Of all the cancer-related symptoms, pain and depression are not only the most prevalent they are also the most readily treatable. Unfortunately, they tend to go unacknowledged by both doctor and patient.
Thus, Indiana researchers sought to determine "whether centralized telephone-based care management coupled with automated symptom monitoring can improve depression and pain in patients with cancer."
CANCER TYPE(S)
All cancers
TREATMENT TYPE
Supportive therapy
COHORT
The Indiana Cancer Pain and Depression (INCPAD) trial was a randomized, controlled, multicenter trial involving 405 participants:
- 131 had depression only
- 96 had pain only
- 178 had both depression and pain
203 patients were randomly assigned to receive the usual supportive care. 202 patients were randomly assigned to receive intervention in the form of "centralized telecare management by a nurse-physician specialist team coupled with automated home-based symptom monitoring by interactive voice recording or Internet."
CONCLUSIONS
"Centralized telecare management coupled with automated symptom monitoring resulted in improved pain and depression outcomes."
By Ross Bonander
Citation
Kroenke K et al. "Effect of Telecare Management on Pain and Depression in Patients With Cancer." JAMA. 2010;304(2):163-171. doi:10.1001/jama.2010.944
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