Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer
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Support Care Cancer · Sep 2010
Randomized Controlled TrialContinuous subcutaneous delivery of medications for home care palliative patients-using an infusion set or a pump?
The purpose of this study was to evaluate safety, feasibility, and efficacy of continuous drug delivery by the subcutaneous route through a solution bag connected to an infusion set compared with an infusion pump in a home palliative care setting. ⋯ In a home palliative care setting with a medical staff on call for 24 h, using medications for symptom control can be considered to be infused to a fluid solution bag through an infusion set instead of using a syringe driver or a pump when there is a responsible caregiver to follow up on the fluid. Subcutaneous constant drug delivery through a pump is more accurate.
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Support Care Cancer · Sep 2010
ReviewThe role of the Internet in supporting and informing carers of people with cancer: a literature review.
The Internet is an expanding source of information and support for cancer patients and their families. Studies mostly report patient Internet use. Little is known about how carers (families/informal caregivers/friends) use the Internet and what they find useful. ⋯ Research is required to evaluate carer Internet use in the rapidly changing world of health and technology. Interactive Internet applications developed specifically for carer use have the potential to prepare, inform and support the carer in their ever-expanding health care role. The impact of these services on carer quality of life also requires investigation.
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Support Care Cancer · Sep 2010
Bereaved cancer carers' experience of and preference for palliative care.
The importance of addressing carers' needs is becoming increasingly recognised. Cancer patients' carers are identified as a vulnerable population with many unmet informational, emotional and practical needs, particularly during the palliative and end-of-life phases of care. During these phase of illness, patients and carers face the imminence of death and require additional support such as that provided by palliative care services. There is little research on carers' views regarding optimal timing of palliative care referral and the utility of palliative care services. This study aimed to explore bereaved carers' experience and understanding of palliative care and their views on optimal timing of first contact. ⋯ This study has provided information on the meaning of palliative care to carers who have had the experience of caring for a patient who died. Carers were uncertain about the role of palliative care and associated it with end-of-life care. Education could help de-stigmatise palliative care and reduce misgivings regarding its introduction.
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Support Care Cancer · Aug 2010
ReviewWhat do palliative care patients and their relatives think about research in palliative care?-a systematic review.
Research in palliative care patients has been controversial and is often challenging. It is important to know the views of potentially eligible patients themselves in order to determine the appropriateness of research in the palliative care population and to develop realistic studies that are practical and achievable in this population. This systematic review aims to identify the views of palliative care patients and their families towards research, the factors that are important when considering participation, and the types of research trial they would support or reject. ⋯ Research to date in the palliative care setting has suggested that patients are interested in participating in research and may actually benefit from doing so.
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Support Care Cancer · Aug 2010
Utility of peripheral blood cultures in bacteremic pediatric cancer patients with a central line.
The utility of peripheral blood cultures in febrile neutropenic children with cancer and central venous catheters (CVC) is controversial. Our primary objective was to describe true bloodstream infections detected only by peripheral culture. Our secondary objectives were to describe true bloodstream infections detected only by CVC culture and to describe probable contaminants detected in both types of blood cultures. ⋯ True bloodstream infections frequently are only detected in the peripheral culture. These data support continuation of the practice of routine peripheral cultures in addition to CVC cultures at the onset of fever for children with cancer who are not already receiving broad-spectrum antibiotics.