Prospective Evaluation of Treatment Outcome in Patients Referred to a Cancer Pain Center

BACKGROUND The current article evaluated the course of patient‐assessed symptomatology in specialized palliative care and tested for bias due to patient attrition in measures of initial symptomatology and treatment outcome. METHODS Over 2 years, 267 consecutive, eligible patients were referred to a department of palliative care. Upon arrival, 201 patients consented to participate in a questionnaire‐based evaluation of quality of life (QOL). Of these, 175 patients participated, and 142, 119, and 95 participated in the study at 1, 2, and 3 weeks, respectively. Weekly, participants completed the self‐assessment questionnaires European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ‐C30, Edmonton Symptom Assessment System, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory. Physicians used the Mini Mental State Examination to evaluate cognitive function. Changes from the initial symptom scores for each week were calculated. Initial scoring and change after 1 week were tested for association with completion level, i.e., whether the patient completed questions at 1, 2, 3, or 4 time points. RESULTS High initial symptom intensity and significant improvements over time were observed for pain, lack of appetite, nausea/vomiting, sleeplessness, constipation, and overall QOL/well‐being. For some symptoms, initial scores were significantly higher in patients who dropped out, but the changes over the first week were not significantly different between completion levels for any symptom. CONCLUSIONS Improvement in symptom intensity was identified. Dropout was associated with higher initial symptomatology but not with poorer outcome of palliative treatment. Cancer 2005. © 2005 American Cancer Society.

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A longitudinal study of palliative care

Strömgren

Sjögren

Goldschmidt

et al. 2005

Cancer

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Neurophysiology of cancer pain: From the laboratory to the clinic

Regan

Peng

Chan³

1999

Current Review of Pain

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Pain is one of the most distressing symptoms associated with cancer. Basic science research has provided much insight into the mechanisms of peripheral and central pain and the actions of new drugs. Despite these advances, pain accompanying malignancy can be difficult to treat. Pain most commonly presents when the tumor has invaded somatic,visceral, or neural structures. An understanding of pain mechanisms is essential when deciding on the appropriate treatment. New therapeutic options have been developed and will hopefully provide clinicians with tools to successfully alleviate cancer pain.

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Treatment outcome in a multidisciplinary cancer pain clinic by Banning et al.

Moulin¹

1991

Pain

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Prospective Evaluation of Treatment Outcome in Patients Referred to a Cancer Pain Center

Cited by 6 publications

References 0 publications

A longitudinal study of palliative care

A longitudinal study of palliative care

Neurophysiology of cancer pain: From the laboratory to the clinic

Treatment outcome in a multidisciplinary cancer pain clinic by Banning et al.

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