Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer
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Support Care Cancer · Jan 2015
The development and evaluation of an oncological palliative care deprescribing guideline: the 'OncPal deprescribing guideline'.
Current data suggests that potentially inappropriate medicines (PIMs) are common in palliative cancer patients; however, there is a lack of criteria to assist clinicians in identifying PIMs in these patients. The aims of this study were to design and validate a deprescribing guideline for palliative cancer patients and to undertake a descriptive analysis of the identified PIMs. ⋯ A guideline to assist in the de-escalation of inappropriate medications in palliative cancer patients was developed from current literature. The OncPal Deprescribing Guideline was successfully validated, demonstrating statistically significant concordance with an expert panel. We found that the incidence of PIMs was high in our patient group, demonstrating the potential benefits for the OncPal Deprescribing Guideline in clinical practice.
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Support Care Cancer · Jan 2015
Physicians' attitude toward recurrent hypercalcemia in terminally ill cancer patients.
There is no consensus regarding whether cancer-induced hypercalcemia should be treated up until the patient's death. The primary aim of this study was to clarify physicians' attitude toward treating recurrent hypercalcemia in terminally ill cancer patients and associated factors. ⋯ Japanese physicians had different attitudes toward treating hypercalcemia in terminally ill patients. Physicians' beliefs about the efficacy of medical treatment for hypercalcemia markedly influenced their attitudes. Clarifying evidence on the effect of hypercalcemia treatment on patients' symptoms and prognoses is strongly encouraged.
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Support Care Cancer · Jan 2015
Meta AnalysisMeta-analysis of adjunctive non-NK1 receptor antagonist medications for the control of acute and delayed chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.
Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) is a distressing chemotherapy-induced symptom that may adversely impact the quality of life of cancer patients. ⋯ We conclude that adjunctive non-NK1 antagonist medications may be useful for CINV control. Prospective randomized studies incorporating these low-cost medications into new regimens combining 5-HT3 and NK1 antagonists may be warranted.
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Support Care Cancer · Jan 2015
Observational StudyAntiemetic therapy in Asia Pacific countries for patients receiving moderately and highly emetogenic chemotherapy--a descriptive analysis of practice patterns, antiemetic quality of care, and use of antiemetic guidelines.
This paper reports prescribing patterns for prophylaxis of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) after highly or moderately emetogenic chemotherapy (HEC or MEC) for cancer in six Asia Pacific countries. ⋯ The 5HT3-RAs were prescribed consistently in all countries, while prescribing of other antiemetic therapies was variable, and corticosteroids were under-prescribed for CINV prophylaxis, particularly in the delayed phase.