Journal of pain and symptom management
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Feb 2016
Randomized Controlled TrialThe Social Convoy for Family Caregivers Over the Course of Hospice.
Family caregivers play a central role in the care of those in hospice care. Little is known about the social support networks for those providing this day-to-day care without training. ⋯ This result illustrates the potential importance of ongoing comprehensive assessment of caregiver networks and attention to interventions that may assist in capitalizing on both the quantity of support (numbers of individuals asked to help) and the quality of social support (attending to issues of support burden).
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Feb 2016
Multicenter StudyQuality of Care and Satisfaction with Care on Palliative Care Units.
There is little research on quality of care specific to palliative care units (PCUs). ⋯ The elements identified support the delivery of quality care. They may act as a guide for those planning to develop PCUs and form the basis for measures of satisfaction with care.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Feb 2016
Methodological Research Priorities in Palliative Care and Hospice Quality Measurement.
Quality measurement is a critical tool for improving palliative care and hospice, but significant research is needed to improve the application of quality indicators. We defined methodological priorities for advancing the science of quality measurement in this field based on discussions of the Technical Advisory Panel of the Measuring What Matters consensus project of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine and Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association and a subsequent strategy meeting to better clarify research challenges, priorities, and quality measurement implementation strategies. ⋯ We then apply these concepts to the key quality domain of advance care planning and address relevance to implementation of indicators in improving care. Developing the science of quality measurement in these key areas of palliative care and hospice will facilitate improved quality measurement across all populations with serious illness and care for patients and families.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Feb 2016
ReviewSickle Cell Disease: A Review of Non-Pharmacological Approaches for Pain.
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a life-threatening condition that affects more than seven million people worldwide. The most common complication experienced by persons living with SCD is pain. Evidence supports the use of nonpharmacologic therapies in managing psychological and social complications of pain in persons with SCD, but there is little consensus if these approaches can also be applied for the treatment of pain in SCD. ⋯ Approximately half of the studies reviewed demonstrated success in alleviating pain, suggesting that patients are able to use nonpharmacological interventions to reduce pain with some degree of success. Questions still remain regarding the efficacy and generalizability of these interventions for persons with SCD.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Feb 2016
Multicenter StudyInitial Validation of the Daily Spiritual Experiences Scale in Chinese Immigrants with Cancer Pain.
Evaluating religious/spiritual influences in the growing Chinese-American population may inform the development of culturally relevant palliative care interventions. ⋯ In Chinese Americans with cancer pain, the DSES-C demonstrated acceptable psychometrics. Some participants experienced linguistic or cultural barriers preventing completion. Future investigations should provide additional validation in different Asian subgroups and those with varied medical conditions.