Journal of pain and symptom management
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Sep 2021
Distinct death-preparedness states by combining cognitive and emotional preparedness for death and their evolution for family caregivers of terminally ill cancer patients over their last 6 months of life.
To identify caregivers' death-preparedness states by combining cognitive and emotional preparedness for their loved one's death as well as their evolution over cancer patients' last 6 months, which have never been explored. ⋯ Caregivers of cancer patients heterogeneously experienced combined cognitive and emotional preparedness for death. About 40% of caregivers consistently had sufficient death preparedness over their loved one's dying process. Evaluating these different aspects of death preparedness could be an important approach in high-quality end-of-life care by not only cultivating caregivers' cognitive PA, but also facilitating their emotional preparedness for the patient's death, thus helping caregivers prepare well for their loved one's forthcoming death.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Sep 2021
Development and Pilot Test of a Culturally Relevant Toolkit to Enhance Advance Care Planning with Chinese American Patients.
First-generation Chinese American patients have low engagement in advance care planning (ACP). Among the causes may be clinician uncertainty about traditional cultural values. ⋯ An ACP toolkit may facilitate culturally relevant ACP discussions by increasing clinician competency and patient engagement. Further studies of this approach are needed.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Sep 2021
Hiccups in Cancer Patients Receiving Chemotherapy: A Cross-Sectional Study.
Hiccups are a symptom in cancer patients but it's less researched. ⋯ The results of the study showed that over one-fifth of cancer patients suffered from hiccups. This situation reveals that hiccups are an important symptom that needs to be carefully emphasised in oncology practice.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Sep 2021
Long-term daily administration of aprepitant for the management of intractable nausea and vomiting in children with life-limiting conditions: a case series.
Nausea and vomiting is a common symptom in children through their end of life journey. Aprepitant, a NK-1 antagonist, has become a potent weapon in the fight against chemo-induced nausea and vomiting. However, its use in palliative care for refractory nausea and vomiting has been limited due to limited experience or evidence of continuous use. Emerging evidence suggests that continuous use is not only safe, but also effective in patients with nausea and vomiting refractory to multiple lines of antiemetic therapy. ⋯ Our review suggests a role for aprepitant in management of refractory nausea and vomiting, demonstrating safety and efficacy. This case series is the first report of aprepitant use in this manner in the paediatric palliative care setting.