Wang, Y., Huang, H., Zeng, Y., Wu, J., Wang, R., Ren, B., & Xu, F. (2013). Pharmacist-led medication education in cancer pain control: A multicentre randomized controlled study in Guangzhou, China. Journal of International Medical Research, 41, 1462–1472.
To assess the impact of education on analgesic medication for patients with cancer-related pain
Patients were randomly assigned to control or education groups. The education group received three information booklets and eight face-to-face education and counseling sessions over four weeks. Clinical pharmacists contacted patients daily to review outcomes and made recommendations to physicians based on patient response. Pharmacists received standardized training. Pharmacists assisted patients to complete study questionnaires.
Pain and analgesic knowledge increased significantly from baseline in both groups, and pain intensity and interference decreased significantly in both groups from baseline (p < .05). Knowledge improved the most in patients who had not previously used analgesics. Pain intensity declined more in the intervention group.
Education and counseling were associated with improvement in pain scores.
The likely effectiveness of psychoeducation for improving pain control is known; this study supports that evidence in an inpatient setting.
Wang, C., Tan, W., Huang, X., Fu, T., Lin, J., Bu, J., . . . Du, Y. (2013). Curative effect of Dingqi analgesic patch on cancer pain: A single-blind randomized controlled trail. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 33, 176–180.
To observe the curative effect of an acupoint application with a Dingqi analgesic patch on moderate-to-severe pain caused by liver cancer
Patients were randomized to a control or a treatment group. Patients with visual analog scale (VAS) scores of 4–6 were given 100 mg sustained-release tramadol daily. Those with VAS scores of 7–10 were given 4.2 mg fentanyl transdermal every three days. The treatment group was given the acupoint patch consisting of a mixture of traditional Chinese herbs on one to two pain points. The control group was given the same size patch without medication. The VAS scores were assessed at intervals throughout the 12 days of treatment.
Findings suggest that the Dingqi patch might be helpful in pain management; however, this study provides very limited support for this approach.
This study does not provide evidence in support of the use of this analgesic patch for pain.
Wang, K.X., Jin, Z.D., Du, Y.Q., Zhan, X.B., Zou, D.W., Liu, Y., . . . Li, Z.S. (2012). EUS-guided celiac ganglion irradiation with iodine-125 seeds for pain control in pancreatic carcinoma: A prospective pilot study. Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, 76, 945–952.
To determine the feasibility, safety, and effects of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided direct celiac ganglion irradiation with iodine-125 seeds in patients with pain secondary to unresectable pancreatic cancer
Patients were prehydrated and given intravenous ciproflosacin during the procedures and postoperatively for three days. After identification of celiac ganglion, two to four seeds were inserted via the biopsy channel of the endoscope. Computed tomography scans and abdominal radiography were done the day after surgery to ensure correct placement. Postoperative drug therapy was done following World Health Organization guidelines. None of the patients received radiotherapy. Patients were followed weekly until death.
An observational, prospective study design was used.
Pain visual analog scale (VAS)
Average duration of follow-up was 79 weeks (range 43–156 weeks). Patients received morphine sulfate for pain. Baseline VAS mean score was 5.78 (range 4–8), and average morphine sulfate conception was 68.26 (range 40–90). Initial pain score and opioid consumption increased over the first two weeks. By week 3, pain and opioid consumption declined, and by week 7 VAS mean score was 2.91 (range 1–6) and morphine sulfate consumption was 40.45 (range 20–80). These values continued to decline weekly. By five months, only two patients remained: pain score was 1.5 and opioid consumption with morphine sulfate was 20. None of the patients achieved complete relief of pain. No procedure complications were reported.
The EUS-guided celiac ganglion irradiation with iodine-125 seeds as done here was effective in reducing pain in these patients with pain due to unresectable pancreatic cancer.
Control of pain secondary to pancreatic cancer is a challenge, and many of these patients had severe intractable pain. The procedure tested here showed a positive effect for pain control. As such, this procedure may provide another option for pain management in these patients as an adjunct to other pain control approaches. Further well-designed research in this area is warranted, and studies comparing various pain-control methods in this group of patients would be helpful to identify the most beneficial approaches.
Wang, T., Wang, H., Yang, T., Jane, S., Huang, T., Wang, C., & Lin, Y. (2015). The effect of abdominal massage in reducing malignant ascites symptoms. Research in Nursing and Health, 38, 51–59.
To evaluate the effect of abdominal massage on reducing ascites, pain, and other ascites-related symptoms
Gentle abdominal massage consisting of straight rubbing, point rubbing, and kneading was provided by a trained nurse practitioner (NP) for 15 minutes, twice a day (7–8 am and 4–5 pm) for three consecutive days. Control participants received social attention by the same NP who delivered the massage. The NP followed a script during the interaction exploring the patient’s feelings and thoughts and providing information about treatment. Symptoms and body weight were measured in the morning for four successive days (pre- to post-test).
Randomized, controlled trial using repeated measures
There was no significant change in pain, tiredness, nausea, drowsiness, poor appetite, shortness of breath, mobility limitation, or body weight among patients who received massage. The intervention group did experience a significant improvement in depression (p = 0.003), anxiety (p = 0.002), poor well-being (p = 0.001), and perceived abdominal bloating (p < 0.001). These symptoms improved gradually over time for the intervention group, but slightly increased over time for the control group. No massage-related adverse events occurred.
Abdominal massage did not improve pain in this study; however, this may be related to the low level of pain among patients at baseline. Massage improved depression, anxiety, well-being, and perceived abdominal bloating. Additional study is needed with larger groups of patients with malignant abdominal ascites.
This non-invasive, inexpensive intervention was not effective in reducing pain for patients with abdominal ascites, but it may provide relief for other symptoms such as abdominal bloating, depression, anxiety, and poor well-being. After additional study, if this intervention is proved to be appropriate for pain management, nurses will need training on proper massage techniques.
Wang, L., Gu, Z., Zhai, R., Zhao, S., Luo, L., Li, D., . . . Gao, C. (2015). Efficacy of oral cryotherapy on oral mucositis prevention in patients with hematological malignancies undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. PloS One, 10, e0128763.
PHASE OF CARE: Active antitumor treatment
APPLICATIONS: Elder care
Oral cryotherapy for patients with hematologic malignancies receiving HSCTs with high-dose melphalan decreased the incidence of severe OM. Cryotherapy also may be helpful for patients receiving other preparative regimens. Cryotherapy may decrease the duration of TPN usage and shorten hospital stay. Oral cryotherapy did not appear to affect on the length of analgesic use.
Limitations of this study included the small number of RTCs and the small sample sizes of those RCTs. The methodologic quality of the studies might have resulted in bias.
Oral cryotherapy is a low-cost, easy modality that demonstrated efficacy in decreasing the severity of OM in patients with hematologic malignancies receiving HSCTs. Additional studies on the efficacy of cryotherapy with other conditioning regimens are needed.
Wang, L., Baser, O., Kutikova, L., Page, J.H., & Barron, R. (2015). The impact of primary prophylaxis with granulocyte colony-stimulating factors on febrile neutropenia during chemotherapy: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Supportive Care in Cancer, 23, 3131–3140.
PHASE OF CARE: Active antitumor treatment
Prophylaxis with G-CSF reduces the risk for NF during myelosuppressive chemotherapy.
Patients with cancer undergoing myelosuppressive chemotherapy are at risk for FN. Prophylaxis with G-CSF can reduce this risk for improved patient outcomes.
Wang, Y. J., Boehmke, M., Wu, Y. W., Dickerson, S. S., & Fisher, N. (2011). Effects of a 6-week walking program on Taiwanese women newly diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer. Cancer Nursing, 34, E1–E13.
To examine the effectiveness of an exercise program on quality of life (QOL), fatigue, sleep disturbances, exercise self-efficacy, exercise behavior, and exercise capacity in women with breast cancer.
Patients were randomly assigned to an exercise or usual care group. The exercise intervention was a six-week walking program based on modified exercise guidelines of the American Cancer Society and American College of Sports Medicine. This program included use of a heart rate ring monitor, pedometer, weekly telephone call, weekly meetings, and an exercise diary. Exercise was of low to moderate intensity (40%–60% maximum heart rate). In this program, patients did weekly goal setting and were given advice and information, and several specific strategies were described that were intended to boost self-efficacy. Patients were oriented to the exercise program prior to surgery, and exercise was begun within a few days after surgery. Data were collected 24 hours prior to surgery and at 24 hours prior to the first cycle of chemotherapy, 7 to 10 days after chemotherapy, and at the end of six weeks.
Patients were undergoing the active treatment phase of care.
The study was a randomized, controlled trial.
The pattern of change in QOL over time showed significant consistent improvement among those in the exercise group compared to usual care controls (p < 0.001). Patterns of change in sleep and sleep disturbance also showed significant improvement over time compared to controls (p < 0.006). The pattern of fatigue showed higher fatigue levels in the exercise group at all study time points. Average fatigue scores changed from 40.5 to 45.8 at week 6 in the exercise group and from 40.1 to 40 with usual care. Patients in the exercise group had significantly better exercise self-efficacy (p ≤ 0.001) and higher levels of exercise behavior (p < 0.001) than those receiving usual care. Patients in the exercise group walked farther on the 6MWT than controls after the intervention (p ≤ 0.001).
Findings showed that a self-managed home exercise program, along with intervention strategies aimed at boosting self-efficacy, had a positive effect on QOL and exercise behavior among women newly diagnosed with breast cancer.
The findings did not show a positive impact of a home-based exercise self-efficacy intervention on fatigue in the first six weeks after surgery in newly diagnosed patients. However, over a longer period of time, patients in the exercise group did better. Nurses may need to educate patients that adherence to an exercise program may not show results in the short term and that effects may take some time to be felt. Nurses can educate and encourage patients to exercise at home, and support activities to boost patient sense of efficacy may improve patient adherence to an exercise prescription.
Wang, X.F., Feng, Y., Chen, Y., Gao, B.L., & Han, B.H. (2014). A meta-analysis of olanzapine for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Scientific Reports, 4, 4813.
PHASE OF CARE: Active antitumor treatment
APPLICATIONS: Elder care, palliative care
Five out of six studies demonstrated an increase in complete response in patients receiving standard antiemetic regimens plus olanzapine on day 1 of chemotherapy (odds ratio [OR] = 1.95, 95%; confidence interval [CI] = 1.17–3.23; p = 0.01). Five out of six studies showed a cumulative delay in vomiting (OR = 2.65, 95%; CI = 1.36–5.15; p = 0.004). Overall complete response relative risk was improved (4.07, 95%; CI = 1.59–10.43). Also note the following: delayed-phase antinausea effects in olanzapine-containing antiemetic regimens (OR = 2.79, 95%; CI = 1.76–4.43; p = 0.0001); antinausea effects in the overall phase (OR = 3.40, 95% CI = 2.32–5.00; p = 0.00001); and no superiority in the acute phase (RR = 1.34, 95%; CI = 0.77–2.34; p = 0.30).
Complete response is more likely in patients who received antiemetic regimens containing olanzapine compared to patients who did not receive olanzapine. Olanzapine is more effective in delayed CINV than acute.
Olanzapine may add CINV control when added to a standard antiemetic regimen during the delayed phase.
Wang, X., Wang, L., Wang, H., & Zhang, H. (2015). Effectiveness of olanzapine combined with ondansetron in prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting of non-small cell lung cancer. Cell Biochemistry and Biophysics, 72, 471–473.
To compare the effects of ondansetron and olanzapine to ondansetron alone for management of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV)
All patients received 8 mg IV ondansetron 30 minutes before chemotherapy. Patients in the experimental group also received 10 mg olanzapine for eight days. CINV was evaluated after one chemotherapy cycle.
PHASE OF CARE: Active antitumor treatment
Randomized, two-group trial
World Health Organization toxicity grading criteria
The incidence of vomiting in the acute phase was 33.33% in the olanzapine group and 54.76% in the control group (p < 0.05). The incidence of delayed CINV was 16.67% with olanzapine and 47.62% in the control group (p < 0.01).
The use of olanzapine as part of an antiemetic regimen was associated with a lower incidence of vomiting in the acute and delayed phases.
This study adds to the body of evidence demonstrating the potential role of olanzapine for control of CINV. Olanzapine may have particular benefit for control in the delayed phase. Nurses need to evaluate the patterns of CINV in patients receiving chemotherapy and can identify patients who may benefit from the use of olanzapine along with other antiemetic agents.
Wang, Y.H., Yao, N., Wei, K.K., Jiang, L., Hanif, S., Wang, Z.X., & Pei, C.X. (2016). The efficacy and safety of probiotics for prevention of chemoradiotherapy-induced diarrhea in people with abdominal and pelvic cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 70, 1246–1253.
STUDY PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of probiotics for the prevention of diarrhea in patients receiving chemoradiotherapy for cancer
TYPE OF STUDY: Meta-analysis and systematic review
PHASE OF CARE: Active antitumor treatment
Probiotics may have a role in the prevention or management of chemotherapy- and radiotherapy-induced diarrhea. The risk of probiotic-associated infections is unclear.
Probiotics may have a role in the prevention and management of chemotherapy- and radiotherapy-induced diarrhea; however, studies have used different probiotic combinations, and the best combination is unclear. Infection-related risks are unclear, but some associated infections have been reported. Caution should be used in patients who are severely immunocompromised.