In patients with cancer of the head and neck, efficient screening for problems can improve care and the management of resources. We explored use of the Patient Concerns Inventory (PCI-HN) as a holistic screening tool in the follow up of these patients. Between August 2007 and January 2013, 464 patients completed the PCI-HN and the University of Washington Quality of Life questionnaire version 4 (UWQoL) immediately before their routine follow-up consultations. The median (IQR) number of items selected on the inventory was 3 (1-6). This was associated (p<0.001) with the number of serious problems (dysfunction) in the 12 UWQoL domains (Spearman's correlation, rs=0.51), overall QoL (rs=-0.41), and the 2 UWQoL subscale scores of physical (rs=-0.46) and social-emotional (rs=-0.53) function. Binary regression to predict an overall outcome of "less than good" indicated that use of the PCI could be better than just recording clinical characteristics. Some patients however, chose few PCI items and had numerous problems. The inventory may have a role in the screening of patients with cancer of the head and neck, particularly in relation to social-emotional function and overall QoL, and may have added value when used with the UWQoL-v4. The total number of PCI items selected is a useful predictor of QoL. Further research is required to confirm suitable limits, and to find out whether additional support and repeated use of the inventory over time improve QoL.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bjoms.2016.01.018 | DOI Listing |
J Craniofac Surg
November 2024
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL.
Giant cell tumors (GCTs) are benign but locally aggressive bone neoplasms that primarily affect skeletally mature individuals. They are characterized by a tendency for recurrence and being associated with significant morbidity. Traditional treatment has focused on surgical resection; however, the role of medical therapies, such as Denosumab, a bone anti-resorptive drug, which has been Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved for unresectable GCTs since 2013, recently has gained prominence.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArq Bras Cir Dig
January 2025
Department of Gastroenterology, Hospital das Clinicas, Faculty of Medicine, Universidade de São Paulo - São Paulo (SP), Brazil.
Background: Blood loss during liver transplantation (LT) remains a major concern associated with increased morbidity and reduced patient and graft survival. The high complexity of the procedure associated with the multifaceted origin of the bleeding urges early identification of high-risk patients and proper monitoring of hemostasis disorders in order to improve results. The accuracy of international normalized ratio (INR) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) to evaluate coagulation status in cirrhotic patients has been doubted.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Bras Pneumol
January 2025
. EPIUnit, Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
Objective: The demanding nature and psychosocial burdens of directly observed treatment (DOT) have opened a path to alternative strategies such as video-observed therapy (VOT), which offers comparable treatment outcomes and patient satisfaction while potentially saving time and reducing costs. The objective of this study was to evaluate the perceptions and experiences of patients and health care professionals regarding DOT and other treatment strategies implemented in Portugal.
Methods: Patients with a confirmed diagnosis of tuberculosis, treated at the Vila Nova de Gaia Outpatient Tuberculosis Centre in the last two years, were asked to complete a brief questionnaire, as were health care professionals working in the northern region of Portugal.
J Bras Pneumol
January 2025
. Centro de Pesquisa em Oncologia, Hospital São Lucas, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre (RS), Brasil.
Objective: The PACIFIC trial established standard therapy for patients with unresectable stage III NSCLC who did not progress after platinum-based concurrent chemoradiation therapy. However, real-world data, particularly from Latin America, remain limited. The LACOG 0120 study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of consolidation therapy with durvalumab in a real-world setting in Brazil.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe article by Sweigart et al. presents concerns, challenges, and proposals for the current situation, both nationally and internationally, and the need for a diversity of medical care practice scenarios that simultaneously develop teaching abilities. Medical education is now conducted outside the university-affiliated teaching hospital, often in the so-called community or general hospitals dedicated to patient care.
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