Journal of pain and symptom management
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Nov 2012
Review Meta AnalysisFatigue in hemodialysis patients: a review of current knowledge.
End-stage renal disease is a common chronic illness increasing in incidence and prevalence. Although kidney function is partially replaced through dialysis, patients endure many symptoms of the disease such as fatigue. Many factors have been studied regarding their relationship with fatigue in this population. ⋯ Further work in this area of inquiry would be of benefit and may shed light on the domains of life that are affected by fatigue for hemodialysis patients. It also may help deepen our knowledge regarding correlates that could identify hemodialysis patients who are at increased risk for fatigue.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Nov 2012
Multicenter StudyComputer-based symptom assessment is feasible in patients with advanced cancer: results from an international multicenter study, the EPCRC-CSA.
Symptom assessment by computers is only effective if it provides valid results and is perceived as useful for clinical use by the end users: patients and health care providers. ⋯ The high completion rate shows that symptom assessment by computers is feasible in patients with advanced cancer. However, reduced performance status reduces compliance and increases the need for assistance. Future work should aim at identifying the minimum set of valid screening questions and refine the software to optimize symptom assessment and reduce respondent burden in frail patients.
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Therapeutic Reviews aim to provide essential independent information for health professionals about drugs used in palliative and hospice care. Additional content is available on www.palliativedrugs.com. Country-specific books (Hospice and Palliative Care Formulary USA, and Palliative Care Formulary, British and Canadian editions) are also available and can be ordered from www.palliativedrugs.com. The series editors welcome feedback on the articles (hq@palliativedrugs.com).
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Nov 2012
Multicenter StudyAssessment of the psychometric properties of an English version of the cancer dyspnea scale in people with advanced lung cancer.
Dyspnea is a poorly understood subjective sensation. Existing dyspnea measures fail to adequately address its multidimensionality. A Japanese group developed and validated the Cancer Dyspnea Scale (CDS) for assessing dyspnea in patients with advanced lung cancer. ⋯ The CDS-E and r-CDS-E are reliable and valid measures of the sensation and the psychological components of dyspnea, with the shorter version having similar psychometric properties.