Impacts of an advance care planning intervention on close relationships.

Objectives: To examine how an advance care planning (ACP) intervention based on structured conversations impacts the relationship between patients with advanced cancer and their nominated Personal Representatives (PRs).

Methods: Within the ACTION research project, a qualitative study was carried out in 4 countries (Italy, United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Slovenia) to explore the lived experience of engagement with the ACTION Respecting Choices ACP intervention from the perspectives of patients and their PRs. A phenomenological approach was undertaken.

How can advance care planning support hope in patients with advanced cancer and their families: A qualitative study as part of the international ACTION trial.

Objective: Clinicians' fears of taking away patients' hope is one of the barriers to advance care planning (ACP). Research on how ACP supports hope is scarce. We have taken up the challenge to specify ways in which ACP conversations may potentially support hope.

Citrate high volume on-line hemodiafiltration modulates serum Interleukin-6 and Klotho levels: the multicenter randomized controlled study "Hephaestus".

Background: Studies addressing the anti-inflammatory properties of citrate dialysate enrolled patients in both hemodialysis (HD) and hemodiafiltration (HDF), the latter not adjusted for adequate convective exchange. This is a potential source of confounding in that HDF itself has anti-inflammatory effects regardless of the buffer, and optimal clinical outcomes are related to the amount of convection.

Methods: To distinguish the merits of the buffer from those of convection, we performed a 6-month, prospective, randomized, crossover AB-BA study.

Advance care planning in patients with advanced cancer: A 6-country, cluster-randomised clinical trial.

Background: Advance care planning (ACP) supports individuals to define, discuss, and record goals and preferences for future medical treatment and care. Despite being internationally recommended, randomised clinical trials of ACP in patients with advanced cancer are scarce.

Methods And Findings: To test the implementation of ACP in patients with advanced cancer, we conducted a cluster-randomised trial in 23 hospitals across Belgium, Denmark, Italy, Netherlands, Slovenia, and United Kingdom in 2015-2018.

Association between Satisfaction with Dialysis Treatment and Quality of Life: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction: CKD is associated with a reduction of patients' health-related quality of life. Considering the time spent in dialysis, satisfaction with care is essential for patients QOL.

Objective: Since the possible association between satisfaction with the dialysis care and QOL has never been studied, in this study, we explore this plausible link.

[Assessing the quality of life in patients with a vascular access].

Patients undergoing haemodialytic treatment have a lower quality of life than the general population because of several factors. Their wellbeing can be assessed through a clinical evaluation or through the subjective point of view of the patients themselves: the perceived Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) is an index calculated on the basis of the patients' own perspective. A well-functioning vascular access (VA) and the absence of complications are certainly associated with better health in patients on dialysis but unfortunately VA-related perceived HRQoL has so far been a subject of little interesting literature, even though the choice of the most appropriate access in the individual patient is today increasingly articulate and difficult.

Depressive Symptoms in Dialysis: Prevalence and Relationship with Uremia-Related Biochemical Parameters.

Background: Depression is the most common psychiatric disorder in long-term dialysis patients and a risk factor for morbidity and mortality. Although there is a relevance of the issue in the dialysis setting, we still know little about possible relationships between depression and uraemia-related biochemical abnormalities. Our aims were to evaluate (1) the prevalence of depression in our haemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) population using a validated and easy-to-implement screening tool and (2) the association between depression and the main uraemia-related clinical and biochemical parameter changes.

Live music intervention for cancer inpatients: The Music Givers format.

Unlabelled: ABSTRACTObjective:The present study intended to evaluate the impact of a standardized format-called the "Music Givers," based on a single session of music intervention followed by a buffet-on the psychological burden and well-being of hospitalized cancer patients.

Method: The Distress Thermometer (DT), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and self-reported visual analogue scales (score range = 1-10) to assess pain, fatigue, and five areas of well-being (i.e.

Use and perceived benefits of complementary therapies by cancer patients receiving conventional treatment in Italy.

Context: In Italy, data regarding the use of complementary therapies (CTs) among patients with cancer are sparse and discordant.

Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the demographic and psychological characteristics of Italian cancer patients who use CTs and the perceived benefit of users.

Methods: Eight hundred three patients from six Italian oncology departments were interviewed about CT use and completed two questionnaires to explore psychological distress and the resilience trait called sense of coherence (SOC).

Temperament and character traits associated with health-related quality of life in cancer patients.

Background: There is an increase in the attention to factors influencing the quality of life of cancer patients. The aim of the present study was to evaluate temperament and character traits related to health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with cancer.

Methods: Two hundred and three inpatients from three Italian oncology departments filled in the Temperament Character Inventory (TCI-140) based on Cloninger's personality model, the SF-36 questionnaire assessing HRQoL, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).