Establishing the sensitivity and specificity of the gynaecological cancer distress screen.

Objective: Nuanced distress screening tools can help cancer care services manage specific cancer groups' concerns more efficiently. This study examines the sensitivity and specificity of a tool specifically for women with gynaecological cancers (called the Gynaecological Cancer Distress Screen or DT-Gyn).

Methods: This paper presents cross-sectional data from individuals recently treated for gynaecological cancer recruited through Australian cancer care services, partner organisations, and support/advocacy services.

Development of Key Principles and Best Practices for Co-Design in Health with First Nations Australians.

Background: While co-design offers potential for equitably engaging First Nations Australians in findings solutions to redressing prevailing disparities, appropriate applications of co-design must align with First Nations Australians' culture, values, and worldviews. To achieve this, robust, culturally grounded, and First Nations-determined principles and practices to guide co-design approaches are required.

Aims: This project aimed to develop a set of key principles and best practices for co-design in health with First Nations Australians.

A Comprehensive Review of Optimal Approaches to Co-Design in Health with First Nations Australians.

Background: Australia's social, structural, and political context, together with the continuing impact of colonisation, perpetuates health care and outcome disparities for First Nations Australians. A new approach led by First Nations Australians is required to address these disparities. Co-design is emerging as a valued method for First Nations Australian communities to drive change in health policy and practice to better meet their needs and priorities.

Screening for distress in women with gynaecological cancer: Adaptation of the distress thermometer for gynaecological oncology patients.

Objective: Generic distress screening tools may not recognise the unique concerns reported in some cancer populations. The face and content validity of a screening tool derived from the National Cancer Comprehensive Network distress thermometer and problem list and adapted specifically for women with gynaecological cancer is presented.

Methods: Building on existing work, panels of clinicians and researchers, and focus groups with women treated for gynaecological cancer, developed a nuanced distress screening tool.

Patterns of, and barriers to supportive care needs assessment and provision for Australian women with gynecological cancer and their caregivers: a mixed-methods study of clinical practice.

Objectives: To document the current clinical practice in 2017 for assessment of supportive care needs and provision of supportive care to women with gynecological cancer and their caregivers in Australia, and to identify the main enablers and barriers to care provision.

Methods: A total of 64 health professionals who care for Australian women with gynecological cancer responded to an electronic survey which explored their use of needs assessment, service-level processes and protocols for support service provision, and identified enablers and barriers to provision of care to both patients and caregivers. Eight respondents underwent an additional in-depth interview to elaborate on enablers, barriers, and gaps in the provision of supportive care.

Australian women's perceptions of breast cancer risk factors and the risk of developing breast cancer.

Background: Numerous studies have shown that the majority of women overestimate both their own risk and the populations' risk of developing breast cancer. A number of factors have been found to correlate with perceived risk.

Methods: This paper reports on a telephone survey of a nationally representative sample of approximately 3,000 Australian women aged 30 to 69 years, conducted in 2007, and compares the findings with those of a similar survey conducted in 2003.

Development and pilot testing of a communication aid to assist clinicians to communicate with women diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS).

Purpose: The literature highlights the confusion amongst women diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) about aspects of their disease and treatment and the wide variation in how doctors communicate about DCIS. The DCIS communication aid (CA) was developed to assist clinicians to communicate with women diagnosed with DCIS and to improve women's understanding about their disease, prognosis and treatment options. This study aimed to assess patient and clinician perceptions of the CA.

Australian women's awareness of breast cancer symptoms and responses to potential symptoms.

Objectives: Poor awareness of breast cancer symptoms has been associated with patient delay in seeking help; thus reduced survival, more aggressive treatment, and fewer treatment choices. The aim of this study was to develop a representative picture of Australian women's knowledge of symptoms, experienced potential symptoms, and behavioral responses.

Methods: A general population sample of approximately 3,000 women aged 30-69 completed a telephone survey; results were compared to previous surveys conducted in 1996 and 2003.

The 2003 Australian Breast Health Survey: survey design and preliminary results.

Background: The Breast Health Surveys, conducted by the National Breast Cancer Centre (NBCC) in 1996 and 2003, are designed to gain insight into the knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of a nationally representative sample of Australian women on issues relevant to breast cancer. In this article, we focus on major aspects of the design and present results on respondents' knowledge about mammographic screening.

Methods: The 2003 BHS surveyed English-speaking Australian women aged 30-69 without a history of breast cancer using computer-assisted telephone interviewing.

'Would you like to talk about your future treatment options'? Discussing the transition from curative cancer treatment to palliative care.

Palliative care focuses on improving quality of life for patients with life-threatening illness and their families. There comes a time when actively pursuing aggressive curative treatment may do more harm than good. The cessation of curative treatment is often viewed as a distinct event; however, current practice guidelines suggest that a palliative approach should be gradually adopted as the disease progresses.