Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer
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Support Care Cancer · Jan 2013
Prevalence and risk factors for insomnia among breast cancer patients on aromatase inhibitors.
Insomnia is increasingly recognized as a major symptom outcome in breast cancer; however, little is known about its prevalence and risk factors among women receiving aromatase inhibitors (AIs), a standard treatment to increase disease-free survival among breast cancer patients. ⋯ Insomnia complaints exceed 50 % among AI users. Clinically significant insomnia is highly associated with joint pain, hot flashes, anxiety and depression, age, and time since diagnosis.
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Support Care Cancer · Jan 2013
Validation of the Head and Neck Patient Symptom Checklist as a nutrition impact symptom assessment tool for head and neck cancer patients.
The purpose of this study was to test the validity of the Head and Neck Patient Symptom Checklist (HNSC). ⋯ The HNSC appears to be a valid tool for determining symptoms interfering with dietary intake of head and neck cancer (HNC) patients. This instrument may aid in early identification of symptoms that place HNC patients at risk for reductions in dietary intake, weight, and functional performance.
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Support Care Cancer · Jan 2013
Multicenter Study Comparative StudyHow does the Distress Thermometer compare to the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale for detecting possible cases of psychological morbidity among cancer survivors?
Use of the Distress Thermometer (DT) as a screening tool is increasing across the cancer trajectory. This study examined the accuracy and optimal cut-off score of the DT compared to the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) for detecting possible cases of psychological morbidity among adults in early survivorship. ⋯ The recommended DT cut-off score of ≥4 was not supported for universal use among recent cancer survivors. The optimal DT threshold depends upon whether the tool is being used in the clinical or research setting. The DT may best serve to initially identify non-cases as part of a two-stage screening process. The performance of the DT against 'gold standard' clinical interview should be evaluated with cancer survivors.
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Support Care Cancer · Jan 2013
Randomized Controlled TrialThe impact of individual quality of life assessment on psychosocial attention in patients with chest malignancies: a randomized study.
The aims of this study were to investigate the impact of individual health-related quality of life (HRQL) evaluation on the attention towards symptom control and psychosocial function in advanced cancer patients. ⋯ Individual HRQL assessment increased the attention to psychosocial functioning in patients with chest malignancies.
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Support Care Cancer · Jan 2013
Surrogate decision-making in Korean patients with advanced cancer: a longitudinal study.
Although surrogate decision-making in cancer patients is well-known, few studies investigating the prevalence of surrogate decision-making over time have been reported. The objectives of this study were to investigate the level of surrogate decision-making in advanced cancer patients over time and the impact of demographic and clinical variables on surrogate decision-making. ⋯ Surrogate decision-making was frequently observed among Korean cancer patients in this study, especially when the patient's death was imminent, and for decisions related to end-of-life care. Surrogates were also frequently involved in decisions for elderly or rapidly deteriorating patients. Healthcare professionals should consider the significant role of familial surrogates in the end-of-life period; comprehensive approaches are needed to preserve the best interest of the patients.