Comparing comorbidity scales: Attending physician score versus the Cumulative Illness Rating Scale for Geriatrics.

Objectives: Assessing comorbidity using the Cumulative Illness Rating Scale for Geriatrics (CIRS-G) and its comprehensive manual is time consuming. We investigated if similar information could be obtained by a simpler assessment based on the original CIRS.

Materials And Methods: Data from a randomized chemotherapy trial (RCT) on advanced NSCLC (non-small cell lung cancer) were analyzed.

Providing Information About Late Effects During Routine Follow-Up Consultations Between Pediatric Oncologists and Adolescent Survivors: A Video-Based, Observational Study.

Purpose: Information about late effects is a prerequisite for survivors of childhood cancers to engage in self-management of their health. Yet, many lack such knowledge. This study investigated to what extent: (1) potential late effects were discussed with adolescent and young adult (AYA)-aged survivors (of pediatric cancer), and (2) information about late effects was provided by the pediatric oncologists (POs) during routine follow-up consultations.

Use of the lung cancer-specific Quality of Life Questionnaire EORTC QLQ-LC13 in clinical trials: A systematic review of the literature 20 years after its development.

The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire-Lung Cancer 13 (QLQ-LC13) covers 13 typical symptoms of lung cancer patients and was the first module developed in conjunction with the EORTC core quality-of-life (QL) questionnaire. This review investigates how the module has been used and reported in cancer clinical trials in the 20 years since its publication. Thirty-six databases were searched with a prespecified algorithm.

Strategies to implement evidence into practice to improve palliative care: recommendations of a nominal group approach with expert opinion leaders.

Background: In the past decades, many new insights and best practices in palliative care, a relatively new field in health care, have been published. However, this knowledge is often not implemented. The aim of this study therefore was to identify strategies to implement improvement activities identified in a research project within daily palliative care practice.

Lifestyles of cancer survivors attending an inpatient educational program-a cross-sectional study.

Purpose: Cancer survivors have increased risk for adverse health effects, but the risk can be reduced by adopting a healthy lifestyle. Knowledge of lifestyle in terms of physical activity (PA), diet (intake of fruit and vegetables [F&V]) and smoking behaviors of cancer survivors enrolled in an inpatient educational program and identification of subgroups not meeting the lifestyle guidelines are needed to set up more targeted programs.

Methods: We invited 862 cancer survivors, ≥18 years, diagnosed within the last 10 years and about to attend a 1-week educational program, to participate in this cross-sectional study.

Dental abnormalities after chemotherapy in long-term survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia 7-40 years after diagnosis.

Purpose: Factors associated with the long-term dental effects after chemotherapy for childhood malignancies have not been well described. The primary aims of this study were as follows: (1) to assess whether age at diagnosis and treatment-related factors are associated with dental defects in survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and (2) to assess the survivors' annual expenses for dental treatment compared to reference data.

Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled 111 Norwegian survivors of ALL diagnosed before the age of 16.

Development of an item bank for computerized adaptive test (CAT) measurement of pain.

Purpose: Patient-reported outcomes should ideally be adapted to the individual patient while maintaining comparability of scores across patients. This is achievable using computerized adaptive testing (CAT). The aim here was to develop an item bank for CAT measurement of the pain domain as measured by the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire.

Implementation of improvement strategies in palliative care: an integrative review.

Background: The European population is ageing, and as a consequence, an increasing number of patients are in need of palliative care, including those with dementia. Although a growing number of new insights and best practices in palliative care have been published, they are often not implemented in daily practice. The aim of this integrative review is to provide an overview of implementation strategies that have been used to improve the organisation of palliative care.

Low muscle mass is associated with chemotherapy-induced haematological toxicity in advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Recent research suggests a significant relationship between lean body mass (LBM) and toxicity from chemotherapeutic agents. We investigated if higher drug doses per kg LBM were associated with increased toxicity in stage IIIB/IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients receiving a first-line chemotherapy regimen dosed according to body surface area (BSA).

Methods: Data from patients randomised to receive intravenous gemcitabine 1000 mg/m(2) plus orally vinorelbine 60 mg/m(2) days 1 and 8 in a phase III trial comparing two chemotherapy regimens were analysed.

WITHDRAWN: Perioperative ketamine for acute postoperative pain.

This review has been amended to include further information on Menigaux 2000 pre pre and Menigaux 2000 post included studies. At July 2014, this review is out of date and has been withdrawn. This review is correct as of the date of publication.

Systematic review of enriched enrolment, randomised withdrawal trial designs in chronic pain: a new framework for design and reporting.

Enriched enrolment, randomised withdrawal (EERW) pain trials select, before randomisation, patients who respond by demonstrating a predetermined degree of pain relief and acceptance of adverse events. There is uncertainty over the value of this design. We report a systematic review of EERW trials in chronic noncancer pain together with a critical appraisal of methods and potential biases in the methods used and recommendations for the design and reporting of future EERW trials.

Depressive symptoms in the last days of life of patients with cancer: a nationwide retrospective mortality study.

Objectives: Depressive symptoms are common in patients with cancer and tend to increase as death approaches. The study aims were to examine the prevalence of depressive symptoms in patients with cancer in their final 24 h, and their association with other symptoms, sociodemographic and care characteristics.

Methods: A stratified sample of deaths was drawn by Statistics Netherlands.

Depression in advanced cancer--assessment challenges and associations with disease load.

Background: Patients with advanced cancer commonly experience multiple somatic symptoms and declining functioning. Some highly prevalent symptoms also overlap with diagnostic symptom-criteria of depression. Thus, assessing depression in these patients can be challenging.

Frailty is an independent predictor of survival in older patients with colorectal cancer.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is prevalent in the older population. Geriatric assessment (GA) has previously been found to predict treatment tolerance and postoperative complications in older cancer patients. The aim of this study was to explore whether GA also predicts 1-year and 5-year survival after CRC surgery in older patients and to compare the predictive power of GA with that of established prognostic factors such as TNM classification of malignant tumors (TNM) stage and age.

Measuring quality of life in patients with head and neck cancer: Update of the EORTC QLQ-H&N Module, Phase III.

Background: The objective of this study was to pilot test an updated version of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Head and Neck Module (EORTC QLQ-H&N60).

Methods: Patients with head and neck cancer were asked to complete a list of 60 head and neck cancer-specific items comprising the updated EORTC head and neck module and the core questionnaire EORTC QLQ-C30. Debriefing interviews were conducted to identify any irrelevant items and confusing or upsetting wording.

Chemotherapy-associated oral sequelae in patients with cancers outside the head and neck region.

Context: Chemotherapy induces a wide array of acute and late oral adverse effects that makes symptom alleviation and information important parts of patient care.

Objectives: To assess the prevalence and intensity of acute oral problems in outpatients receiving chemotherapy for cancers outside the head and neck region and to investigate if information about possible oral adverse effects was received by the patients.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, outpatients aged 18 years or older were invited to participate and included if they fulfilled the inclusion criteria.

Dietary treatment of weight loss in patients with advanced cancer and cachexia: a systematic literature review.

Purpose: A systematical literature review evaluating the effect of dietary counseling in treating weight loss and improving energy intake in patients with advanced cancer with different stages of cachexia.

Principal Results: Five publications were retrieved, of which three were randomized. Two out of five studies showed less weight loss with dietary counseling (+1% weight gain vs.

How are patient populations characterized in studies investigating depression in advanced cancer? Results from a systematic literature review.

Context: Prevalence rates of depression in patients with advanced cancer vary considerably. This may be because of heterogeneous samples and use of different assessment methods. Adequate sample descriptions and consistent use of measures are needed to be able to generalize research findings and apply them to clinical practice.

Validation of the Consensus-Definition for Cancer Cachexia and evaluation of a classification model--a study based on data from an international multicentre project (EPCRC-CSA).

Background: Weight loss limits cancer therapy, quality of life and survival. Common diagnostic criteria and a framework for a classification system for cancer cachexia were recently agreed upon by international consensus. Specific assessment domains (stores, intake, catabolism and function) were proposed.

Comparisons of patient and physician assessment of pain-related domains in cancer pain classification: results from a large international multicenter study.

Unlabelled: The aim of the present study is to compare physician clinical assessment with patient-rated evaluations in the classification of cancer pain patients into groups with different pain levels, according to the presence of incident/breakthrough pain, neuropathic pain, and psychological distress. Average pain in the previous 24 hours was used as the dependent variable in multivariate linear regression models, and incident/breakthrough pain, neuropathic pain, and psychological distress were tested as regressors; in the assessment of regressors, physicians used the Edmonton Classification System for Cancer Pain, whereas patients used structured self-assessment questionnaires. The amount of variability in pain intensity scores explained by the 2 sets of regressors, physician and patient rated, was compared using R(2) values.

How are palliative care cancer populations characterized in randomized controlled trials? A literature review.

Context: The difficulties in defining a palliative care patient accentuate the need to provide stringent descriptions of the patient population in palliative care research.

Objectives: To conduct a systematic literature review with the aim of identifying which key variables have been used to describe adult palliative care cancer populations in randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Methods: The data sources used were MEDLINE (1950 to January 25, 2010) and Embase (1980 to January 25, 2010), limited to RCTs in adult cancer patients with incurable disease.

Prognostic factors in patients with advanced cancer: a comparison of clinicopathological factors and the development of an inflammation-based prognostic system.

Purpose: In advanced cancer, oncological treatment is influenced by performance status (PS); however, this has limitations. Biomarkers of systemic inflammation may have prognostic value in advanced cancer. The study compares key factors in prognosis (performance status, patient-reported outcomes; PRO) with an inflammation-based score (Glasgow Prognostic Score, mGPS).

Development and testing of a computerized pain body map in patients with advanced cancer.

Context: Pain localization is an important part of pain assessment. Development of pain tools for self-report should include expert and patient input, and patient testing in large samples.

Objectives: To develop a computerized pain body map (CPBM) for use in patients with advanced cancer.

Are emergency admissions in palliative cancer care always necessary? Results from a descriptive study.

Objectives: Patients with advanced cancer are often admitted to hospital as emergency cases. This may not always be medically indicated. Study objectives were to register the reasons for the emergency admissions, to examine interventions performed during hospitalisation and self-reported symptom intensity at admission and discharge, and to assess patients' opinions about the admission.

Ketamine as an adjuvant to opioids for cancer pain.

Background: This is an update of the original review published in Issue 1, 2003. Ketamine is a commonly used anaesthetic agent, and in subanaesthetic doses is also given as an adjuvant to opioids for the treatment of cancer pain, particularly when opioids alone prove to be ineffective. Ketamine is known to have psychotomimetic (including hallucinogenic), urological and hepatic adverse effects.