Purpose
It has been reported that maintaining the mental health of cancer patients is a critically important issue, and that resilience is related to mental health. This study conducted a systematic ...literature review in order to fully understand the relationships between resilience and anxiety, depression, and quality of life (QOL) in adult cancer patients, as well as identify factors associated with resilience.
Methods
The PubMed, CINAHL, Psychology Database, and ICHUSHI Web databases were searched for articles related to resilience in cancer patients published between 2014 and 2019 using the keywords “cancer” and “resilience,” connected with “and.” The extracted articles that met inclusion criteria were organized using a matrix. To understand the resilience status of adult cancer patients, meta-analyses were performed using resilience scores measured with the most commonly used resilience scale, Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale 25.
Results
Thirty-nine articles were included in the analysis. A higher resilience score is associated with lower anxiety and depression scores and higher QOL scores. Factors related to resilience include personal factors such as age and gender, disease-related factors such as the presence or absence and severity of physical symptoms, and internal factors such as self-efficacy and hopefulness.
Conclusions
It was found that it is important for cancer patients to improve resilience to maintain mental health and QOL. The findings suggest that providing interventions for factors that will reduce resilience will provide support for patients with cancer.
Purpose
This study aimed to clarify associations between and changes over time in lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and quality of life (QOL) in cancer patients after a total prostatectomy.
Methods
...The subjects were cancer patients who had undergone total prostatectomy and had participated in non-randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, or case-control studies with outcomes of changes over time in LUTS or QOL. Fourteen studies were included for systematic review and meta-analysis.
Results
Compared to preoperatively, the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS)—a LUTS indicator—yielded the following, 3 months after operation (MD 95% confidence interval, CI = −0.27 −2.22 to 1.68,
p
= .7855), 6 months after operation (MD 95% CI = −2.12 −3.04 to −1.20,
p
< .0001), and 12 months after operation (MD 95% CI = −2.27 −2.63 to −1.92,
p
< .0001), demonstrating significant decrease and, therefore, improvement of symptoms after 6 months. International Prostate Symptom Score—Quality of Life (IPSS-QOL), a QOL indicator, was significantly reduced at 12 months after surgery, indicating improved QOL (MD 95% CI = −0.49 −0.87 to −0.11,
p
= .0107), but there was heterogeneity between different studies (
I
2
= 89.19%). A cumulative meta-analysis showed a tendency for greater improvements in IPSS-QOL at 12 months after surgery, the older the mean age and the higher the mean pre-surgery IPSS. Factors of age, prostate volume, and pre-surgery IPSS were related to postoperative LUTS; exacerbation of both urinary incontinence and urinary tract obstruction was related to QOL.
Conclusion
While LUTS improves over time after total prostatectomy, it takes 6 to 12 months after surgery. As there is an association between LUTS and QOL, support to promote self-management of LUTS is important.
•A double coaxial electrospray ionization sprayer improves the peak resolutions.•This method is highly selective and sensitive for anionic metabolites.•This method is suitable for non-targeted ...analysis of anionic metabolites.
Recently, ion chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry has been used for the determination of anionic metabolites. However, connection with a mass spectrometer in this method is not straightforward because backpressure produced by the addition of a make-up solution often affects the peak resolutions of the target metabolites. To overcome this problem, we developed a capillary ion chromatography-mass spectrometry method utilizing a double coaxial electrospray ionization sprayer. This method was not affected by backpressure and the number of theoretical plates was about three times that of a conventional sprayer. Under optimized conditions, 44 anionic metabolites, including organic acids, sugar phosphates, nucleotides, and cofactors, were successfully separated and selectively detected with a Q Exactive mass spectrometer. The calibration curves of the tested metabolites showed excellent linearity within the range of 1–100,000 nmol/L and the correlation coefficient was greater than 0.991. The detection limits for these metabolites were between 1 and 500 nmol/L (0.4 and 200 fmol). The developed method was applied to the quantitation of anionic metabolites in cultured cancer cell samples with tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α stimulation. This allowed for the successful determination of 105 metabolites. The levels of tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates changed significantly after TNF-α stimulation. These results demonstrate that the developed method is a promising new tool for comprehensive analysis of anionic metabolites.
What are the experiences of post‐prostatectomy cancer patients regarding self‐management of lower urinary tract symptoms? Individuals with prostate cancer are required to self‐manage their ...post‐operative lower urinary tract symptoms and issues associated with them. Clarifying the various aspects of self‐management can help in improving patient‐tailored support. This study therefore aimed to clarify the self‐management of lower urinary tract symptoms in prostate cancer patients who underwent total prostatectomy. Most post‐prostatectomy cancer patients have multiple lower urinary tract symptoms. They have a reduced quality of life due to the symptoms and associated physical, psychological, and social issues. Self‐management of the symptoms in uncomplicated cases has been shown to be effective, but this has not been clarified for post‐prostatectomy cancer patients. The study setting consisted of two designated cancer centres. A survey with semi‐structured interviews was conducted among 13 patients with prostate cancer that underwent total prostatectomy. Data were analysed using the qualitative content analysis techniques of Mayring. A total of 410 codes were extracted from which 42 subcategories and 10 categories emerged. The categories were: (1) recognition of issues associated with lower urinary tract symptoms to be solved; (2) examination of strategies for coping with these symptoms; (3) incorporation of actions that lead to an improvement in the symptoms; (4) avoidance of behaviours that cause worsening of the symptoms; (5) devising ways to prevent interference with one's daily life; (6) dealing with problems associated with the symptoms; (7) building relationships with medical staff and surroundings; (8) self‐evaluation of bladder control status; (9) positive acceptance of the symptoms; and (10) sensing the effectiveness of strategies regarding the control of urination. The results suggest that health care professionals need to provide feedback to patients on LUTS strategies and their effects to help support patient coping strategies. In addition, determining individual patients' strengths and deficiencies in self‐management will allow us to tailor assistance to patients. This is the first step towards the development of self‐management scales to objectively assess self‐management.
The purpose of this study was to identify the state of self-management in patients with diabetes who underwent chemotherapy, by referring to fluctuations in glycemic excursion and adverse drug ...reaction. We conducted a literature search in May 2021 using PubMed, CINAHL, and Ichushi-Web databases with “Cancer AND Diabetes AND Chemotherapy” as keywords. Based on our criteria, 25 articles were selected, and a review matrix sheet was created for the analysis of fluctuations in glycemic excursion and any adverse drug reaction to diabetes in patients undergoing chemotherapy. Substantial increases and unpredictable fluctuations in glycemic excursion were observed in these patients. In addition, an increase or change in the treatment dose was prevalent. Primarily, peripheral neuropathy and infection were reported as common adverse drug reactions. The risk of adverse drug reactions was especially high for patients with diabetes undergoing chemotherapy; furthermore, among this cohort, the detrimental effects were more likely to exacerbate into a severe condition that required special attention. Almost inevitably, the implementation rate of diabetes self-management programs decreased on the 8th week after the commencement of chemotherapy. Considering the findings of large individual differences in fluctuation in this cohort, tailored assistance that is appropriate for each patient's chemotherapy regimen or blood glucose level is of paramount importance. Support of patient self-management to achieve stable blood glucose levels and thus prevent adverse drug reactions was a key component in the successful completion of chemotherapy and improved patient outcomes for this group of special needs patients.
This study aimed to develop a nursing intervention program structured to promote pain self-management for adult outpatients with cancer pain to enable coping with cancer pain-related problems and ...evaluate the appropriateness and clinical applicability of the program.
A questionnaire survey was conducted with two pharmacists and ten oncology nursing specialists using a questionnaire created by the authors. The questionnaire comprised of 23 items asking about the appropriateness of the program, clinical applicability, and feasibility of instruction materials, rated by 5-point scales.
We collected 11 responses. The mean score of all the 23 items was 4.3 (standard deviation SD 0.6), the mean scores of the items were 4.4 (SD 0.6) for the appropriateness of the program, 4.2 (SD 0.5) for the clinical applicability of the program, and 4.3 (SD 0.7) for the feasibility of the instruction materials. The participants provided comments that the program made it easier to select patients for intervention and tasks that patients and nurses can share. Some comments pointed out that the program should be improved to allow patients who need the same intervention several times. Based on these comments, we modified the program partially and completed the first edition of the cancer pain self-management (CPSM) program.
The findings suggest that the CPSM program may be considered appropriate and clinically applicable from the point of view of pharmacists and oncology nurses. Further studies are needed to verify the effects and usefulness of the program in clinical settings.
Although the health benefits of working in old age are well known, no research has examined them among older people with pre-frailty. We examined the improvement effect of working through the Silver ...Human Resources Center (SHRC) on pre-frailty among older people in Japan.
We carried out a two-year longitudinal survey from 2017 to 2019. Among 5,199 older people, the analysis included 531 participants who were judged to be of pre-frailty status at baseline and who completed both surveys. We utilized the records of participants' work through the SHRC from 2017 to 2019. The evaluation of the frequency of working through the SHRC was categorized as "less-working" (i.e., less than a few times a month), "moderate-working" (i.e., one to two times a week), and "frequent-working" (i.e., more than three times a week). The transition of frailty status was classified as "improved" (from pre-frailty to robust) and "non-improved" (from pre-frailty to pre-frailty or frailty). Logistic regression was used to assess the influence of the frequency of working through the SHRC on the improvement of pre-frailty. The analysis model was adjusted for age, sex, working for financial reward, years of membership, community activities, and health status at baseline. Inverse-probability weighting was used to correct for survival bias in the follow-up period.
The improvement rate of pre-frailty during follow-up was 28.9% among the less-working, 40.2% in the moderate-working, and 36.9% in the frequent-working groups. The improvement rate in the less-working group was significantly lower than that in the other two groups (φ = -2.4). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that individuals in the moderate-working group had significantly higher odds of pre-frailty improvement than those in the less-working group (OR: 1.47, 95% CI: 1.14-1.90), and no significant differences were found between the frequent-working and less-working groups.
We found that the participants engaged in moderate working through the SHRC significantly increased their rate of pre-frailty improvement, while frequent working showed no significant association. Therefore, in the future it is important to provide moderate work to older people with pre-frailty according to their health status.
Patients with malignant gliomas have to adjust their daily lives because of the threat of impending death and declining abilities. Thus, clarifying the process of life adjustment in such patients ...would help them lead a normal life. To clarify the process of life adjustment in patients at the onset of glioma, who continuously receive oral anticancer drug.
The study institution consisted of two designated cancer centers. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 patients, and the data were analyzed using the Modified Grounded Theory Approach of Kinoshita (M-GTA).
As a core category representing the process of life adjustment in patients at the onset of glioma, “trials and errors for self-fulfillment even in a limited lifespan” was extracted. Patients began “seeking information about the unfamiliar life-threatening disease,” and “imaging their uncertain lives after the disease and the resulting disability” while “conducting repeated trials and errors to establish coping methods according to their abilities.” When facing difficulties in such trials and errors, they reported “losing self-confidence due to unexpected limitations.” However, they regulated their feelings by “resigning themselves to their unchangeable reality.” Contrarily, as “functional improvement enhanced their motivation to recover,” they attempted to promote functional recovery and organized their daily lives in “fulfilling their desires in their limited lifespan.”
The process of life adjustment in patients with malignant gliomas involved identifying a way of living despite limited lifespan. To ensure appropriate nursing care for patients at the onset of glioma, it is important to help them establish coping methods in accordance with their abilities.
The early detection and prevention of many cancers is possible. Therefore, public awareness about cancer risk factors and warning signs must be increased to ensure early diagnosis. Although Japan has ...implemented mandatory cancer education in junior high and high schools, few studies have evaluated teachers' cancer awareness. This study aimed to determine Japanese junior high and high school teachers' awareness of cancer and related factors.
This cross-sectional study obtained data through an online questionnaire survey using questions from the Cancer Awareness Measure (CAM) developed by Cancer Research UK. Thirty items were selected from three CAM modules: cancer risk factors, cancer warning signs, and barriers to seeking help. Descriptive statistics were used for socio-demografic data and CAM module questions. The χ
test was performed on the relationship between cancer awareness and socio-demographic data. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors influencing cancer awareness.
Respondents included 316 junior high school and 463 high school teachers (541 men; 238 women; average age = 48.2 years; average teaching experience = 23.5 years). An average of 5.41 out of 11 cancer risk factors were recognized. More than 70% of teachers recognized smoking, exposure to another person's cigarette smoke, and having a close relative with cancer as risk factors. On average, 4.52 out of 9 cancer warning signs were recognized. More than 50% of teachers recognized the warning signs of unexplained lump or swelling, unexplained weight loss, and unexplained bleeding. Barriers to seeking help had a low average score of 4.51 out of 20. However, the most commonly recognized "barriers to seeking help" were "too busy to make time," "difficult to make an appointment," "worried about what the doctor might find," and "too scared." Moreover, the common factors that affected awareness of cancer risk factors and cancer warning signs were gender and cancer experience of relatives. Factors that affected awareness of "barriers to seeking help" were "participation in cancer-related workshops," age, gender, and cancer experience of relatives.
Cancer awareness education should consider interventions that can improve knowledge of the symptoms and signs related to cancer without increasing the awareness of barriers to seeking help.
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.
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