The importance and pitfalls of correlational science in palliative care research

Klepstad, Pål; Kaasa, Stein

doi:10.1097/spc.0b013e32835a0c70

Cited by 5 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…A research‐informed knowledge base requires comprehensive research integrated with patient preferences and clinical expertise , which in turn raises questions regarding PC methods, designs and research foci. Methodologically challenging issues in PC research are often linked to access, recruitment and definitions of the population in focus, as well as informed consent, sample attrition, ethical issues, funding, research capacity and infrastructure . This study was performed to illuminate these features in PC research conducted in Sweden.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Palliative Care Research – A Systematic Review of foci, designs and methods of research conducted in Sweden between 2007 and 2012

Henoch

Carlander

Holm

et al. 2015

Scandinavian Caring Sciences

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The trend is that Swedish palliative care research has expanded in volume from 2007 to 2012 compared to during the 1970s to 2006, with increasing participation of non-cancer-specific populations. A domination of qualitative approaches and small, cross-sectional studies with few interventions is still characteristic. Still more strategies are needed to expand the knowledge development of palliative care to respond to demographical, epidemiological, therapeutic and healthcare structure changes.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Palliative Care Research – A Systematic Review of foci, designs and methods of research conducted in Sweden between 2007 and 2012

Henoch

Carlander

Holm

et al. 2015

Scandinavian Caring Sciences

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“…Research on the psychological consequences of advanced and terminal disease has been limited by the relative lack of reliable and valid measures to assess meaningful predictors and outcomes. What is measurable in palliative care research, it has been noted, 17 is not necessarily relevant or appropriate, and measures must be locally validated to ensure their relevance in the settings in which they are used. 18 This problem of measurement is complicated by the confounding of illness-related symptoms, such as fatigue and loss of interest, with those reflecting psychological or psychiatric disturbances, such as depression.…”

Section: The Problem Of Measurementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Research on psychological and social factors in palliative care: An invited commentary

Rodin

2013

Palliat Med

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“…In recent years there has been an increased interest among researchers to understand the correlation between the immune system and development of cancer and cancer-related symptoms. Inflammation is present in the majority of patients with advanced cancer [ 29 ], and it is therefore difficult in cross sectional studies to establish if inflammation is simply associated with severity of the cancer disease, or whether inflammation itself elicits symptoms and can be a target to reduce symptoms like pain, depression or cachexia [ 30 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Palliative Radiotherapy and Inflammation Study (PRAIS) - protocol for a longitudinal observational multicenter study on patients with cancer induced bone pain

et al. 2018

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BackgroundRadiation therapy (RT) results in pain relief for about 6 of 10 patients with cancer induced bone pain (CIBP) caused by bone metastases. The high number of non-responders, the long median time from RT to pain response and the risk of adverse effects, makes it important to determine predictors of treatment response. Clinical features such as cancer type, performance status and pain intensity, and biomarkers for osteoclast activity are proposed as predictors of response to RT. However, results are inconsistent and there is a need for better predictors of RT response. A similar argument can be stated for the development of cachexia; there are currently no predictors that can identify patients who will develop cachexia later in the cancer disease trajectory. Experimental and preclinical studies show that pain, depression and cachexia are related to inflammation. However, it is not known if inflammatory biomarkers can predict CIBP, depression or development of cachexia.MethodsThis multicenter, multinational longitudinal observational study will include 600 adult patients receiving RT for CIBP. Demographic data, clinical variables, osteoclast and inflammatory biomarkers will be assessed before start of RT, and 3, 8, 16, 24 and 52 weeks after last course of RT. The primary aim of the study is to identify potential predictors for pain relief from RT. Secondary aims are to explore potential predictors for development of cachexia, the longitudinal relationship between pain intensity and depression, and if inflammatory biomarkers are associated with changes in pain intensity, cachexia and depression during one-year follow up.DiscussionThe immediate clinical implication of the PRAIS study is to identify potential predictive factors for a RT response on CIBP, and thereby reduce non-efficacious RT. Patient benefits are fewer hospital visits, reduced risk of adverse effects and more individualized pain treatment. The long-term clinical implication of the PRAIS study is to improve the knowledge about inflammation in relation to CIBP, cachexia and depression and potentially identify associations and mechanisms that can be targeted for treatment.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT02107664, date of registration April 8, 2014 (retrospectively registered).Trial sponsorThe European Palliative Care Research Centre (PRC), Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, NTNU, Faculty of medicine and Health Sciences, Trondheim, N-7491, Norway.

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The importance and pitfalls of correlational science in palliative care research

Abstract: Correlational science in palliative care research can identify related clinical factors and biomarkers. Interpretation of identified associations should be done with careful consideration of the limitations underlying correlational analyses.

Cited by 5 publications

References 13 publications

Palliative Care Research – A Systematic Review of foci, designs and methods of research conducted in Sweden between 2007 and 2012

Palliative Care Research – A Systematic Review of foci, designs and methods of research conducted in Sweden between 2007 and 2012

Research on psychological and social factors in palliative care: An invited commentary

The Palliative Radiotherapy and Inflammation Study (PRAIS) - protocol for a longitudinal observational multicenter study on patients with cancer induced bone pain

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