Journal of pain and symptom management
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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
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.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Oct 2014
Review Meta AnalysisCancer-related pain and symptoms among nursing home residents: a systematic review.
Many older nursing home (NH) residents with cancer experience pain and distressing symptoms. Although some develop cancer during their time in the institution, an increasing number are admitted during their final stages of their lives. Numerous studies have evaluated various treatment approaches, but how pain and symptoms are assessed and managed in people with cancer with and without dementia is unclear. ⋯ This review clearly reports a high prevalence of pain and reduced drug prescribing and treatment among NH residents with cancer. This issue appears to be most critical among people with severe dementia, emphasizing the need for better guidance and evidence on pain assessment for these individuals.