The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association
-
Cancer remains the second most common cause of death in the United States despite advances in prevention, early detection, and newer treatment protocols. Pain continues to be the most feared complication of this diagnosis. ⋯ Although evidence is convincing that opioids are effective in the treatment of patients with cancer pain, reluctance to use them continues. Barriers to opioid use are multifactorial, but with education of healthcare providers and patients, treatment to manage pain will be more effective.
-
J Am Osteopath Assoc · Oct 2005
Interobserver reliability of osteopathic palpatory diagnostic tests of the lumbar spine: improvements from consensus training.
Establishing reliable palpatory tests continues to be a critical, yet elusive, step in osteopathic medical research and evidence-based clinical practice. ⋯ The authors concluded that consensus training improved the interobserver reliability of common osteopathic palpatory tests of the lumbar spine. In two of the four tests that were studied--tissue texture and tenderness--acceptable kappa values for clinical tests were achieved after consensus training.