Journal of pain and symptom management
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J Pain Symptom Manage · May 2024
Randomized Controlled TrialPatient-Caregiver Dyads & End-of-Life Care: Caregiver Personality Disrupts Gender-based Norms.
Gender and personality may individually impact end-of-life care. Men often receive more aggressive treatments than women near death, and personality - particularly openness - may be associated with increased care utilization when it diverges from traditional treatment norms. However, research has not examined the interaction of these variables in a dyadic context. ⋯ Results suggest caregiver personality characteristics, particularly openness, might disrupt gender-based treatment norms at end-of-life. Findings demonstrate that patient and caregiver factors can interact to explain patient healthcare utilization.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · May 2024
Randomized Controlled TrialA randomized controlled trial of betamethasone on fatigue in patients with advanced cancer.
Fatigue is one of the most uncomfortable physical symptoms seen in patients with advanced cancer. Previous studies have reported on the efficacy of corticosteroids from Western countries. ⋯ The impact of betamethasone 4 mg/d on alleviating fatigue in patients with advanced cancer in the last weeks of life did not reach statistical significance in the EORTC-QLQ-C15-PAL as the primary endpoint, however, it was significant in the NRS, the secondary endpoint.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Apr 2024
Randomized Controlled TrialExamining Moderation of Dignity Therapy Effects by Symptom Burden or Religious/Spiritual Struggles.
Dignity therapy (DT) is a well-researched psychotherapeutic intervention but it remains unclear whether symptom burden or religious/spiritual (R/S) struggles moderate DT outcomes. ⋯ Neither baseline symptom burden nor R/S struggle significantly moderated the effect of DT on DIS in this sample. Further study is warranted including exploration of other moderation models and development of measures sensitive to effects of DT and other end-of-life psychotherapeutic interventions.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Jan 2024
Randomized Controlled TrialManaging Symptom Distress: Key Factors for Patients on Adjuvant Endocrine Therapy for Breast Cancer.
Patients with breast cancer taking adjuvant endocrine therapy (AET) experience significant symptoms impacting mood, quality of life (QOL), and AET adherence and satisfaction. ⋯ Coping skills may buffer the effect of AET symptom distress. Findings indicate the relationship between symptom distress and self-efficacy is more nuanced and requires further research to better understand.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Jan 2024
Randomized Controlled TrialImpact of Dosing and Duration of Dexamethasone on Serious Corticosteroid-Related Adverse Events.
Corticosteroids are commonly prescribed in oncology, but few studies have examined its adverse events (AEs) compared to placebo control. ⋯ Greater dexamethasone exposure, even at moderate doses, was associated with more serious AEs. Prescribers should cautiously weigh the risks and benefits of dexamethasone use, especially when considering for palliation of symptoms.