4965 research outputs found
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Breakthrough Cancer Pain: Advancing Management Through Evidence and Innovation
No full textAbstract
This paper examines strategies to improve the management of breakthrough cancer pain (BTcP), a severe and transient pain affecting up to 65% of individuals with cancer-related pain. Despite advances in baseline analgesia, BTcP remains a distinct and often undertreated condition that compromises quality of life, functional status, and emotional well-being. Addressing BTcP requires an individualized, evidence-based approach aligned with the broader goals of oncology and palliative care.
A systematic literature review was conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, and MEDLINE, focusing on English-language full-text articles published within the past five years that addressed adult oncology populations. Clinical guidelines from authoritative bodies, including the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO), were also reviewed to support integration of current best practices.
Findings reveal inconsistent application of rapid-onset opioids, nonpharmacologic strategies, and psychosocial support. Patient concerns about opioid side effects, disease progression, and treatment distraction further contribute to underreporting and undertreatment. Recommendations include enhancing provider education, standardizing assessment tools, expanding access to palliative care, and ethically implementing individualized multimodal interventions.
These strategies are critical to reducing suffering, supporting adherence to cancer treatments, and preserving dignity in advanced illness. Future research should assess long-term outcomes and explore the utility of digital tools for real-time pain monitoring in BTcP care
The Effect of COVID-19 on The Mental Health of Infected Patients: Direct and Indirect Effects
No full textABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected the quality of life and negatively impacted mental health worldwide. While many studies have examined the psychological impact on the general population, fewer have focused on patients who are infected with the disease. This review assesses the direct and indirect effects of COVID-19 infection on mental health by synthesizing findings from thirteen scientific journals and four systematic reviews identified through PubMed, Elsevier, ClinicalKey, and Google Scholar to substantiate the aim. Evidence showed that individuals with COVID-19 and quarantined patients reported high levels of depression (41.3%, 38.8% respectively), anxiety (42.3%, 57.6% respectively), mental distress (99.6%), and post-traumatic stress symptoms (96.2%), PTSD (32.6%) compared to the general public (8.3%). The literature shows that the acute phase of COVID-19 had a significant impact on the mental health of infected, quarantined, and people suspected of the disease. The review also demonstrated that the post-acute phase of COVID-19 infection has a long-term neuropsychiatric effect on the cognition of individuals, due to neuroinflammation. These findings were significantly affected by factors such as COVID-19 infection, female gender, concern about COVID-19 infection, people with chronic disease, and financial stress. For the infected individuals, the fear of isolation, lack of social support, longer stay in the hospital, stigma, and discrimination were the primary triggers of mental health disorders. In addition, the public health measures put in place to reduce the impact of COVID-19, such as quarantine, closure of schools, and workplaces, proportionally played a key role in mental health disorders. Public health officers, governmental and State institutions should adopt an evidence-based approach to address associated risk and protective factors to identify and prioritize vulnerable groups (female gender, under age 40, history of mental disorders, people with chronic disease) and provide timely financial and residential assistance. Despite an increase in the number of systematic reviews, the findings of this review are qualitative and narrative in nature due to the high heterogeneity across the methodologies employed. Again, most data collection is administered through online surveys and self-administered questionnaires, rather than professionally administered ones. Furthermore, a few studies have mentioned the post-acute impact of COVID-19; therefore, future studies should focus on its long-term effects to aid in preparing for future pandemics
