Journal of pain and symptom management
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Aug 2017
Review Meta AnalysisCancer Treatment Side Effects: A Meta-Analysis of the Relationship between Response Expectancies and Experience.
Although previous research has, overall, suggested a moderate relationship between response expectancies (REs) and cancer treatment-related side effects, empirical results have been mixed. ⋯ Findings support a relationship between REs and a wide range of subsequent side effects, yet differences between individual RE-toxicity associations emerged. These findings provide direction for the measurement of side effects and REs and support REs as potential targets for intervention during the informed consent process.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Aug 2017
Differences in Symptom Clusters Identified Using Ratings of Symptom Occurrence Versus Severity in Lung Cancer Patients Receiving Chemotherapy.
An important question in symptom clusters research is whether the number and types of symptom clusters vary based on the specific dimension of the symptom experience used to create the clusters. ⋯ Identification of symptom clusters in patients with lung cancer may assist with the development of more targeted symptom management interventions. Future studies are warranted to determine if symptom clusters change over a cycle of CTX in patients with lung cancer.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Aug 2017
Could Objective Tests Be Used to Measure Fatigue in Patients with Advanced Cancer?
Assessment of cancer-related fatigue is currently based on patient-reported outcomes. We asked whether objective assessments, such as muscle strength and nutritional markers, can be used as surrogate measures of cancer-related fatigue. ⋯ Our study showed that subjective assessment of fatigue based on patient-reported outcomes correlates only weakly with muscle strength and nutritional markers; thus, patient-reported outcomes remain the gold standard for fatigue assessment.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Aug 2017
Palliative Medicine and Preparedness Planning for Patients Receiving Left Ventricular Assist Device as Destination Therapy-Challenges to Measuring Impact and Change in Institutional Culture.
Although left ventricular assist devices as destination therapy (DT-LVAD) can improve survival, quality of life, and functional capacity in well-selected patients with advanced heart failure, there remain unique challenges to providing quality end-of-life care in this population. Palliative care involvement is universally recommended, but how to best operationalize this care and measure success is unknown. ⋯ A disconnect was evident between the rigor of PP discussions and the content of ADs in the medical record. We urge that future efforts focus on narrowing this gap.