Indian journal of palliative care
-
Indian J Palliat Care · Jan 2013
A synthesis of the literature on breaking bad news or truth telling: potential for research in India.
The high incidence of fatal diseases, inequitable access to health care, and socioeconomic disparities in India generate plentiful clinical bad news including diagnosis of a life-limiting disease, poor prognosis, treatment failure, and impending death. These contexts compel health care professionals to become the messengers of bad news to patients and their families. ⋯ Towards this end, we have synthesized the studies done across the globe on breaking bad news, under four themes: (a) deciding the amount of bad news to deliver; (b) attending to cultural and ethical issues; (c) managing psychological distress; and (d) producing competent messengers of bad news. We believe that robust research is inevitable to build an indigenous knowledge base, enhance communicative competence among health care professionals, and thereby to improve the quality of clinical interactions in India.
-
Indian J Palliat Care · May 2012
Gabapentin in the treatment of persistent hiccups in advanced malignancy.
Hiccups are a distressing symptom in advanced malignancies in the setting of palliative care. A case of persistent hiccups treated with oral Gabapentin is presented to highlight the clinical and ethical dilemmas in patients with advanced malignancy. ⋯ The hiccups were dramatically relieved by oral Gabapentin, highlighting the recent reports that mention this molecule as being useful for hiccups. Gabapentin is a simple tool that may be utilized by palliative care physicians to relieve hiccups in advanced malignancies.
-
Indian J Palliat Care · Jan 2012
Reporting of "quality of life": a systematic review and quantitative analysis of research publications in palliative care journals.
Palliative care clinical practice depends upon an evidence-based decision-making process which in turn is based upon current research evidence. One of the most important goals in clinical palliative care is to improve patients' quality of life (QoL). ⋯ The overall reporting rate for QoL articles in palliative care journals was 1.95% and there were very few randomized clinical trials and systematic reviews found. The study findings indicate further high-quality research to establish an adequate evidence base for QoL.
-
Indian J Palliat Care · Jan 2012
Effect of the perioperative infusion of dexmedetomidine on chronic pain after breast surgery.
This prospective double-blind trial was undertaken to analyze the role of perioperatively administered dexmedetomidine on the occurrence of chronic pain in cases undergoing surgery for breast cancer. ⋯ The perioperative infusion of dexmedetomidine has a pivotal role in attenuating the incidence and severity of chronic pain and improving the quality of life in cases undergoing breast cancer surgery.