Journal of pain and symptom management
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Sep 2017
ReviewState of the Science of Spirituality and Palliative Care Research Part I: Definitions and Taxonomy, Measurement, and Outcomes.
The State of the Science in Spirituality and Palliative Care was convened to address the current landscape of research at the intersection of spirituality and palliative care and to identify critical next steps to advance this field of inquiry. Part I of the SOS-SPC two-part series focuses on questions of 1) What is spirituality? 2) What methodological and measurement issues are most salient for research in palliative care? And 3) What is the evidence relating spirituality and health outcomes? After describing current evidence we make recommendations for future research in each of the three areas of focus. ⋯ Furthermore, the field would benefit from hypothesis-driven outcomes research based on a priori specification of the spiritual dimensions under investigation and their longitudinal relationship with key palliative outcomes, the use of validated measures of predictors and outcomes, and rigorous assessment of potential confounding variables. Finally, results highlight the need for research in more diverse populations.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Sep 2017
ReviewExploring genetic attributions underlying radiotherapy-induced fatigue in prostate cancer patients.
Despite numerous proposed mechanisms, no definitive pathophysiology underlying radiotherapy-induced fatigue (RIF) has been established. However, the dysregulation of a set of 35 genes was recently validated to predict development of fatigue in prostate cancer patients receiving radiotherapy. ⋯ The implications of herein presented RIF pathways are purely theoretical until specific end-point driven experiments are conducted in more congruent contexts. Nevertheless, the presented attributions are informative, directing future investigation to definitively elucidate RIF's pathoetiology. This study demonstrates an arguably comprehensive method of approaching known differential expression underlying a complex phenotype, to correlate feasible pathophysiology.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Sep 2017
Randomized Controlled TrialPreventing early postoperative arm swelling and lymphedema manifestation by compression sleeves after axillary lymph node interventions in breast cancer patients: A randomized controlled trial.
Breast cancer-related lymphedema (LE) remains one of the major long-term complications after surgery. Many reports showed the effectiveness of compression in breast cancer-related LE treatment, but randomized controlled trials evaluating compression garments for postoperative prevention are lacking. ⋯ Fifteen to 21 mm Hg compression sleeves in combination with physical activity may be a safe and efficient option to prevent postsurgical arm swelling and development of LE.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Sep 2017
Validation of the Korean version of the breakthrough pain assessment tool in cancer patients.
Breakthrough cancer pain has not been properly evaluated and treated because there are relatively few available measurements. The Breakthrough Pain Assessment Tool (BAT) is currently recognized as a brief, multidimensional, and reliable measurement. ⋯ The BAT-K is a valid and reliable measurement of breakthrough cancer pain in Korean cancer patients.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Sep 2017
Comparative StudyMind the Mode: Differences in Paper vs. Web-based Survey Modes among Women with Cancer.
Researchers administering surveys seek to balance data quality, sources of error, and practical concerns when selecting an administration mode. Rarely are decisions about survey administration based on the background of study participants, although socio-demographic characteristics like age, education, and race may contribute to participants' (non)responses. ⋯ Researchers must carefully weigh the pros and cons of survey administration modes to ensure a representative sample and high-quality data.