Journal of pain and symptom management
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Oct 2014
Multicenter StudyCross-sectional pilot study to monitor the availability, dispensed prices, and affordability of opioids around the globe.
Opioids are essential medicines. The World Health Organization and Health Action International monitor the price of essential medicines. However, their surveys do not include opioids, and there is no information on their affordability. ⋯ Patients in LMIC and LIC have limited access to opioids, and there are subsidies in place for more expensive medications and formulations in all GNI levels, but not for morphine oral solid IR. Additional research is necessary to identify the reasons behind these findings.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Oct 2014
Comparative StudyLinking fatigue measures on a common reporting metric.
Fatigue is one of the most common and debilitating symptoms experienced by patients living with chronic conditions and is also commonly experienced in the general U.S. population. Linking fatigue scores from some of the most widely used measure of fatigue to the same metric will facilitate interpretation of fatigue outcomes. ⋯ Findings can facilitate comparison of scores across some of the most widely used fatigue measures and assist in comparing patient-reported fatigue outcomes in clinical trials, comparative effectiveness research, and clinical practice.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Oct 2014
Review Meta Analysis Comparative StudyHow are patient populations characterized in studies investigating depression in advanced cancer? Results from a systematic literature review.
Prevalence rates of depression in patients with advanced cancer vary considerably. This may be because of heterogeneous samples and use of different assessment methods. Adequate sample descriptions and consistent use of measures are needed to be able to generalize research findings and apply them to clinical practice. ⋯ Current practice for describing sample characteristics and assessing depression varies greatly between studies. A more standardized practice is recommended to enhance the generalizability and utility of findings. Stakeholders are encouraged to work toward a common standard for sample descriptions.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Oct 2014
Controlled Clinical TrialBreathlessness, functional status, distress, and palliative care needs over time in patients with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or lung cancer: a cohort study.
Breathlessness is a distressing symptom in advanced disease. Understanding its patterns, burden, and palliative care (PC) needs over time is important to improve patients' quality of life. ⋯ The PC needs of patients with advanced COPD are comparable with LC patients, and breathlessness severity and distress are even higher. The care for COPD patients requires further improvement to address symptom burden and PC needs.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Oct 2014
Multicenter StudySubgroups of cancer patients with unique pain and fatigue experiences during chemotherapy.
Some cancer patients experience pain and fatigue, whereas others experience only one of the two symptoms. Yet, it is not clear who experiences these unique patterns and why. ⋯ This study confirmed the existence of a unique symptom experience of pain and fatigue. This pattern should be acknowledged for symptom assessment and management.