A Stepped-Wedge Randomized Controlled Trial: Effects of eHealth Interventions for Pain Control Among Adults With Cancer in Hospice

CONTEXT

Unrelieved cancer pain at the end of life interferes with achieving patient-centered goals.

OBJECTIVE

To compare effects of usual hospice care and PAINRelieveIt® on pain outcomes in patients and their lay caregivers.

METHODS

In a five-step, stepped-wedge randomized, controlled study, 234 patients (49% male, 18% Hispanic, 51% racial minorities) and 231 lay caregivers (26% male, 20% Hispanic, 54% racial minorities) completed pre-pain/post-pain measures. They received usual hospice care with intervention components that included a summary of the patient's pain data, decision support for hospice nurses, and multimedia education tailored to the patient's and lay caregiver's misconceptions about pain.

RESULTS

The intervention effect on analgesic adherence (primary outcome) was not significant. Post-test worst pain intensity was significantly higher for the experimental group, but the difference (0.70; CI = [0.12, 1.27]) was not clinically meaningful. There was nearly universal availability of prescriptions for strong opioids and adjuvant analgesics for neuropathic pain in both groups. Lay caregivers' pain misconceptions (0-5 scale) were significantly lower in the experimental group than the usual care group (mean difference controlling for baseline is 0.38; CI = [0.08, 0.67]; P = 0.01).

CONCLUSION

This randomized controlled trial was a negative trial for the primary study outcomes but positive for a secondary outcome. The trial is important for clearly demonstrating the feasibility of implementing the innovative set of interventions.

Implementing the PAINRelieveIt Randomized Controlled Trial in Hospice Care: Mechanisms for Success and Meeting PCORI Methodology Standards

This purpose of this article is to describe how we adhere to the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute’s (PCORI) methodology standards relevant to the design and implementation of our PCORI-funded study, the PAIN RelieveIt Trial. We present details of the PAIN RelieveIt Trial organized by the PCORI methodology standards and components that are relevant to our study. The PAIN RelieveIt Trial adheres to four PCORI standards and 21 subsumed components. The four standards include standards for formulating research questions, standards associated with patient centeredness, standards for data integrity and rigorous analyses, and standards for preventing and handling missing data. In the past 24 months, we screened 2,837 cancer patients and their caregivers; 874 dyads were eligible; 223.5 dyads consented and provided baseline data. Only 55 patients were lost to follow-up—a 25% attrition rate. The design and implementation of the PAIN RelieveIt Trial adhered to PCORI’s methodology standards for research rigor.

Pain Intensity and Misconceptions Among Hospice Patients With Cancer and Their Caregivers: Status After 2 Decades

There is little evidence about barriers to pain management or their relationships with pain outcomes of hospice patients with cancer. The purpose of the study was to determine the barriers reported by hospice patients with cancer and their caregivers and the relationships with demographic characteristics and the patients’ pain. In this cross-sectional study, we used selected baseline data from an ongoing randomized clinical trial of patient and lay caregiver dyads receiving home-level hospice care. Participants used an Internet-enabled tablet to complete the valid, reliable measures of pain intensity, pain management barriers (Barriers Questionnaire 13 items [BQ-13]), and demographic characteristics. The responses indicate that the 2 areas of highest concern (mean scores >3) to both patients and caregivers were “pain means disease progression” and “constipation.” Additionally, 3 other areas of highest concern (mean scores >3) to caregivers were “addiction” pain medicine causing “one to do embarrassing things” and “confusion.” The mean BQ-13 scores ranged from 0.2 to 4.9 and averaged 2.6 ± 0.9 for the patients and ranged from 0.5 to 4.7 and averaged 2.7 ± 0.9 for the caregivers. Mean barrier scores remain high and were not different between patients and their caregivers or significantly related to the patients’ pain intensity. However, there were differences in race, ethnic, and hospice setting in the barrier scores. Patients with Hispanic heritage reported higher barrier scores than non-Hispanic patients. Together, these findings not only support prior research findings but also contribute new insights about pain intensity and pain barriers that are relevant to hospices serving minorities with cancer.

Totally laparoscopic management of gallstone ileus

Gallstone ileus is an uncommon disease of elderly patients who present with bowel obstruction. Mortality and severe complications are common, even in modern series, due to the comorbidities in the affected patient population. A number of less invasive ways to treat this disease are described. We report on a case where enterolithotomy was performed laparoscopically. The patient is a 60-year-old diabetic woman who presented with a bowel obstruction and pneumobilia on abdominal radiographs. She underwent exploratory laparoscopy using three reusable ports, an enterolithotomy, and her remaining bowel was examined. The benefits to a minimal access approach to this rare disorder are discussed. The ability to suture laparoscopically is emphasized.

Pheochromocytoma

Causes of hypertension that are amenable to surgical treatment constitute a very small but potentially important segment of the hypertensive population. These causes (which constitute frequently asked questions for medical students) include coarctation of the aorta, aldosterone and corticosteroid-producing tumors of the adrenal glands, lesions producing decreased renal blood flow, and pheochromocytoma. This latter tumor is quite uncommon, with a frequency of roughly one per million, but often produces dramatic hypertensive episodes. Due to its rarity, physicians in practice may not consider the diagnosis and appropriately evaluate the patient. We present the case histories of three patients with pheochromocytoma who demonstrate important features of this disease. Diagnostic evaluation and principles of treatment will be discussed.