Journal of pain and symptom management
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J Pain Symptom Manage · May 2021
Randomized Controlled TrialIntranasal Fentanyl versus Placebo for Treatment of Episodic Breathlessness in Hospice Patients with Advanced Non-malignant Diseases.
Episodic breathlessness is a distressing and difficult to treat symptom because of its short duration. Fast actioned intranasal fentanyl (INF) is potentially more suitable than oral opioids. ⋯ We found no difference between INF and placebo in relieving episodic breathlessness in nonmalignant conditions. INF was well tolerated, and the study design proved to be feasible in hospice patients with advanced diseases. Future study using higher concentration of fentanyl solution may be warranted.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · May 2021
Association between loneliness and the frequency of using online peer support groups among cancer patients with minor children: a cross-sectional web-based study.
Cancer patients with minor children are increasing; however, they do not receive sufficient support. ⋯ Frequent use of online peer support groups was associated with less loneliness among cancer patients with minor children.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · May 2021
Lack of Exposure to Palliative Care Training for Black Residents: A Study of Schools with Highest and Lowest Percentages of Black Enrollment.
The palliative medicine workforce lacks racial diversity with <5% of specialty Hospice and Palliative Medicine (HPM) fellows identifying as black. Little is known about black trainees' exposure to palliative care during their medical education. ⋯ Residents at schools with the highest black medical student enrollment lack access to palliative care training opportunities. Efforts to reduce health disparities and underrepresentation in palliative care must begin with providing palliative-focused training to physicians from under-represented minority backgrounds.