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Breast cancer is associated with adverse physical and psychological consequences. Although research has identified the various benefits linked to psychosocial interventions, mixed results have been found in relation to peer support. The aim of the present systematic review and meta-ethnography is to explore the qualitative evidence on the experience of breast cancer survivors in peer support. A systematic search of the literature was conducted until June 2023, and a meta-ethnographic approach was used to synthesize the included papers. Eleven articles were included, collecting the experience of 345 participants. The following four core areas involved in peer support implementation were identified from the synthesis: Peer support can create understanding and a mutual therapeutic and emotional connection; peer support can facilitate an educational and supportive patient-centered journey; peer support should monitor group members for unpleasant emotional experiences; peer support should have professional supervision of recruitment and training to prioritize quality. These results can be used as patient-centered insights by healthcare professionals to provide evidence-informed peer support programs and address current limitations in the field., (© 2023 The Authors. Applied Psychology: Health and Well‐Being published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Association of Applied Psychology.)

Background: Action mechanisms of therapeutic alliance in stepped and digital interventions remain unclear., Aims: (a) To compare the development of therapeutic alliance between psychosocial treatment as usual (PTAU) and a stepped digital intervention designed to prevent distress in cancer patients; (b) to analyse the level of agreement between patients' and therapists' therapeutic alliance ratings; and (c) to explore variables associated with therapeutic alliance in the digital intervention., Method: A multicentre randomised controlled trial with 184 newly diagnosed breast cancer women was conducted. Patients were assigned to digital intervention or PTAU. Therapeutic alliance was assessed at 3, 6 and 12 months after inclusion using the working alliance inventory for patients and therapists. Age, usability (system usability scale), satisfaction (visual analogue scale), type and amount of patient-therapist communication were analysed as associated variables., Results: Patients and therapists established high therapeutic alliance in the digital intervention, although significantly lower compared with PTAU. The development of patients' therapeutic alliance did not differ between interventions, unlike that of the therapists. No agreement was found between patients' and therapists' therapeutic alliance ratings. Patients' therapeutic alliance was associated with usability and satisfaction with app, whereas therapists' therapeutic alliance was associated with satisfaction with monitoring platform., Conclusions: A stepped digital intervention for cancer patients could develop and maintain strong therapeutic alliance. Neither the type nor amount of communication affected patients' therapeutic alliance, suggesting that flexible and available digital communication fosters a sense of care and connection. The association between usability and satisfaction with digital tools highlights their importance as key therapeutic alliance components in digital settings.

Objectives: Breast cancer (BC) impacts the patients' quality of life. Peer support can provide emotional understanding and enhances access to information, social support, coping strategies, and empowerment. Comunitats is an online peer support community app for BC survivors that involves healthcare professionals. This study aims to explore how participation in Comunitats promotes empowerment, and to identify the variables related to it., Methods: A prospective, cross-sectional approach was applied. One hundred twenty-one women diagnosed with BC were included in Comunitats. Sociodemographic and clinical variables, along with measures of emotional distress (HADS), post-traumatic growth (PTGI), and empowerment (Van Uden-Kraan's Empowerment Questionnaire), were collected through an online questionnaire completed by the participants. Additionally, data on participation in the online community were obtained directly from the app. Assessments were conducted at inclusion and again 3 months later. Correlations were used to guide linear regression analysis to identify the variables predicting greater empowerment outcomes., Results: Empowerment assessment indicated that participants felt empowered by their involvement in Comunitats. The most commonly experienced empowerment outcomes were "being better informed" and "improved acceptance of the illness." "Exchanging information" and "finding recognition" were the most strongly experienced empowerment processes and the strongest predictors of empowerment outcomes in the regression analysis., Conclusion: Involvement in Comunitats enhances empowerment in BC survivors. Empowering processes within the community partially predict overall empowerment outcomes., Practical Implications: Empowerment positively impacts self-care autonomy, self-efficacy, and treatment adherence, promoting healthier lifestyles and enhanced treatment outcomes. Therefore, we recommend encouraging participation in online peer support communities, as it might enhance empowerment., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval: The study was conducted according to the guidelines of the Declaration of Helsinki, and approved by the Institutional Review Board (or Ethics Committee) of the INSTITUT CATALÀ D’ONCOLOGIA on the 25th of October 2018 (PR343/18). Informed consent: Informed consent was obtained from all subjects involved in the study. We confirm all patient/personal identifiers have been removed or disguised so the patient/person(s) described are not identifiable and cannot be identified through the details of the story. Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Introduction: Breast cancer often leads to cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI), which includes both objective and subjective cognitive deficits. While psychosocial interventions benefit quality of life and distress reduction, their impact on cognitive deficits is uncertain. This study evaluates the integration of a cognitive module into a digital psychosocial intervention for breast cancer patients., Methods: In this randomized controlled trial (RCT), 88 recently diagnosed breast cancer (BC) patients will receive the ICOnnecta't program (control group) - a digital stepped intervention addressing a variety of psychosocial needs. The experimental group ( n  = 88) will receive ICOnnecta't plus a cognitive module. Assessments at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months will measure the interventions' impact on cognition, emotional distress, medication adherence, quality of life, post-traumatic stress, work functioning and healthcare experience. Feasibility and cost-utility analyses will also be conducted., Results: The cognitive module includes three levels. The first level contains a cognitive screening using FACT-Cog Perceived Cognitive Impairment (PCI). Patients with PCI <54 progress to a cognitive psychoeducational campus (Level 2) with content on cognitive education, behavioural strategies and mindfulness. Patients with persistent or worsened PCI (≥6) after 3 months move to Level 3, an online cognitive training through CogniFit software delivered twice a week over 12 weeks., Conclusions: This study assesses whether integrating a cognitive module into a digital psychosocial intervention improves objective and subjective cognition in breast cancer patients. Secondary outcomes explore cognitive improvement's impact on psychosocial variables. The research will contribute to testing efficacious approaches for detecting and addressing cognitive dysfunction in breast cancer patients., Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT06103318. Registered 26 October 2023, https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT06103318?term=serra-blasco&draw=2&rank=4., Competing Interests: The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., (© The Author(s) 2024.)

Background: Patients with hematological malignancies receiving hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) or chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy are at risk of developing serious clinical complications after discharge., Objective: The aim of the TEL-HEMATO study was to improve our telehealth platform for the follow-up of patients undergoing HCT or CAR T-cell therapy during the first 3 months after discharge with the addition of wearable devices., Methods: Eleven patients who received autologous (n=2) or allogeneic (n=5) HCT or CAR T-cell therapy (n=4) for hematological malignancies were screened from November 2022 to July 2023. Two patients discontinued the study after enrollment. The telehealth platform consisted of the daily collection of vital signs, physical symptoms, and quality of life assessment up to 3 months after hospital discharge. Each patient received a clinically validated smartwatch (ScanWatch) and a digital thermometer, and a dedicated smartphone app was used to collect these data. Daily revision of the data was performed through a web-based platform by a hematologist or a nurse specialized in HCT and CAR T-cell therapy., Results: Vital signs measured through ScanWatch were successfully collected with medium/high adherence: heart rate was recorded in 8/9 (89%) patients, oxygen saturation and daily steps were recorded in 9/9 (100%) patients, and sleeping hours were recorded in 7/9 (78%) patients. However, temperature recorded manually by the patients was associated with lower compliance, which was recorded in 5/9 (55%) patients. Overall, 5/9 (55%) patients reported clinical symptoms in the app. Quality of life assessment was completed by 8/9 (89%) patients at study enrollment, which decreased to 3/9 (33%) at the end of the third month. Usability was considered acceptable through ratings provided on the System Usability Scale. However, technological issues were reported by the patients., Conclusions: While the addition of wearable devices to a telehealth clinical platform could have potentially synergic benefits for HCT and CAR T-cell therapy patient monitoring, noncomplete automation of the platform and the absence of a dedicated telemedicine team still represent major limitations to be overcome. This is especially true in our real-life setting where the target population generally comprises patients of older age with a low digital education level., (©Lidia Hurtado, Melinda Gonzalez Concepcion, Aida Flix-Valle, Marina Ruiz-Romeo, Sonia Gonzalez-Rodriguez, Marta Peña, Annalisa Paviglianiti, Maria Angeles Pera Jambrina, Anna Sureda, Cristian Ochoa-Arnedo, Alberto Mussetti. Originally published in JMIR Formative Research (https://formative.jmir.org), 04.06.2024.)

Objective: This study assesses the effectiveness of face-to-face group positive psychotherapy for cancer survivors (PPC) compared to its online adaptation, online group positive psychotherapy for cancer survivors (OPPC), which is held via videoconference. A two-arm, pragmatic randomized controlled trial was conducted to examine the effects of both interventions on emotional distress, post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), and post-traumatic growth (PTG) among cancer survivors and analyze attrition to treatment., Methods: Adult women with a range of cancer diagnoses were invited to participate if they experienced emotional distress at the end of their primary oncological treatment. Emotional distress, PTSS, and PTG were assessed at baseline, immediately after treatment, and 3 months after treatment. Intention-to-treat analyses were carried out using general linear mixed models to test the effect of the interventions overtime. Logistic regressions were performed to test differential adherence to treatment and retention to follow-up., Results: A total of 269 individuals participated. The observed treatment effect was significant in both modalities, PPC and OPPC. Emotional distress (b = -2.24, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -3.15 to -1.33) and PTSS (b = -3.25, 95% CI = -4.97 to -1.53) decreased significantly over time, and PTG (b = 3.08, 95% CI = 0.38-5.78) increased significantly. Treatment gains were sustained across outcomes and over time. Analyses revealed no significant differences between modalities of treatment, after adjusting for baseline differences, finding that OPPC is as effective and engaging as PPC., Conclusions: The OPPC treatment was found to be effective and engaging for female cancer early survivors. These results open the door for psycho-oncology interventions via videoconference, which are likely to lead to greater accessibility and availability of psychotherapy., (© 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

Background: Receiving a diagnosis of lung cancer is an emotional event, not least because it is usually diagnosed at advanced stages with limited life expectancy. Although evidence-based educational, emotional, and social interventions exist, they reach few patients and usually when it is too late., Objective: This project will be carried out in a comprehensive center for cancer care and health research, aiming to study the efficacy, costs, and utility of an eHealth ecosystem to meet the psychosocial needs of patients with advanced lung cancer., Method: We will enroll 76 patients with advanced lung cancer into an eHealth ecosystem of stepped and personalized psychosocial care for 9 months. These patients will be compared with another 76 receiving usual care in a non-inferiority randomized controlled trial. The following main outcomes will be measured every 3 months: emotional distress, spirituality, demoralization, quality of life, and medication adherence. Secondary outcomes will include symptomatology, health education, cost-utility analyses, usability and satisfaction with the platform, and time to detect emotional needs and provide care. Baseline differences between groups will be measured with the Student t- test or chi-square test, as appropriate. We will then compare the main outcomes between groups over time using multilevel linear models, report effect sizes (Hedges' g ), and assess non-inferiority. The cost-utility of both interventions will be considered in terms of quality adjusted life years and quality of life given the costs of providing each treatment., Discussion: This randomized controlled trial should provide new evidence on the efficacy and cost-utility of an eHealth ecosystem to deliver personalized and timely psychosocial care to patients with advanced lung cancer., Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov ID "NCT05497973"., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2023 The Authors.)

Health education and psychosocial interventions prevent emotional distress, and the latter has been shown to have an impact on survival. In turn, digital health education interventions may help promote equity by reaching a higher number of cancer patients, both because they avoid journeys to the hospital, by and having a better efficiency. A total of 234 women recently diagnosed with breast cancer in a comprehensive cancer center used the digital ecosystem ICOnnecta’t from March 2019 to March 2021. ICOnnecta’t consists of four care levels, provided to patients according to their level of distress. The second level of this intervention consists of an educational campus, which was analyzed to track users’ interests and their information-seeking behavior. Overall, 99 out of 234 women (42.3%) used the educational campus. There were no significant differences in sociodemographic and clinical variables between the campus users and non-users. Among users, the median number of resources utilized per user was four (interquartile range: 2−9). Emotional and medical resources were the contents most frequently viewed and the audiovisual format the most consulted (p < 0.01). Resources were used mainly within the first three months from enrolment. Users who were guided to visit the virtual campus were more active than spontaneous users. Offering an early holistic health educational platform inside a digital cancer ecosystem, with health professionals involved, can reach more patients, promoting equity in the access of cancer information and prevention, from the very beginning of the disease.

Objective: To study the impact of the spontaneous use of Internet on breast cancer patients and on their relationship with health professionals., Methods: A mixed methodology was used. Two questionnaires were designed through three focus groups, and then administered to 186 patients and 59 professionals in order to assess: (1) patients' use of Internet for health-related information and (2) the impact of this information on patients' psychological outcomes and on their relationship with professionals., Results: Patients spent more time looking for illness-related information after diagnosis, using interactive communities more than static information websites. Patients and professionals disagreed about the use of Internet in terms of the knowledge it provides, and its psychological impact. The main barrier reported by patients regarding the sharing of online information with their professionals was the belief that it would damage their relationship., Conclusions: Both professionals and patients have a protectionist conception of the therapeutic relationship. This attitude tends to dismiss the positive impact that the use of Internet and the new communication tools may have in cancer patients. New resources should provide an "Internet Prescription" and modes of interaction to facilitate a more open digital communication.

Background/objective: Environmental factors such as psychosocial stress have demonstrated to have an impact on the breast cancer (BC) course. This study aims to explore the impact of psychotherapy and stressful life events (SLE) on BC survivors' illness trajectories., Method: 68 women with BC underwent Positive Psychotherapy or Cognitive-Behavioral Stress Management and 37 patients were included as a control group. The effects of distress reduction and SLE on their 5-year recurrence were investigated. Additional analyses examined the effect of receiving vs. not receiving psychotherapy and of the type of therapy on survival and disease-free interval, DFI., Results: A one-point decrease of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) after psychotherapy predicted a lower risk of 5-year recurrence, OR  = 0.84, p  = .037, 95% CI  = 0.71-0.99). Also, a one point-increase in the number threatening SLE ( OR  = 1.92; p  = .028, 95% CI  = 1.07-3.43) was related to higher 5-year recurrence., Conclusions: The findings highlight the necessity of studying not only a given situation (i.e., psychotherapy, SLE) but its specific impact on individuals., (© 2022 The Author(s).)

Psychosocial interventions prevent emotional distress and facilitate adaptation in breast cancer (BC). However, conventional care presents accessibility barriers that eHealth has the potential to overcome. ICOnnecta't is a stepped digital ecosystem designed to build wellbeing and reduce psychosocial risks during the cancer journey through a European-funded project. Women recently diagnosed with BC in a comprehensive cancer center were offered the ecosystem. ICOnnecta't consists of four care levels, provided according to users' distress: screening and monitoring, psychoeducation campus, peer-support community, and online-group psychotherapy. Descriptive analyses were conducted to assess the platform's implementation, while multilevel linear models were used to study users' psychosocial course after diagnosis. ICOnnecta't showed acceptance, use and attrition rates of 57.62, 74.60, and 29.66%, respectively. Up to 76.19% of users reported being satisfied with the platform and 75.95% informed that it was easy to use. A total of 443 patients' needs were detected and responsively managed, leading 94.33% of users to remain in the preventive steps. In general, strong social support led to a better psychosocial course. ICOnnecta't has been successfully implemented. The results showed that it supported the development of a digital relation with healthcare services and opened new early support pathways.

Introduction: Psychosocial interventions for patients with breast cancer (BC) have demonstrated their effectiveness at reducing emotional distress and improving quality of life. The current digitisation of screening, monitoring and psychosocial treatment presents the opportunity for a revolution that could improve the quality of care and reduce its economic burden. The objectives of this study are, first, to assess the effectiveness of an e-health platform with integrated and stepped psychosocial services compared with usual psychosocial care, and second, to examine its cost-utility., Methods and Analysis: This study is a multicentre randomised controlled trial with two parallel groups: E-health intervention with integrated and stepped psychosocial services vs usual psychosocial care. An estimated sample of 338 patients with BC in the acute survival phase will be recruited from three university hospitals in Catalonia (Spain) and will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. All participants will be evaluated at the beginning of the study (T1: recruitment), 3 months from T1 (T2), 6 months from T1 (T3) and 12 months from T1 (T4). Primary outcome measures will include number of clinical cases detected, waiting time from detection to psychosocial intervention and proportion of cases successfully treated in the different steps of the intervention, as well as outcomes related to emotional distress, quality of life, post-traumatic stress and growth, treatment adherence and therapeutic alliance. Secondary outcomes will include the acceptability of the platform, patients' satisfaction and usability. For the cost-utility analysis, we will assess quality-adjusted life years and costs related to healthcare utilisation, medication use and adherence, work absenteeism and infrastructure-related and transport-related costs., Ethics and Dissemination: This study was approved by the Ethics committee of the Institut Català d'Oncologia network in Hospitalet, Spain. Findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journals, reports to the funding body, conferences among the scientific community, workshops with patients and media press releases., Trial Registration Number: Online Psychosocial Cancer Screening, Monitoring and Stepped Treatment in Cancer Survivors (ICOnnectat-B),NCT04372459., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2021. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Metastatic breast cancer (MBC) diagnosis in young women negatively impacts on quality of life (QoL) and daily activities, disrupting their life project and forcing them to face new psychosocial challenges. The recently published results on the improvement of the overall survival of pre- or perimenopausal women with hormone-receptor-positive, HER2-negative MBC treated with CDK4/6 inhibitors plus endocrine therapy, while preserving, and in some items improving their QoL, will change the landscape of the management of this patient population. Their extended survival and potential improvement in QoL will, therefore, modify their specific needs in terms of psychosocial support. The complexity of the care of young women with MBC is described herein, based on an extensive literature review. Further research about the specific psychosocial requirements of these women and a new multidisciplinary holistic approach is paramount to properly address their concerns and preferences. The communication with and support of their partners, parents and children is an important factor affecting the QoL of these patients. Altogether, a multidisciplinary care, open communication and personalized support is required to address the psychosocial implications of the new prognostic expectations on these patients with the incorporation of new targeted therapies., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest Mireia Margelí Vila has received honoraria from Novartis, Pfizer, Pierre Fabre and Roche. Sonia del Barco Berron has received honoraria from Novartis. Miguel Gil-Gil has received honoraria from Daiichi, Eisai, Genentech, Novartis and Pfizer and reimbursement of congress travel expenses from Roche, Daiichi and Pfizer. Cristian Ochoa-Arnedo has received honoraria from Eisai and Novartis. Rafael Villanueva Vázquez has received honoraria from Novartis, Pfizer, Eisai and Roche., (Copyright © 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background and Aim: To assess emotional distress and complexity of patients referred to the Psychosocial Committee., Material and Methods: A pre-post single group study was performed in a sample of oncological patients. From the 144 patients referred to the committee, 27 were attended by psychosocial specialists. The patients' levels of emotional distress and psychosocial complexity were reviewed one month later., Results: After having been attended according to the committee's indications, the patients showed significant decreases in emotional distress. The initial mean of 8 points on the emotional distress scale decreased to 5.81 points after having been referred to the specialist. This decline was also observed in psychosocial complexity. Before attendance, 70.4% patients showed high levels of complexity, and 7.4% showed low levels. After attendance, the percentages of patients with high levels of psychosocial complexity reduced to 48.1% and patients with low complexity increased to 22.2%., Conclusions: The committee provides an instrument to refer patients who show high levels of psychosocial complexity and require preferential and multidisciplinary attention. The committee optimizes resources due to its efficiency in resolving complex cases., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Post-traumatic stress and growth are common responses to adverse life events such as cancer. In this article, we establish how cancer becomes a "fertile land" for the emergence of stress and growth responses and analyze the main mechanisms involved. Stress-growth responses on adjusting to cancer is potentially determined by factors like the phase of the illness (e.g., initial phases vs. period of survivorship), patient's coping strategies, meaning-making, and relationships with significant others. We also review the mechanisms of constructive and adaptative stress-growth balances in cancer to study the predictors, interrelated associations, triggering mechanisms, long-term results, and specific trajectories of these two responses to cancer. Finally, we update the evidence on the role of these stress-growth associations in psychologically adjusting to cancer. Together with this evidence, we summarize preliminary results regarding the efficacy of psychotherapeutic interventions that aim to facilitate a constructive psychological balance between stress and growth in cancer patients. Recommendations for future research and gaps in knowledge on stress-growth processes in this illness are also highlighted. Researchers are encouraged to design and use psychotherapeutic interventions according to the dynamic and changeable patients' sources of stress and growth along the illness. Relevant insights are proposed to understand the inconsistency of stress-growth literature and to promote psychotherapeutic interventions to facilitate a constructive balance between these key responses in cancer.

Purpose: This scoping review aims to summarize online health information seeking (OHIS) behavior among breast cancer patients and survivors, identify research gaps, and offer insights for future studies. Methods: Following Arksey and O'Malley's framework, we conducted a review across PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, MEDLINE, Cochrane, Embase, CNKI, Wanfang Data, and SinoMed, covering literature from 1 January 2014 to 13 August 2023. A total of 1,368 articles were identified, with 33 meeting the inclusion criteria. Two researchers independently screened, extracted, and summarized the data. Results: The studies addressed three main themes:OHIS behavior, factors associated with OHIS, and intervention programs on OHIS. Key information sources included national or nonprofit cancer organizations' websites, search engines, and social media. Commonly sought information involved breast cancer knowledge, treatment options, and prognosis, with information seeking behaviors varying by disease stages. While patients valued the convenience and accessibility of online resources, dissatisfaction was common due to inaccurate or misleading content. Factors such as age, education, income, disease characteristics, and psychological factors significantly influenced OHIS behaviors. Conclusion: This review identifies significant gaps in exploring OHIS behavior among breast cancer patients and survivors, highlighting the inadequacy of current interventions. Future research should focus on diverse age groups, refine the language of web-based health information, enhance user comprehension of professional content, and develop tailored information systems for different stages of the health journey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Assessment of Rehabilitation Needs Checklist (ARNC), has been developed to assess rehabilitation need in cancer patients and is recommended by the Confederation of Regional Cancer Centres in Sweden, known as Hälsoskattningen. The aim of the study was to test the reliability and validity of the ARNC, mainly by comparing it with the Distress thermometer and EORTC QLQ-C30. Methodology: A sample of 993 persons identified in the Swedish cancer register. The study participants were diagnosed with cancer in 2021 in the Mid Sweden region. The psychometric methods tested reliability and validity including factor analysis. Results: The response rate was 38%. The test-retest analysis showed that ICC was 0.80 or higher for 12 of the ARNC items. A strong or modarete correlation between ARNC and the other instruments was found in all functional scales and for most items. CFA of the 13-item two-factor model showed a RMSEA value of 0.04, CFI and TLI values of 0.97 and 0.96, and a SRMR value of 0.05, indicating a satisfactory model fit. Conclusion: The evaluation of the ARNC suggests that it is an acceptable and reliable screening instrument for detecting symptoms and signs indicating a possible need of rehabilitation. The medium to strong correlations between ARNC items and the EORTC QLQ- C30 items and scales suggest that ARNC could be an alternative also for research purposes when a shorter and less comprehensive instrument is needed. The simple design could be an advantage as it lowers the burden on cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Psychosocial care is an integral component of caring for individuals living with cancer. The identification of psychosocial distress has been acknowledged as a hallmark of quality cancer care, and screening for distress standards has been established in several countries. The purpose of this brief review is to highlight recent developments in screening for distress in oncology populations; to provide insight into significant trends in research and implementation; and to explore implications for oncology nursing practice. Methods: This paper reports a brief review of the literature from March 2021 to July 2024 on the topic of screening for distress in oncology. The literature was accessed through PubMed and reviewed by two authors. Trends in the topics presented were identified independently and then discussed to achieve consensus. Results: The search within the designated period produced 47 publications by authors in North America, Australasia, and Europe. Topic trends included the design and adaptation of tools for special populations, the use of technology, descriptions of programs, identification of benefits, challenges, and overcoming barriers to screening for distress. Conclusions: Screening for distress is endorsed as part of the provision of quality oncology care. Nurses have an important role in screening individuals at risk for developing psychosocial problems and acting to reduce the associated morbidity. By continuing to be informed and educated about the emerging developments in screening for distress, nurses can understand and overcome barriers to implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Several studies have demonstrated that, following a breast cancer (BC) diagnosis, patients are eager to obtain information on cancer and nutrition, in order to ameliorate both their quality of life (QoL) and disease outcome. To avoid BC survivors to get wrong information from unreliable sources, healthcare providers need to be aware of patients’ needs, to guide them toward optimal nutrition recommendations, aimed at preventing tumor recurrence and increasing survival rates. Material and methods: The cross-sectional web-based survey “Nutrition and breast cancer, what would you like to know?” has been conceived and conducted, in Italy, between the 2nd and the 25th of June 2023. The link to the 19-items questionnaire, structured in 6 sections, was distributed via social media (Facebook and Instagram), newsletter, institutional websites, and printed flyers. Patients’ responses were collected and analyzed, reporting absolute and relative frequencies. Results: A total of 1616 participants (98.9% female and 1.1% male), with an average age of 47.5 years, answered the survey. Only subjects who declared having previously received a BC diagnosis (N=1159, 71.7%) were included in the present analysis. Overall, the respondents showed a wide interest in understanding whether nutrition might help to manage therapy side effects, as well as knowing how specific diets, foods, nutrients, and supplements could affect disease onset, progression and prognosis. Importantly, the need to receive evidence-based information from the “referring physician/specialist” and “nutritionist/dietitian” was expressed by 95.8% and 88.8% of them, respectively Discussion: In this study, we primarily aimed at intercepting nutrition information needs and sources of an Italian BC survivors’ group. Based on that, we first organized a proactive digital intervention, to respond via Instagram live broadcasts to patients’ “cancer and nutrition”-related questions. Secondly, we arranged a healthcare providers dedicated-workshop focused on the latest evidence-based knowledge on nutrition and BC. It is crucial, in fact, that once healthcare professionals capture patients’ information needs, they can respond with appropriate nutritional guidance, counseling and education programs, while counteracting misleading and incorrect messages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients diagnosed with gynecological cancers often face a range of complications that can impact their quality of life and increase their anxiety. Nursing models combined with mobile phone applications have the potential to improve outcomes for these patients. This study aimed to assess the impact of a continuous care model utilizing a smartphone application on quality of life and anxiety levels among gynecologic cancer patients. Methods: This study involved two phases: (1) mobile App development and (2) implementation of the intervention. The two-group randomized controlled trial included 70 participants with gynecological cancers referred to medical centers affiliated with Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences in 2023. The participants were randomized into control or intervention groups (n = 35 per group). Finally, 68 patients completed the trial. The intervention group received an 8-week intervention incorporating the continuous care model, whereas the control group received routine care (the standard support provided by nurses both during and after hospitalization). The participants completed the Spielberger state-trait anxiety and quality of life (QLQ-C30) questionnaires before, immediately after, and two months after the intervention. The data were analyzed via the chi-square test, independent samples t test, analysis of covariance, and repeated-measures ANOVA. Results: There were no significant differences in the baseline data between the two groups. However, after the intervention, the intervention group reported a significant increase in quality of life, with mean scores rising from 68.90 ± 17.50 to 73.78 ± 16.79 immediately after the intervention and to 80.61 ± 9.90 at the two-month follow-up. In contrast, the control group showed no significant improvement. Additionally, state anxiety significantly decreased in the intervention group from 51.64 ± 14.97 to 40.20 ± 11.70 at the follow-up, and trait anxiety scores in the intervention group decreased significantly from 49.91 ± 14.96 to 39.82 ± 10.28 at the follow-up, whereas the scores of the control group worsened. Conclusion: The intervention improved quality of life and reduced anxiety in patients with gynecological cancers. Given the scant attention given to mobile application-based follow-up in gynecologic cancer patients in previous studies, this approach can be incorporated into routine care to support patients, and it is recommended for nurses, health care providers, and physicians. Trial registration: The study was registered as a randomized controlled trial in the Clinical Trial Registration Center of Iran. Registration Date: 2024-02-14, Registration Number: IRCT20231107059977N1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although Androgen Deprivation Therapy (ADT) is effective in controlling prostate cancer (PCa) and increasing survival, it is associated with a myriad of side effects that cause significant morbidity. Previous research has shown that PCa patients starting on ADT are neither fully informed nor well-equipped to manage the breadth of ADT's side effects. The ADT Educational Program (a 1.5 h interactive class plus a book) was developed as an evidence-based resource for patients dealing with ADT. Our aim here was to compare the efficacy of an online version of the class with a previously assessed in-person version of the class. Using mixed MANOVAs within a non-randomized comparison design, we assessed: (1) changes in patients' experiences of self-efficacy to manage and bother associated with side effects approximately 10 weeks after attending a class, and (2) potential differences in these variables between online and in-person class formats. Side effect bother decreased from pre- to post-class but did not differ between in-person (n = 94) and online (n = 137) class cohorts. While self-efficacy to manage side effects was slightly higher post-class in both cohorts, the increase was not statistically significant. Average self-efficacy ratings were significantly higher among in-person versus online class participants (p < 0.05; ηp2 = 0.128). Both online and in-person classes are associated with a significant reduction in the severity of side effect bother reported by PCa patients, suggesting non-inferiority of online versus in-person formats. Online classes offer greater accessibility to the program for patients outside the reach of in-person classes, increasing the availability of the program to more PCa patients and family members across Canada. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate distress levels, using the distress thermometer (DT), and the factors associated with distress in postoperative patients with pancreatobiliary cancer. This study retrospectively investigated 155 patients who underwent surgery for pancreatobiliary cancer between December 1, 2019 and September 30, 2021. The DT and problem list were used to measure distress. Descriptive statistics, t-test, and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the data. Of the 155 patients, 16.8% (n = 26) and 83.2% (n = 129) were in the mild-distress and moderate-to-severe distress groups, respectively. The average DT score was 6.21; that for the mild-distress and moderate-to-severe distress groups was 2.46 and 6.97, respectively. More patients in the moderate-to-severe distress group reported having problems of "sadness" (χ2 = 4.538, P < 0.05), "indigestion" (χ2 = 10.128, P < 0.001), "eating" (χ2 = 6.147, P < 0.013), and "getting around" (χ2 = 4.275, P < 0.039) than in the mild-distress group. In addition, occupation status (odds ratio [OR] = 0.342, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.133–0.879, P = 0.026) and indigestion (OR = 5.897, 95% CI = 1.647–21.111, P = 0.006) were independent risk factors for the presence of severe distress. Patients with pancreatobiliary cancer demonstrated elevated levels of psychological distress. Healthcare providers should therefore be vigilant when evaluating patients for distress and providing appropriate referrals, particularly those who are unemployed or have indigestion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to apply music therapy as a clinical treatment for patients with breast cancer (BC) experiencing mild or moderate depression during hospitalization and observe any improvements in their depression and quality of life. Methods: A total of 102 patients who had mild-to-moderate depression, were diagnosed with BC, and were admitted to our hospital from October 2022 to October 2023 were selected as the subjects of a retrospective analysis. According to their participation in short-term music therapy, they were divided into a control group (routine nursing treatment n = 45) and an observation group (routine nursing treatment + music therapy n = 57). Self-rating depression (SDS) scale and functional assessment of cancer therapy-breast (FACT-B) scale Chinese version 4.0 scores and patient satisfaction after treatment were compared between the two groups. Results: After treatment, the SDS scale scores and FACT-B scores of the observation group were significantly better than those of the control group (P < 0.001). The patient satisfaction in the observation group was higher than in the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Music therapy is a highly safe method to improve the depression and quality of life of patients with BC. It also provides a simple and convenient nondrug clinical treatment with broad application prospects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women worldwide. Breast cancer patients experience significant distress relating to their diagnosis and treatment. Managing this distress is critical for improving the lifespan and quality of life of breast cancer survivors. This study aimed to assess the level of distress in breast cancer survivors and analyze the variables that significantly affect distress using machine learning techniques. A survey was conducted with 641 adult breast cancer patients using the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Distress Thermometer tool. Participants identified various factors that caused distress. Five machine learning models were used to predict the classification of patients into mild and severe distress groups. The survey results indicated that 57.7% of the participants experienced severe distress. The top-three best-performing models indicated that depression, dealing with a partner, housing, work/school, and fatigue are the primary indicators. Among the emotional problems, depression, fear, worry, loss of interest in regular activities, and nervousness were determined as significant predictive factors. Therefore, machine learning models can be effectively applied to determine various factors influencing distress in breast cancer patients who have completed primary treatment, thereby identifying breast cancer patients who are vulnerable to distress in clinical settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To determine whether allied health interventions delivered using telehealth provide similar or better outcomes for patients compared with traditional face-to-face delivery modes. Study design: A rapid systematic review using the Cochrane methodology to extract eligible randomized trials. Eligible trials: Trials were eligible for inclusion if they compared a comparable dose of face-to-face to telehealth interventions delivered by a neuropsychologist, occupational therapist, physiotherapist, podiatrist, psychologist, and/or speech pathologist; reported patient-level outcomes; and included adult participants. Data sources: MEDLINE, CENTRAL, CINAHL, and EMBASE databases were first searched from inception for systematic reviews and eligible trials were extracted from these systematic reviews. These databases were then searched for randomized clinical trials published after the date of the most recent systematic review search in each discipline (2017). The reference lists of included trials were also hand-searched to identify potentially missed trials. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool Version 1. Data Synthesis: Fifty-two trials (62 reports, n = 4470) met the inclusion criteria. Populations included adults with musculoskeletal conditions, stroke, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and/or pain. Synchronous and asynchronous telehealth approaches were used with varied modalities that included telephone, videoconferencing, apps, web portals, and remote monitoring, Overall, telehealth delivered similar improvements to face-to-face interventions for knee range, Health-Related Quality of Life, pain, language function, depression, anxiety, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. This meta-analysis was limited for some outcomes and disciplines such as occupational therapy and speech pathology. Telehealth was safe and similar levels of satisfaction and adherence were found across modes of delivery and disciplines compared to face-to-face interventions. Conclusions: Many allied health interventions are equally as effective as face-to-face when delivered via telehealth. Incorporating telehealth into models of care may afford greater access to allied health professionals, however further comparative research is still required. In particular, significant gaps exist in our understanding of the efficacy of telehealth from podiatrists, occupational therapists, speech pathologists, and neuropsychologists. Protocol Registration Number: PROSPERO (CRD42020203128). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Previous studies have suggested the benefit of routine screening for biopsychosocial symptoms among patients with cancer. In recognition of the lack of data from low- and middle-income countries, this study sought to test and determine the effect of a mHealth program to screen biopsychological symptoms among patients with advanced breast or gynecological cancer., Methods: This was a quasi-experimental pre-post study conducted in a public hospital located in central western Brazil. Patients diagnosed with advanced breast of gynecological cancer who were about to initiate chemotherapy treatment at this institution and had access to Internet by smartphone, computer or tablet were invited to participate. Patients received training on using the app Comfort, a program developed to rate their physical and emotional symptoms during the 6-month of the proposed study. Patients were also asked to complete the EuroQOL 5D (EQ-5D-3L) every month. Mann-Whitney U test was used to determine differences among groups of patients (engaged and non-engaged). RM-ANOVA was used to determine the effect of time on mean visual analog scale (VAS) score., Results: A total of 125 patients were recruited (median age = 46.6 years old, 41.6% married). Mostly, patients possessed lower levels of education and had relatively low monthly incomes. Notably, 67.2% of patients engaged with the Comfort program, and few patients (4%) withdrew due to lack of engagement with the program or issues with internet connection. In general, patients who engaged with the program reported improvement in physical and emotional symptoms (p < 0.01), as well as in their overall quality of life (VAS; p = 0.009), compared with patients who did not engage with the program., Conclusions: This is the first mHealth program developed in Brazil for patients in a low resource setting. Our findings suggest that Comfort could be an effective resource to assist patients and health care providers track symptoms and improve patients' quality of life., (© 2022 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Purpose: To clarify the implementation steps, characteristics, effects, acceptability, and feasibility of the stepped care model (SCM) while also offering a resource for pertinent interventions in cancer care., Methods: We searched the PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, and PsycINFO databases from inception to October 22, 2023. Two key concepts were used: cancer and stepped care model. Two reviewers independently screened the articles and extracted data by repeatedly reading the abstracts and full texts. The included literature was analyzed according to the updated framework for scoping reviews proposed by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI)., Results: A total of 14 studies were included. Most of the reviewed SCMs comprised two steps: self-management interventions in the first step and cognitive-behavior interventions in the second step. Most often, interventions were delivered electronically. The main applications of SCM included providing psychological support, treating insomnia and relieving cancer-related fatigue. SCM was effective in improving multiple outcomes for cancer patients with feasibility and acceptability., Conclusions: SCM has a promising future and is applicable to oncology care. Further research on facilitators and barriers to the application of this model in cancer care is needed to enhance patients' quality of life., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Simple Summary: Internet resources, both technical and informal, have become important aspects of developing E-Health applications for cancer populations. Despite extrinsic and intrinsic patient factors applicable to all patient populations, there exist patient population-specific aspects that E-Health developers and physicians should be aware of when introducing E-Health offers to specific cancer patient populations. A better understanding of specific aspects of the digitalization of gynecologic cancer patients will help to develop specific E-Health offers for this patient population. The influence of digitalization on information-seeking, decision-making properties of patients, therapy monitoring, and patient–physician interactions has and will change the global health sector tremendously. With this study, we add knowledge on the degree of digitalization, digital device availability, the use and availability of home and mobile internet access, and the willingness to use novel forms of patient–physician interactions in a group of gynecologic cancer patients. From July 2017 to March 2022, 150 women with a diagnosis of gynecologic malignancy at the University Hospital of Cologne participated in this questionnaire-based cohort study. Any one of three potential internet access devices (stationary computer, smartphone, or tablet) is owned by 94% of patients and the only patient intrinsic factor that is significantly associated with the property of any one of these internet access devices is age. The Internet is used daily or several times per week to assess information on their disease by 92.8%, 90.1% use the Internet for communicational purposes and 71.9% and 93.6% are willing to communicate with their treating physicians via E-Mail or even novel forms of communication, respectively. In conclusion, the predominant majority of gynecologic cancer patients can be reached by modern internet-based E-Health technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mental health and quality of life are commonly affected following a stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) diagnosis, although many people are discharged without clear information about their psychological impact. Evidence suggests psychological interventions can be successfully delivered via remote methods (e.g. videoconferencing, telephone). However, it is unclear whether such interventions are effective for people post-stroke/TIA. This scoping review aimed to identify current evidence for remote group-based psychological interventions for people following TIA and stroke. Methods: Four electronic databases (MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, Scopus) were searched for articles on online group psychological interventions post-TIA and stroke. Four reviewers independently screened titles, abstracts and full texts, then two authors extracted data for included studies. A bespoke data extraction form was used to describe interventions, informed by Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR) checklists. Results: The search yielded 1333 studies, from which six were included in the review. Four were feasibility studies (two randomised controlled trials, two single-group pre-/post-design). All interventions targeted stroke survivors; no studies targeted people with TIA. Delivery methods included teleconferencing, videoconferencing, an online platform (virtual multiuser world) and a hybrid approach using videoconferencing and face-to-face visits. Remote intervention components were delivered in the community or at participants' homes. All studies included a mood measure. Improvement in mood and/or quality of life was reported across the four studies. Conclusions: More research is needed to explore and confirm the potential benefits of remote delivery of group psychological interventions following stroke and TIA. Better reporting of implementation barriers/facilitators and more high-quality research are required to determine the effectiveness of remote interventions. Evidence suggests remotely delivered interventions can support psychological issues following stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA). However, it is unclear whether this approach is effective and acceptable. This review aimed to identify current evidence for remote group-based psychological interventions post-TIA/stroke. Six studies involving stroke patients were reviewed. No studies included TIA patients. Improved mood and/or quality of life was reported in the four studies. More research is needed to explore the potential benefits of, and barriers to, remote group-based interventions in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effectiveness of positive psychology interventions in the treatment of stress-related difficulties have not been well established. To estimate the effectiveness of positive psychology interventions on the reduction of stress-related symptoms, a systematic review using PubMed, Scopus, Wiley, Psychinfo, Cochrane and Sage databases with no limitation of date of publication was conducted. We identified additional studies by searching positive psychology reviews and academic books. Only studies trying positive interventions that included measures of anxiety, stress, or posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms were reviewed. We extracted data using predefined data fields and study quality was assessed with the National Institutes of Health study quality assessment tools. Twenty-nine records were included in this study: 23 controlled trials and six pre-post studies. Every study showed significant improvement in at least one dimension. Several studies reported improvements in well-being as well. This review shows promising results of positive psychology interventions as a treatment for stress-related difficulties. However, important methodological biases and strong heterogeneity among the studies highlight the need for replication and better validation of positive psychology interventions., (© 2021 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: It has been increasingly recognized that some people experience post‐traumatic growth (PTG) as a result of struggling with cancer. Objective: This systematic review aims to identify psychosocial interventions that might facilitate PTG in adults with cancer. Methods: A search was conducted in PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus, the Cochrane Library, and ProQuest up to 16 September 2022. The PRISMA guidelines were followed; all included interventional studies had to comprise 30 or more adults with cancer, using the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, from 1994 forward. Results: A total of 2731 articles were retrieved, 1028 of those were screened and 37 unique trials were included (46 articles). A large number of studies were published since 2018 (52.4%), were randomized controlled trials (43.2%), and had group interventions (34.8%), including mainly female participants (83.8%) with a single cancer type (54.1%). Most interventions (75.7%) were moderately to highly effective in increasing PTG (d = 0.65, 95% CI 0.39–0.91) with the most effective interventions using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (d = 1.24, 95% CI: 0.05–2.44), Mindfulness‐based (d = 0.54, 95% CI = 0.14–0.94) and Education, Peer Support and Health Coaching interventions (d = 0.28, 95% CI: 0.1–0.46). Expression‐based and Positive Psychology‐based approaches also showed promising results. Notably, the majority of studies had a high risk of bias. Conclusions: PTG facilitation is a promising field that should be pursued as it not only allows people with cancer to overcome their trauma but also results in them going over and above their pre‐cancer state, enhancing resilience, health, and well‐being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People living with facial eye disfigurements (LwFED) are often shunned by a society that makes spontaneous judgements based on appearance. This article is a case study of the lived experience of Toni, a 27-year-old woman LwFED, the result of her treatment for ocular cancer. Semi-structured interviews facilitated the exploration of her experiences. We present the findings chronologically but interwoven with themes such as: being strong for others; responding to her partner's abuse; dealing with strangers; and reinventing her sense of identity and supporting others. We identified institutional perspectives of work, hospital, and family within the prevailing UK that impacted Toni's experiences of LwFED and argue that institutional perspectives need to be educated about the ordinary person's daily grind of LwFED to address unrecognised bias and assumption. Only when identified and addressed can the reframing of social, institutional, organisational, and medical understandings and responses facilitate and support the lives of those LwFED. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assessed posttraumatic growth (PTG) across multiple trauma types and by demographic characteristics (i.e., sex, age, education). Moreover, we examined the association between PTG and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms as well as the characteristics and predictors of PTG after sexual violence. A phone survey was conducted in a nationally representative sample of 1,766 Icelandic adults. In total, 1,528 individuals reported having experienced some form of trauma and were included in the analysis, and 563 reported experiencing sexual violence. Interpersonal trauma (e.g., sexual violence, emotional abuse, and domestic violence) was associated with the highest levels of PTG. Moderate levels of PTSD symptoms were associated with the highest levels of PTG, whereas high‐ or low‐level PTSD symptoms were related to less PTG. Women reported significantly more PTG than men, d = 0.16 and survivors of sexual violence reported significantly more PTG than individuals who reported other forms of trauma exposure, d = 0.28. Among sexual violence survivors, no demographic factors were associated with PTG, but cumulative trauma and positive social reactions were significantly related to higher levels of PTG. This study highlights that personal growth can result from aversive experiences and suggests a curvilinear association between PTG and PTSD symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This review aimed to synthesize the available evidence on the effectiveness of telemedicine-based psychosocial interventions among breast cancer (BC) patients regarding quality of life (QOL), depression, anxiety, distress, fatigue, sleep disorders, sexual function, and fear of cancer recurrence (FCR). Methods: A search of 10 databases was conducted to identify RCTs of the effects of telemedicine-based psychosocial interventions on outcomes. Selection of studies, quality appraisal, and data extraction were performed by two reviewers independently. GRADE and Cochrane risk of bias assessment tools were used for quality appraisal. Heterogeneity was determined by I2, standardized mean differences (SMD) were used to determine intervention effects, and meta-analyses, subgroup analysis, and sensitivity analysis were performed. Results: In total, 29 RCTs were included. Telemedicine-based psychosocial interventions improved the primary outcomes of QOL (SMD = 0.32), distress (SMD = − 0.22), and anxiety (SMD = − 0.16) in BC patients with moderate effect size. There were some improvements in the secondary outcomes of sleep disorders (SMD = − 056), sexual function (SMD = 0.19), and FCR (SMD = − 0.41). After sensitivity analysis, the effect size of fatigue was moderate (SMD = − 0.24). Conclusion: Telemedicine-based psychosocial interventions are superior to usual care in BC patients with improved QOL, sexual function, and less distress, anxiety, fatigue, sleep disorders, and FCR. Due to the heterogeneity of the results for QOL, anxiety, fatigue, sleep disturbance, and FCR, these results should be interpreted cautiously. In the future, more rigorous RCTs need to be designed to identify better delivery models and intervention times to further test their effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Presenting treatment outcomes positively or negatively may differently influence treatment preferences and lead to sub-optimal decision in a medical context. This review systematically organised how positive versus negative framing of treatment outcomes influenced cancer treatment decisions of cancer patients and individuals without a cancer diagnosis. Three databases (PubMed, PsycInfo and Scopus) were searched for studies reporting the effects of positive versus negative framing on cancer treatment decision-making from 1981 to December 2020. The effects of positive versus negative framing on cancer treatment preferences and the elimination of framing effect were evaluated. A total of 12 studies that met inclusion criteria were reviewed. Framing effect was consistently observed in individuals without a cancer diagnosis. There was not enough evidence to suggest a robust framing effect in cancer patients. Surgery was preferred in positive framing, whereas adjuvant therapy was preferred in negative framing. Justification intervention significantly eliminated framing effect. Mixed framing failed to eliminate framing effect. Current recommendations for presenting treatment options are based on research in cancer-screening decision-making. Knowledge of how positive versus negative framing affect cancer patients' treatment decisions is still limited. Our review highlighted the need for continued research in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on understanding benefit finding, the process of deriving growth from adversity, and its relationship to well-being amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants (n = 701) completed online surveys at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after a shelter-in-place mandate was announced in California, USA. Identifying as female or of Asian descent, having a supportive social network, and reporting more distress were associated with higher levels of general benefit finding at all data collection points, while other demographics were not. Benefit finding exhibited small but statistically significant associations with two measures of well-being. Understanding the extent to which various groups of people experience benefit finding during ongoing adversity and how such benefit finding is associated with well-being may help to promote mental health during a collective trauma like the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]