Journal of pain and symptom management
-
J Pain Symptom Manage · Oct 2013
Review Meta AnalysisQuality indicators for palliative care: update of a systematic review.
In 2007, a systematic review revealed a number of quality indicators referring mostly to palliative care outcomes and processes. Psychosocial and spiritual aspects were scarcely represented. Most publications lacked a detailed description of the development process. With many initiatives and further developments expected, an update is needed. ⋯ Recent developments in measuring quality of palliative care using quality indicators are mainly quantitative in nature, with a substantial number of new indicators being found. However, the quality of the development process varies considerably between sets. More consistent and detailed methodological descriptions are needed for the further development of these indicators and improved quality measurement of palliative care.
-
J Pain Symptom Manage · Oct 2013
Comparative StudyA survey of joint and muscle aches, pain, and stiffness comparing women with and without breast cancer.
Joint and muscle aches, pain, and stiffness have been reported to be a problem for some women after adjuvant breast cancer treatment; however, the extent and impact of this problem are unknown. ⋯ Treatment with tamoxifen, taxane chemotherapy, and aromatase inhibitors for breast cancer is predictive of joint pain, which may have an impact on women's lives for some years after breast cancer.
-
J Pain Symptom Manage · Oct 2013
A nationwide analysis of antibiotic use in hospice care in the final week of life.
Antibiotic prescription in hospice patients is complicated by the focus on palliative rather than curative care and concerns regarding increasing antibiotic resistance. ⋯ In this nationally representative sample, 27% of hospice patients received an antibiotic during the last seven days of life, most without a documented infectious diagnosis. Further research is needed to elucidate the role of antibiotics in this patient population to maintain palliative care goals while reducing unnecessary antibiotic use.
-
J Pain Symptom Manage · Oct 2013
Factors associated with depression in disease-free stomach cancer survivors.
Depression in cancer survivors affects the rest of their lives in many ways. ⋯ The prevalence of depression was high in stomach cancer survivors even after the completion of treatment, especially among those with problems amenable to treatment, and we identified the associated factors. We suggest that stomach cancer survivors should be screened for depression after the end of treatment.