Journal of pain and symptom management
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Jan 2024
ReviewEvaluating the psychometric properties of patient-reported outcome measures for assessing symptoms in hemodialysis: A systematic review using COSMIN guidelines.
Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) may have an important role in screening and monitoring for unpleasant symptoms in kidney failure. However, there is still little evidence on the psychometric properties of the measures available to assess physical and psychological symptoms in people on hemodialysis. This gap makes it difficult to decide which measure is the most appropriate for use in clinical practice and research with this population. ⋯ The current systematic review provides the basis for identifying PROMs with potential utility for assessing symptoms in hemodialysis care. Several recommendations are presented to help guide future research aimed at improving the rigor of validation and/or translation procedures of existing (and future) measures using COSMIN guidelines.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Jan 2024
Randomized Controlled TrialPatient Controlled Subcutaneous Analgesia of Hydromorphone Versus Morphine to Treat Moderate and Severe Cancer Pain: A Randomized Double-Blind Controlled Trial.
Hydromorphone and morphine are the common drugs used for the treatment of moderate to severe cancer pain. Patient controlled subcutaneous analgesia (PCSA) is an effective technique to manage cancer pain. However, few studies have been conducted to show the efficacy and safety of PCSA of hydromorphone for the relief of cancer pain. ⋯ This study found that the PCSA of both hydromorphone and morphine could effectively and safely relieve short-term moderate to severe cancer pain. Of note, the PCSA of hydromorphone took effect more quickly than that of morphine.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Jan 2024
ReviewEthical and practical considerations of perimortem gamete procurement for palliative care providers.
Requests for perimortem gamete procurement (PGP) typically arise by a surrogate decision maker after the unexpected death or incapacitation of a reproductive-aged individual. Palliative care clinicians should have a working knowledge of the medical, ethical, and practical considerations pertaining to such requests. ⋯ We review the technologies associated with PGP and posthumous assisted reproduction (PAR) and discuss the ethical and legal issues involved in such cases, including recent position statements from national and international reproductive health groups. Finally, we provider readers with a stepwise approach for considering requests for PGP.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Jan 2024
Controlled Clinical TrialEducation About Specialty Palliative Care Among Non-Healthcare Workers: A Systematic Review.
Despite the expansion of palliative care (PC) services, the public has little knowledge and holds misperceptions about PC, creating barriers to accessing timely specialty PC. ⋯ While educational interventions can positively impact knowledge and attitudes about PC among nonhealthcare workers, more research is needed to inform the design, delivery, and evaluation of interventions to increase knowledge and attitudes about PC.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Jan 2024
The "Surprise Question" for Prognostication in People with Parkinson's Disease & Related Disorders.
Parkinson's disease and related disorders (PDRD) are fatal neurodegenerative disorders characterized by a fluctuating course that can complicate prognostication. The "surprise question" (SQ: "Would you be surprised if your patient died in the next year?") has been used to identify patients with limited prognosis but has not been assessed in PDRD. ⋯ The SQ is sensitive to 12-month mortality in PDRD, with a high negative predictive value. The SQ may be useful for identifying patients less likely to die within a year and may be useful for identifying patients with palliative care needs outside of end-of-life care. This latter use may assist in mobilizing early and timely referral to specialist palliative care.