Journal of pain and symptom management
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Nov 2012
Review Meta AnalysisFatigue in hemodialysis patients: a review of current knowledge.
End-stage renal disease is a common chronic illness increasing in incidence and prevalence. Although kidney function is partially replaced through dialysis, patients endure many symptoms of the disease such as fatigue. Many factors have been studied regarding their relationship with fatigue in this population. ⋯ Further work in this area of inquiry would be of benefit and may shed light on the domains of life that are affected by fatigue for hemodialysis patients. It also may help deepen our knowledge regarding correlates that could identify hemodialysis patients who are at increased risk for fatigue.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Sep 2012
Review Meta AnalysisThe experiences of relatives with the practice of palliative sedation: a systematic review.
Guidelines about palliative sedation typically include recommendations to protect the well-being of relatives. ⋯ Relatives' experiences with palliative sedation are mainly studied from the perspective of proxies, mostly professional caregivers. The majority of relatives seems to be comfortable with the use of palliative sedation; however, they may experience substantial distress by the use of sedation.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Aug 2012
Review Meta AnalysisA systematic evaluation of content, structure, and efficacy of interventions to improve patients' self-management of cancer pain.
Cancer pain continues to be extensively undertreated, despite established guidelines. Although the efficacy of interventions that support patients' self-management of cancer pain has been demonstrated in several studies, the most effective components of these interventions remain unknown. ⋯ This analysis provides researchers and clinicians with a detailed overview of the various structural and content components, as well as various combinations that were tested in intervention studies to improve cancer pain management. However, because of a variety of limitations, the most efficacious intervention components or combination of components remain to be determined in future studies.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Jun 2012
Meta AnalysisKey characteristics of palliative care studies reported in the specialized literature.
Although research activity in palliative care is rapidly increasing, the composition of published studies--in terms of significant research characteristics--has not yet been well described. ⋯ Although there is a broad range of research undertaken in palliative care, few studies generate high-level evidence, with data showing a relative lack of funding for hospice and palliative care studies.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Jan 2012
Review Meta AnalysisThe effectiveness of patient-family carer (couple) intervention for the management of symptoms and other health-related problems in people affected by cancer: a systematic literature search and narrative review.
Cancer is widely acknowledged to impact on the whole family. Yet, we do not know if there is benefit (or harm) from patient-family carer interventions in the context of cancer care. ⋯ In the trials of cancer couple interventions included in the review, a pattern emerged of improvement in the emotional health of cancer patients and their carers when the intervention included support for the patient-family carer relationship. Further investigation is warranted.