Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer
-
Support Care Cancer · Aug 2012
ReviewQuality of the supportive and palliative oncology literature: a focused analysis on randomized controlled trials.
The quality of the supportive and palliative oncology literature is unclear. We examined five indicators of study quality in the supportive and palliative oncology literature. ⋯ We identified deficiencies in the quality of supportive and palliative oncology RCTs.
-
Support Care Cancer · Aug 2012
Multicenter StudyValidation of the Brazilian Portuguese version of the Medical Outcomes Study-Social Support Survey in Hodgkin's lymphoma survivors.
The aim of this study was to assess the psychometric properties of the Brazilian Portuguese version of the “Medical Outcomes Study-Social Support Survey (MOS-SSS)” in Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) survivors. ⋯ Results show good general psychometric properties of the Brazilian version of the MOS-SSS when applied to HL survivors. The three-factor structure identified in this study is in line with a previous validation among Brazilian healthy civil servants. The Brazilian Portuguese version will now be used to evaluate social support and its association with long-term disease outcomes and quality of life of Hodgkin's lymphoma survivors.
-
Support Care Cancer · Aug 2012
Preliminary development of a lymphedema symptom assessment scale for patients with head and neck cancer.
Currently, no instruments are available to assess symptoms secondary to lymphedema in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC). The study aim was to develop and conduct preliminary tests of such an instrument. ⋯ Content validity of the LSIDS-H&N was supported by the expert panel during development of the LSIDS-H&N. Further testing is ongoing.
-
Support Care Cancer · Aug 2012
Complicated grief and need for professional support in family caregivers of cancer patients in palliative care: a longitudinal cohort study.
There is little research on complicated grief (CG) in family caregivers in palliative care. The aim of the study was to assess the levels of complicated grief and depression in family caregivers after the death of a relative with cancer, to identify their need for support, to compare the palliative team staff's risk assessment of the relatives' grief reaction with measured levels of CG and depression, and to assess the use of bereavement support. ⋯ The results suggest that a substantial number of family caregivers of diseased palliative care patients are at risk of developing CG and depression following their loss. While early identification of those at risk of developing CG could be helpful, the risk assessment of professionals may lack in precision. The results indicate that bereavement services could be utilized in a more targeted and perhaps more efficient manner. Guidelines for bereavement planning in palliative care are indicated.
-
Support Care Cancer · Aug 2012
Self-care and end of life care--patients' and carers' experience a qualitative study utilising serial triangulated interviews.
This study aimed to understand patient and carer experiences of end of life care and to explore how patients care for themselves at the end of life in Scotland. ⋯ Self-care is important to this group of people. People receiving end of life care want to and are able to engage in research. The findings are timely and relevant to current changes in palliative care policy and practice.