognostic and simple to use could provide a common language for clinical management and research of cancer pain. An international study to assess the inter-rater reliability and predictive value of the ECS-CP is currently in progress.