Journal of pain and symptom management
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Aug 2012
Culture is a priority for research in end-of-life care in Europe: a research agenda.
Culture has a profound influence on our understanding of what is appropriate care for patients at the end of life (EoL), but the evidence base is largely nonexistent. ⋯ This first pan-European meeting compiled a research agenda, identifying key areas for future research focusing on culture, diversity, and their operationalization. This requires international and multidisciplinary collaboration, which is necessary in the current efforts to synthesize best practices in EoL care.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Aug 2012
Relationships among body mass index, longitudinal body composition alterations, and survival in patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer receiving chemoradiation: a pilot study.
In pancreatic cancer, the presence of obesity or weight loss is associated with higher mortality. ⋯ Our preliminary findings suggest that obese patients experience higher losses in weight, SKM, and VAT, which may contribute to poorer survival in these patients.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Aug 2012
Consensus building in palliative care: a Europe-wide delphi study on common understandings and conceptual differences.
Throughout Europe, there are major differences in the stages of development and in the types of service delivery of palliative care. Consensus on standards and norms for palliative care in Europe is needed for advocacy and health policy decision making. ⋯ Overall, this study contributed to a higher level of consensus toward the proposed recommendations. Expert comments underlined the need for clearer definitions and specifications of terms and indicated important topics where cultural issues, geographical aspects, and the local health care setting have to be considered in palliative care.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Aug 2012
Symptom burden and associated factors in renal transplant patients in the U.K.
Renal transplantation is gold standard care in end-stage kidney disease, but little is known about symptom prevalence in transplanted patients. ⋯ For renal transplant recipients, symptom burden is similar to dialysis, although with less pain, anorexia, and immobility. Routine symptom assessment should be undertaken in transplant patients to identify these often undisclosed symptoms.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Aug 2012
Symptoms and quality of life in diverse patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
Symptoms and quality of life (QOL) are critically important in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). However, few studies have examined these factors by transplant type among diverse cultures. ⋯ Type of transplant and preparative regimen are the most important aspects to consider when managing symptoms and QOL. This information is important for providing anticipatory guidance and support needed during the transplantation experience, to explore in future research the mechanisms involved in symptoms after HSCT, and to develop additional effective interventions.