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Biomedical subjects

C Cleeland

Publications and source records attributed to C Cleeland.

15 recordsLinked to original sources

Validation of the M.D. Anderson Symptom Inventory Brain Tumor Module (MDASI-BT).

BACKGROUND: Symptom occurrence has been shown to predict treatment course and survival in patients with solid tumors. Primary brain tumor (PBT) patients are unique in the occurrence of neurologic symptoms. Currently, no instrument exists that measures both neurologic and cancer-related symptoms. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with PBT participated in this study. Data was collected at one point in time and included demographic and clinical factors, and the M.D. Anderson Symptom Inventory-Brain Tumor Module (MDASI-BT). The study evaluated the reliability and validity of the MDASI-BT in primary brain tumor patients. RESULTS: Two hundred and one patients participated in this study. Mean symptom severity of items as well as cluster analysis was used to reduce the number of total items to 22 (13 core, 9 brain tumor items). Regression analysis showed more than half (56%) of the variability in symptom severity was explained by brain module items. The MDASI-BT measures six underlying constructs including affective, cognitive, focal neurologic deficit, constitutional, generalized symptom, and a gastrointestinal related factor. The internal consistency (reliability) of the instrument was 0.91. The MDASI-BT was sensitive to disease severity based on performance status (P<0.001), tumor recurrence (P<0.01), and mean symptom interference (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The 22 item MDASI-BT demonstrated validity and reliability in patients with PBT. This instrument can be used to identify symptom occurrence throughout the disease trajectory and to evaluate interventions designed for symptom management.

Adolescent↗

Greek brief pain inventory: validation and utility in cancer pain.

OBJECTIVE: The Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) is a pain assessment tool. It has been translated into and validated in several languages. The purpose of this study was the translation into and validation of the BPI in Greek. Moreover, we wanted to detect cultural and social differences, if any, of pain interference in patients' lives. METHODS: The translation and validation of the inventory took place at the Areteion Hospital. The final validation sample consisted of 220 cancer patients (123 males, 97 females, age range 21-87 years, mean age 61.3). Primary cancer locations were lung 25.6%, gastrointestinal tract 25.6%, breast 11.5%, prostate 7.07%, gynecological cancers 9.6% and others 20.57%. The patients themselves completed the majority of the Greek BPI (G-BPI) papers. The pain management index (PMI) was also calculated in order to assess the adequacy of pain treatment. Assessing the reliability and the validity made the actual validation of the G-BPI. RESULTS: Pain severity and pain management: 147 patients reported severe pain, 48 patients moderate, and 25 patients mild pain (mean average pain 6.22). From these patients only 21 were found on strong and 33 on weak opioid treatment, while 166 patients were found on no opioid analgesic treatment. In agreement with these data is the PMI which was positive only for 9 patients, while 44 patients had PMI = 0 and all the others had negative PMI scores. Reliability and Validity of the G-BPI: Coefficient alphas were 0.849 for the interference items and 0.887 for the severity items. Additionally, the factor analysis of the G-BPI items results in a two-factor solution, that satisfies the criteria of reproducibility, interpretability and confirmatory setting. CONCLUSION: This study shows the efficacy of the G-BPI for the assessment of pain severity as well as the pain management in Greece, and therefore its utility in improving the analgesic treatment outcome in Greek patients.

Activities of Daily Living↗

NCCN Practice Guidelines for Cancer Pain.

The overall approach to pain management encompassed in these guidelines is comprehensive. It is based on objective pain assessments, utilizes both pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic interventions, and requires continual reevaluation of the patient. The NCCN Cancer Pain Practice Guidelines Panel believes that cancer pain can be well controlled in the vast majority of patients if the algorithms presented are systematically applied, carefully monitored, and tailored to the needs of the individual patient.

Acetaminophen↗

NCCN Practice Guidelines for Cancer-Related Fatigue.

These guidelines propose a treatment algorithm in which patients are evaluated regularly for fatigue, using a brief screening instrument, and are treated as indicated by their fatigue level. The algorithm's goal is to identify and treat all patients with fatigue that causes distress or interferes with daily activities or functioning. Management of fatigue begins with primary oncology team members who perform the initial screening and either provide basic education and counseling or expand the initial screening to a more focused evaluation for moderate or higher levels of fatigue. At this point the patient is assessed for the five primary factors known to be associated with fatigue: pain, emotional distress, sleep disturbance, anemia, and hypothyroidism. If any of these conditions are present, it should be treated according to practice guidelines, and the patient's fatigue should be reevaluated regularly. If none of the primary factors is present or the fatigue is unresolved, a more comprehensive assessment is indicated--with referral to other care providers as appropriate. The comprehensive assessment should include a thorough review of systems, review of medications, assessment of comorbidities, nutritional/metabolic evaluation, and assessment of activity level. Management of fatigue is cause-specific when conditions known to cause fatigue can be identified and treated. When specific causes, such as infection, fluid and electrolyte imbalances, or cardiac dysfunction, cannot be identified and corrected, nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic treatment of the fatigue should be considered. Nonpharmacologic interventions may include a moderate exercise program to improve functional capacity and activity tolerance, restorative therapies to decrease cognitive alterations and improve mood state, and nutritional and sleep interventions for patients with disturbances in eating or sleeping. Pharmacologic therapy may include drugs such as antidepressants for depression or erythropoietin for anemia. A few clinical reports of the use of corticosteroids and psychostimulants suggest the need for further research on these agents as a potential treatment modalities in managing fatigue. Basic to these interventions, the effective management of cancer-related fatigue involves an informed and supportive oncology care team that assesses patients' fatigue levels regularly and systematically and incorporates education and counseling regarding strategies for coping with fatigue (Johnson, 1999), as well as using institutional fatigue management experts for referral of patients with unresolved fatigue.

Exercise↗

Pain management guidelines: implications for managed care--a roundtable discussion.

One of the most important concerns of patients with cancer, particularly those with metastatic disease, is "Will I be in constant pain?" This is a similar concern voiced by patients with late-stage human immunodeficiency virus infection. The management of chronic pain has enormous implications on a patient's ability to function and on his or her quality of life. In June 1996, Medical Interface convened a panel of experts in Chicago to discuss pain management therapies, guidelines, and how these issues will affect, and be affected by, the managed care environment.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Physiologic and psychobehavioral research in oncology.

A major thrust in research in psychosocial oncology is the study of the interaction of psychologic and physiologic variables. This discussion reviews the current status and future directions of such research. Areas addressed include pain, nausea and vomiting with chemotherapy, sexuality, effects of cancer on psychologic and neuropsychologic function, impact of psychologic factors on cancer and its treatment, and psychoneuroimmunology. In addition, specific recommendations for strategies to facilitate research in these areas of psychosocial oncology are proposed.

Adult↗

The Indians have many terms for it: stuttering among the Bannock-Shoshoni.

This report follows by 23 years correspondence between Wendell Johnson and Sven Liljeblad in which Liljeblad pointed out that among North American "nonstuttering" Indians there were Indians who stuttered. He also reported several terms that referred to stuttering. An unpublished study reported by Frank confirmed Liljeblad's claims. Since we must rely on published reports, it is important to get these findings into print for future scholars. Though these findings in no way refute the claimed importance of linguistics and cultural variables as contributing to the development of stuttering, they do call to question evidence supporting the view that stuttering is a diagnosogenic disorder. Historical and sociological issues related to these contradictory findings are similar to those discussed by Freeman.

Culture↗

Biofeedback in urology using urodynamics: preliminary observations.

Biofeedback training aided by urodynamic instrumentation produced significant clinical improvement in 4 of 8 urological patients. The display of electromyographic activity of the periurethral striated muscles was facilitated by the use of a new intraurethral catheter with 5 surface mounted electrodes. This modality of treatment seems worth considering for selected patients with urinary retention or urinary incontinence.

Adult↗

Movement disorders as a complication of acute hemiplegia of childhood.

We evaluate three cases of acute hemiplegia in childhood complicated by tremor and/or choreoathetosis. Each patient experienced the abrupt onset of hemiplegia thought to be localized to an insult involving the middle cerebral distribution without associated seizure, trauma, loss of consciousness or demonstrable cardiac, hematological or neoplastic causes. All three patients recovered most, if not all, strength on the affected side, but each was left with a disorder of movement involving the previously hemiplegic upper extremity. These disorders included resting and intention tremors, as well as choreoathetosis. Anticholinergic drugs failed in treating two patients, but biofeedback techniques were quite successful in one of the two patients so treated.

Acute Disease↗