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How Are Palliative Care Cancer Populations Characterized in Randomized Controlled Trials? A Literature Review.

Authors :
Sigurdardottir, Katrin Ruth
Oldervoll, Line
Hjermstad, Marianne Jensen
Kaasa, Stein
Knudsen, Anne Kari
Løhre, Erik Torbjørn
Loge, Jon Håvard
Haugen, Dagny Faksvåg
Source :
Journal of Pain & Symptom Management. May2014, Vol. 47 Issue 5, p906-914.e17. 0p.
Publication Year :
2014

Abstract

Abstract: 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. Forty-three variables were systematically extracted from the eligible articles. Results: The review includes 336 articles reporting RCTs in palliative care cancer patients. Age (98%), gender (90%), cancer diagnosis (89%), performance status (45%), and survival (45%) were the most frequently reported variables. A large number of other variables were much less frequently reported. Conclusion: A substantial variation exists in how palliative care cancer populations are described in RCTs. Few variables are consistently registered and reported. There is a clear need to standardize the reporting. The results from this work will serve as the basis for an international Delphi process with the aim of reaching consensus on a minimum set of descriptors to characterize a palliative care cancer population. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
08853924
Volume :
47
Issue :
5
Database :
Academic Search Index
Journal :
Journal of Pain & Symptom Management
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
95926821
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2013.06.005