Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer
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Support Care Cancer · Dec 2013
Affordability of cancer treatment for aging cancer patients in Singapore: an analysis of health, lifestyle, and financial burden.
With the expected rise in newly diagnosed cancer cases among the elderly in Singapore, the affordability of cancer treatments, particularly of targeted therapies, will be a growing concern for patients. This study examines the perspectives of aging cancer patients on the financial burden of their cancer treatments. ⋯ Although aging cancer patients feel that the financial schemes in Singapore have helped them tremendously, the general perception is that they require further help to offset their out-of-pocket expenses. This is especially true for users of targeted therapies and those who have a poorer health status.
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Support Care Cancer · Dec 2013
Cancer pain management in an oncological ward in a comprehensive cancer center with an established palliative care unit.
This survey was performed to draw information on pain prevalence, intensity, and management from a sample of patients who were admitted to an oncologic center where a palliative care unit (PCU) has been established for 13 years. ⋯ It is likely that the presence of PCU team providing consultation, advices, and cultural pressure, other than offering admissions for difficult cases had a positive impact on the use of analgesics, as compared with previous similar surveys performed in oncological setting, where a PCU was unavailable. This information confirms the need of the presence of a PCU in a high volume oncological department.
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Support Care Cancer · Dec 2013
Review Meta AnalysisOptimal patient education for cancer pain: a systematic review and theory-based meta-analysis.
Previous systematic reviews have found patient education to be moderately efficacious in decreasing the intensity of cancer pain, but variation in results warrants analysis aimed at identifying which strategies are optimal. ⋯ The current meta-analysis follows a trend in using theory to understand the mechanisms of complex interventions. We suggest that future efforts focus on interventions that target patient self-efficacy. Authors are encouraged to report comprehensive details of interventions and methods to inform synthesis, replication, and refinement.
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Support Care Cancer · Dec 2013
Multicenter StudyPalonosetron and prednisolone for the prevention of nausea and emesis during fractionated radiotherapy and 5 cycles of concomitant weekly cisplatin-a phase II study.
Recommendations for antiemetic prophylaxis supportive to radiotherapy and concomitant chemotherapy are not evidence-based. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the antiemetic regimen concurrent to fractionated radiotherapy and concomitant weekly cisplatin in two Danish departments of oncology. ⋯ The present study demonstrates that an antiemetic prophylaxis consisting of palonosetron and prednisolone is insufficient for the prevention of nausea and vomiting induced by radiotherapy and weekly cisplatin in patients treated for gynecological cancer. The addition of a neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist should be investigated in a randomized, double-blind study in this setting.
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Support Care Cancer · Dec 2013
Randomized Controlled TrialImpact of clinical pharmacist-based parenteral nutrition service for bone marrow transplantation patients: a randomized clinical trial.
Parenteral nutrition (PN) is a well-documented supportive care which maintains the nutritional status of patients. Clinical pharmacists are often involved in providing PN services; however, few studies have investigated the effect of a clinical pharmacy-based PN service in resource-limited settings. ⋯ A clinical pharmacist-based nutrition support service significantly improved nutritional status and clinical outcomes in comparison with the suboptimal conventional method. Future studies should assess the cost effectiveness of clinical pharmacists' PN services.