Journal of pain and symptom management
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J Pain Symptom Manage · May 2023
Randomized Controlled TrialMassage Therapy for Hospitalized Patients Receiving Palliative Care: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
Massage therapy is increasingly used in palliative settings to improve quality of life (QoL) and symptom burden; however, the optimal massage "dosage" remains unclear. ⋯ Massage therapy in complex patients with advanced illness was beneficial beyond dosage. Findings support session length (10 or 20 minutes) was predictive of short-term improvements while treatment frequency (once or three consecutive days) predicted sustained improvement at follow-up.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · May 2023
Patient Controlled Analgesia for Vaso-Occlusive Episodes in Children: A Retrospective Study.
To describe Patient-Controlled Analgesia (PCA) administration in pediatric patients admitted with sickle cell vaso-occlusive episode (VOE). ⋯ At our institution, patients with VOE received opioids and PCA within the first hours of admission. PCAs were started at a ratio of 1.5-1.8, considered normal continuous. While no specific PCA-ratio was clearly superior for pain control, lower ratios (high continuous infusion) were associated with not requiring PCA adjustments at 6 hours. Prospective studies are needed.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · May 2023
Music Therapy Intervention to Reduce Caregiver Distress at End of Life: A Feasibility Study.
Music therapy (MT) can relieve distressing end-of-life symptoms, but little is known regarding its effect on caregivers who are at risk for emotional distress as their loved ones approach death. ⋯ Research on MT is feasible for caregivers of inpatient hospice patients.