ABSTRACT
Objective: We investigated the association between catastrophizing with regard to numbness and pain, subjective symptoms, upper extremity function, and disability in cancer patients with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). Method: We evaluated catastrophizing (pain catastrophizing scale [PCS] total score, rumination, helplessness, magnification), subjective symptoms of numbness and pain, upper extremity function, and disability in patients with hematological malignancy and gastrointestinal cancer who developed upper extremity CIPN. We calculated the Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient to determine the strength of the association. Result: A significant association was observed between catastrophizing and disability; however, upper extremity function was not significantly association with catastrophizing. Based on the PCS subscale scores, only rumination was significantly association with subjective symptoms. Conclusion: Functional assessment and approaches may not be sufficient to improve the activities of daily living in cancer patients with upper extremity CIPN, and assessment and approaches to cognitive aspects, such as catastrophizing, should also be considered.
ABSTRACT
In these times of community-based integrated care systems, the spread of telemedicine is desirable. As requested by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the Japan Telemedicine Society has adopted and conducted "Telemedicine worker training." The purpose of this study is to report the results of a questionnaire taken by the participants of this training. There were 70 participants in total. The number of questionnaires returned was 47 (67.1%). The respondents were medical staff (36.2%), individuals directly related to a company (25.5%), hospital staff (17.0%), and concerned administrative persons (10.6%). As the respondents differed in terms of their knowledge of telemedicine, the results showed varying degrees of satisfaction with the training.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: In Japan, there have been few reports about drug compliance, which is an important determinant of effectiveness, in the management of bronchial asthma patients. To clarify drug compliance and its relationship with various aspects of asthma management, a questionnaire survey was performed on asthmatic patients and their pharmacists.<BR>METHODS: This survey was carried out, from October to November in 2001. The subjects were limited to the regular inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) users, and were restricted to patients whose medication had not been changed for at least 6 months before the survey. The questionnaires inquired about asthma status, various factors that have been reported to be associated with drug compliance and asthma management. Patients' pharmacists were asked about prescribed medications and drug compliance based on the pharmaceutical records.<BR>RESULTS: Completed questionnaires were received from 610 patients. ICS compliance was not lower than that of anti-allergic drug but lower than that of oral sustained-released theophylline (OSRT) . Multiple regression analysis revealed a significant correlation between ICS and OSRT compliance.<BR>CONCLUSION: These results might suggest that OSRT could improve patient's compliance to drug therapy through its bronchodilatory effect, thus resulting in better compliance to ICS. If this were the case, OSRT would play an important role in asthma management.