Dr Alison B

Identifying opioid misuse in cancer pain: validation of the prescription opioid misuse index in a multicenter study - Supportive Care in Cancer Objectives The prevalence of analgesic opioid (AO) misuse among patients with cancer-related chronic pain remains poorly understood, and no screening tool has been validated for this population. The Prescription Opioid Misuse Index (POMI), an eight-item self-administered questionnaire, was developed for chronic non-cancer pain. This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the POMI in a population of patients with chronic cancer-related pain. Methods This prospective observational psychometric study was conducted in two oncology day hospitals at the Clermont-Ferrand University Hospital. Eligible patients had active cancer, chronic pain lasting ≥ 3 months and were receiving daily opioid therapy. The POMI questionnaire was completed at inclusion (TEST) and 2 weeks later (RETEST). Psychometric properties were assessed following standard guidelines, including internal consistency, test–retest reliability and external validity using DSM-5 criteria for opioid use disorder as the reference standard. Results A total of 138 patients were included (58% men), with a mean age of 64 ± 10 years. Internal consistency of the POMI was low (Kuder–Richardson coefficient: 0.22). Test–retest reliability, assessed in 68 patients, showed moderate agreement (Lin’s concordance: 0.43 [0.24–0.63]). Correlation between POMI scores and DSM-5 criteria was modest (Spearman’s ρ = 0.25). According to the POMI, 11.6% of patients demonstrated opioid misuse versus 17.4% with DSM-5-defined use disorder. Conclusions The POMI lacks sufficient psychometric validity for use in oncology populations. Future tools should be specifically designed to address the clinical complexity and unique context of chronic cancer-related pain and opioid use.

link.springer.com/article/10.1...

New study reveals molecular basis of Long COVID brain fog Even though many years have passed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the effects of infection with SARS-CoV-2 are not completely understood.

www.news-medical.net/news/2025093...

Microneurography Reveals Unmyelinated Small Nerve Fiber Dysfunction in Long COVID Objective To review the microneurography findings of long coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID) patients who presented to the clinic with multisystem involvement affecting neurological, cardiovascular, g.....

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

How to distinguish opioid toxicity from natural dying in patients with advanced illness and how to manage opioid toxicity Patients with advanced, life limiting illness might develop pain or breathlessness, requiring opioids. Opioid neurotoxicities, like sedation and delir…

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Priorities for ‘out-of-hours’ home-based palliative care for professionals, patients, and family caregivers: A qualitative interview study People with advanced illness at home, and their families, rely on ‘out-of-hours’ services provided by community, primary and specialist palliative car…

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Love the “End PJ Paralysis” idea (developed in Broken Hill apparently).
Addressing issue of pts in hospital spending their time in PJs “paralysed”, bed bound or not allowed to move around & decondition+++

#25OPCC “I’m not dead yet” session.

@briandolan.bsky.social
@markbutlermp.bsky.social

The heart needs time to catch up to what the mind knows. Not necessarily denial but allowing acceptance in manageable portions. #grief #25OPCC

Great panel of indigenous & First Nation women ending the 1st day of #25OPCC (Oceanic Pall Care Conf) in Brisbane discussing providing palliative & aged care for First Nations people.

Importance of story coming through again @briandolan.bsky.social

@albomp.bsky.social
@markbutlermp.bsky.social

ACTnet (Australasian Clinical TB Network) Tuberculosis (TB) remains a leading infectious cause of death worldwide, and an important cause of morbidity among migrants arriving in Australia and New Zealand. The Australasian Clinical Tuberculosi...

Hey #TBsky,

@actnet.bsky.social has launched a YouTube page with recent journal clubs and webinars on all things #tuberculosis

Catch Dr Tasnim Hasan's take on the emerging data around #bedaquiline resistant TB treatment outcomes.

youtube.com/@actnet_tb?s...

#IDsky

So I decided to take the histamine / #SARSCOV2 / #COVID19 literature for a ride after the astelazine nasal spray randomized trial that showed that application of the spray for 3 times a day may cut the risk of COVID19 PCR confirmed infection by 71%
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...

Patient‐reported discordance between care goals and treatment intent in advanced cancer To provide goal-concordant care in advanced cancer, treatment intent must be aligned with patients’ care preferences. This cross-sectional analysis finds that compared to patients with other serious ...

acsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1...

Here's the line-up for this week's #SundayShot. Please watch us! (& also like, subscribe and give us money)

It's going to be a great conversation. @wendybacon1.bsky.social, @boganintel.bsky.social, @arielbogle.bsky.social, @davemilbo.bsky.social.
Iran. Sovereign Citizens. Not the Midwinter Ball.

Yesterday, when Richard Boyle received ‘no conviction’, the judiciary gave whistleblowers a little bit of hope. Today the Labor Party and the Coalition hit back to ensure potential whistleblowers understand they won’t be supported if they tell the truth. #shameful #auspol

The idea that mass immigration is to blame for the housing crisis doesn't stack up when you look at the data.

Over the past 20 years the amount of housing in Australia has actually increased faster than the population has grown! 📈
@elinorjohnstonleek.bsky.social #auspol

Interesting that Mehreen Faruqi was immediately sanctioned for holding up a sign in parliament supporting Gaza but Bob Katter threatens violence against a journalist who is simply doing his job and asking an MP a question - and has so far received no parliamentary censure.

New Australia Institute research reveals that 26 out of 37 Australian universities have financial links to fossil fuel companies.

Read Joshua Hill in Renew Economy about why universities need to end their ties with fossil fuel money.

#auspol

Whistleblower Richard Boyle avoids conviction and jail after revealing tax office’s unethical behaviour ‘Blowing the whistle can be a tough gig,’ Adelaide judge says, while Rex Patrick declares Boyle ‘a hero’ for speaking out in 2018

Today’s outcome is a relief, but there was little justice in the eight year persecution of Richard Boyle, a hero who everyone (including the judge) accepted was motivated by public interest. #auspol

Medical training does not need to be traumatic. Learning can happen without intimidation, abuse, and fear of others. #MedEd

ABC statement on Richard Boyle - About the ABC The ABC welcomes today’s decision not to convict whistleblower Richard Boyle, although his case again highlights the need for whistleblower protections to be strengthened.

Well done to the ABC for publishing this statement on Richard Boyle. 👏👏👏 #auspol www.abc.net.au/about/media-...

Dying for Beginners | Dr Kathryn Mannix In modern British society, death is out of sight and behind closed doors. Many of us lack direct exposure to the dying process - with all sorts of potential emotional and spiritual consequences for how we grieve our loved ones, as well as how we prepare for our own deaths. What does the dying process actually look like? A short animation by Emily Downe, and voiced by Dr Kathryn Mannix which guides you gently on a step by step journey through the process of dying. Acclaimed author, speaker and former palliative care physician Dr Kathryn Mannix has spent her medical career working with people who have incurable, advanced illnesses. The author of two Sunday Times Bestsellers – With The End in Mind and Listen, Dr Mannix is on a mission to reclaim the public’s understanding of dying. CREDITS Written and voiced by Dr Kathryn Mannix Directed and designed by Emily Downe Animated by Martha Halliday Music and sound by Jan Willem de With Produced by Theos with thanks to The Fetzer institute Find out more about Theos' work in the area of death, dying and the afterlife here: https://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/dying-for-beginners-theos-work-on-death-dying-and-the-afterlife ***** Like what you see? Be sure to sign up to the Theos monthly newsletter to stay up-to-date with all our content, research and events: https://confirmsubscription.com/h/d/E9E17CAB71AC7464 CONNECT WITH THEOS Twitter: https://twitter.com/Theosthinktank Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theosthinktank LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/theos---the-think-tank/ Website: https://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/ CHECK OUT OUR PODCASTS The Sacred: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-sacred/id1326888108 Reading Our Times: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/reading-our-times/id1530952185

Talking about dying isn't 'a job for palliative care.'

If your patient's condition *may progress to end their life, then YOU need to be able to speak gently, clearly & kindly about the process of dying.

Perhaps this might help you find some words:

bit.ly/TheosDFB

Screenshot of Twitter quote post with account names blurred out. Text: As usual a thoughtful/ incredible educator, has nailed it. Drop to 80-hrs time in 5yr surgery training by 5-10k hrs. Recent data: 60% graduating chiefs are practice ready. Pass/fail tests, now 3yr med school? The road to hell they say is paved w/ good intentions If you push these efforts too far - shorten the schooling, shorten residency, get rid of the standardized tests, eliminate this and that...

The perennial US 'flog trainees to make them better' argument has kicked off again on 'X'.

*We* will continue training equally competent surgeons within safe work hours- and building workforce resilience. For pts and rota coordinators, 10 surgeons trying to 'drop' to 80 hrs <<< 15 un-fatigued ones.

Civilian health facilities providing care to wounded and sick, healthcare workers, and medical supplies MAY NOT BE TARGETED UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. A timely and much needed publication from the @facs.org Surgical Ethics Collaborative. We continue to advocate for access to healthcare. #MedSky

Dinner or a shower? Older people fear tough choices when Australia’s new aged care changes are rolled out Advocates warn increased costs for basic assistance like showers and wound cleaning will push older people into aged care or hospital

This is not a choice any old Australian should have to make.

We need to do better than this.

Govt must release more home care packages now - there is no good reason to delay until November.
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

Pro-gun groups are mobilising against gun laws, and celebrating the increase in guns in our community.

We've launched a petition to create a National Firearms Register to help close dangerous loopholes and better protect public safety.

Can you sign and share?
▶️ theaus.in/firearm_regi...

Labor today launched another cruel attack on refugees and migrants, tabling new legislation to strip people of the right to natural justice.

painresearchforum.org/paper/discov...

Focal neuropathologies in the brain of COVID-19-infected humans: inflammation, primary gliovascular failure and microglial dysfunction - Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy - Focal neuropathologies in the brain of COVID-19-infected humans: inflammation, primary gliovascular failure and microglial dysfunction

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

The impact of a geriatric assessment‐guided management intervention (GAIN‐S) on prognostic awareness: A randomized controlled trial The GA-guided with supportive care intervention improved emotional and adaptive aspects of prognostic awareness among older adults with metastatic cancer in Brazil. These findings highlight the poten....

acsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

Oral treatment of Whipple's disease with doxycycline and hydroxychloroquine versus intravenous therapy with ceftriaxone followed by oral trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole in Germany: a phase 2/3, prospect... For the German translation of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39978372/