Edith Cowan University

About: Edith Cowan University is a education organization based out in Perth, Western Australia, Australia. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Context (language use). The organization has 4040 authors who have published 13529 publications receiving 339582 citations. The organization is also known as: Edith Cowan & ECU.

Systematic review of the efficacy of antiemetics in the treatment of nausea in patients with far-advanced cancer

Abstract: To systematically review studies of antiemetics used in the treatment of nausea in patients with far-advanced cancer. Randomized controlled trials (RCT) and uncontrolled studies identified by electronic and hand searching. Identified studies were appraised for quality and effect size. Of 21 studies included, 2 were systematic reviews, 7 were RCT and 12 were uncontrolled studies or case series. Differences in interventions and outcomes amongst the RCT precluded any quantitative data synthesis and all seven studies were prone to bias. Whereas uncontrolled studies indicated a high response rate to standard regimens (75–93% for both nausea and vomiting), RCT showed much lower response rates to these agents (23–36% for nausea, 18–52% for vomiting). The two methods of antiemetic choice (choice based either on the inferred mechanism or empirical) were equally effective. There is reasonably strong evidence for the use of metoclopramide in cancer-associated dyspepsia and steroids in malignant bowel obstruction. There was conflicting evidence about the efficacy of serotonin antagonists compared with standard treatments (e.g. metoclopramide, dopamine antagonists and dexamethasone). There was little or no evidence of the efficacy of some commonly used and seemingly effective drugs such as haloperidol, cyclizine, and methotrimeprazine. Evidence supporting the existing consensus-based guidelines for management of nausea and vomiting in advanced cancer is sparse. Current approaches to treatment based on the neuropharmacology of the emetic pathway may be inappropriate in this setting. Well-designed studies of the impact of “standard” management and novel agents on nausea and vomiting in palliative populations are needed.

The effect of preparatory patient education on the anxiety and satisfaction of cancer patients receiving radiation therapy.

Abstract: Facing treatment of cancer with radiation therapy causes anxiety for most prospective patients. The purpose of this study was to test the effectiveness of preparatory patient education in reducing anxiety and improving satisfaction during the course of treatment. A quasiexperimental time series design was used to compare two groups of 25 patients, matched according to treatment type and gender, who were commencing radiation therapy for the first time. The experimental group received two structured teaching interventions incorporating sensory and procedural information designed to familiarize the patient with the forthcoming experience. The theoretical basis for the intervention arose from Johnson's work (1973) on preparing patients for threatening events. The control group received the standard information that was current in the Radiation Therapy Department where the study was conducted. The results indicated that the experimental group was significantly less anxious and significantly more satisfied during radiation therapy than their counterparts in the control group, and the effects were maintained throughout the treatment period of up to 7 weeks.

Pre-cooling with ice slurry ingestion leads to similar run times to exhaustion in the heat as cold water immersion

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of pre-exercise ice slurry ingestion and cold water immersion on submaximal running time in the heat. On three separate occasions, eight males ran to exhaustion at their first ventilatory threshold in the heat (34.0 ± 0.1 ° C, 52 ± 3% relative humidity) following one of three 30 min pre-exercise manoeuvres: (1) ice slurry ingestion; (2) cold water immersion; or (3) warm fluid ingestion (control). Running time was longer following cold water immersion (56.8 ± 5.6 min; P = 0.008) and ice slurry ingestion (52.7 ± 8.4 min; P = 0.005) compared with control (46.7 ± 7.2 min), but not significantly different between cold water immersion and ice slurry ingestion (P = 0.335). During exercise, rectal temperature was lower with cold water immersion from 15 and 20 min into exercise compared with control and ice slurry ingestion, respectively, and remained lower until 40 min (P = 0.001). At exhaustion rectal temperature was significantly higher following ice slurry ingestion (39.76 ± 0.36 ° C) compared with control (39.48 ± 0.36 ° C; P = 0.042) and tended to be higher than cold water immersion (39.48 ± 0.34 ° C; P = 0.065). As run times were similar between conditions, ice slurry ingestion may be a comparable form of pre-cooling to cold water immersion.