Opioid Prescribing Patterns Before and After an Inpatient Palliative Care Consultation.

Background: To the best of our knowledge, the change in opioid prescription patterns upon referral to a palliative care team (PCT) was not previously investigated in the Middle East.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the change in the pattern of opioid prescription and the pain scores before and after referring inpatients to a PCT.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of patients' records including all inpatients ≥15 years newly referred to the PCT over a period of 21 months at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh.

The Use of Antidiabetic, Antihypertensive, and Lipid-lowering Medications in the Elderly Dying with Advanced Cancer.

Background: Maintenance of medications that are unconducive to the quality of life is difficult to justify in dying terminally-ill cancer patients.

Objective: We aimed at determining the prevalence of administering antidiabetic, antihypertensive, and lipid-lowering medications to elderly patients dying with cancer.

Methods: We reviewed the medical records of patients above 60 years of age with advanced cancer who died in a palliative care unit.

Islamic theology and the principles of palliative care.

It is well established that provision of palliative care is a human right for the patients and their families going through the suffering associated with a life-threatening illness. The holistic nature of palliative care, dictated by the multifaceted suffering experienced by patients, calls for giving due consideration to the cultural and spiritual background of the target population. Similarly, the paramount impact of Islamic wholeness on Muslims' perceptions, beliefs, and way of living makes it necessary for non-Muslim palliative care professionals who are caring for Muslim patients to increase their awareness about the parts of Islamic theology pertinent to the principles of palliative care.

Validation of an Arabic Questionnaire for Symptom Assessment.

Background: Impeccable assessment of symptoms is central to palliative care (PC) practice.

Objectives: The study objectives are (1) to test the validity of the Arabic Questionnaire for Symptom Assessment (AQSA) as a self-administered (SA) tool for assessing the severity of the listed symptoms among PC patients and (2) to test the validity of AQSA when completed by a proxy.

Methods: The AQSA is a tool for assessing the severity of 11 symptoms in addition to the overall suffering experience on a 0 to 10 numeric scale.

Using Neuroleptics to Treat Delirium in Dying Cancer Patients at a Cancer Center in Saudi Arabia.

Neuroleptics are commonly used for treating delirium as a common problem in terminally ill cancer patients. However, prescribing patterns are believed to substantially vary among health professionals. The aim of this study is to determine the pattern of prescribing neuroleptics for treating delirium in cancer patients dying in a palliative care unit in Saudi Arabia.

Prevalence and severity of pain in cancer patients in an outpatient palliative care setting in Saudi Arabia.

Background: The prevalence and severity of cancer pain in the outpatient palliative care (PC) setting have not been explored previously in Saudi Arabia (SA). Exploration of this basic information may help in evaluating pain severity in patients new to PC as compared to those with previous PC exposure.

Objective: This paper aims to determine the prevalence and severity of cancer pain among new and follow-up patients attending a PC outpatient clinic.

Nonpain Symptoms of New and Follow-up Cancer Patients Attending a Palliative Care Outpatient Clinic in Saudi Arabia.

Background: Epidemiology of cancer-related nonpain symptoms receives less attention in literature as compared with cancer pain.

Objective: This paper aims at exploring the prevalence and severity of nonpain symptoms in cancer patients attending a palliative care (PC) outpatient clinic.

Materials And Methods: Over a 5 months period, consecutive adult cancer patients attending PC outpatient clinic at a tertiary hospital were evaluated for the presence and severity of 10 nonpain symptoms.

Utilization of radiotherapy services by a palliative care unit: pattern and implication.

Background: The role of radiotherapy in palliation is well recognized. Analyzing referrals from an inpatient palliative care unit (PCU) to the radiation oncology (RO) service may help in planning palliative care (PC) services and educational programs.

Objective: To determine the pattern and rate of referrals from a PCU to the RO service at a tertiary oncology facility in Saudi Arabia.

Prevalence and severity of suffering among patients with advanced cancer.

Background: Suffering is an expression commonly used to describe distressing experience of cancer patients. Suffering experience among patients with advanced cancer has not been studied before in Saudi Arabia.

Objective: The objective of this study is to determine the pattern of suffering and the feasibility of measuring its severity on a numerical scale for cancer patients attending a palliative care outpatient clinic.

Palliative care initiative for the Eastern Mediterranean Region: a proposal.

The Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR), with 22 countries and about half a billion people, has scarce palliative care services that are far from meeting the needs of the region. The authors of this paper believe that the resources and international influence of the World Health Organization could be combined with the excellent palliative care expertise of King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to establish a collaborative initiative for promotion of palliative care services in the region. This proposal is based on the major components of professional training, development of regional guidelines, integration of palliative care into health plans and polices, and ensuring availability of essential medications.

Medication-focused approach to total pain: poor symptom control, polypharmacy, and adverse reactions.

Neuropathic pain, known to have poor opioid response, can be difficult to control. Although several classes of adjuvant medications are believed to be of benefit in managing neuropathic pain, they have potential side effects that occasionally outweigh their benefits. The psychospiritual suffering of patients with advanced cancer may heighten the distress associated with physical symptoms.

Culturally sensitive caring for Saudi patients.

The Saudi Arabian health system is mainly staffed by non-Saudi health professionals recruited from all over the world. At times, inadequate cultural awareness by health professionals can render their caring for Saudi patients more challenging than joyful. It is possible, however, that this equation can be easily reversed should the Saudi culture be introduced to health professionals planning to care for Saudis.