Illness awareness in hospice: application of a semi-structured interview.

This study describes the results of a semi-structured interview to assess the illness awareness of cancer patients in Hospice. The results of this study are based on the interviews made in Rimini and Savignano sul Rubicone Hospices (n = 51). Psychologists evaluated illness awareness of the participants interviewed independently from the code system that is provided for the interview.

Palliative sedation therapy does not hasten death: results from a prospective multicenter study.

Background: Palliative sedation therapy (PST) is indicated for and used to control refractory symptoms in cancer patients undergoing palliative care. We aimed to evaluate whether PST has a detrimental effect on survival in terminally ill patients.

Methods: This multicenter, observational, prospective, nonrandomized population-based study evaluated overall survival in two cohorts of hospice patients, one submitted to palliative sedation (A) and the other managed as per routine hospice practice (B).

Illness awareness of patients in hospice: psychological evaluation and perception of family members and medical staff.

Background: Despite the widespread belief that patients should be given full information about their disease and prognosis, they actually they know very little. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the awareness of 100 patients (from the Hospices of Rimini and Savignano-Rubicone) about their diagnoses and prognoses. It is also investigated staff and relatives perceptions of patients' awareness.

Evaluation of the cost of home care for terminally ill cancer patients.

The aim of this work was to carry out a cost evaluation of the home care programme for terminally ill cancer patients run by the Istituto Oncologico Romagnolo (I.O.R.

A new regimen of cisplatin, epirubicin and methotrexate (PEM-3) as primary chemotherapy for locally advanced bladder cancer.

In this phase II study, 41 patients with locally advanced urothelial bladder cancer (T2-4, N0, M0) were treated with primary chemotherapy (cisplatin, epirubicin, methotrexate: PEM-3). All the patients were assessable for response and toxicity. Clinical monitoring was performed with computerized tomography and cystoscopy.