Clinical journal of oncology nursing
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Opioid-induced hyperalgesia (OIH) is a key factor in the clinical management of patients experiencing pain. However, limited knowledge exists regarding the specific mechanisms involved in OIH and its treatment. ⋯ Patients who are taking opioids should receive ongoing, comprehensive assessment by a clinician. Early identification of OIH will lead to improved patient outcomes. .
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Using Relaxation and Guided Imagery to Address Pain, Fatigue, and Sleep Disturbances: A Pilot Study.
Few studies have been conducted on the use of patient-controlled relaxation and guided imagery interventions for the symptom cluster of pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbance during cancer treatment. ⋯ Patients reported a high degree of satisfaction with the relaxation and guided imagery interventions. Patients in the relaxation and guided imagery or combined groups showed a trend toward improvement in fatigue and sleep disturbance scores. Pain remained a problem for the majority of patients. Difficulties in recruiting participants resulted in an insufficient sample size for generalizable findings. With hospital environments tending to be noisy, relaxation and guided imagery may facilitate rest and sleep for hospitalized patients. An examination of individual scores showed a trend toward improvement in sleep quality.
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Patients with cancer commonly experience disease or treatment side effects, including pain, fatigue, nausea, and anxiety. An expanding body of literature supports the use of therapeutic massage (TM) as an adjunct to conventional therapies to manage these side effects. ⋯ Participants (N = 58) reported a statistically significant reduction in each of the following variables.
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Review Comparative Study
Aprepitant for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.
Although the development of serotonin receptor antagonists has greatly improved treatment for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, patients receiving chemotherapy continue to experience this troublesome side effect. On March 26, 2003, the U. S. ⋯ Aprepitant was well tolerated in phase III studies, with side effects similar to standard therapy. Healthcare providers need to be aware of potential drug interactions with aprepitant. Oncology nurses continue to play a key role in helping patients adhere to their antiemetic schedules, stressing the importance of prevention of nausea and vomiting.
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Review Case Reports
Managing pain from advanced cancer in the palliative care setting.
Managing complex pain at the end of life is an essential aspect of palliative care. Such care is best guided by a comprehensive evaluation of the physiologic sources of pain to determine appropriate analgesia. ⋯ In addition to physical assessment, total care of the patient and family facing imminent death should be based on an assessment of psychological, social, and spiritual factors. The assessment and management of pain and suffering are guided by an interdisciplinary team focused on goals of comfort and facilitating a death that respects the life of the patient who is dying.