Journal of pain and symptom management
-
J Pain Symptom Manage · Oct 2014
The effectiveness of the Geritalk communication skills course: a real-time assessment of skill acquisition and deliberate practice.
Communication skills are critical in Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine because these patients confront complex clinical scenarios. We evaluated the effectiveness of the Geritalk communication skills course by comparing pre- and post-course real-time assessment of the participants leading family meetings. We also evaluated the participants' sustained skills practice. ⋯ This intensive training and family meeting assessment offers evidence-based communication skills training.
-
J Pain Symptom Manage · Oct 2014
Autonomic dysfunction in cancer cachexia coincides with large fiber polyneuropathy.
Cancer cachexia occurs in most patients suffering from solid malignancies. Recent works suggest paraneoplastic mechanisms. Empirical studies also found autonomic dysfunction in cancer patients, but comprehensive evaluation of the peripheral nervous system is lacking. ⋯ Large fiber polyneuropathy coincides with autonomic dysfunction in cachectic cancer patients. Our findings suggest a relevant role of sympathetic impairment in cancer cachexia.
-
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.
-
J Pain Symptom Manage · Oct 2014
Review Meta Analysis Comparative StudyAre there differences in the prevalence of palliative care-related problems in people living with advanced cancer and eight non-cancer conditions? A systematic review.
If access to effective palliative care is to extend beyond cancer patients, an understanding of the comparative prevalence of palliative care problems among cancer and non-cancer patients is necessary. ⋯ There are commonalities in the prevalence of problems across cancer and non-cancer patients, highlighting the need for palliative care to be provided irrespective of diagnosis. The methodological heterogeneity across the studies and the lack of non-cancer studies need to be addressed in future research.