Journal of palliative medicine
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Methodological challenges in conducting a multi-site randomized clinical trial of massage therapy in hospice.
Researchers conducting multi-site studies of interventions for end-of-life symptom management face significant challenges with respect to obtaining an adequate sample and training and retaining on-site study teams. The purpose of this paper is to describe the strategies and responses to these challenges in a multi-site randomized clinical trial (RCT) of the efficacy of massage therapy for decreasing pain among patients with advanced cancer in palliative care/hospice settings. ⋯ Three key qualities characterized successful on-site study teams: (1) organizational commitment; (2) strong leadership from on-site study coordinators; and (3) effective lines of communication between the on-site study coordinators and both their teams and the university-based research team. Issues of recruitment, retention and training should be accounted for in hospice-based research study design and budgeting.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Improving residents' end-of-life communication skills with a short retreat: a randomized controlled trial.
Internal medicine residents are largely unprepared to carry out end-of-life (EOL) conversations. There is evidence that these skills can be taught, but data from randomized controlled trials are lacking. ⋯ A short course for residents can significantly improve specific elements of resident EOL conversation performance, including the ability to respond to emotional cues.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Symptom burden in HIV-infected adults at time of HIV diagnosis in rural Uganda.
This study aimed to measure symptom burden prior to antitetroviral therapy (ART) initiation in a population of adults with low CD4 presenting for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) care and treatment in Uganda, and to explore the relationship between World Health Organization (WHO) stage, CD4 count, and symptomatology. ⋯ This study demonstrates that the burden of HIV-related symptoms in individuals presenting for care in Uganda is significant and debilitating.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effect of topical morphine (mouthwash) on oral pain due to chemotherapy- and/or radiotherapy-induced mucositis: a randomized double-blinded study.
The objective of the study was to determine if mouthwashes with a morphine-containing solution decrease oral pain associated with radiotherapy- and/or chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis (OM). ⋯ Our results suggest a possible analgesic effect of topical morphine in line with previous studies. However, more efforts must be made for the adjustment of systemic analgesics and the development of new alternatives to treat locally OM-associated pain.
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Letter Case Reports Randomized Controlled Trial
Failure to accrue to a study of nebulized fentanyl for dyspnea: lessons learned.