Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer
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Support Care Cancer · May 2004
Clinical TrialContinuous venovenous haemofiltration in cancer patients with renal failure: a single-centre experience.
To assess the effect of continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF) in cancer patients with acute renal failure. ⋯ In the experience of a single centre, CVVHDF is effective in the treatment of acute renal failure in cancer patients. The increasing number of organ failures was the single independent poor predictive factor for hospital mortality. Cancer characteristics and general gravity scores were not predictive factors.
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Support Care Cancer · May 2004
Why Taiwanese hospice patients want to stay in hospital: health-care professionals' beliefs and solutions.
Patient-related barriers and their solution in the planning of discharge to palliative home care were investigated through a nationwide survey conducted in Taiwan. Of 250 questionnaires sent to palliative care workers at 15 hospices in Taiwan, 229 valid questionnaires (91.6%) were retrieved. Most of the respondents were nursing staff (72.5%) while only 38 were physicians (16.6%). ⋯ The barriers and canonical loadings were: unable to manage emergent medical conditions (0.83), the quality of care in the hospital is better (0.74), and insufficient number of caregivers (0.72). The effective solutions that correlated significantly with the above factors were ranked as: to reassure the patient about the possibility of smooth readmission (0.84), to arrange palliative home care programs (0.68), and to educate family members on taking care of the patient at home (0.64). In conclusion, to solve patient-related barriers in the planning of the discharge of patients with terminal cancer, the results suggest that (1). health professionals involved in the care of patients with terminal cancer should have adequate knowledge of palliative care, particularly communication skills, (2). an effective referral system among general or oncology and palliative care units should be established, (3). inpatient care facilities and home-care programs should be provided, and (4). patients and families should be educated as to what may happen and how to manage these conditions at home and should be assured of the availability of medical help.
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Support Care Cancer · Apr 2004
Reliability and validity of the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual (FACIT-Sp) for Japanese patients with cancer.
The reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual (FACIT-Sp) scale were assessed. This scale was developed in the United States to assess quality of life (QOL) in relation to spirituality. Two surveys were conducted on each of 306 cancer patients. ⋯ There were no significant differences between the patients evaluated using the FACIT-Sp subscale and the HADS subscale with regard to degree of religious feelings. The correlation coefficients between the FACIT-Sp and the HADS depression and anxiety scales indicated a moderate correlation. These findings suggest that the Japanese version of the FACIT-Sp scale is satisfactory in terms of reliability and validity and is a useful tool in the study of spirituality among Japanese cancer patients.
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Support Care Cancer · Apr 2004
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialTolerability and effects of two formulations of oral transmucosal fentanyl citrate (OTFC; ACTIQ) in patients with radiation-induced oral mucositis.
Oral transmucosal fentanyl citrate (OTFC; ACTIQ) incorporates fentanyl into a lozenge allowing drug delivery through the oral mucosa resulting in rapid pain relief. OTFC is effective for breakthrough pain and could be particularly useful in patients with mucositis. ⋯ Both formulations of OTFC are well tolerated. The presence of fentanyl in either the sweetened matrix or the compressed powder did not alter tolerability or safety. The dose of fentanyl tested did not yield analgesia greater than placebo; future studies of OTFC efficacy in mucositis should evaluate higher doses than 200 microg.
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Support Care Cancer · Apr 2004
Comparative StudyIs a specific oncological scoring system better at predicting the prognosis of cancer patients admitted for an acute medical complication in an intensive care unit than general gravity scores?
To evaluate the effectiveness of a specific oncologic scoring system-the ICU Cancer Mortality model (ICM)-in predicting hospital mortality in comparison to two general severity scores-the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE II) and the Simplified Acute Physiology Score (SAPS II). ⋯ Gravity scores were the single independent predictors for hospital mortality, and ICM was equivalent to APACHE II and SAPS II.