Journal of pain and symptom management
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Mar 2023
Higher Stress In Oncology Patients Is Associated With Cognitive and Evening Physical Fatigue Severity.
Cognitive and physical fatigue are common symptoms experienced by oncology patients. Exposure to stressful life events (SLE), cancer-related stressors, coping styles, and levels of resilience may influence the severity of both dimensions of fatigue. ⋯ To decrease both cognitive and evening physical fatigue, clinicians need to assess for relevant stressors and initiate interventions to increase resilience and the use of engagement coping strategies. Additional research is warranted on the relative contribution of various social determinants of health to both cognitive and physical fatigue in oncology patients receiving chemotherapy.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Mar 2023
Predictors of documented goals-of-care discussion for hospitalized patients with chronic illness.
Goals-of-care discussions are important for patient-centered care among hospitalized patients with serious illness. However, there are little data on the occurrence, predictors, and timing of these discussions. ⋯ Among hospitalized patients with serious illness, documented goals-of-care discussions identified by NLP were more common among patients with older age and increased burden of acute or chronic illness, and less common among racially or ethnically minoritized patients. This suggests important disparities in goals-of-care discussions.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Mar 2023
How important is spirometry for identifying patients with COPD appropriate for palliative care?
Providing palliative care to patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a priority. Spirometry demonstrating airflow limitation is a diagnostic test for COPD and a common inclusion criterion for palliative care research. However, requiring spirometry with airflow limitation may exclude appropriate patients unable to complete spirometry, or patients with preserved-ratio impaired spirometry and symptoms or imaging consistent with COPD. ⋯ These results imply that spirometry may not need to be a requirement for inclusion into palliative care research or clinical care for patients with poor quality of life and at high risk for adverse outcomes.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Mar 2023
Randomized Controlled TrialExamining Caregiver Outcomes in the CONNECT Intervention for Patients with Advanced Cancer.
Palliative care offers patient and family centered approaches that may mitigate risk of caregiver burden and poor mood. ⋯ Caregivers in CONNECT did not experience improved burden or mood, however, they reported higher self-efficacy compared to caregivers receiving standard care. This study highlights the need for strategies to optimize caregiver outcomes in palliative care interventions.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Mar 2023
ReviewSelf-perceived Burden for People with Life-threatening Illness: A Qualitative Systematic Review.
The perception of being a burden to others is a significant concern for people with life-threatening illness. It is unclear what underpins the concept of "self-perceived burden". ⋯ SPB is not a static perception but a fluctuating and complex 'process' based on uncertainty. More diverse understandings and following interventions to achieve a better balance of care should be sought.