BMJ supportive & palliative care
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BMJ Support Palliat Care · Mar 2020
Meta AnalysisCannabinoids for adult cancer-related pain: systematic review and meta-analysis.
There is increased interest in cannabinoids for cancer pain management and legislative changes are in progress in many countries. This study aims to determine the beneficial and adverse effects of cannabis/cannabinoids compared with placebo/other active agents for the treatment of cancer-related pain in adults. ⋯ Studies with a low risk of bias showed that for adults with advanced cancer, the addition of cannabinoids to opioids did not reduce cancer pain.
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BMJ Support Palliat Care · Dec 2017
Review Meta AnalysisHome palliative care works: but how? A meta-ethnography of the experiences of patients and family caregivers.
To understand patients and family caregivers' experiences with home palliative care services, in order to identify, explore and integrate the key components of care that shape the experiences of service users. ⋯ Home palliative care teams improve patients and caregivers experience of security when facing life-limiting illnesses at home, by providing competent care and being present. These teams should therefore be widely available and empowered with the resources to be present and provide competent care.
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BMJ Support Palliat Care · Jun 2016
Review Meta AnalysisA systematic review and meta-analysis of meditative interventions for informal caregivers and health professionals.
Burnout, stress and anxiety have been identified as areas of concern for informal caregivers and health professionals, particularly in the palliative setting. Meditative interventions are gaining acceptance as tools to improve well-being in a variety of clinical contexts, however, their effectiveness as an intervention for caregivers remains unknown. ⋯ Meditation provides a small to moderate benefit for informal caregivers and health professionals for stress reduction, but more research is required to establish effects on burnout and caregiver burden.
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BMJ Support Palliat Care · Jun 2013
Review Meta AnalysisCongruence between preferred and actual place of death according to the presence of malignant or non-malignant disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Achieving congruence between preferred and actual place of death is increasingly being used as a quantifiable indicator of the effectiveness of palliative care services. Current secular trends indicate a reversal of the institutionalisation of death, but this has been more pronounced in patients with malignant disease. As such, this study was conducted to evaluate whether the preservation of autonomy has been addressed equitably for cancer and non-cancer populations. ⋯ These findings pose a significant challenge, as a 'good' death has been closely matched to achieving patients' wishes, including preferred place of death. Despite increasing awareness that those dying from chronic non-malignant diseases have extensive palliative care needs, much is still to be done to preserve their autonomy and reduce powerlessness in the face of death.
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BMJ Support Palliat Care · Jun 2012
Review Meta AnalysisVarious formulations of oral transmucosal fentanyl for breakthrough cancer pain: an indirect mixed treatment comparison meta-analysis.
To compare the efficacy of fentanyl effervescent buccal tablet (FBT), sublingual oral transmucosal fentanyl citrate (ODT) and compressed lozenge oral transmucosal fentanyl citrate (OTFC) for the treatment of breakthrough cancer pain (BTcP). ⋯ FBT may have some efficacy advantages over ODT and OTFC and all oral fentanyl preparations appear superior to MSIR in the treatment of BTcP.