Development of a Japanese Scale that Evaluates the Level of Nursing Support Provided to Patients for Decision-Making in Cancer Clinical Trials.

Clinical nurses need learning programs that are useful in nursing support for patients' decision-making (NSPDM) regarding cancer clinical trials (CCTs). The usefulness of the learning program can be evaluated if the practices of NSPDM before and after participation in the learning program can be compared. We developed a scale to measure the level of self-assessed NSPDM regarding participation in a CCT.

Barriers to end-of-life discussion with advanced cancer patient as perceived by oncologists, certified/specialized nurses in cancer nursing and medical social workers.

Objective: The objectives of this study were to identify barriers to end-of-life discussion with advanced cancer patients and their families as perceived by oncologists, certified/specialized nurses in cancer nursing (hereafter, collectively referred to as 'nurses') and medical social workers, as well as to clarify their opinions about effective strategies to facilitate end-of-life discussion.

Methods: A questionnaire survey was distributed to 4354 medical professionals working at 402 designated regional cancer hospitals in Japan. Responses were obtained from 494 oncologists (valid response rate 30.

Clinical guideline for pharmacological management of cancer pain: the Japanese Society of Palliative Medicine recommendations.

Pain is the most frequent and distressing symptom in cancer patients. As part of a worldwide effort to improve the quality of pain control, several clinical guidelines for the management of cancer pain have been published and revised in the last decade. The Japanese Society of Palliative Medicine first published a Japanese clinical guideline for the management of cancer pain in 2000.