Evidence map›Paper›PMID 20694823›Full record

ArticleSupportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer2010

Clinical use of oral laxatives in palliative care services in Spain.

Antonio Noguera, Carlos Centeno, Silvia Librada, María Nabal

Abstract readMulticenter Study
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, 2010. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
1.1field-weighted citation impact, top 22% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 11 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. MASCC recommendations on the management of constipation in patients with advanced cancer.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2020
    Guideline
  2. Pooled it
  3. Laxative prescriptions to cancer outpatients receiving opioids: a study from the Norwegian prescription database.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2013
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors at 4 institutions in 2 countries.

Antonio NogueraPalliative Care Unit, Hospital Centro de Cuidados Laguna, C/ Concejal Francisco José Jiménez Martín 128, Madrid 28047, Spain. anoguera@lagunacuida.org
Carlos Centeno
Silvia Librada
María Nabal
Clinica Universidad de Navarra · ESGovernment of Extremadura · ESHospital Universitari Arnau de Vilanova · ESLaguna Research · US

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesThis study was aimed at evaluating the clinical use of laxatives in palliative care treatment, their overall effectiveness, and their relationship to opioid treatment. POPULATION AND

methodA cross-sectional prospective study on patients attended by 21 palliative care teams on two pre-determined dates was carried out. The variables analyzed were demographic data, underlying disease, functional status, laxative use, use of enemas, concomitant opioid medication, and bowel movements.

resultsOf the 283 patients studied, 54 (19%) have had three or fewer bowel movements per week in the 3 weeks prior to the study, 53 patients (19%) were using rectal measures, 177 patients (63%) were being treated with opioids, and 164 patients (58%) were taking laxatives. Sixty seven percent (119/177) of the patients being treated with opioids were also being treated with laxatives, as were 43% (45/106) of those not receiving opioid treatment. The laxative most used was lactulose (65%). Only 10% used the most recommended combination of an osmotic or softener laxative mixed with another stimulant laxative. Some 24% of patients used enemas or micro enemas in addition to laxatives, 14 patients treated their constipation without laxatives, using only rectal measures.

conclusionThe clinical practice of the use of oral laxatives in palliative care in our environment differs widely from that recommended in the literature. Further studies are required to confirm if a revision of clinical guidelines are required.

Indexed as

Administration, OralAgedAnalgesics, OpioidCatharticsConstipationCross-Sectional StudiesDrug Therapy, CombinationEnemaFemaleHumansLaxativesMaleNeoplasmsPalliative CareProspective StudiesSpainAnalgesics, OpioidCatharticsLaxatives

Identifiers

PMID20694823
OpenAlexW2088627581

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.