Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer
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Support Care Cancer · Nov 2010
A survey on physician knowledge and attitudes towards clinical use of morphine for cancer pain treatment in China.
The WHO's three-step guideline for cancer pain management has been introduced in China; however, there remain large differences in the standards of cancer pain management between China and other developed countries. This survey was carried out to determine the degree of physician knowledge on morphine use and the factors that impede morphine use in clinical practice in China. ⋯ Medical staffs lack the basic knowledge and harbor misconceptions about the clinical use of morphine for cancer pain treatment. Creating training opportunities for medical staffs is necessary to increase their awareness and knowledge of effective cancer pain management.
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Support Care Cancer · Oct 2010
Determinants of complicated grief in caregivers who cared for terminal cancer patients.
There is little research on determinants and the grief that caregivers experience after their relatives die of cancer. This study evaluated factors which influence complicated grief among caregivers who cared for patients who died of cancer in Taiwan. ⋯ These results suggest that clinical professionals who care for terminal cancer patients and their caregivers should pay particular attention to caregivers with these predisposing factors.
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Support Care Cancer · Oct 2010
Efficacy of multifaceted interventions in reducing complications of peripherally inserted central catheter in adult oncology patients.
To evaluate the efficacy of multifaceted interventions in reducing complications of peripherally inserted central venous catheter (PICC) in adult oncology patients. ⋯ The results suggest that these interventions implemented in this study may be help in reducing complications of PICC in adult oncology patients.
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Support Care Cancer · Oct 2010
Prehospital emergency treatment of palliative care patients with cardiac arrest: a retrolective investigation.
Today, prehospital emergency medical teams (EMTs) are confronted with emergent situations of cardiac arrest in palliative care patients. However, little is known about the out-of-hospital approach in this situation and the long-term survival rate of this specific patient type. The aim of the present investigation was to provide information about the strategic and therapeutic approach employed by EMTs in outpatient palliative care patients in cardiac arrest. ⋯ Strategic and therapeutic approaches in outpatient palliative care patients with cardiac arrest differ depending on medical qualification. Although many of these patients do not wish to be resuscitated, resuscitation was started independent of the presence of advance directive. To reduce legal insecurity and to avoid resuscitation and a possible lengthening of the dying process, advance directives and/or "Do not attempt resuscitation" orders should be more readily available and should be adhered to more closely.
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Support Care Cancer · Oct 2010
Attitudes toward end-of-life situations other than euthanasia and assisted suicide among Portuguese oncologists.
The aim of this study was to determine the attitude of Portuguese oncologists toward end-of-life situations other than euthanasia and assisted suicide. ⋯ Most Portuguese oncologists respect patients' autonomy, favoring the withdrawal of life support treatment at the patients' request when appropriate and much less do so on the request of others or by their own initiative. They appropriately do not confuse those practices with symptom relief even when hastened death can be envisaged.