Journal of palliative medicine
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Case Reports
Oral transmucosal fentanyl citrate for dyspnea in terminally ill patients: an observational case series.
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of oral transmucosal fentanyl citrate (OTFC) in terminally ill patients experiencing dyspnea. ⋯ OTFC appears to be safe and effective for dyspnea in terminally ill patients. The study population is limited to four cases, however, the initial findings are promising and merit further research.
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McGill Quality of Life Questionnaire (MQOL) is an instrument specifically designed to evaluate quality of life (QOL) in patients with advanced diseases. The primary objective of this study was to translate this questionnaire into Persian and assess its reliability and validity in Iranian patients suffering from an advanced cancer. The report also includes the correlations between patients' characteristics and their QOL scores. ⋯ The Persian version of MQOL is, for the most part, a valid, reliable instrument in this setting. Because of cultural differences, the existential subscale may require adaptation. Further studies are needed to explore other aspects of QOL in Iranian patients with cancer.
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Multicenter research has the potential to recruit participants with diverse racial, ethnic, and geographic backgrounds and is essential for understanding heterogeneity in bereavement. The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Collaborative Pediatric Critical Care Research Network (CPCCRN) is a multicenter network charged with conducting research on the pathophysiology and management of critical illness in childhood. Among its research activities, the CPCCRN has undertaken research in parental bereavement because most childhood deaths in the United States occur in hospitals, primarily in critical care units. ⋯ Multicenter parental bereavement research has distinct ethical issues that must be addressed by the logistics of the research plan. Greater attention to the issues identified may facilitate research to reduce adverse mental and physical health outcomes in a diverse population of bereaved individuals.