Journal of pain and symptom management
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Nov 2021
Multicenter Study Observational StudyOptimal paracentesis volume for terminally ill cancer patients with ascites.
Patients with malignant ascites often suffer from distressing symptoms, especially in their end-of-life stage. Although paracentesis is the most common treatment modality to alleviate such symptoms, the optimal volume of paracentesis is not known. ⋯ Even small-volume paracentesis could alleviate abdominal distension of terminally ill cancer patients with malignant ascites without shortening the paracentesis interval compared with moderate-volume paracentesis. Small-volume paracentesis was a well-balanced treatment for these patients.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Nov 2021
Randomized Controlled TrialIncreasing Readiness for Early Integrated Palliative Oncology Care: Development and Initial Evaluation of the EMPOWER 2 Intervention.
Early integrated palliative care improves quality of life, but palliative care programs are underutilized. Psychoeducational interventions explaining palliative care may increase patients' readiness for palliative care. ⋯ This formative research outlines the development of a psychoeducational intervention about palliative care. The intervention is acceptable, feasible, and demonstrated promising pilot test results. This study will guide clinical teams in improving patients' readiness for palliative care and inform the forthcoming EMPOWER 3 randomized clinical trial.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Nov 2021
Multicenter Study Observational StudyVisualizing how to use parenteral opioids for terminal cancer dyspnea: A pilot, multicenter, prospective, observational study.
How physicians use opioids for dyspnea in imminently dying cancer patients (terminal dyspnea) varies markedly, which could hamper quality care. ⋯ The algorithm-based treatment was feasible, and might be as effective and safe as the usual care by palliative care specialists. Its implementation may help physicians provide quality care for terminal dyspnea.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Nov 2021
Perceptions of Hematology Among Palliative Care Physicians: Results of a Nationwide Survey.
Palliative care integration for patients with hematologic diseases has lagged behind solid-organ malignancies. Previous work has characterized hematologist perspectives, but less is known about palliative care physician views of this phenomenon. ⋯ These data inform efforts to integrate palliative care into hematologic care at large, echoing previous studies of hematologist perspectives. Palliative care physicians express enthusiasm for caring for these patients, desire for improved understanding of palliative care, and ongoing opportunities to improve hematology-specific knowledge and skills.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Nov 2021
Multicenter StudyDevelopment of a One-item Screening Question to Assess Spiritual Well-Being for Advanced Cancer Inpatients in Korea.
Spiritual well-being (SWB) is significant for patients with life-limiting illnesses. Thus, shortened versions of questions would be helpful in approaching SWB. ⋯ Self-rated spirituality and religiosity showed better convergence validity than feeling at peace. Therefore, we recommend self-rated spirituality or religiosity as a one-item question for screening SWB in inpatients with advanced cancer.