Patient-caregiver communication concordance in cancer-refinement of the Cancer Communication Assessment Tool in an Australian sample.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to expand the international psychometric validation of the Cancer Communication Assessment Tool for Patients and Families (CCAT-PF) within a sample of Australian cancer patients.

Methods: Survey data from 181 cancer patient-caregiver dyads ≥ 18 years of age with solid or haematological cancers were analysed (85.4% response rate).

A Multicomponent Nonpharmacological Intervention to Prevent Delirium for Hospitalized People with Advanced Cancer: A Phase II Cluster Randomized Waitlist Controlled Trial (The PRESERVE Pilot Study).

Delirium is a common debilitating complication of advanced cancer. To determine if a multicomponent nonpharmacological delirium prevention intervention was feasible for adult patients with advanced cancer, before a phase III (efficacy) trial. Phase II (feasibility) cluster randomized controlled trial.

Serum C-reactive protein is an important and powerful prognostic biomarker in most adult solid tumors.

Introduction: Prognostication in cancer is challenging and inaccurate. C-Reactive Protein (CRP), a cheap and sensitive marker of inflammation may help. This study investigated the relationship between CRP and prognosis in a large cohort of solid tumors with mixed cancer diagnoses and stages.

Palliative Medicine Family Conferences Reduce Spokesperson Distress and Enhance Communication in Advanced Cancer.

Introduction: Family conferences (FCs) may be important in communication. There is limited evidence about their value in palliative medicine. We examined specific information needs of patient-identified spokespersons (SP) and if the needs were met by a subsequent FC.

Should we cluster patients or symptoms? The myth of symptom clusters based on 'depression, insomnia, pain' and 'depression, fatigue, pain'.

Context: 'Depression, fatigue, pain' (DFP) and 'depression, insomnia, pain' (DIP) symptom clusters (SCs) have been proposed in cancer. These symptoms are common and co-occur, that is, they constitute clusters of patients rather than symptoms.

Objectives: The following research questions were addressed: (1) What is the frequency of co-occurrence of two symptom groups (DFP and DIP) in advanced cancer? (2) What is the degree of symptom item association within each symptom group? (3) Were either of these symptom trios associated with prognosis?

Methods: We reanalysed a symptom data set of 1000 patients with advanced cancer.

Communication in palliative medicine: a clinical review of family conferences.

Aim: Family conferences are an important forum for communication, particularly for those with serious illnesses.

Design: The strength of evidence was assessed by patient, intervention, comparator, and outcome (PICO).

Data Source: We searched electronic databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Embase, PubMed), published articles, and multidisciplinary resource textbooks.

Low 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in people with a solid tumor cancer diagnosis: the tip of the iceberg?

Purpose: Low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels have been linked to both cancer incidence and poor prognosis. The frequency of 25(OH)D tests and clinical factors associated with low levels in cancer patients are unknown.

Patients And Methods: Electronic medical records from 2006 to 2007 of 39,252 adult solid tumor patients were reviewed.

What's in a Name? Word descriptors of cancer-related fatigue.

Many different words are used to describe fatigue. It is unclear whether these word descriptors represent the same cancer symptom or dimension. The objective of this study was to identify clinical associations of three fatigue word descriptors (FWDs): 'easy fatigue', 'weakness', and 'lack of energy' (LOE).

Symptom assessment in palliative medicine: complexities and challenges.

Symptoms are important patient-reported outcomes (PRO), which help to evaluate the impact of diseases and treatments and assess quality of care. Thorough symptom assessment is a challenge, as patients in palliative settings are often polysymptomatic and easily fatigued. There is no consensus about standardization of symptom assessment in palliative medicine.

Symptom variability during repeated measurement among hospice patients with advanced cancer.

Aim: In this prospective study, we explored symptom variability in patients with cancer during repeated measurements.

Methods: Patients with cancer admitted to an inpatient hospice completed a daily questionnaire throughout their admission. The questionnaire consisted of 5 visual analogue scales (VAS) for anxiety, depression, nausea, pain, and sedation and 3 verbal rating scales (VRS) for depression, pain, and vomiting.

Visual analogue scales and assessment of quality of life in cancer.

Assessment of quality of life (QOL) in cancer clinical trials is important when comparing treatments, especially when prolonged survival is not expected. QOL scores may reflect physical or psychosocial functioning or distress. The choice of QOL instrument depends upon the definition, research hypothesis, cancer population, depth and sensitivity of information required, and frequency of measurement.

Fatigue in advanced cancer: a prospective study.

Fatigue is a common advanced cancer symptom. Clinical features are not well known. The authors surveyed consecutive patients admitted to a palliative medicine program to identify clinical correlates of fatigue.