Review
Anesthesiology
Emma Fisher, R. Andrew Moore, Alexandra E. Fogarty, David P. Finn, Nanna B. Finnerup, Ian Gilron, Simon Haroutounian, Elliot Krane, Andrew S. C. Rice, Michael Rowbotham, Mark Wallace, Christopher Eccleston
Summary: The efficacy and safety of cannabinoids, cannabis, and cannabis-based medicines for pain management remain uncertain and controversial, with most studies in this field having low-quality evidence and high risk of bias. The lack of confidence in effect estimates suggests that further research is needed in order to determine the true benefits and risks associated with these treatments.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Alistair W. Vickery, Sebastian Roth, Tracie Ernenwein, Jessica Kennedy, Patrizia Washer
Summary: This study analyzed a large cohort of Australian patients and found that oral medicinal cannabis is safe and well-tolerated for a sustained period. The results showed significant improvements in clinical outcomes over two years of treatment.
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Dena Zeraatkar, Matthew Adam Cooper, Arnav Agarwal, Robin W. M. Vernooij, Gareth Leung, Kevin Loniewski, Jared E. Dookie, Muhammad Muneeb Ahmed, Brian Y. Hong, Chris Hong, Patrick Hong, Rachel Couban, Thomas Agoritsas, Jason W. Busse
Summary: This study conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine the prevalence of long-term and serious harms of medical cannabis for chronic pain. The results showed that adverse events are common, particularly psychiatric adverse events, among users of medical cannabis for chronic pain. However, serious adverse events and dependence and withdrawal syndrome are less common.
Review
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Angela L. Liang, Erin L. Gingher, Jenell S. Coleman
Summary: Survey data shows that most women reported improvement in pain from various gynecologic conditions with cannabis use, and some studies support the effectiveness of cannabis for treating gynecologic pain. However, due to variations in cannabis formulations, delivery methods, and dosages, the exact effects of cannabis for gynecologic pain relief remain inconclusive.
OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Atefeh Noori, Anna Miroshnychenko, Yaadwinder Shergill, Vahid Ashoorion, Yasir Rehman, Rachel J. Couban, D. Norman Buckley, Lehana Thabane, Mohit Bhandari, Gordon H. Guyatt, Thomas Agoritsas, Jason W. Busse
Summary: The study found that adding medical cannabis to prescription opioids for chronic pain patients may not significantly reduce opioid use, alleviate pain, or improve sleep quality. The potential benefits and harms of adding cannabis to opioid treatment remain uncertain.
Article
Oncology
Chris Twelves, Michael Sabel, Daniel Checketts, Sharon Miller, Bola Tayo, Maria Jove, Lucy Brazil, Susan C. Short
Summary: The study found that with personalized dosing, nabiximols demonstrated acceptable safety and tolerability with no drug-drug interactions identified. The observed survival differences support further exploration in a well-powered randomized controlled trial.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF CANCER
(2021)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Li Wang, Patrick J. Hong, Curtis May, Yasir Rehman, Yvgeniy Oparin, Chris J. Hong, Brian Y. Hong, Mahmood AminiLari, Lucas Gallo, Alka Kaushal, Samantha Craigie, Rachel J. Couban, Elena Kum, Harsha Shanthanna, Ira Price, Suneel Upadhye, Mark A. Ware, Fiona Campbell, Thomas Agoritsas, Rachelle Buchbinder, Jason W. Busse
Summary: The systematic review and meta-analysis examined the benefits and harms of medical cannabis and cannabinoids for chronic pain, finding that non-inhaled medical cannabis or cannabinoids resulted in a small to very small improvement in pain relief, physical functioning, and sleep quality among patients with chronic pain, along with several transient adverse side effects.
BMJ-BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Natalie H. Strand, Jillian Maloney, Molly Kraus, Christopher Wie, Michal Turkiewicz, Diego A. Gomez, Olufunmilola Adeleye, Monica W. Harbell
Summary: Fibromyalgia is a common disease characterized by chronic pain and fatigue along with cognitive dysfunction. This review examines the current clinical evidence on the use of cannabis for treating fibromyalgia, and finds that it may be an effective treatment option.
Review
Nursing
Junfeng Zhang, Dorothy N. S. Chan, Xingling Liu, Yingying Cai, Jiawen Chen, Minjuan Xie
Summary: This systematic review evaluated the effects of self-management interventions on cancer-related pain. The results showed that the interventions had positive effects on quality of life and pain-related knowledge. However, the effects on pain intensity, self-efficacy, and medication adherence were mixed. Further high-quality studies are needed to determine the most effective interventions.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING
(2023)
Review
Oncology
Bianca Hanganu, Diana Elena Lazar, Irina Smaranda Manoilescu, Veronica Mocanu, Doina Butcovan, Camelia Liana Buhas, Andreea Silvana Szalontay, Beatrice Gabriela Ioan
Summary: In the field of oncology, preclinical research has shown that cannabis and cannabinoids have the potential to modulate signaling pathways involved in cancer progression. As medical cannabis becomes legal in more countries, there is increasing interest in its potential benefits for cancer patients. However, clinical trials with cancer patients are lacking. Further studies are needed to determine the efficacy of cannabis in cancer treatment.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Danghan Xu, Zhanbo Yu, Ximin Cai, Jietao Lin, Tengjiao Lin, Jian Sun, Zhaoxi Liu, Yang Cao, Yihan He
Summary: This pragmatic randomised controlled trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Fu's subcutaneous needling (FSN) for cancer pain management. 120 eligible patients will be recruited and randomly assigned into two groups, and the primary outcome will be analgesic consumption.
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Marian S. McDonagh, Benjamin J. Morasco, Jesse Wagner, Azrah Y. Ahmed, Rongwei Fu, Devan Kansagara, Roger Chou
Summary: This study evaluated the benefits and harms of cannabinoids for chronic pain. The results suggest that oral, synthetic cannabis products with high THC-to-CBD ratios and sublingual, extracted cannabis products with comparable THC-to-CBD ratios may be associated with short-term improvements in chronic pain and increased risk for dizziness and sedation. There is limited evidence for other products and long-term harms.
ANNALS OF INTERNAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Michael Morris, Richard Chye, Zhixin Liu, Meera Agar, Valentina Razmovski-Naumovski
Summary: This study aimed to describe adults with non-cancer diagnoses who are prescribed medicinal cannabis and assess its effectiveness and safety. The results showed that medicinal cannabis had perceived benefits for patients with neurological and musculoskeletal conditions, particularly in pain relief and improving sleep.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Alexandra Ferreira-Valente, Margarida Jarego, Ines Queiroz-Garcia, Filipa Pimenta, Rui Miguel Costa, Melissa A. Day, Jose Pais-Ribeiro, Mark P. Jensen
Summary: Pain is a common reason for seeking healthcare, and inadequate pain management can have negative impacts on patient health. Recent research has shown increasing interest in the role of spirituality/religiosity and religious practices in pain experience, with activities like prayer positively impacting pain perception.
Article
Orthopedics
Yuanyuan Wang, Andrew J. Teichtahl, Graeme Jones, Helen Keen, Catherine L. Hill, Anita E. Wluka, Jessica Kasza, Flavia M. Cicuttini
Summary: This study aims to investigate the potential effects of methotrexate on pain reduction in patients with hand osteoarthritis and synovitis over a 6-month period. By assessing various outcomes, including pain levels and quality of life, the study may provide valuable evidence for clinical practice guidelines and potentially influence current trends in managing hand osteoarthritis.
BMC MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS
(2021)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Jelle van Gurp, Jeroen van Wijngaarden, Sheila Payne, Lukas Radbruch, Karen van Beek, Agnes Csikos, Marlieke Herder-van der Eerden, Jeroen Hasselaar
Summary: This study examines the roles and attitudes that palliative care professionals need to adopt in order to further integrate palliative care in Europe. The findings suggest that diplomacy and cultural wisdom are essential for achieving trust and normative integration between palliative care and curative and/or chronic medicine.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEALTH POLICY AND MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Marc Ulrich Becher, Mahmoud Balata, Michaela Hesse, Fabian Draht, Christian Zachoval, Birgitta Weltermann, Ralf Westenfeld, Martin Neukirchen, Roman Pfister, Thomas Standl, Lukas Radbruch, Georg Nickenig
Summary: The EPCHF study is a prospective investigation on the use of interdisciplinary palliative care in the management of HF, focusing on 200 symptomatic HF patients. It aims to evaluate the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of palliative care in HF treatment, as well as patient-centered outcomes and clinical results.
CLINICAL RESEARCH IN CARDIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
William E. Rosa, Amisha parekh de Campos, Nauzley C. Abedini, Tamryn F. Gray, Huda Abu-Saad Huijer, Afsan Bhadelia, Juli McGowan Boit, Samuel Byiringiro, Nigel Crisp, Constance Dahlin, Patricia M. Davidson, Sheila Davis, Liliana De Lima, Paul E. Farmer, Betty R. Ferrell, Vedaste Hategekimana, Viola Karanja, Felicia Marie Knaul, Julius D. N. Kpoeh, Joseph Lusaka, Samuel T. Matula, Cory McMahon, Salimah H. Meghani, Patricia J. Moreland, Christian Ntizimira, Lukas Radbruch, M. R. Rajagopal, Julia Downing
Summary: Access to palliative care is crucial for achieving the highest standard of health. Nurses play a key role in expanding palliative care access and their contributions should be recognized and supported.
JOURNAL OF PAIN AND SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Anesthesiology
Jens Felix Wagner, Henning Cuhls, Martin Muecke, Rupert Conrad, Lukas Radbruch, Roman Rolke
Summary: This study aimed to assess postoperative pain experience in cognitive deficit patients. The results showed no significant differences in postoperative pain intensity among patients with different cognitive impairments. However, quantitative sensory testing revealed mechanical hyperalgesia in the operated area.
Editorial Material
Health Care Sciences & Services
Gulay Ates, Anke Mijatovic, Claudia Bausewein, Birgit Jaspers, Martina Kern, Friedemann Nauck, Barbara Schubert, Ulrich Schuler, Raymond Voltz, Lukas Radbruch
ZEITSCHRIFT FUR PALLIATIVMEDIZIN
(2022)
Editorial Material
Anesthesiology
Lukas Radbruch, Hans-Georg Schaible
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jonas Schmuck, Nina Hiebel, Milena Kriegsmann-Rabe, Juliane Schneider, Julia-Katharina Matthias, Yesim Erim, Eva Morawa, Lucia Jerg-Bretzke, Petra Beschoner, Christian Albus, Kerstin Weidner, Lukas Radbruch, Eberhard Hauschildt, Franziska Geiser
Summary: Resilience plays a central role in the mental health of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany. Older age and having children were significantly associated with higher levels of individual resilience. Low individual resilience and high pandemic-related stress burden were independently associated with anxiety and depression symptoms, and resilience also moderated the relationship between stress burden and anxiety symptoms.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Review
Health Care Sciences & Services
Severine M. Surges, Eduardo Garralda, Birgit Jaspers, Holger Brunsch, Maaike Rijpstra, Jeroen Hasselaar, Michael Van der Elst, Johan Menten, Agnes Csikos, Sebastiano Mercadante, Daniela Mosoiu, Sheila Payne, Carlos Centeno, Lukas Radbruch
Summary: This study provides information for the revision of the European Association for Palliative Care's framework on palliative sedation. Through surveying experts from eight European countries, the most frequently cited palliative sedation guidelines in each country were identified, and their content and methodology were evaluated. Points of debate and methodological weaknesses were identified.
JOURNAL OF PALLIATIVE MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Eduardo Garralda, Csilla Busa, Eva Pozsgai, Veronika Osztromok-Lukacs, Agnes Csikos, Lukas Radbruch, Jeroen Hasselaar, Johan Menten, Sheila Payne, Claudio Adile, Flavia Hurducas, Carlos Centeno
Summary: This study conducted an online survey to understand the regulations on palliative sedation in Belgium, Germany, Hungary, Italy, The Netherlands, Spain, Romania, and the UK. The results showed that there are 31 laws and regulations affecting palliative sedation, with different approaches in each country. Some countries recognize palliative sedation as a patient's right, while others regulate it through laws on informed consent and advance directives. Professional guidelines also play a role in regulating palliative sedation in some countries.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Eve Namisango, Richard A. Powell, Steve Taylor, Lukas Radbruch, Rachel Freeman, Desderius Haufiku, Beatrice M. MwagombaDrMD, Wilson Acuda, Lameck Thambo, Immaculate Kambiya, Emmanuel B. K. Luyirika, Faith N. Mwangi-Powell, Richard Harding
Summary: In resource-limited settings like Malawi and Namibia, patients with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) experience high levels of depressive symptoms, physical illness, and other psychological symptoms, emphasizing the importance of integrated person-centered palliative care for optimal care outcomes.
JOURNAL OF PAIN AND SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Primary Health Care
Sophie Peter, Anna Maria Volkert, Lukas Radbruch, Roman Rolke, Raymond Voltz, Holger Pfaff, Nadine Scholten
Summary: German GPs are generally satisfied with the quality of care provided by specialised PHC teams, but they do not always perceive the cooperation as optimal. There is a need to improve the involvement of GPs in specialised PHC.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF GENERAL PRACTICE
(2022)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Maaike Rijpstra, Kris Vissers, Carlos Centeno, Johan Menten, Lukas Radbruch, Sebastiano Mercadante, Michael van der Elst, Claudio Adile, Maria Arantzamendi, Evelien Kuip, Sheila Payne, Nancy Preston, Jeroen Hasselaar
Summary: This study aims to evaluate the effects of palliative sedation by measuring discomfort levels and sedation/agitation levels of patients. It will be the first international prospective multicenter observational study to provide valuable information about palliative sedation practice in European countries.
BMC PALLIATIVE CARE
(2023)
Article
Anesthesiology
Frank Peusquens, Katja Maus, Franziska Geiser, Birgit Jaspers, Lukas Radbruch
Summary: The concept of resilience is being disseminated in various scientific fields, including psychology in the medical domain. However, the lack of a precise definition and operationalization of resilience hinders its application in palliative care research.
Article
Oncology
Lisa Linge-Dahl, Rainer Kreuz, Mieke Stoffelen, Sonja Heintz, Willibald Ruch, Eckart von Hirschhausen, Lukas Radbruch
Summary: This study evaluated the effects of a humour intervention in a palliative care setting. The findings showed that the intervention reduced seriousness, bad mood, and stress, while increasing cheerfulness. However, the intervention setting was too exhausting for most patients.
SUPPORTIVE CARE IN CANCER
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Lisa Linge-Dahl, Sonja Heintz, Willibald Ruch, Maria Bley, Eckart von Hirschhausen, Lukas Radbruch
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of humor intervention in palliative care through a pilot study. The initial research design needed to be adjusted to accommodate patients with high symptom burden. The final study will evaluate the effects of one to two interventions on patients using standardized questionnaires and hormone level measurements.
PALLIATIVE MEDICINE REPORTS
(2023)