Effects of expressive helping writing during stem cell transplant: Randomized controlled trial.

Objective: Most cancer patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplant report elevated symptoms and reduced health-related quality of life during peritransplant. These concerns can become persistent. A prior randomized controlled trial showed that expressive helping-a low-burden, brief intervention combining expressive writing with a novel peer support writing exercise-reduced psychological distress and physical symptoms in long-term transplant survivors with moderate/high persistent symptoms.

Relationship Between Perceived COVID-19 Risk and Change in Perceived Breast Cancer Risk: Prospective Observational Study.

Background: Whether COVID-19 is associated with a change in risk perception about other health conditions is unknown. Because COVID-19 occurred during a breast cancer study, we evaluated the effect of COVID-19 risk perception on women's breast cancer risk perception.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the relationship between perceived risk of COVID-19 and change in perceived breast cancer risk.

Healthcare Professionals' Views of Supportive Care Needs for Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese Americans with Metastatic Cancer.

The supportive care needs of people with metastatic cancer, particularly Asian Americans, are understudied. Distinct psychosocial support needs may exist across ethnocultural groups with Confucian-heritage values and norms. Cultural factors may shape how adults approach their oncologic care.

Supportive Care Needs in Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean Americans With Metastatic Cancer: Mixed Methods Protocol for the DAWN Study.

Background: Asian Americans with metastatic cancer are an understudied population. The Describing Asian American Well-Being and Needs in Cancer (DAWN) Study was designed to understand the supportive care needs of Chinese-, Vietnamese-, and Korean-descent (CVK) patients with metastatic cancer.

Objective: This study aims to present the DAWN Study protocol involving a primarily qualitative, convergent, mixed methods study from multiple perspectives (patients or survivors, caregivers, and health care professionals).

Sleep Disturbance as a Mediator of Lung Cancer Stigma on Psychological Distress and Physical Symptom Burden.

Objective: This study tested sleep disturbance as a mediator through which stigma and discrimination predict psychological distress and physical symptom burden in adults with lung cancer.

Methods: Lung cancer patients on active oncological treatment ( N = 108; 74.1% stage IV) completed questionnaires on lung cancer stigma, sleep, distress, and physical symptoms at study entry and at 6- and 12-week follow-up.

The utility of coping through emotional approach: A meta-analysis.

Objective: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to examine associations between attempts to cope with stressors through the two facets of emotional approach coping (EAC; i.e., processing and expressing stressor-related emotions) and indicators of physical and mental health.

Perceptions of COVID-19 Risk: How Did People Adapt to the Novel Risk?

Background: There is limited understanding of how risk perceptions changed as the US population gained experience with COVID-19. The objectives were to examine risk perceptions and determine the factors associated with risk perceptions and how these changed over the first 18 mo of the pandemic.

Methods: Seven cross-sectional online surveys were fielded between May 2020 and October 2021.

Greater Social Isolation and Social Constraints Prior to Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Are Associated with Greater Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms.

Background: Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (hereafter "HCT") is a physically and psychologically difficult treatment for patients with hematological cancers. This study examined relationships among patients' reports of pre-transplant social isolation, social constraints, and psychological distress.

Method: We used baseline data from a multisite randomized controlled trial evaluating the effects of expressive helping writing to reduce physical and emotional symptoms in HCT patients.

Examining the impact of a multimedia intervention on decisional conflict and psychological distress among early-stage breast cancer patients: results from a nationwide RCT.

We conducted a nationwide, randomized controlled trial to evaluate the impact of Healing Choices, a novel interactive education and treatment decision program rooted in the self-regulation theory framework, on decisional conflict and psychological distress at 2-month post-intervention in women with early-stage breast cancer. Patients were randomized to receive the National Cancer Institute's standard print material (control) or standard print material plus Healing Choices (the intervention). The final sample at 2-month post-intervention consisted of N = 388 participants (intervention: n = 197; control: n = 191).

"No Complaining, No Crying": A Qualitative Study of the Strong Black Woman Schema in the Breast Cancer Context.

Background: Black women have the highest mortality from breast cancer compared with other racial/ethnic groups. Black women with breast cancer also evidence compromised quality of life in some domains. Culturally relevant aspects of their experience are understudied.

"I'm Fighting for My Life": Exploring Interactions Between Black Women with Breast Cancer and Healthcare Providers.

Black Americans face a multitude of problems in the healthcare system, including challenges during interactions with healthcare providers. The present study examined the quality of healthcare provider-Black patient interactions in a sample of Black American women with a breast cancer diagnosis. More specifically, the study examined potential contributors to Black Americans' current healthcare experiences and lack of trust by identifying their specific negative and positive encounters in the healthcare system.

Management of Anxiety and Depression in Adult Survivors of Cancer: ASCO Guideline Update.

Purpose: To update the American Society of Clinical Oncology guideline on the management of anxiety and depression in adult cancer survivors.

Methods: A multidisciplinary expert panel convened to update the guideline. A systematic review of evidence published from 2013-2021 was conducted.

Strategies to increase the intention to get vaccinated against COVID-19: Findings from a nationally representative survey of US adults, October 2020 to October 2021.

Objectives: We examined COVID-19 vaccination status, intention, and hesitancy and the effects of five strategies to increase the willingness of unvaccinated adults (≥18 years) to get a COVID vaccine.

Methods: Online surveys were conducted between October 1-17, 2020 (N = 14,946), December 4-16, 2020 (N = 15,229), April 8-22, 2021 (N = 14,557), June 17-July 6, 2021 (N = 30,857), and September 3-October 4, 2021 (N = 33,088) with an internet-based, non-probability opt-in sample of U.S.

The Ubuntu Approach in Project SOAR (Speaking Our African American Realities): Building a robust community-academic partnership and culturally curated focus groups.

Community-academic partnerships to enable research within minoritized communities are ever more important. Building on community-based participatory research frameworks, the Ubuntu Approach is offered as a set of principles for initiating and supporting meaningful and productive community-academic research partnerships. Particularly pertinent when the research is for and about systemically oppressed groups, the action principles are: 1) take risks; 2) identify and align core values; 3) create connection; 4) convey respect; 5) cultivate trust; and 6) put the work (i.

Current health care experiences, medical trust, and COVID-19 vaccination intention and uptake in Black and White Americans.

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic spotlighted Black Americans' inequitable health care experiences. Across two studies, we tested the associations between health care experiences, historical knowledge of medical mistreatment, medical trust, and COVID-19 vaccination intention and uptake in Black and White Americans. We hypothesized that Black Americans' worse current health care experiences (rather than historical knowledge) and lower medical trust would be associated with lower COVID-19 vaccination intention (Study 1) and that feeling less cared for by their personal physician would be associated with Black Americans' lower medical trust (Study 2).

A mixed-methods study of the technical feasibility and patient acceptability of a real-time adherence monitor in breast cancer survivors taking adjuvant endocrine therapy.

Purpose: Oral anti-cancer medications are increasingly common and endocrine therapies represent the most common oral anti-cancer medications in breast cancer. Adjuvant endocrine therapies reduce the likelihood of recurrence and mortality in the approximately 80% of women diagnosed with hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer, thus rendering adherence essential. Real-time medication adherence monitors, such as the Wisepill electronic pillbox, transmit adherence data remotely, allowing for early intervention for non-adherence.

Optimizing use of written peer support as a supportive resource in cancer: Focus group insights.

Purpose: Cancer survivors frequently describe wanting to learn from others who have had similar diagnoses or treatments (peer support). We conducted focus groups to investigate hematopoietic stem cell transplant survivors' attitudes and preferences regarding accessing written peer support through a website. Although written peer support does not allow for interpersonal interactions with peers, it could increase transplant recipients' access to evidence-based benefits of informational and emotional peer support.

Physical Activity Behavior of Patients at a Skilled Nursing Facility: Longitudinal Cohort Study.

Background: On-body wearable sensors have been used to predict adverse outcomes such as hospitalizations or fall, thereby enabling clinicians to develop better intervention guidelines and personalized models of care to prevent harmful outcomes. In our previous work, we introduced a generic remote patient monitoring framework (Sensing At-Risk Population) that draws on the classification of human movements using a 3-axial accelerometer and the extraction of indoor localization using Bluetooth low energy beacons, in concert. Using the same framework, this paper addresses the longitudinal analyses of a group of patients in a skilled nursing facility.

Intervention and mediation effects of target processes in a randomized controlled trial of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for anxious cancer survivors in community oncology clinics.

Objective: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a promising psycho-oncological intervention, but its mechanisms in real-world settings are not fully understood. This study examined core theorized ACT and broader ACT-consistent target processes as mediators of ACT versus minimally-enhanced usual care within a randomized trial for anxious cancer survivors in a community oncology setting.

Method: Two core theorized ACT target processes (experiential avoidance and values-aligned behavior, each measured with two instruments) and two broader ACT-consistent target processes (emotional approach coping and self-compassion) were analyzed at pre- and post-intervention as mediators of general anxiety symptoms, cancer-related trauma symptoms, and fear of cancer recurrence (N = 134).

Facets of stigma, self-compassion, and health-related adjustment to lung cancer: A longitudinal study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate whether three facets of lung cancer stigma (internalized stigma, constrained disclosure, and perceived subtle discrimination) uniquely predicted psychological and physical health-related adjustment to lung cancer across 12 weeks. Additionally, self-compassion was tested as a moderator of the stigma-health relationship.

Method: Adults receiving oncologic treatment for lung cancer (N = 108) completed measures of lung cancer stigma, self-compassion, depressive symptoms, cancer-related stress, and physical symptom bother.

Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial of a Low-Touch Remotely-Delivered Values Intervention to Promote Adherence to Adjuvant Endocrine Therapy Among Breast Cancer Survivors.

Background: Oral anti-cancer treatments such as adjuvant endocrine therapies (AET) for breast cancer survivors are commonly used but adherence is a challenge. Few low-touch, scalable interventions exist to increase ET adherence.

Purpose: To evaluate the acceptability, feasibility, and initial efficacy of a low-touch, remotely-delivered values plus AET education intervention (REACH) to promote AET adherence.

Depressive Symptoms and Anxiety During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Large, Longitudinal, Cross-sectional Survey.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has influenced the mental health of millions across the globe. Understanding factors associated with depressive symptoms and anxiety across 12 months of the pandemic can help identify groups at higher risk and psychological processes that can be targeted to mitigate the long-term mental health impact of the pandemic.

Objective: This study aims to determine sociodemographic features, COVID-19-specific factors, and general psychological variables associated with depressive symptoms and anxiety over 12 months of the pandemic.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Routine Medical Care and Cancer Screening.

Background: COVID-19 restrictions and fear dramatically changed the use of medical care. Understanding the magnitude of cancelled and postponed appointments and associated factors can help identify approaches to mitigate unmet need.

Objective: To determine the proportion of medical visits cancelled or postponed and for whom.

Socioeconomic Status and Inflammation in Women with Early-stage Breast Cancer: Mediation by Body Mass Index.

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the US, and women of low socioeconomic status (SES) show markedly poorer outcomes than those of high SES. SES may influence health through inflammation, although links between SES and inflammatory biomarkers have not been investigated in women with breast cancer. This study tested the hypothesis that breast cancer patients of lower SES would show higher levels of inflammation than those of higher SES.