Journal of pain and symptom management
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Jul 2010
Validation and application of the Arabic version of the M. D. Anderson symptom inventory in Moroccan patients with cancer.
Little is known about symptom burden-a concept encompassing both symptom severity and the degree of symptom interference with daily living-in patients with cancer in Morocco or other countries with Arabic-speaking populations. ⋯ The MDASI-A is a valid and reliable patient-reported outcome instrument that can be used to assess Moroccan Arabic-speaking cancer patients' multiple symptoms. Its utility for use in other Arab countries needs to be tested.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Jul 2010
Integrating palliative care into the outpatient, private practice oncology setting.
Quality care for patients with cancer is a national priority-for those with noncurable cancer, the stakes are even higher. Strategies to promote integration of palliative care into oncology practice may enhance quality. We have developed a model in which palliative care services are integrated into the private, office-based oncology practice setting. We have evaluated the feasibility and assessed outcomes for both the oncologists and the patients they serve. To our knowledge, an embedded clinic in an outpatient, private practice oncology clinic has not been described previously. ⋯ An embedded palliative care clinic integrated into an office-based oncology practice is feasible and may improve the quality of care. Formal study of this service delivery model is warranted.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Jul 2010
Expanding the reach of palliative care to community-based home care programs.
This article describes a pilot project, run over a two-year period in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It was aimed at assessing the impact of a model of introducing a palliative care component and professional supervision of community caregivers on the quality of care given to people living with HIV/AIDS and their families. The use of the African Palliative Care Association African Palliative Outcome Scale as an assessment tool is outlined, and the challenges and outcomes encountered by the various role players are listed. The overall conclusion is that this model is a cost-effective way of increasing access to palliative care in resource poor settings.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Jul 2010
ReviewAcupuncture for treating uremic pruritus in patients with end-stage renal disease: a systematic review.
Uremic pruritus (UP) is a common and bothersome symptom in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) that does not always respond to conventional care. Acupuncture is frequently used for the treatment of a wide range of conditions, but its effects on UP in ESRD patients are unclear. The objective of this review was to evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture for UP in patients with ESRD. ⋯ J Pain Symptom Manage 2010;40:117e125. 2010 U. S. Cancer Pain Relief Committee.