Clinical journal of oncology nursing
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Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) continues to be a significant, debilitating symptom resulting from the administration of neurotoxic chemotherapy for the treatment of cancer. CIPN is an important consequence of cancer treatment because of its potential impact on physical functioning and quality of life. ⋯ Despite investigations concerning pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic approaches to either preventing or minimizing the neurotoxicity resulting from certain chemotherapeutic agents, evidence to support the interventions is lacking. This article presents information concerning CIPN and summarizes the evidence for pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic approaches to the prevention and treatment of CIPN.
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Review Comparative Study
Is ondansetron more effective than granisetron for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting? A review of comparative trials.
Nausea and vomiting are two of the most distressing side effects of chemotherapy. Guidelines recommend the use of 5-HT3 receptor antagonists as a pharmacologic intervention for acute and delayed nausea and vomiting for moderately and highly emetogenic chemotherapy. Although newer antiemetics and 5-HT3 receptor antagonists are available, ondansetron and granisetron still are used widely. ⋯ S. Preventive Services Task Force criteria for judging the strength of the overall evidence. Although side effects of ondansetron and granisetron have been reported, they normally are mild and of brief duration, not severe or lasting enough to warrant discontinuation.
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Review Case Reports
Oncology-critical care nursing collaboration: recommendations for optimizing continuity of care of critically ill patients with cancer.
Highly specialized care is required for critically ill patients with cancer, but continuity of care equally is important to their survival when they are admitted to the critical care setting. The use of oncology nurses as liaisons to critical care nurses may help ensure the continuity of care and reduce rates of morbidity and mortality. This article provides a framework for collaborative consultation between oncology and critical care nurses.
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Most nurses agree that incorporating evidence into practice is necessary to provide quality care, but barriers such as time, resources, and knowledge often interfere with the actual implementation of practice change. Published practice guidelines are one source to direct practice; this article focuses on the use of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network's Clinical Practice Guidelines for Oncology: Distress Management, which articulate standards and demonstrate assessment for psychosocial distress. ⋯ Results indicate that adding a distress assessment using the distress thermometer and problem checklist did not present substantial burden to nurses in the clinic or overwhelm the mental health, pastoral care, or oncology social work referral sources with more patients. Understanding distress scores and problems identified by patients helped the nurses direct education interventions and referrals appropriately; improved patient satisfaction scores reflected this.