Journal of pain and symptom management
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Dec 2014
ReviewExperience of advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: metasynthesis of qualitative research.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a life-limiting illness. Despite best available treatments, individuals continue to experience symptom burden and have high health care utilization. ⋯ Combining discrete qualitative studies provided a useful perspective of the experience of living with COPD over the past two decades. Further studies into the ongoing needs of individuals with COPD are unlikely to add to this well-established picture. Future research should focus on solutions through the development of interventions that address patients' ongoing needs.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Dec 2014
Development and validation of a medical chart review checklist for symptom management performance of oncologists in the routine care of patients with advanced cancer.
Oncologists perform a range of pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions to manage the symptoms of outpatients with advanced cancer. ⋯ Chart review by SyMPeC seems reliable to detect symptom management interventions by oncologists in outpatient clinics. Nonpharmacological interventions were less symptom specific. A template for documentation is needed for standardization.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Dec 2014
Chemotherapy-associated oral sequelae in patients with cancers outside the head and neck region.
Chemotherapy induces a wide array of acute and late oral adverse effects that makes symptom alleviation and information important parts of patient care. ⋯ Oral sequelae were frequently reported, and health care providers should be attentive to the presence and severity of these problems. Less than one-third of the patients remembered having received information about oral sequelae associated with chemotherapy. A continuous focus on how to diagnose, manage, and inform about oral cancer-related complications is advisable.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Dec 2014
Multicenter StudyFamily perceptions of quality of hospice care in the nursing home.
Nursing homes (NHs) are increasingly the site of hospice care. High quality of care is dependent on successful NH-hospice collaboration. ⋯ The important concerns raised by bereaved family members about NH-hospice collaboration have been incorporated into the revised Family Evaluation of Hospice Care, a post-death survey used to evaluate quality of hospice care.
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Most patients will lose decision-making capacity at the end of life. Little is known about the quality of care received by patients who have family involved in their care. ⋯ Family involvement at the end of life is associated with receipt of palliative care consultation and a chaplain visit and a higher likelihood of a DNR order. Clinicians should support early advance care planning for vulnerable patients who may lack family or friends.