ABSTRACT
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.
Subject(s)
Neoplasms/complications , Pain/drug therapy , Acetaminophen/therapeutic use , Analgesics, Non-Narcotic/therapeutic use , Analgesics, Opioid/therapeutic use , Humans , Pain/etiology , Pain/psychology , Pain Measurement/methods , United StatesABSTRACT
The objectives of this study were (1) to develop an individualized tricyclic audiovisual education program and (2) to compare the program's effectiveness with that of traditional education. The program is designed to increase short-term and long-term knowledge about tricyclic antidepressants and depression. The patient's dose was stabilized, and then a pretest was given. If the patient was in the study group, he received the seven-minute slide-tape program and a posttest within 72 hours. The control group received the posttest within five days of the pretest. Both groups were given knowledge tests at approximately four weeks. Statistical analysis of the data from this small study group revealed significance at the 95% confidence level for the following statement: the study group showed a greater increase in factual short-term and long-term knowledge about its tricyclic therapy as shown by differences in pretest, posttest, and scores of tests at four weeks. This study demonstrates an effective standardized alternative to traditional education which can be used to educate the majority of patients about tricyclic antidepressants and depression with a minimum time investment.
Subject(s)
Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic/therapeutic use , Drug Therapy/psychology , Patient Education as Topic/methods , Audiovisual Aids , Evaluation Studies as Topic , Hospital Bed Capacity, under 100 , Humans , Mental Recall , Nebraska , Time FactorsABSTRACT
A study was conducted on three adult medicine units in a 300-bed teaching hospital to (1) evaluate the effect of a slide-tape program in increasing patients' short-term knowledge of theophylline treatment and (2) evaluate the effect on this knowledge of a pharmacist's presence during the educational session. Thirty-four patients were assigned randomly to one of two treatment groups. Patients in both groups viewed a 10-minute program, Group 1 patients with the pharmacist present and Group 2 patients alone. Patient knowledge was measured before and after the educational program with identical 20-item objective tests. The posttest scores of both groups were significantly higher than their pretest scores (p less than 0.05). No significant difference was found in the mean improvement in scores between the two groups. Pharmacist-designed audiovisual patient education programs can be used effectively in the pharmacist's absence.
Subject(s)
Patient Education as Topic , Theophylline , Adult , Audiovisual Aids , Educational Measurement , Evaluation Studies as Topic , Hospital Bed Capacity, 300 to 499 , Humans , Methods , Nebraska , PharmacistsABSTRACT
A case of hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis precipitated by high-dose intravenous ampicillin sodium is discussed. Cases of hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis attributable to ampicillin sodium have not been reported previously. There have been reports of this phenomenon associated with high doses of penicillin sodium and carbenicillin disodium. The possible mechanism of antibiotic-induced hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis is discussed. It is suggested that most cases of antibiotic-induced hypokalemia respond to oral or intravenous potassium chloride.
