Martinez-Zapata, M.J., Roque, M., Alonso-Coello, P., & Catala, E. (2006). Calcitonin for metastatic bone pain. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 3, CD003223.
Databases searched were MEDLINE (1966–2005), EMBASE (1974–2005), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (issue 2, 2005), and specialized registers of the Cochrane Cancer Network and the Cochrane Pain, Palliative and Supportive Care Group. Also searched were metaRegister of Controlled Trials, U.S. National Institutes of Health register, register of the Center for Clinical Trials and Evidence-Based Healthcare, and register of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer.
Registers of trials in progress also were assessed.
Studies were included in the review if they
Studies where bisphosphonates were administered before patients were randomized to different treatment arms and studies where the efficacy of calcitonin in treating pain was measured over a short period (less than four weeks) were excluded.
The review included two randomized, double-blind clinical trials of patients with metastatic bone pain for a total of 90 patients. The first study compared calcitonin (100 IU administered subcutaneously each day for 28 days) versus placebo administered to a group of 40 women with breast cancer and pain from bone metastasis. The second study compared calcitonin (100 IU administered subcutaneously each day for three months) versus placebo in 50 women with breast cancer and painful bone metastases.
Of the two studies selected (90 patients), all patients had metastatic bone pain caused by any primary tumor, diagnosed by computed tomography, bone gammagraphy, nuclear magnetic resonance, or other radiographic process.
The limited available evidence does not support the use of calcitonin to control pain from bone metastases.
Calcitonin has been assessed in studies with small sample sizes and too short-term evaluations.
More double-blind, parallel clinical trials using long-term evaluations are needed.
Martinez, K.A., Aslakson, R.A., Wilson, R.F., Apostol, C.C., Fawole, O.A., Lau, B.D., . . . Dy, S.M. (2014). A systematic review of health care interventions for pain in patients with advanced cancer. American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care, 31, 79–86.
STUDY PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of healthcare interventions targeting pain in patients with cancer
TYPE OF STUDY: Systematic review
DATABASES USED: PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, DARE, and Cochrane Collaboration; reference lists were used to identify additional studies.
KEYWORDS: Search terms and strategy specifics are in an online appendix to this article.
INCLUSION CRITERIA: Random or nonrandom trials with a control group. Patient-centered and institutional change interventions were included in the definition of healthcare interventions. Pain was included as an outcome.
EXCLUSION CRITERIA: Not specified
TOTAL REFERENCES RETRIEVED = 1,3014
EVALUATION METHOD AND COMMENTS ON LITERATURE USED: GRADE system of quality evaluation; risk of bias was high in seven studies and moderate in another seven studies.
APPLICATIONS: Palliative care
Of the studies, 89% examined patient educational activities. Two focused on provider-level interventions. Fifty-five percent of studies (11 studies) that measured knowledge and barriers found significant improvement in barriers to pain management. Five studies measured pain knowledge–two of these showed improvement. Forty-seven percent of the 19 studies showed significant improvement in pain outcomes compared to the control group. Findings varied by the type of intervention used, and results suggest that the use of multiple educational modalities may be more effective. The number of patient encounters in studies varied widely.
Psychoeducational interventions significantly can reduce barriers to pain management, improve pain knowledge, and improve pain outcomes.
Psychoeducational interventions can reduce patient barriers to pain management, improve relevant knowledge, and have a positive impact on pain. Multimodal interventions combining various educational media and follow-up appear to be more effective than alternatives. Data are limited to show effects of institutional, provider-focused interventions, but results in this area are promising. A combination of provider- and patient-focused interventions should be evaluated.
Martinez, J.M., Leite, L., França, D., Capela, R., Viterbo, L., Varajão, N., . . . Santo, A. (2015). Bundle approach to reduce bloodstream infections in neutropenic hematologic patients with a long-term central venous catheter. Acta Medica Portuguesa, 28, 474–479.
To use a bundle approach to reduce central line–associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) in patients with hematologic malignancies and neutropenia with long-term central venous catheters (CVC)
Between 2010 and 2012, a bundle of interventions was introduced and outcomes were compared with the results from six months prior to the intervention. Interventions were the use of a different catheter (a neutral pressure mechanical valve connector versus a positive pressure mechanical valve connector), changing needless connectors twice weekly instead of weekly, and the replacement of a chlorhexidine solution to clean needless connectors rather than a solution with 70% alcohol. If blood cultures were obtained, patients were put on broad spectrum antibiotics. All patients were receiving prophylactic co-trimoxazole, itraconazole, and environmental neutropenic precautions.
Blood cultures were obtained for the presence of a fever for more than one hour or other signs of infection from peripheral veins and CVC lines.
With the intervention, a 71% reduction in both CLABSIs (risk ratio [RR] = 0.29, p < 0.014) and overall bloodstream infections (RR = 0.28, p < 0.001) occurred. The reduction of gram-positive bacteria was most pronounced.
The institutional protocol changes related to catheter selection and IV access system care were associated with a reduction in CLABSIs.
The changes implemented here were associated with the reduced incidence of CLABSIs within 72 hours. The authors suggested that changing from a positive pressure valve catheter to a neutral pressure type catheter may have been most relevant, as positive pressure valves tend to develop a biofilm and cannot be cleaned well with routine flushing.
Martin-Hirsch, P.P.L., and Bryant, A. (2013). Interventions for preventing blood loss during the treatment of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2013, CD001421.
STUDY PURPOSE: To assess safety and efficacy of interventions used to prevent blood loss during treatment of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN)
TYPE OF STUDY: Meta-analysis and systematic review
PHASE OF CARE: Active antitumor treatment
Vasopressin, TA, and vaginal packs with Monsel’s solution appear to be helpful in reducing blood loss in women with CIN undergoing surgical procedures. Findings are limited because few studies exist comparing specific interventions.
This review contains limited evidence; however, findings suggest that use of vasopressin, TA, and vaginal packs with Monsel’s solution may be helpful to reduce various types of procedure-related bleeding in women with CIN.
Martin, A.C., & Keats, M.R. (2014). The impact of yoga on quality of life and psychological distress in caregivers for patients with cancer. Oncology Nursing Forum, 41, 257–264.
To evaluate the effects of a six-week yoga intervention on caregivers’ overall quality of life and psychological distress
Caregivers participated in a particular type of yoga called vinyasa yoga (VY) for 150 minutes per week, which was conducted in two 75-minute sessions for six weeks. Each VY session included breathing exercises, meditation, poses, and a particular subtype of VY called savasana that promotes relaxation and relieves stress.
The overall attendance rate was 65%. Participants had a mean baseline distress score of 6.5 out of 10. A significant difference was seen in TMD scores from baseline to post-intervention (p = 0.002). Although no significant difference was seen in the physical component score of SF-36 from baseline to post-intervention, a significant difference was seen in the mental component scores of SF-36 from baseline to post-intervention (p = 0.018). The effect in the intended outcome for TMD scores and MCS was large.
Cancer caregivers may benefit mentally with reduction in psychological distress from VY.
VY seems to be a cost-effective approach to improve the quality of life and psychological distress in cancer caregivers. Nurses can encourage caregivers to participate in VY programs. RCTs with larger sample size are needed to find the true effect of yoga on cancer caregivers in terms of reducing psychological distress and improving quality of life.
Martin-Broto, J., Cleeland, C.S., Glare, P.A., Engellau, J., Skubitz, K.M., Blum, R.H., . . . Atchison, C. (2014). Effects of denosumab on pain and analgesic use in giant cell tumor of bone: Interim results from a phase II study. Acta Oncologica, 53, 1173–1179.
To describe the effect of denosumab on pain and analgesic use in patients with giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB)
Patients were split into two groups, cohort 1, which contained patients with unresectable disease or multiple lesions, and cohort 2, which contained patients with resectable disease but for whom surgery was associated with high morbidity. Patients received denosumab every four weeks with additional doses on days 8 and 15. Pain was assessed with the Brief Pain Inventory Short Form at baseline and each visit for the first six months and every three months thereafter.
Denosumab is a reasonable treatment choice for pain relief in patients with GCTB with unresectable disease, disease with multiple lesions, or for patients in whom resection would be associated with high morbidity. This treatment would reduce radiotherapy-related risks and provide a medical option for treating patients in who surgical intervention (the treatment of choice) is not a option or is presented as a high-risk option.
Denosumab is an easy drug to administer that has few side effects. Education on the drug and its administration would be required to effectively treat patients limited to this option. Nurses could help advocate for patients with unresectable disease or disease associated with high morbidity with surgery. This could be an alternative to radiation if patients are unable to receive radiation or are concerned about the low but present risk of secondary tumors from radiation treatment.
Marti-Carvajal, A.J., Anand, V., & Sola, I. (2015). Treatment for disseminated intravascular coagulation in patients with acute and chronic leukemia. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 6, CD008562.
STUDY PURPOSE: To assess the benefits and harms of pharmacologic interventions for treating patients with leukemia experiencing disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) to update a prior systematic review
TYPE OF STUDY: Meta-analysis and systematic review
PHASE OF CARE: Not specified or not applicable
Interventions included human activated protein C versus heparin, recombinant human soluble thrombomodulin versus heparin, tanexamic acid versus placebo, and dermatan sulfate versus heparin. Only one study was found for each intervention. No significant differences in bleeding with protein C or dermatan sulfate existed. Recombinant human soluble thrombomodulin was associated with improvement in bleeding symptoms compared to heparin, and lower scoring of hemorrhagic problems with tranexamic acid compared to placebo.
Insufficient high quality evidence exists to fully evaluate these interventions.
Extremely limited evidence regarding the effects of pharmacologic interventions for the management of DIC and associated bleeding exists compared to usual practice using heparin.
Martenson, J.A., Halyard, M.Y., Sloan, J.A., Proulx, G.M., Miller, R.C., Deming, R.L., … Atherton, P.J. (2008). Phase III, double-blind study of depot octreotide versus placebo in the prevention of acute diarrhea in patients receiving pelvic radiation therapy: Results of north central cancer treatment group N00CA. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 26, 5248-5253.
To determine the effectiveness of octreotide in reducing treatment-related diarrhea during radiation therapy to the pelvis
Patients were randomized to receive octreotide acetate or placebo. Patients in the treatment group were given 100 µg subcutaneous octreotide acetate on day 1 followed by 20 mg intramuscular octreotide acetate on days 2 and 29. Patients in the control group received placebo by the same routes on the same days.
This was a multisite, collaborative trial of North Central Cancer Treatment Group.
Patients were undergoing the active treatment phase of care.
This was a double-blinded, randomized control trial.
A Bowel Function Questionnaire and a Uniscale Quality of Life (QOL) measure were used.
No statistically significant differences were found between groups. Octreotide did not reduce the severity or incidence of diarrhea during pelvic radiation therapy. Abdominal cramps were worse in patients on the octreotide arm, but the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.053). Patients receiving octreotide experienced significantly more problems with nocturnal bowel movements (70% versus 45%, p = 0.004), clustering (90% versus 69%, p = 0.004), and blood with bowel movements (57% versus 35%, p = 0.01).
Octreotide did not result in improvement in diarrhea in this population and was associated with more problems. Octreotide did not have an effect on the severity or incidence of diarrhea during pelvic radiation therapy. Some gastroinstestinal (GI) symptoms were worse in patients receiving octreotide compared to placebo.
More clinical research is needed to evaluate the effective prevention of diarrhea during pelvic radiation therapy. Long-acting octreotide (LAO) should not be used outside of a controlled clinical trial setting.
Martenson, J.A., Bollinger, J.W., Sloan, J.A., Novotny, P.J., Urias, R.E., Michalak, J.C., … Levitt, R. (2000). Sucralfate in the prevention of treatment-induced diarrhea in patients receiving pelvic radiation therapy: A North Central Cancer Treatment Group phase III double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 18(6), 1239–1245.
Patients receiving pelvic external beam radiation therapy were randomly assigned to receive sulcrafate (2 gm four times per day) or placebo.
The study reported on 123 evaluable patients. The treatment group consisted of 62 patients, and the placebo group consisted of 61 patients. The two groups were balanced in terms of factors such as diagnosis, functional status, radiation dosage, and tumor status.
This was a double-blind, randomized controlled trial.
More patients in the treatment group reported fecal incontinence and a need for protective clothing than in the control group (34% versus 16%, p = 0.04). Physician-reported severity of nausea was worse in the treatment group compared to the control group (p = 0.3), although this was not a specific study endpoint.
Sulcrafate did not decrease pelvic radiation therapy-related bowel toxicity by any of the endpoints measured and seems to have aggravated some gastrointestinal symptoms.
Although the patient questionnaire approximated the physician scale, provider assessments of subjective data such as cramping and straining can be unreliable if not obtained directly from the subject.
Marshall-McKenna, R., Morrison, A., Stirling, L., Hutchison, C., Rice, A.M., Hewitt, C., . . . McCartney, E. (2015). A randomised trial of the cool pad pillow topper versus standard care for sleep disturbance and hot flushes in women on endocrine therapy for breast cancer. Supportive Care in Cancer, 24, 1821–1829.
To identify if the cool pad pillow topper (CPPT) decreases sleep disturbance, minimizing the effects of hot flashes. The CPPT is a commercial product promoted to improve quality of sleep disrupted by hot flashes.
The intervention arm of pre- and postmenopausal women received during four weeks standard care consisting in booklets with advice on exercise, physical activity, diet, and the reduction of caffeine and alcohol plus the CPPT. The CPPT is an approved commercial product that removes heat from the body and can be placed on top, outside, or inside the pillowcase.
The instruments for the intervention group were the sleep diaries to evaluate amount of time asleep and changes in sleep disturbance. The number of hot flashes and the severity at night were evaluated with the hot flash score (HFS), both completed daily for four weeks from the point of randomization; they also record number of alcohol units consumed, if any sleeping pills were taken, and the frequency nightwear changed. The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast (FACT-B) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) were used at two points—at randomization and at the end of the study.
CPPT is effective as a self-management strategy to reduce sleep disturbance and the severity/frequency of hot flashes. CPPT did not impact quality of life (QOL) or anxiety but reduction in depression was observed. The CPPT appears to be an effective intervention in conjunction with current standard care.
Nurses could recommend the use of the CPPT as no risk or harm is expected and it helps control hot flashes and sleep disturbances associated with endocrine therapies. This is a pilot only; would recommend additional research to note if results are reproducible.