Journal of pain and symptom management
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Research on decision making suggests that a wide range of spontaneous processes may influence medical judgment. ⋯ When estimating patients' pain intensity, observers are driven by anchoring, a rule of thumb that might have pernicious consequences in terms of unwarranted overreliance on initial impressions and insufficient revision in light of relevant disconfirming evidence. Taking this heuristic into account might foster accurate pain assessment and treatment.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Aug 2011
What is the best practical survey method for the comparative assessment of palliative care services: results from a national quality assessment project in Korea.
There is an increasing need for the comparative assessment of palliative care services; however, few systematic empirical studies have been performed to determine the most feasible, representative, efficient survey method. ⋯ There were significant differences between the three methods. Despite the low response rate, our findings suggest that the bereaved family member survey has strengths in terms of feasibility and efficiency, and could be considered as a practical option for the comparative assessment of palliative care services by an independent body.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Aug 2011
A new set of quality indicators for palliative care: process and results of the development trajectory.
In some countries (the United States in particular), quality indicators for palliative care have already been developed. However, these quality indicators often cover one specific setting or target group, for example, palliative cancer care or palliative home care. ⋯ As a result of these phases, a set of quality indicators for palliative care has been developed, consisting of 33 indicators for palliative patient care and 10 indicators for support for relatives before and/or after the patient's death.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Aug 2011
Pronociceptive pain modulation in patients with painful chemotherapy-induced polyneuropathy.
Several chemotherapy agents induce polyneuropathy that is painful for some patients, but not for others. We assumed that these differences might be attributable to varying patterns of pain modulation. ⋯ The painfulness of polyneuropathy is associated with a "pronociceptive" modulation pattern, which may be primary to the development of pain. The higher warm sensory thresholds in the painful polyneuropathy group suggest that the severity of polyneuropathy may be another factor in determining its painfulness.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Aug 2011
What influences patients' decisions on artificial hydration at the end of life? A Q-methodology study.
Artificial hydration (AH) is used to palliate patients with reduced fluid intake at the end of life but is a controversial practice. Patients' involvement in decision making varies, and little is known about patients' understanding of the benefits and burdens of AH. ⋯ Patients view AH as an important issue and are keen to be involved in decision making. Health care professionals may withhold AH at the end of life because they perceive it as a burden on patients and on their interactions with family, although this view is not shared by patients. Some patients lack understanding regarding the likely benefits of AH. Research examining the impact of clinical information regarding AH on patients' decision making is now needed.