Search results for "palliative care."
showing 10 items of 329 documents
Associations between sex, age and spiritual well-being scores on the EORTC QLQ-SWB32 for patients receiving palliative care for cancer: A further ana…
2019
Objective: The EORTC QOL Group has recently completed the cross-cultural development and validation of a standalone measure of spiritual well-being (SWB) for cancer patients receiving palliative care: the EORTC QLQ-SWB32. The measure includes four scales: Relationships with Others, Relationship with Self, Relationship with Someone or Something Greater, and Existential, plus a Global-SWB item. This paper reports on further research investigating relationships between sex, age and SWB for patients receiving palliative care for cancer—adjusting for other socio-demographic, clinical and function variables, including WHO performance status and EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL emotional and physical function sc…
Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: effect on survival.
2010
Abstract Background Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is offered to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients with severe dysphagia. Immediate benefits of PEG are adequate food intake and weight stabilization. However, the impact of PEG on survival is still uncertain. In this work we retrospectively evaluated the effect of PEG on survival in a cohort of ALS patients followed in a tertiary referral centre. Methods Between 2000 and 2007, 150 dysphagic ALS patients were followed until death or tracheostomy. PEG was placed in 76 patients who accepted the procedure and survival was analysed using the Kaplan–Meier life-table method. Results In ALS patients submitted to PEG, no major co…
To be a trained and supported volunteer in palliative care – a phenomenological study
2017
Background: It has been found that including volunteers in palliative care is a positive contribution to seriously ill patients. It is, however, recommended that the volunteers are trained and supported. The aim of this study was to describe a group of trained and supported volunteers’ lived experiences as volunteers in palliative care within the community health care services. Methods: This study adopted a descriptive phenomenological approach featuring individual interviews with nine volunteers. The interviews were analysed using the descriptive phenomenological research method according to Giorgi. Results: Being a volunteer in palliative care was both a positive and meaningful experience…
Opioid-induced or pain relief-reduced symptoms in advanced cancer patients?
2006
Abstract Background While opioids in increasing doses may produce adverse effects, the same adverse effects may be associated with poor pain control. Moreover, in the clinical setting symptomatic treatment and illness may balance the outcome of opioid titration. Some adverse effects may tend to disappear continuing the treatment in a long-term period. Aims The aim of this study was to monitor the effects of a rapid opioid titration combined with symptomatic treatment in patients with poor relief and to monitor these changes in the following period of 20 days. Methods A consecutive sample of 35 patients admitted to an acute Pain Relief and Palliative Care Unit were titrated with opioids, acc…
The use of corticosteroids in home palliative care
2001
Evidence for the effectiveness of corticosteroids in palliative care is anecdotal, and more information is required. From January to December 1999 a total of 376 consecutive patients admitted to a home palliative care program were longitudinally surveyed. Patients who started a corticosteroid treatment after admission on the basis of common indications prescribed by their home care physicians were selected. Fifty patients were enrolled in the study. Dexametha-sone, in doses ranging from 4 to 16 mg, was the drug of choice. Corticosteroids were found to be effective in anorexia, weakness, headache, and nausea and vomiting. The reduction of symptom intensity was achieved in less than 3 days on…
The effects of low doses of pregabalin on morphine analgesia in advanced cancer patients
2012
Abstract OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the opioid response in patients receiving morphine and pregabalin, independently from the presumed pain mechanisms, in comparison with patients receiving morphine treatment only. METHODS: A multicenter prospective randomized controlled study was carried out in a sample of 70 advanced cancer patients with pain requiring strong opioids. Thirty-five patients (group MO) were randomized to receive sustained-release morphine using initial doses of 60 mg/day. Thirty-five patients (group MO-PR) were randomized to start the same morphine doses and pregabalin in increasing doses, starting with 25 mg/day up to 150 mg/day in one week. The follo…
Safety and effectiveness of intravenous morphine for episodic breakthrough pain in patients receiving transdermal buprenorphine.
2006
Supplemental dosing of an opioid is the main treatment suggested to manage breakthrough pain in cancer patients. The intravenous route has been proven to be safe and effective, providing rapid analgesia in patients receiving oral morphine. Transdermal buprenorphine (TTS-BUP) is increasingly used in cancer pain management, but this drug has been labeled as a difficult drug to use in combination with other opioids. The aim of this open-label study was to verify the safety and effectiveness of intravenous morphine (IV-MO) for the treatment of episodic pain in cancer patients receiving TTS-BUP. A consecutive sample of 29 cancer patients, who were treated with TTS-BUP, reported an acceptable bas…
Breakthrough pain in patients with abdominal cancer pain.
2014
Abstract OBJECTIVE: Characterization of breakthrough cancer pain (BTcP) in patients with abdominal cancer is lacking. The aim of this study was to assess the characteristics of BTcP in patients with abdominal cancer pain. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In an observational cohort study, from a consecutive sample of patients admitted to a pain relief and supportive care unit for a period of 13 months, patients with abdominal disease due to cancer, including primary cancer or metastases, were assessed for the presence of chronic abdominal pain; its mechanism, intensity of background pain, and pain flares, which were distinguishable from the baseline pain, were recorded. Patients presenting with pain fl…
Barriers and Adherence to Pain Management in Advanced Cancer Patients
2020
Aim To assess patients' barriers to pain management and analgesic medication adherence in patients with advanced cancer. Methods This was a prospective cross-sectional study in patients with advanced cancer receiving chronic opioid therapy. Age, gender, cancer diagnosis, Karnofsky level, and educational status were recorded. The Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS), Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale (MDAS), Barriers Questionnaire II (BQ-II), Medication Adherence Rating Scale (MARS), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) were the measurement instruments used. Results One-hundred-thirteen patients were analyzed. The mean age was 68 (±13) years, and …
How do cancer patients receiving palliative care at home die? A descriptive study
2011
Abstract Context Data regarding the circumstances of the process of death of terminally ill patients followed at home are lacking. Objectives The aim of this study was to describe the characteristics and assess the circumstances of the process of death of terminally ill patients followed at home. Methods This was a prospective survey to assess the dying process of advanced cancer patients followed at home. Within a week after death, the principal caregiver was interviewed. Information from the palliative home care team and the caregiver about expectation of death, time of death, professional and nonprofessional people present at time of death, emergency admission to hospital, and administra…