Journal of palliative medicine
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Limited research in Taiwan and Europe suggest that hope is inversely correlated with certain dimensions of the pain experience. However, the relationship between hope and pain among oncology outpatients in the United States has not been evaluated. The aims of this study were to investigate the relationship between hope and cancer pain, after accounting for key psychological, demographic, and clinical characteristics. ⋯ While an association exists between the patients' experience of pain and levels of hope in this study, adjustment for depression and spiritual well being eliminates the relationship initially observed. Although the causal relationships have yet to be determined, in our study hope had a stronger connection to psycho-spiritual factors, than to pain experiences or severity.
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There is a growing need for palliative care services located outside of hospitals. ⋯ While requiring replication with rigorous methods, preliminary results suggest a home-based PM practice may reduce hospital utilization for ACI patients.
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The medical literature encourages primary care pediatricians (PCPs) to play a role in the care of patients who are dying. Actual involvement has not been investigated. ⋯ The interviews suggest limited involvement by PCPs in care at the end of life and subsequent bereavement. Parents overall seem to accept this role. Further research is needed to examine these observations from the perspective of PCPs.
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"Death rattle" is a term used to describe the noisy sound produced by dying patients caused by the oscillatory movements of secretions in the upper airways. Antimuscarinic drugs, including atropine, scopolamine (hyoscine hydrobromide), hyoscine butylbromide, and glycopyrronium, have been used to diminish the noisy sound by reducing airway secretions. ⋯ We administered 1% atropine eyedrops sublingually to obviate the need for subcutaneous infusions and to prevent somnolence. On the basis of our experience, we conclude that atropine eyedrops, administered sublingually for distressing upper respiratory secretions, may be an effective alternative to the injection of antimuscarinic drugs, or as an option when other antimuscarinic formulations are not available.