Journal of pain and symptom management
-
Cancer is a major cause of morbidity and mortality for older individuals. Palliative care is essential to improve the outcome of cancer treatment in terms of quality of life and treatment satisfaction. This review examines the influence of spirituality on aging in general and on the management of older cancer patients. ⋯ Gerotranscendence, the more urgent search for meaning by older than younger individuals, confirms the importance of spirituality in this phase of life. Spirituality has also improved the quality of life and reduced the risk of disease and death for the patient's caregiver. Addressing patient and caregiver spirituality may render the palliative care of cancer more effective and may also aid in detection and management of spiritual pain, which may prevent healing at the end of life.
-
J Pain Symptom Manage · Jan 2019
ReviewControl and context are central for people with advanced illness experiencing breathlessness: A systematic review and thematic-synthesis.
Breathlessness is common and distressing in advanced illness. It is a challenge to assess, with few effective treatment options. To evaluate new treatments, appropriate outcome measures that reflect the concerns of people experiencing breathlessness are needed. ⋯ People with advanced illness living with breathlessness have concerns in multiple domains, supporting a concept of "total breathlessness." This adapted model can help to guide comprehensive clinical assessment and inform future outcome measurement in clinical practice and research.
-
J Pain Symptom Manage · Jan 2019
ReviewControl and context are central for people with advanced illness experiencing breathlessness: A systematic review and thematic-synthesis.
Breathlessness is common and distressing in advanced illness. It is a challenge to assess, with few effective treatment options. To evaluate new treatments, appropriate outcome measures that reflect the concerns of people experiencing breathlessness are needed. ⋯ People with advanced illness living with breathlessness have concerns in multiple domains, supporting a concept of "total breathlessness." This adapted model can help to guide comprehensive clinical assessment and inform future outcome measurement in clinical practice and research.
-
J Pain Symptom Manage · Jan 2019
ReviewA Systematic Review of Training in Symptom Management in Palliative Care within Postgraduate Medical Curriculums.
Symptom management is a priority area within palliative care core competencies for generalist providers. Although several educational initiatives exist, a comprehensive evidence synthesis on the effectiveness of symptom management training on trainees' learning and patient-reported outcomes is lacking. ⋯ Current educational training programs in symptom management appear to improve trainees' comfort, preparedness, and knowledge in assessing and managing patients' symptoms at the end of life. More rigorous research to evaluate the impact of this training on residents and organizational performance is now required.
-
J Pain Symptom Manage · Jan 2019
ReviewA Systematic Review of Training in Symptom Management in Palliative Care within Postgraduate Medical Curriculums.
Symptom management is a priority area within palliative care core competencies for generalist providers. Although several educational initiatives exist, a comprehensive evidence synthesis on the effectiveness of symptom management training on trainees' learning and patient-reported outcomes is lacking. ⋯ Current educational training programs in symptom management appear to improve trainees' comfort, preparedness, and knowledge in assessing and managing patients' symptoms at the end of life. More rigorous research to evaluate the impact of this training on residents and organizational performance is now required.