Symptom Prevalence and Place of Death Preference in Advanced Cancer Patients: Factors Associated With the Achievement of Home Death.

Objectives: Achievement of patients' preferred place of death is recognized as a component of a good death. This study aimed to investigate the symptom burden in advanced cancer patients, achievement of their place of death preferences and factors associated with home death.

Methods: In this retrospective review of 287 patient deaths, we examined patients' symptom prevalence, preferred and actual place of death and achievement of their place of death preferences using descriptive statistics.

Morphine use for cancer pain: A strong analgesic used only at the end of life? A qualitative study on attitudes and perceptions of morphine in patients with advanced cancer and their caregivers.

Background: The prevalence of undertreated cancer pain remains high. Suboptimal pain control affects quality of life and results in psychological and emotional distress. Barriers to adequate pain control include fear of opioid dependence and its side effects.

Understanding transdermal buprenorphine and a practical guide to its use for chronic cancer and non-cancer pain management.

Transdermal buprenorphine (TDB) has demonstrated effectiveness in treating a range of chronic pain conditions, including cancer pain, nociceptive pain, and neuropathic pain and has a favorable safety profile. Worldwide, clinical experience of its use is relatively limited. There is considerable misunderstanding about the pharmacology, mechanism of action, and safety of buprenorphine.

Symptom Prevalence and the Negative Emotional States in End-Stage Renal Disease Patients with or without Renal Replacement Therapy: A Cross-Sectional Analysis.

Background: Limited comparative data are available on the symptom severity and burden of dialyzed versus nondialyzed end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients and their association with negative emotional states.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of symptom burden and severity of ESRD patients and correlate the findings with their psychological status.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of dialyzed (N = 87) and nondialyzed (N = 100) patients.

Full circle: Resolving an adolescent's end-of-life issues.

We report the challenges in managing a troubled, medically ill adolescent with end-of-life issues. Our role as multi-professional service providers complemented the family's efforts to help him reconcile with himself before death. The present experience enhances understanding of the biopsychosocial aspects of care.

Does clinical experience help oncology nursing staff to deal with patient pain better than nurses from other displines? Knowledge and attitudes survey amongst nurses in a tertiary care in Malaysia.

Background: Successful implementation of pain management procedures and guidelines in an institution depends very much on the acceptance of many levels of healthcare providers.

Aim: The main purpose of this study was to determine the level of knowledge and attitudes regarding pain among nurses working in tertiary care in a local setting and the factors that may be associated with this.

Materials And Methods: This cross-sectional research study used a modified version of the Nurses' Knowledge and Attitudes Survey (NKAS) regarding pain.

Preferences of Malaysian cancer patients in communication of bad news.

Background: Breaking bad news to cancer patients is a delicate and challenging task for most doctors. Better understanding of patients' preferences in breaking bad news can guide doctors in performing this task.

Objectives: This study aimed to describe the preferences of Malaysian cancer patients regarding the communication of bad news.