Journal of pain and symptom management
-
J Pain Symptom Manage · Feb 2016
Review Meta AnalysisGender Differences in Hiccup Patients: Analysis of Published Case Reports and Case-Control Studies.
Although sporadic male predominance in hiccup patients has been reported, the association between gender differences and triggering factors has rarely been evaluated in patients with hiccups. ⋯ We demonstrated male predominance in hiccup patients. This gender difference for hiccups was more pronounced in patients with non-CNS causes, whereas indistinct in patients with CNS causes.
-
J Pain Symptom Manage · Feb 2016
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyBlinded Patient Preference for Morphine Compared to Placebo in the Setting of Chronic Refractory Breathlessness - An Exploratory Study.
Patients' preference for morphine therapy has received little attention in the setting of chronic refractory breathlessness. However, this is one important factor in considering longer term therapy. ⋯ Participants preferred morphine over placebo for the relief of chronic refractory breathlessness. Morphine offers clinically important improvement, but net benefit can be easily outweighed by side effects, reducing net benefits. Side effects require aggressive management to allow more patients to realize benefits.
-
J Pain Symptom Manage · Feb 2016
Multicenter Study Observational StudyMinimal Clinically Important Difference in the Physical, Emotional and Total Symptom Distress Scores of the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System.
The Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) is one of the most commonly used symptom batteries in clinical practice and research. ⋯ We identified the MCIDs for physical, emotional, and total symptom distress scores, which have implications for interpretation of symptom response in clinical trials.
-
J Pain Symptom Manage · Feb 2016
Multicenter StudyFeeling Heard and Understood: A Patient-Reported Quality Measure for the Inpatient Palliative Care Setting.
As endorsed by the palliative care "Measuring What Matters" initiative, capturing patients' direct assessment of their care is essential for ongoing quality reporting and improvement. Fostering an environment where seriously ill patients feel heard and understood is of crucial importance to modern health care. ⋯ The "Heard & Understood" item is a promising self-report quality measure for the inpatient palliative care setting.
-
J Pain Symptom Manage · Feb 2016
Multicenter Study Observational StudyThe Burden of Polypharmacy in Patients Near the End of Life.
Patients with advanced illness are prescribed multiple medications in the last year of life, intensifying the risk of negative consequences related to polypharmacy. ⋯ There is a significant medication burden placed on patients with advanced illness. Although most medications were prescribed for supportive care, we observed a high prevalence of medications for managing non-life-threatening comorbidities.