Journal of pain and symptom management
-
J Pain Symptom Manage · May 2019
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyTHE BURDEN OF OPIOID ADVERSE EVENTS AND THE INFLUENCE ON CANCER PATIENTS' SYMPTOMATOLOGY.
Opioids are frequently used for the treatment of moderate-to-severe pain and their use may produce a number of unwanted adverse events (AEs). ⋯ Opioid introduction induces various AEs that persist over time and worse patients' symptomatology. Moreover, there seems to be a different expression of the opioid toxicity among patients, and a possible interaction between AEs and the analgesic response. The balance between the opioids analgesic effect and induced toxicity is fundamental in deciding the best management for pain in cancer patients.
-
J Pain Symptom Manage · May 2019
ReviewThe association between benzodiazepines and survival in patients with cancer: a systematic review.
Patients with cancer often experience distressing symptoms such as anxiety or dyspnea, which can be managed with benzodiazepines; however, concerns regarding the impact of these drugs on survival may dissuade prescribing and compliance. ⋯ Existing evidence shows no association between benzodiazepine use in patients with cancer and decreased survival. None of the studies evaluated the association between benzodiazepine use and survival in earlier stages of cancer, and the quality of studies retrieved signifies a need for further robust studies to draw more definitive conclusions. Further investigation in patients with cancer using well-designed, high-quality research with survival as a primary outcome should be conducted.
-
J Pain Symptom Manage · May 2019
Multicenter StudyBreakthrough cancer pain in patients with abdominal visceral cancer pain.
The objective of this study was to assess the characteristics of breakthrough cancer pain (BTcP) in patients with abdominal cancer pain, and the eventual factors associated with its presentation. ⋯ Patients with abdominal visceral BTcP represent a subgroup with specific features of BTcP, particularly those with predictable BTcP. Ingestion of food was the prominent trigger for BTcP, having a faster onset and a lower intensity. This group of patients more frequently used oxycodone/naloxone or no anti-inflammatory drugs. These findings suggest consequential therapeutic decisions.
-
J Pain Symptom Manage · May 2019
Stability of Symptom Clusters in Patients With Lung Cancer Receiving Chemotherapy.
Patients with lung cancer who undergo chemotherapy (CTX) experience multiple symptoms. Evaluation of how these symptoms cluster together and how these symptom clusters change over time are salient questions in symptom clusters research. ⋯ Findings provide insights into the most common symptom clusters in patients with lung cancer undergoing CTX. Most common symptoms within each cluster appear to be relatively stable across the two dimensions, as well as across time.
-
J Pain Symptom Manage · May 2019
Chronic pain, functional status, and life satisfaction are associated with patients living with HIV discussing advanced care planning with their family or friends.
In the era of effective antiretroviral therapy, persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) are living longer, transforming HIV from a universally fatal disease to a serious chronic illness, warranting discussions between patients and their loved ones about advance care planning (ACP). Evidence is needed on factors associated with patients' likelihood to discuss ACP with loved ones. ⋯ These results suggest that interventions to increase ACP among PLWHAs and their loved ones should target males. The findings also suggest PLWHAs with chronic pain, the need for assistance with personal care, and those with a history of prior family arguments over health care decisions may be primed for ACP.