Cancer nursing
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation Reduces Resting Pain in Head and Neck Cancer Patients: A Randomized and Placebo-Controlled Double-Blind Pilot Study.
Individuals receiving radiation for head and neck cancer (HNC) often develop painful oral mucositis that impairs function, possibly leading to feeding tubes, hospitalization, and treatment delays. Although pharmacologic medications provide some relief, many report inadequate analgesia and adverse effects. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a safe, nonpharmacologic intervention; it decreases pain and analgesics and improves function, yet no studies examined TENS for HNC. ⋯ Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation may be a viable tool for radiation-induced HNC pain to complement pharmacologic approaches. This nonpharmacologic intervention could decrease the debilitating effects of radiation and analgesics, and improve quality of life. Clinical trials should examine the effects and safety of repeated, daily TENS in HNC patients receiving radiation.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effect of Inhalation Aromatherapy on Procedural Pain and Anxiety After Needle Insertion Into an Implantable Central Venous Port Catheter: A Quasi-Randomized Controlled Pilot Study.
Needle insertion into an implantable central venous port catheter may lead to procedural pain and anxiety in cancer patients. ⋯ Inhalation aromatherapy with lavender oil may be useful in the management of procedural pain levels during needle procedure. However, further randomized controlled trials are needed to validate this study.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Attitudes and Decisional Conflict Regarding Breast Reconstruction Among Breast Cancer Patients.
The decision to undergo breast reconstruction (BR) surgery after mastectomy is made during stressful circumstances. Many women do not feel well prepared to make this decision. ⋯ Healthcare professionals may facilitate decision making by focusing on reasons for each patient's uncertainty and unaddressed concerns. All patients, even those who have consulted with a plastic surgeon and remain uncertain about their decision, may benefit from decision support from a health professional.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of Auricular Point Acupressure to Manage Symptom Clusters of Pain, Fatigue, and Disturbed Sleep in Breast Cancer Patients.
Current management for a symptom cluster of pain, fatigue, and disturbed sleep in breast cancer patients has limited effects. ⋯ Our results suggest that APA may provide an inexpensive and effective complementary approach for the management of symptom clusters for breast cancer patients, and further study is warranted.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effects of Nei-Guan (P6) Acupressure Wristband: On Nausea, Vomiting, and Retching in Women After Thyroidectomy.
Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) after thyroidectomy is a common health problem in the recovery room. ⋯ The findings indicate that P6 acupressure has the short-term effect of relieving nausea but not vomiting and retching. Use of P6 wristband holds promise and suggests the need for further testing in a larger randomized clinical trial. Identifying other acupoints is recommended to achieve successful management of PONV.