Journal of pain and symptom management
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Jan 2014
Randomized Controlled TrialA double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover pilot trial with extension using an oral mucosal cannabinoid extract for treatment of chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain.
Neuropathic pain caused by chemotherapy limits dosing and duration of potentially life-saving anti-cancer treatment and impairs quality of life. Chemotherapeutic neuropathy responds poorly to conventional treatments, and there is an urgent medical need for new treatments. Recent preclinical studies demonstrate that cannabinoid agonists suppress established chemotherapy-evoked neuropathy. ⋯ Chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain is particularly resistant to currently available treatments. This pilot trial found a number needed to treat of five and an average decrease of 2.6 on an 11-point NRS-PI in five "responders" (as compared with a decrease of 0.6 with placebo) and supports that it is worthwhile to study nabiximols in a full randomized, placebo-controlled trial of chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Jan 2014
Multicenter StudyUse and perceived benefits of complementary therapies by cancer patients receiving conventional treatment in Italy.
In Italy, data regarding the use of complementary therapies (CTs) among patients with cancer are sparse and discordant. ⋯ Overall prevalence of CTs among Italian cancer patients is high and is in accordance with the European average. In addition to clinical and sociodemographic factors, the resilience trait SOC also was associated with CT use.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Jan 2014
Comparative StudyHow to measure the international development of palliative care? A critique and discussion of current approaches.
A number of research projects have been conducted that aim to gather data on the international development of palliative care. These data are important for policy makers and palliative care advocates. ⋯ Measuring the international development of palliative care is a difficult and challenging task. The results of this study could be used to improve the validity of future research in this field.