Physiologic effects of voice stimuli in conscious and unconscious palliative patients-a pilot study.

Background: Sounds and acoustic stimuli can have an effect on human beings. In medical care, sounds are often used as parts of therapies, e. g.

Aroma oil therapy in palliative care: a pilot study with physiological parameters in conscious as well as unconscious patients.

Objective: The aim of this pilot study is to analyze the reactions of healthy test persons and conscious as well as unconscious palliative patients to aroma stimuli.

Patients And Methods: In a randomized controlled study, healthy probands, conscious and unconscious palliative patients were exposed to two essential oils (lemon, lavender). Water was used as the control stimulus.

Information Deficits and Second Opinion Seeking - A Survey on Cancer Patients.

Objective: To learn more about cancer patients' motivation for seeking a second opinion.

Methods: Participants filled in a standardized questionnaire.

Results: Among 106 patients, 34% had looked for a second opinion, 81% wanted to check the accuracy of their treatment, and 49% needed to better understand the diagnosis.

Information needs of oncologists, general practitioners and other professionals caring for patients with cancer.

Oncology is a rapidly developing field with a growing number of publications every year. The main goal of this survey was to learn more about the information needs of oncologists and general practitioners. Data were collected using a standardised questionnaire developed in collaboration with the German Cancer Society (Deutsche Krebsgesellschaft) and the German Association of General Practitioners (Deutscher Hausärzteverband).

Utility of a Referral Letter to Improve Comprehensibility of Cancer Patients in Palliative Care: a Single-Center Study.

In spite of a referral letter as an important document for communicating between physicians, whether it could also be useful as a source of information for patients has not yet established. We included cancer patients in palliative care setting, all of whom completed a standardized questionnaire regarding their opinion concerning the utility of a referral letter as a source of information and its requirements to achieve a better understanding. Completed questionnaires were received from 50 cancer patients.