Search

AbstractThis study aimed to assess the Turkish validity and reliability of the original Spanish version of the Psychological Responses to Grief before Loss of Health Scale (RPD-PDS-38). The research sample consisted of 538 women who were diagnosed with breast or gynecological cancers, volunteered, and had no communication problems. The scale was determined to consist of 30 items with 6 factors, explaining 63.9% of the total variance. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses established that the 30-item Turkish version yielded six interpretable factors (Faith and Hope, Acceptance, Anger, Negotiation, Depression, and Denial). While this is the same as the original version of the scale in the number of factors (six factors), it differs from the original version in that the original scale has 38 items and explains 46.46% of the total variance. Assessment is carried out based on the scores received from the sub-dimensions. The higher the scores received from the sub-dimensions, the more often individuals experienced a stage of grief. The scale was determined to be a reliable measuring instrument. The study suggests that the Turkish version of the RPD-PDS-30 scale is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing psychological responses to grief before the loss of health in patients diagnosed with breast and gynecological cancers in Turkey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Cancer patients try to find answers in the light of their individual experiences and if they cannot adapt in line with the answers, various psychiatric symptoms may occur. There are studies supporting that "forgiveness" helps reduce the emotional burden of patients with cancer in their ability to discomfort intolerance of the disease, find meaning in the life. The aim of this study is to evaluate forgiveness, discomfort intolerance, and psychiatric symptoms in cancer patients. Methods: The data of this study, which was conducted with 208 cancer patients receiving outpatient chemotherapy treatment, Personal Information Form was collected with Heartland Forgiveness Scale, Brief Symptom Inventory, and Discomfort Intolerance Scale. Result: It has been determined that cancer patients have a high level of forgiveness, a moderate tolerance to tolerate discomfort, and enable low level of occurrence of psychiatric symptoms. As the level of self-forgiveness and forgiveness of patients increases, the incidence of psychiatric symptoms decreases. Conclusion: In line with the findings, it can be thought that the high level of forgiveness of cancer patients towards their illness allows them to experience less psychiatric symptoms and increase their tolerance to the disorder. Awareness of both patients and healthcare personnel can be increased by preparing training programs that address forgiveness in individuals diagnosed with cancer in healthcare institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The body image of patients with cancer can be negatively affected due to treatment toxicities. Changes in body image may cause patients to experience social appearance anxiety. This study aimed to evaluate the body image and social appearance anxiety of patients with cancer undergoing radiotherapy. Methods The cross-sectional study was conducted with 153 patients with cancer undergoing radiotherapy in a university hospital. The data were collected with a Patient Information Form, the Body Image Scale, and the Social Appearance Anxiety Scale and the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group Skin Toxicity Criteria. Results Patients’ mean body image score was 15.18 ± 8.26 (min = 0, max = 30), mean social appearance anxiety score was 45.29 ± 14.50 (min = 16, max = 80). Patients with low education levels and low-income levels had higher body image and social appearance anxiety scores (p

Background: Management of PICC dressing can be performed at home by the patient through adequate training and telenursing. This trial verifies that the incidence of catheter-related complications in home patients, assisted by telenursing, is not greater than that observed in outpatients. Methods: This clinical trial is composed of 72 patients with malignant tumors who underwent long-term chemotherapy with PICC insertion. They were randomly divided into an experimental group (33 cases) and a calibration group (39 cases). The control group received outpatient dressing for the PICC at the hospital, while the experimental group received a telenursing intervention about the management of the PICC. The incidence of catheter-related infections, the ability of self-management, and a rough cost/benefit estimation were compared between the two groups. This trial was performed according to the CONSORT 2010 checklist. Results: The two groups do not significantly differ in relation to age, sex, and PICCs in terms of the body side insertion, the type of dressing, and the agents used for cleaning. The analysis of the results showed that in the home-managed group, the clinical events reported during the connection were higher when compared with the outpatient group (p < 0.001). The patients in the homecare group developed frequent complications resulting from skin redness (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The use of telenursing for patient education in cancer centers can reduce nurses’ working time, improving the self-management capacity of patients with a long-term PICC. This trial was retrospectively registered with the Clinical Trial Gov on the 18 May 2023 with registration number NCT05880420.

Background: The body image of patients with cancer can be negatively affected due to treatment toxicities. Changes in body image may cause patients to experience social appearance anxiety. This study aimed to evaluate the body image and social appearance anxiety of patients with cancer undergoing radiotherapy. Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted with 153 patients with cancer undergoing radiotherapy in a university hospital. The data were collected with a Patient Information Form, the Body Image Scale, and the Social Appearance Anxiety Scale and the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group Skin Toxicity Criteria. Results: Patients' mean body image score was 15.18 ± 8.26 (min = 0, max = 30), mean social appearance anxiety score was 45.29 ± 14.50 (min = 16, max = 80). Patients with low education levels and low-income levels had higher body image and social appearance anxiety scores (p < 0.01). Body image and social appearance anxiety scores were found to be higher in patients with advanced cancer, grade III-IV skin toxicity, pain, fatigue, and constipation (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Radiotherapy may negatively affect body image and social appearance anxiety. Assessments of body image and social appearance anxiety regularly before, during, and after treatment are essential. Psychosocial support should be provided to patients to reduce body image and social appearance anxiety and increase their well-being. Patients with cancer especially those who have low income and education levels, advanced cancer stage and skin toxicity, and suffer from pain, fatigue, constipation, etc. should be supported by methods such as counseling and social support groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a knowledge gap concerning the proper timing for COVID-19 vaccination in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. We aimed to evaluate the suitability of the guidelines that recommend waiting at least three months after undergoing chemotherapy before receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. This retrospective cohort study used aggregated data from the TriNetX US Collaboratory network. Participants were grouped into two groups based on the interval between chemotherapy and vaccination. The primary outcome assessed was infection risks, including COVID-19; skin, intra-abdominal, and urinary tract infections; pneumonia; and sepsis. Secondary measures included healthcare utilization and all causes of mortality. Kaplan–Meier analysis and the Cox proportional hazard model were used to calculate the cumulative incidence and hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence intervals for the outcomes. The proportional hazard assumption was tested with the generalized Schoenfeld approach. Four subgroup analyses (cancer type, vaccine brand, sex, age) were conducted. Sensitivity analyses were performed to account for competing risks and explore three distinct time intervals. Patients receiving a vaccine within three months after chemotherapy had a higher risk of COVID-19 infection (HR: 1.428, 95% CI: 1.035–1.970), urinary tract infection (HR: 1.477, 95% CI: 1.083–2.014), and sepsis (HR: 1.854, 95% CI: 1.091–3.152) compared to those who adhered to the recommendations. Hospital inpatient service utilization risk was also significantly elevated for the within three months group (HR: 1.692, 95% CI: 1.354–2.115). Adhering to a three-month post-chemotherapy waiting period reduces infection and healthcare utilization risks for cancer patients receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Management of PICC dressing can be performed at home by the patient through adequate training and telenursing. This trial verifies that the incidence of catheter-related complications in home patients, assisted by telenursing, is not greater than that observed in outpatients. Methods: This clinical trial is composed of 72 patients with malignant tumors who underwent long-term chemotherapy with PICC insertion. They were randomly divided into an experimental group (33 cases) and a calibration group (39 cases). The control group received outpatient dressing for the PICC at the hospital, while the experimental group received a telenursing intervention about the management of the PICC. The incidence of catheter-related infections, the ability of self-management, and a rough cost/benefit estimation were compared between the two groups. This trial was performed according to the CONSORT 2010 checklist. Results: The two groups do not significantly differ in relation to age, sex, and PICCs in terms of the body side insertion, the type of dressing, and the agents used for cleaning. The analysis of the results showed that in the home-managed group, the clinical events reported during the connection were higher when compared with the outpatient group (p < 0.001). The patients in the homecare group developed frequent complications resulting from skin redness (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The use of telenursing for patient education in cancer centers can reduce nurses' working time, improving the self-management capacity of patients with a long-term PICC. This trial was retrospectively registered with the Clinical Trial Gov on the 18 May 2023 with registration number NCT05880420. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite remarkable progress, cancer remains a life-threatening disease for millions of people worldwide, also resulting in significant psychosocial limitations. High-quality, comprehensive cancer care requires patient and family involvement and the provision of needs-based, targeted psychosocial services. Although progress has been made in understanding the occurrence of mental comorbidity and psychosocial distress in cancer patients, comparatively little is known about the course of psychological comorbidity and psychosocial distress in early survivorship among patients and their families. We therefore aim to estimate the prevalence of mental disorders according to the DSM-5, psychosocial distress, perceived needs for psychosocial support and utilization of psychosocial support offers in newly diagnosed cancer patients and their relatives, taking into account potential contributing biopsychosocial factors for the occurrence of psychological comorbidity. Methods/design: This study follows a prospective multi-center observational cohort design across four measurement time points: within 2 months after cancer diagnosis (t1), and in the follow-up period at 6 months (t2), at 12 months (t3), and at 18 months (t4) after t1. Patients older than 18 years who have a confirmed initial diagnosis of a malignant solid tumor and are scheduled for cancer treatment at one of the participating cancer centers are eligible for study participation. Relatives of eligible patients are also eligible for study participation if they are older than 18 years. Patients are interviewed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 Disorders (SCID-5-CV). In addition, patients and relatives receive a set of validated questionnaires at each measurement time point, covering comorbid conditions and functional performance, perceived psychological distress and quality of life, partnership aspects and social relationships, supportive care needs and use of psychosocial support services, health literacy, and health behavior and meaning in life. Discussion: This prospective multi-center observational cohort study has a major focus on increasing quality of care and quality of life in cancer survivors through providing rigorous longitudinal data for the development and implementation of target group-specific psychosocial support services. Trial registration: NCT04620564, date of registration 9/11/2020; DKG OnkoZert: Registrier-No.: ST-U134, date of registration 5/11/2021. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Febrile neutropenia is associated with high mortality, and the administration of anti-pseudomonal agents is required. Traditionally, combination therapy with aminoglycosides was weakly recommended in the guidelines, but recently, with the emergence of resistant bacteria, there has been increasing hope for combination antimicrobial therapy. The purpose of this systematic review, based on RCTs published up to 2023, is to examine how much more effective combination therapy with beta-lactams and aminoglycosides is compared to monotherapy with beta-lactams. We performed a systematic review of studies that compared beta-lactams vs. beta-lactams plus aminoglycosides for the treatment of febrile neutropenia in cancer patients. Method: We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, and Embase for studies published up to October 2023, and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared anti-Pseudomonas aeruginosa beta-lactam monotherapy with any combination of an anti-Pseudomonas aeruginosa beta-lactam and an aminoglycoside were included. Result: The all-cause mortality rate of combination therapy showed no significant differences compared with that of monotherapy (RR 0.99, 95% CI 0.84 to 1.16, high certainty of evidence). Infection-related mortality rates showed that combination therapy had a small positive impact compared with the intervention with monotherapy (RR 0.83, 95% CI 0.66 to 1.05, high certainty of evidence). Regarding treatment failure, combination therapy showed no significant differences compared with monotherapy (RR 0.99, 95% CI 0.94 to 1.03, low certainty of evidence). In the sensitivity analysis, the treatment failure data published between 2010 and 2019 showed better outcomes in the same beta-lactam group (RR 1.10 [95% CI, 1.01–1.19]). Renal failure was more frequent with combination therapy of any daily dosing regimen (RR 0.46, 95% CI 0.36 to 0.60, high certainty of evidence). Conclusion: We found combining aminoglycosides with a narrow-spectrum beta-lactam did not spare the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics. Few studies included antibiotic-resistant bacteria and a detailed investigation of aminoglycoside serum levels, and studies that combined the same beta-lactams showed only a minimal impact with the combination therapy. In the future, studies that include the profile of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and the monitoring of serum aminoglycoside levels will be required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The research on cancer patients returning to work in China is still in its infancy, and there is no research and discussion on the adaptability to returnto-work for cancer patients. It is critical to develop the Adaptability to Return-to-Work Scale (ARTWS) for cancer patients and evaluate its psychometric properties. Methods: The items of the initial scale were compiled based on the theoretical model and literature review results. Through two rounds of Delphi expert consultation (N = 15) and a pilot survey (N = 40), the initial scale was further checked and revised. Conduct a large sample survey (N = 376) and the construct validity and reliability of the ARTWS were assessed by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Results: The final ARTWS consisted of 24 items. “Focusing on rehabilitation,” “Rebuilding Self-efficiency,” and “Adjusting plans” as common factors in determining adaptability to return to work for cancer patients, and the cumulative variance contribution rate for these three factors was 66.6%. The S-CVI of the total scale was 0.979. The Cronbach’s α coefficient was 0.937 and the 2-week test–retest reliability was 0.814. Discussion: ARTWS has good correlation validity and can be used as a tool to measure the adaptability of cancer patients’ return to work. The presentation of the manuscript in Research Square [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Izmir Katip Celebi University Faculty of Health Sciences Journal / İzmir Katip Çelebi Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi Dergisi is the property of Izmir Katip Celebi University, Faculty of Health Sciene Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Purpose: People with cancer who use medicinal cannabis do so despite risks associated with limited clinical evidence, legalities, and stigma. This study investigated how Australians with cancer rationalise their medicinal cannabis use despite its risks. Methods: Ten adults (5 males and 5 females; mean age of 53.3) who used cannabis medicinally for their cancer were interviewed in 2021–2022 about how they used and accessed the substance, attitudes and beliefs underpinning their use, and conversations with others about medicinal cannabis. Results: Participants had cancer of the bowel, skin, oesophagus, stomach, thyroid, breast, and Hodgkin lymphoma for which they were receiving treatment (n = 5) or under surveillance (n = 5), with most (n = 6) encountering metastatic disease. Cannabis was used to treat a variety of cancer-related symptoms such as pain, poor sleep, and low mood. Cannabis was perceived as natural and thus less risky than pharmaceuticals. Participants legitimised their medicinal cannabis use by emphasising its natural qualities and distancing themselves from problematic users or riskier substances. Cost barriers and a lack of healthcare professional communication impeded prescription access. Similarly, participants navigated medicinal cannabis use independently due to a lack of guidance from healthcare professionals. Conclusion: Findings highlight the need for robust data regarding the harms and efficacy of medicinal cannabis and dissemination of such information among healthcare professionals and to patients who choose to use the substance. Ensuring healthcare professionals are equipped to provide non-judgmental and evidence-based guidance may mitigate potential safety and legal risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: No data were previously available regarding the sensitivities of pharmacotherapy-related and disease-specific quality of life measures to pharmacist-led pharmaceutical care (PC). Aim: The aim was to compare the sensitivities of two health-related quality of life (HRQoL) measures, i.e. the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measure of Pharmaceutical Therapy for Quality of Life (PROMPT-QoL) versus the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G), in response to pharmacist-led PC for cancer outpatients. Method: A randomised controlled trial was conducted on cancer outpatients of a tertiary Thai hospital. Eligible patients were randomly allocated to a PC group receiving PC interventions or a usual care (UC) group receiving pharmacist's standard care. The HRQoL of both groups was assessed using the PROMPT-QoL and the FACT-G before and after intervention. The sensitivities of the two measures were determined using standardised mean differences (SMDs). Results: A total of 237 patients in two arms (120 PC vs. 117 UC patients) completed the trial. With PC interventions, all eight PROMPT-QoL domains and 3 out of 4 FACT-G domains were significantly improved. The PROMPT-QoL yielded SMDs ranging from 0.24 to 1.68 that were considered moderate-to-high sensitivity, while the FACT-G provided moderate sensitivity with SMDs of 0.31–0.64. The average SMDs of four FACT-G domains was 0.50 and SMD of the total score was 0.80. Eight PROMPT-QoL domains had the average SMD of 0.60 and the total score SMD was 1.40. Conclusion: The PROMPT-QoL is more sensitive to detect HRQoL when delivering pharmacist-led pharmaceutical care to cancer outpatients. Trial registration: TCTR20210809008. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients with cancer can be immunocompromised because of their disease and/or due to anticancer therapy. In this population, severe influenza virus infections are associated with an elevated risk of morbidity and mortality. Influenza vaccination is therefore highly recommended in cancer patients, including those receiving anticancer therapy. However, vaccination coverage remains far below the recommended target for vulnerable subjects. Six specialists in oncology, hematology, immunology, and public health/vaccinology convened with the objective of developing strategies, based on evidence and clinical experience, for improving influenza vaccination coverage in cancer patients. This viewpoint provides an overview of current influenza vaccination recommendations in cancer patients, discusses barriers to vaccination coverage, and presents strategies for overcoming said barriers. New immunization issues raised by the COVID-19 pandemic are also addressed. Future directions include improving public education on influenza vaccination, providing the media with accurate information, improving knowledge among healthcare professionals, improving access to vaccines for cancer patients, co-administration of the influenza and COVID-19 vaccines, increased collaboration between oncologists and other health professionals, increased accessibility of digital vaccination registries to specialists, shared information platforms, and promoting immunization campaigns by healthcare systems with the support of scientific societies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Purpose We aimed to investigate cancer patients' experiences of psychological distress after surgery and the factors that influence it, and to analyze the relationship between this and the nursing humanistic care demands. Methods This study used a convenience sampling method to survey 432 cancer patients undergoing surgical treatment in the specialized cancer hospital in Beijing. The survey used socio-demographic information, the Distress Management Screening Measures, and the Nursing Humanistic Care Demands questionnaire. Questionnaire Star was used to collect data online. SPSS24.0 software was used to test the relationship between psychological distress and nursing humanistic care demands. Results The mean scores for psychological distress and nursing humanistic care demands were 3.95 ± 2.71 and 147.02 ± 19.88, respectively, and showed a moderately positive correlation. The main issues that caused psychological distress in patients were: worry, financial problems, surroundings, nervousness, sleep, and pain. Regression analysis showed that gender, financial burden, personality trait, and need for humanistic care in nursing explained 24.5% of the total variance in the model and were independent predictors of psychological distress. Conclusion Cancer inpatients have significant psychological distress after surgery and exhibit high levels of nursing humanistic care demands. This study fills the research gap on humanistic care for psychological distress management, nursing humanistic care demands positively predicted psychological distress. Nursing staff should pay attention to the psychological suffering of patients and develop individualized care measures to alleviate their psychological suffering by accurately identifying their nursing humanistic care demands.

Objective: In this study, we explore the core and bridge symptoms of demoralization in female cancer patients in China, and provide a basis for precise psychological intervention among female cancer patients. Methods: This study used a cross-sectional survey. Participants were recruited from three third-class hospitals in Jiangsu Province from June 2022 to June 2023 using the convenience sampling method. The severity of each symptom of demoralization was investigated in female cancer patients using the Demoralization Scale (DS). Network analysis was performed using the R language to identify core and bridge symptoms in the network and further explore some characteristic edge connections in the network. Results: The network structure model of demoralization had strong accuracy and stability. In the network, the symptoms with the highest strength centrality were "Discouragement" (C3, strength=2.19), "No self-worth" (A3, strength=1.21), "Don't want to live" (A5, strength=1.20), "Hopeless" (D4, strength=0.81), and "Vulnerability" (B3, strength=0.74), respectively. The bridge strength analysis identified "Hopeless" (D4, bridge strength=0.92), "Discouragement" (C3, bridge strength=0.85), "No self-worth" (A3, bridge strength=0.75), "Poor spirits" (E2, bridge strength=0.71), and "Vulnerability" (B3, bridge strength=0.69) as the bridge symptoms. The strongest edge connections of all dimensions were "No selfworth" and "Worthless" (A3--E6, edge weighting=0.27), "Poor spirits" and "Loss of emotional control" (E2--D1, edge weighting=0.22), "Discouragement" and "Vulnerability" (C3--B3, edge weighting=0.14), and "Hopeless" and "No meaning of survival" (D4--A4, edge weighting=0.12). Conclusion: "Discouragement (C3)", "No self-worth (A3)", "Hopeless (D4)", and "Vulnerability (B3)" are both core symptoms and bridge symptoms. These symptoms can not only trigger a patient's demoralization but also stimulate more severe symptom clusters through interactions. The early recognition of and intervention regarding these symptoms could be important for the prevention and treatment of demoralization among female cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to examine cancer patients' opinions of safety, the observance of patient's rights, and the quality of healthcare. Such an analysis will allow for the identification of areas for improvement in quality, safety, and communication between medical staff and patients. Cancer patients are a special kind of patients with chronic and complex diseases, so we need to observe the type of communication they use, which is a critical issue in a hospital ward but also has a significant impact on how the patient follows recommendations at home. Observing a patient's rights impacts the safety and quality of medical care. This information allows for the identification of areas requiring deeper analysis and improvement. This study was based on a survey conducted at an oncology hospital. The survey contained questions divided into seven sections related to the study areas. Our study emphasizes the importance of knowledge and understanding regarding patient rights among medical staff and patients, underscoring their role in ensuring quality and safety in healthcare settings. We found a strong correlation between the politeness of medical receptionists and staff and patient perceptions of the clarity and exhaustiveness of the information provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to investigate the satisfaction of cancer patients with the service quality of a Brazilian public hospital located in the city of Rio de Janeiro. The study is quantitative, based on application of a questionnaire to a sample composed of 245 outpatients of the hospital. The data were treated with structural equation modeling supported by partial least squares (PLS-SEM). The results indicated the patients place value on the quality of the service rendered by physicians, quality of the administrative service, quality of the hospital facilities and quality of the nursing service, in that order. The main theoretical contribution is the identification, in contrast to previous findings in the literature, that the cancer patients in our sample attributed little importance to the nursing service, even though nurses are the healthcare professionals who interact the most with patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Oral health care for cancer patients is essential but often overlooked. Nurses play a critical role in assessing and managing oral health in this population. This systematic review aims to examine nurses’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding oral healthcare in cancer patients. Methods: A systematic review was conducted following the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology. Qualitative and quantitative studies focused on nurses’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices in oral healthcare for cancer patients. Seven databases were searched for studies published between January 2000 and January 2023. The primary outcomes of interest were patient satisfaction, quality of life, and nurses’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to oral healthcare. Results: The review identified gaps in nurses’ knowledge and training in oral healthcare for cancer patients. Insufficient understanding of oral diagnoses, treatment protocols, and pediatric oral care was noted. Lack of knowledge and skills posed barriers to implementation. Some healthcare providers demonstrated low awareness of oral health recommendations, including the use of fluoridated toothpaste and the need for dental referrals. Referrals to dental services and regular oral assessments were infrequent. Attitudes towards oral healthcare varied, with providers feeling more comfortable in certain areas than others. Conclusion: Enhancing nurses’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices in oral healthcare for cancer patients is crucial. Targeted educational initiatives and interventions are needed to address these gaps. By improving nurses’ understanding of oral complications and management approaches, patient outcomes and quality of life can be improved. Registration: PROSPERO International prospective register of systematic reviews, ID: CRD42022368053. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer patients are at an increased risk of morbidity and mortality from SARS-CoV-2 infection and have a decreased immune response to vaccination. We conducted a study measuring both the neutralizing and total antibodies in cancer patients following a third dose of the mRNA-1273 COVID-19 vaccine. Immune responses were measured with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and neutralization assays. Kruskal–Wallis tests were used to evaluate the association between patient characteristics and neutralization geometric mean titers (GMTs), and paired t-tests were used to compare the GMTs between different timepoints. Spearman correlation coefficients were calculated to determine the correlation between total antibody and neutralization GMTs. Among 238 adults diagnosed with cancer, a third dose of mRNA-1273 resulted in a 37-fold increase in neutralization GMT 28 days post-vaccination and maintained a 14.6-fold increase at 6 months. Patients with solid tumors or lymphoid cancer had the highest and lowest neutralization GMTs, respectively, at both 28 days and 6 months post-dose 3. While total antibody GMTs in lymphoid patients continued to increase, other cancer types showed decreases in titers between 28 days and 6 months post-dose 3. A strong correlation (p < 0.001) was found between total antibody and neutralization GMTs. The third dose of mRNA-1273 was able to elicit a robust neutralizing antibody response in cancer patients, which remained for 6 months after administration. Lymphoid cancer patients can benefit most from this third dose, as it was shown to continue to increase total antibody GMTs 6 months after vaccination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Mersin University School of Medicine Lokman Hekim Journal of History of Medicine & Folk Medicine is the property of Mersin University School of Medicine and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract Background With improving survival rates, cancer has become more of a chronic disease with long-term palliative care requirements. Thus, it is even more than ever necessary to pay careful attention to the well-being of family caregivers of cancer patients, as cancer trajectory is a challenging path for both patients and their caregivers. This study focusses on ascertaining the level of quality of life (QoL) domains and their attributable significant factors among a population of cancer family caregivers. Methods This was a cross-sectional study. The study population consist of caregivers of adult cancer patients in Zanjan, Iran between 2019 and 2020. Medical Outcomes General Health Survey Short Form 36 (SF-36) was the instrument to measure outcome variables. Clinical and basic characteristics of the caregivers and their patients were also collected using a questionnaire designed for this purpose. Data were analyzed using Independent samples t-test, Analysis of Variance, and stepwise linear regression in SPSS v.26. Results Of the caregivers 167 were male and 133 were female. The mean age of the participants was 40.77 ± 12.56, most of whom were offspring of the patients (148, 49.3%), married (239, 79.7%), and self-employed (81, 27.0%). both domains of bodily pain (76.50 ± 16.67) and physical functioning (74.88 ± 20.27) showed the highest scores among caregivers. Age and gender of caregivers, duration of caregiving, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status scale as well as type and stage of cancer, and type of treatment were among the significant predictors of QoL domains (All, p

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly challenged cancer patients’ health and disease management. Objective(s): Assessment of mental distress and fears and their association with access to health care and non-adherence of patients with cancer to treatment during COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The study was conducted using a cross sectional approach. Data was collected from 285 randomly selected patients with cancer from a sizeable university hospital. The collected data included sociodemographic characteristics, medical histories, and medication adherence. The Kessler 6-item fear of COVID-19, fear of cancer recurrence scale, and medication adherence report scale were used. Results: Breast cancer was the most prevalent type of cancer (44.9%). About 23.2% of patients reported experiencing more mental distress during the pandemic. The mean values of the COVID-19 and cancer recurrence fear scales were 13.2 and 11.3, respectively. More than half (51.9%) of interviewees reported decreased access to healthcare services, primarily because of hospital precautions and a shortage in prescription drugs (39.9% and 39.2%, respectively). A greater fear score of cancer recurrence, younger age, higher mental health distress, and the perceived influence of COVID-19 on social life were the significant variables associated with a rising COVID-19 fear score. Conclusion: The pandemic adversely affected patients with cancer access to care, mental health, and treatment adherence. Appropriate policies should be considered to mitigate this impact in future similar events.

Background: With improving survival rates, cancer has become more of a chronic disease with long-term palliative care requirements. Thus, it is even more than ever necessary to pay careful attention to the well-being of family caregivers of cancer patients, as cancer trajectory is a challenging path for both patients and their caregivers. This study focusses on ascertaining the level of quality of life (QoL) domains and their attributable significant factors among a population of cancer family caregivers. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. The study population consist of caregivers of adult cancer patients in Zanjan, Iran between 2019 and 2020. Medical Outcomes General Health Survey Short Form 36 (SF-36) was the instrument to measure outcome variables. Clinical and basic characteristics of the caregivers and their patients were also collected using a questionnaire designed for this purpose. Data were analyzed using Independent samples t-test, Analysis of Variance, and stepwise linear regression in SPSS v.26. Results: Of the caregivers 167 were male and 133 were female. The mean age of the participants was 40.77 ± 12.56, most of whom were offspring of the patients (148, 49.3%), married (239, 79.7%), and self-employed (81, 27.0%). both domains of bodily pain (76.50 ± 16.67) and physical functioning (74.88 ± 20.27) showed the highest scores among caregivers. Age and gender of caregivers, duration of caregiving, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status scale as well as type and stage of cancer, and type of treatment were among the significant predictors of QoL domains (All, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Findings of the present study substantiated various significant predictors for QoL along with low levels of QoL domains among the caregivers of cancer patients. Securing such findings proves the magnitude of probable unmet needs and psychological challenges in this population and provides the health policy makers with some valuable clues to draw effective strategies to address such issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Education plays a pivotal role in the care of oncological patients, reducing health costs, hospital readmission, and disease relapses. Education can be supportive in achieving multiple outcomes, improving symptom control and quality of life. A new approach is emerging in patient education: gamification. Gamification was defined as the "use of game elements in non-game contexts", including the application of games in serious contexts. The aim of this review is to explore the use of gamification in the oncology setting. Methods: A systematic scoping review was conducted in the MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsychINFO, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases using the JBI guidelines. Results: The 13 included reports were critically appraised by two reviewers independently. It seems that gamification could be effective both in prevention and cancer treatments. Gamification also seems to improve chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting management, quality of life, and reduced anxiety levels in different cancer groups. Moreover, gamification seems effective in improving self-care in cancer patients, regardless of gender, age, and ethnicity. Conclusions: Gamification improves patient engagement and biopsychosocial outcomes and could represent a valid approach to cancer patient education; however, it is not a substitute for healthcare professionals, who remain the leaders in the education process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the spiritual well-being status of cancer patients in drug clinical trials and its influencing factors, and to provide theoretical support for the spiritual health intervention of clinical trial cancer patients. Methods: This cross-section study was conducted among 244 cancer patients in clinical trials. The Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale Short Form (MSAS-SF), Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale 10 (CD-RISC 10), and Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual (FACIT-SP-12) were used to measure symptom burden, psychological resilience, and spiritual well-being. The Multiple Linear Regression Model was used to determine the influencing factors of patients’ spiritual health. Results: The overall spiritual health level of cancer patients with clinical trials was high (36.87 ± 11.0), and the spiritual health level was positively correlated with psychological resilience (r = 0.872, P < 0.001). Religious belief, nationality, treatment regimen, and resilience were independent risk factors for the spiritual health of cancer patients in clinical trials. Patients with religious beliefs (β = 0.097, P = 0.012), ethnic minorities (β = 0.087, P = 0.023), and high resilience scores (β = 0.874, P < 0.001) had higher levels of spiritual health. Patients who received single antineoplastic therapy (β = − 0.079, P = 0.028) had lower levels of spiritual health. Conclusion: Our study found that the spiritual health of cancer patients in clinical trials was at a high level, superior to cancer patients receiving conventional anti-tumor therapy. Religious belief, nationality, treatment regimen, and psychological resilience were the influential factors of spiritual health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly challenged cancer patients’ health and disease management. Objective(s): Assessment of mental distress and fears and their association with access to health care and non-adherence of patients with cancer to treatment during COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The study was conducted using a cross sectional approach. Data was collected from 285 randomly selected patients with cancer from a sizeable university hospital. The collected data included sociodemographic characteristics, medical histories, and medication adherence. The Kessler 6-item fear of COVID-19, fear of cancer recurrence scale, and medication adherence report scale were used. Results: Breast cancer was the most prevalent type of cancer (44.9%). About 23.2% of patients reported experiencing more mental distress during the pandemic. The mean values of the COVID-19 and cancer recurrence fear scales were 13.2 and 11.3, respectively. More than half (51.9%) of interviewees reported decreased access to healthcare services, primarily because of hospital precautions and a shortage in prescription drugs (39.9% and 39.2%, respectively). A greater fear score of cancer recurrence, younger age, higher mental health distress, and the perceived influence of COVID-19 on social life were the significant variables associated with a rising COVID-19 fear score. Conclusion: The pandemic adversely affected patients with cancer access to care, mental health, and treatment adherence. Appropriate policies should be considered to mitigate this impact in future similar events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the advances made by therapeutic technologies, healthcareassociated infections (HAIs) are currently still a worldwide problem. Central-line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) are one of the most common causes of HAIs. The cost of CLABSIs is considerable, both for the increase in morbidity and financial resources expenses. Coagulase-negative staphylococci are the common pathogens responsible for CLABSIs, followed by Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococci, and Candida spp. The Enterococcus genus comprises of more than 50 species but E. faecalis and E. faecium are the most common causes of infections in humans. Enterococcus Raffinosus (ER) is a non-faecalis and non-faecium enterococcus even if ER has rarely been proven to be a human pathogen, recent reports of infections caused by enterococci that are relatively resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics by non-p-lactamase mechanisms have included strains of ER. Here we describe a first report of CLABSI due to Enterococcus Raffinosus in a cancer patient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study seeks to clarify the hope of cancer patients undergoing drug therapy and related factors through a systematic review. Methods: References were searched and selected in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses. Results: Thirteen articles were selected. A meta-analysis found that the overall Herth Hope Index score for cancer patients undergoing drug therapy averaged 35.64 points. The hope of cancer patients was associated with anxiety/depression and quality of life (QOL). It was also associated with personal attributes such as age, family structure, economic situation, educational level, social support, internal factors such as coping, self-esteem, optimism, self-confidence, locus of control, etc., as well as disease/treatment-related factors such as the purpose of treatment, general condition, presence or absence of metastasis, symptoms, survival period, and estimated life expectancy. Conclusion: Anxiety/depression, QOL, and other factors were found to be related to cancer patients’ hope. In the future, studies that clarify the overall structure of various factors related to hope and longitudinal studies will be necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Over the past decade, ECMO has provided temporary cardiopulmonary support to an increasing number of patients, but the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) to provide temporary respiratory and circulatory support to adult patients with malignancy remains controversial. Objectives This paper reviews the specific use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in oncology patients. Methods We searched PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases for studies on the use of ECMO in cancer patients between 1998 and 2022. Twenty‐four retrospective, prospective, and case reports were included. The primary outcome was survival during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Results Most studies suggest that ECMO can be used in oncology patients requiring life support during surgery, solid tumor patients with respiratory failure, and hematological tumor patients requiring ECOM as a supportive means of chemotherapy; however, in patients with hematologic oncology undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, there was no clear benefit after the use of ECMO. Conclusion Current research suggests that ECMO may be considered as a salvage support in specific cancer patients. Future studies should include larger sample sizes than those already conducted, including studies on efficacy, adverse events, and health.

There is a knowledge gap concerning the proper timing for COVID-19 vaccination in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. We aimed to evaluate the suitability of the guidelines that recommend waiting at least three months after undergoing chemotherapy before receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. This retrospective cohort study used aggregated data from the TriNetX US Collaboratory network. Participants were grouped into two groups based on the interval between chemotherapy and vaccination. The primary outcome assessed was infection risks, including COVID-19; skin, intra-abdominal, and urinary tract infections; pneumonia; and sepsis. Secondary measures included healthcare utilization and all causes of mortality. Kaplan–Meier analysis and the Cox proportional hazard model were used to calculate the cumulative incidence and hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence intervals for the outcomes. The proportional hazard assumption was tested with the generalized Schoenfeld approach. Four subgroup analyses (cancer type, vaccine brand, sex, age) were conducted. Sensitivity analyses were performed to account for competing risks and explore three distinct time intervals. Patients receiving a vaccine within three months after chemotherapy had a higher risk of COVID-19 infection (HR: 1.428, 95% CI: 1.035–1.970), urinary tract infection (HR: 1.477, 95% CI: 1.083–2.014), and sepsis (HR: 1.854, 95% CI: 1.091–3.152) compared to those who adhered to the recommendations. Hospital inpatient service utilization risk was also significantly elevated for the within three months group (HR: 1.692, 95% CI: 1.354–2.115). Adhering to a three-month post-chemotherapy waiting period reduces infection and healthcare utilization risks for cancer patients receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.

We performed a systematic review of studies that compared beta-lactams vs. beta-lactams plus aminoglycosides for the treatment of febrile neutropenia in cancer patients. Method: We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, and Embase for studies published up to October 2023, and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared anti-Pseudomonas aeruginosa beta-lactam monotherapy with any combination of an anti-Pseudomonas aeruginosa beta-lactam and an aminoglycoside were included. Result: The all-cause mortality rate of combination therapy showed no significant differences compared with that of monotherapy (RR 0.99, 95% CI 0.84 to 1.16, high certainty of evidence). Infection-related mortality rates showed that combination therapy had a small positive impact compared with the intervention with monotherapy (RR 0.83, 95% CI 0.66 to 1.05, high certainty of evidence). Regarding treatment failure, combination therapy showed no significant differences compared with monotherapy (RR 0.99, 95% CI 0.94 to 1.03, low certainty of evidence). In the sensitivity analysis, the treatment failure data published between 2010 and 2019 showed better outcomes in the same beta-lactam group (RR 1.10 [95% CI, 1.01–1.19]). Renal failure was more frequent with combination therapy of any daily dosing regimen (RR 0.46, 95% CI 0.36 to 0.60, high certainty of evidence). Conclusion: We found combining aminoglycosides with a narrow-spectrum beta-lactam did not spare the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics. Few studies included antibiotic-resistant bacteria and a detailed investigation of aminoglycoside serum levels, and studies that combined the same beta-lactams showed only a minimal impact with the combination therapy. In the future, studies that include the profile of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and the monitoring of serum aminoglycoside levels will be required.

Patients with cancer can be immunocompromised because of their disease and/or due to anticancer therapy. In this population, severe influenza virus infections are associated with an elevated risk of morbidity and mortality. Influenza vaccination is therefore highly recommended in cancer patients, including those receiving anticancer therapy. However, vaccination coverage remains far below the recommended target for vulnerable subjects. Six specialists in oncology, hematology, immunology, and public health/vaccinology convened with the objective of developing strategies, based on evidence and clinical experience, for improving influenza vaccination coverage in cancer patients. This viewpoint provides an overview of current influenza vaccination recommendations in cancer patients, discusses barriers to vaccination coverage, and presents strategies for overcoming said barriers. New immunization issues raised by the COVID-19 pandemic are also addressed. Future directions include improving public education on influenza vaccination, providing the media with accurate information, improving knowledge among healthcare professionals, improving access to vaccines for cancer patients, co-administration of the influenza and COVID-19 vaccines, increased collaboration between oncologists and other health professionals, increased accessibility of digital vaccination registries to specialists, shared information platforms, and promoting immunization campaigns by healthcare systems with the support of scientific societies.

Cardiovascular and oncological diseases are the leading causes of adult death in the world. Despite proven efficacy, anticancer drugs can cause severe cardiovascular complications. Recently, data have appeared on the possible vasotoxic effects of chemotherapy drugs, which can manifest themselves as the progression of arterial hypertension and atherosclerosis, the development of myocardial ischemia and acute coronary syndrome, the formation of venous and arterial thrombosis. The key mechanism for the development of vasotoxicity is endothelial dysfunction, and anticancer drugs can also affect the processes of thrombosis. The review presents the results of 12 selected observational retro- and prospective studies involving cancer patients receiving presumably vasotoxic therapy. Data on the frequency of occurrence and possibilities for the prevention of vasotoxicity are presented.

Abstract Aim This inquiry aimed to; (1) examine the psychosocial and emotional sequelae associated with cancer patient‐hood experience in healthcare professionals (HCPs) in Uganda, (2) generate evidence to inform clinical and nursing practice about the needs of HCP patients with cancer. Design This was a qualitative phenomenological study. Methods The study was conducted among HCP cancer patients and survivors recruited from oncology and palliative care settings in Uganda. Data were collected via audio‐taped, face‐to‐face or telephone open‐ended interviews. Interviews were transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was used. Results Eight HCP cancer patients and survivors participated in the study. Their mean age was 56 years, range 29–85 years. Three major themes emerged: (1) From a healthcare provider to a patient, (2) Socioeconomic challenges, and (3) Coping and support strategies.

ABSTRACTIntestinal bacteria are equipped with an enzyme apparatus that is involved in the active biotransformation of xenobiotics, including drugs. Pharmacomicrobiomics, a new area of pharmacology, analyses interactions between bacteria and xenobiotics. However, there is another side to the coin. Pharmacotherapeutic agents can significantly modify the microbiota, which consequently affects their efficacy. In this review, we comprehensively gathered scientific evidence on the interplay between anticancer therapies and gut microbes. We also underlined how such interactions might impact the host response to a given therapy. We discuss the possibility of modulating the gut microbiota to increase the effectiveness/decrease the incidence of adverse events during tumor therapy. The anticipation of the future brings new evidence that gut microbiota is a target of interest to increase the efficacy of therapy.

Background: The outbreaks of infectious diseases, such as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), have seriously affected the normal work and life of the public, as well as the normal diagnosis and treatment of other diseases due to their strong infectivity, high population susceptibility, and diverse clinical manifestations. Breast and thyroid specialists in non-hotspot epidemic areas of COVID-19 must consider factors, including epidemic prevention and control, breast and thyroid cancers and diseases diagnosis and treatment, and access to medical resources to make a reasonable treatment choice and optimize the treatment process. Methods: A cohort study was designed under our center's epidemic prevention and control strategy. The study was conducted between February 3 and April 19, 2020, to explore the safety of clinical diagnosis and treatment of breast and thyroid cancer patients during the epidemic. All the outpatients, inpatients, daytime chemotherapy patients, targeted therapy patients, and relevant medical staff in the observation period in the Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery in Southwest Hospital in Chongqing municipality, China, were included to investigate the detection and infection rate of COVID-19 and suspected patients. Results: During the observation period, 27,117 patients were admitted to the outpatient unit. We performed 394 inpatient surgeries and 411 day-time surgeries. In our center, 1,046 and 663 patients received day-time chemotherapy and targeted therapy, respectively. All the patients were diagnosed and treated promptly and safely. Three suspected COVID-19 patients were identified in the outpatient unit. Healthcare staff achieved a "zero" infection of COVID-19. Conclusion: The spread and cross-infection of COVID-19 can be avoided in non-hotspot epidemic areas based on scientific prevention and control, and cancer patients can be diagnosed and treated on time. The prevention and control measure implemented in the COVID-19 epidemic for diagnosing and treating cancer patients was effective and can be referenced for other infectious disease outbreaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Using a specific bioethical theory (=global bioethics) and method (=a posteriori), we try here to identify and evaluate the bio‐ethical issues raised by the COVID‐19 pandemic, and possible solutions, to improve the management of cancer patients at the hospital in future pandemics, before the emergence of vaccines or scientifically validated treatments. Materials & Methods: Our work is based primarily on the clinical experience of three oncologists from the oncology department of Foch Hospital in France, who were on the frontline during the first wave of the epidemic. We compared their perceptions with published findings, to complete or nuance their views. Results: Three bio‐ethical issues were identified, and possible solutions to these problems were evaluated: (1) scientific evidence versus lack of time → the creation of emergency multidisciplinary team meetings (MTM); (2) healthcare equality versus lack of resources → the development of telemedicine; (3) individual liberties versus risk of contamination → role of cancer patients' associations, psychologists and bioethicists. Conclusion: We consider the creation of an emergency MTM, in particular, in addition to a true ethics committee with real competence in bioethics, to be a first solution that would be easy to implement in hospitals in many countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Over the past decade, ECMO has provided temporary cardiopulmonary support to an increasing number of patients, but the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) to provide temporary respiratory and circulatory support to adult patients with malignancy remains controversial. Objectives: This paper reviews the specific use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in oncology patients. Methods: We searched PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases for studies on the use of ECMO in cancer patients between 1998 and 2022. Twenty‐four retrospective, prospective, and case reports were included. The primary outcome was survival during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Results: Most studies suggest that ECMO can be used in oncology patients requiring life support during surgery, solid tumor patients with respiratory failure, and hematological tumor patients requiring ECOM as a supportive means of chemotherapy; however, in patients with hematologic oncology undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, there was no clear benefit after the use of ECMO. Conclusion: Current research suggests that ECMO may be considered as a salvage support in specific cancer patients. Future studies should include larger sample sizes than those already conducted, including studies on efficacy, adverse events, and health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although data indicate omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are beneficial nutrients in cancer therapy, the evidences for efficacy of nutritional interventions during chemo (radio) therapy are still limited. The leading goal of the present meta-analysis was to summarize randomized controlled trials involving the administration of ω-3 PUFA-enriched oral nutritional supplements during chemo (radio) therapy, and evaluate the effects on nutritional status and clinical outcomes in patients. We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane databases to identify interventions assessing body weight, BMI, immune and inflammatory indicators, plasma omega-3 fatty acids and adverse events, with subgroup analyses for region, types of ω-3 fatty acids, dose, duration and dosage form. In total, 22 studies including 1155 participants met the inclusion criteria. Meta-analysis showed a significant increase in body weight (BW) (WMD = 0.59 kg, 95% CI: 0.06, 1.13, P = 0.03), body mass index (BMI) (WMD = 0.43 kg/m2, 95% CI: 0.07, 0.79, P = 0.02), and plasma total ω-3 fatty acids (SMD = 2.52, 95% CI: 1.27, 3.78, P<0.0001), and a significant reduction in plasma levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) (SMD= −0.53, 95% CI: −0.80, −0.25, P = 0.0001), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) (WMD = −0.40 pg/mL, 95% CI: −0.80, −0.01, P = 0.05), interleukin 6 (IL-6) (WMD = −1.25 pg/mL, 95% CI: −2.41, −0.10, P = 0.03) and the incidence of adverse events (RR= 0.72, 95% CI: 0.54, 0.95, P = 0.02). However, plasma albumin levels (WMD = 0.02 mg/dL, 95% CI: −0.13, 0.18, P = 0.75) was remained unaffected. Overall, our meta-analysis provides evidences that the consumption of ω-3 PUFA-enriched oral nutritional supplements exert beneficial effects on nutritional status and clinical outcomes in patients undergoing chemo (radio) therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to identify the main therapeutic classes prescribed to ovarian cancer patients and the potential drug interactions (PDI) during hospitalization. This descriptive retrospective work was carried out in a referral gynecological cancer hospital from the Brazilian public health system. The first 24 h inpatients' prescriptions were evaluated to obtain the pharmacological profile data. Clinical and epidemiological characteristics were collected through the analysis of electronic medical records. A total of 236 patients were included in the study, of which 154 (65.25%) had PDI, with a mean of 1.43 ± 1.76 interactions per patient. The main therapeutic classes prescribed were analgesics and antiemetics (35%), compatible with the oncologic supportive care. All PDI identified (n = 331) were categorized by severity, using the Micromedex database, resulting in: 1.51% contraindicated, 67.67% major, 24.77% moderate, and 6.04% minor. The more prevalent PDI were ondansetron/tramadol (22.05%) and metoclopramide/tramadol (7.25%), both major. An association between PDI and polypharmacy was observed, which did not occur between age or length of stay. Ongoing prescription review by the pharmaceutical team is necessary to identify, monitor, and manage PDI-related adverse events and carry out required interventions with patients, physicians, and nurses. Taken together the data showed that even in a specialized hospital, the complexity of the pharmacotherapy can cause harm to the ovarian cancer patient. The clinical pharmacist acting in a multidisciplinary team is important for improving patient safety in oncology services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Cancer survivors are a diverse group with varying needs that are patient-, disease-, and/or treatment-specific. Cancer survivors have reported supplementing conventional anti-cancer treatment with Traditional and Complementary Medicine (T&CM). Although female cancer survivors are reported to have more severe anticancer adverse effects, little is known about the association between anticancer treatment and T&CM use among Norwegian cancer survivors. The aims of this study are therefore to investigate (1) associations between cancer diagnosis characteristics and T&CM utilization and (2) associations between anticancer treatment and T&CM utilization among cancer survivors in the seventh survey of the Tromsø study. Methods Data was collected from the seventh survey of the Tromsø Study conducted in 2015-16 among all inhabitants of Tromsø municipality aged 40 and above (response rate 65%), where inhabitants received online and paper form questionnaires. Data from the data linkage to the Cancer Registry of Norway for cancer diagnosis characteristics was also used. The final study sample was made up of 1307 participants with a cancer diagnosis. Categorical variables were compared using Pearson’s Chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test while independent sample t-test was used to compare continuous variables. Results The use of T&CM the preceding 12 months was reported by 31.2% of the participants with natural remedies as the most reported modality of T&CM (18.2%, n = 238), followed by self-help practices of meditation, yoga, qigong, or tai chi, which was reported by 8.7% (n = 114). Users of T&CM were significantly younger (p = .001) and more likely to be female (p