LGBTQI Sexual Well-Being and Embodiment After Cancer: A Mixed-Methods Study.

This study examined lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI) cancer patients' sexual well-being post-cancer, and the associations between sexual well-being and social support, physical concerns, distress, quality of life (QOL), and coping. We used a mixed-methods approach, including 430 surveys and 103 interviews, representing a range of tumor types, sexual and gender identities, age groups, and intersex status. The findings indicated that LGBTQI people with cancer experience declines in sexual well-being following cancer, which are associated with reduced QOL, greater physical concerns, and lower social support.

Reinforcing or Disrupting Gender Affirmation: The Impact of Cancer on Transgender Embodiment and Identity.

There is a pressing need for greater understanding and focus on cancer survivorship and informal cancer caring of trans people (binary and non-binary), across tumor types, to inform culturally safe trans inclusive cancer information and care. This qualitative study, part of the mixed methods Out with Cancer project, examined experiences of trans embodiment and identity after cancer diagnosis and treatment. We drew on open-ended survey responses from 63 trans cancer survivors and 23 trans cancer carers, as well as interviews and a photo-elicitation activity with a subset of 22 participants (15 cancer survivors, 7 cancer carers).

Mothers' experiences of wellbeing and coping while living with rheumatoid arthritis: a qualitative study.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can result in difficulties for mothers when undertaking daily care activities and increased psychological distress. However, few studies have examined how women with RA subjectively experience coping and wellbeing as part of their motherhood.

Methods: Twenty mothers with a diagnosis of RA and a dependent child (18 years or younger) who were living in Australia took part in a semi-structured interview between June and November 2017.

Attitudes, knowledge and practice behaviours of oncology health care professionals towards lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI) patients and their carers: A mixed-methods study.

Objective: There is growing recognition that health care professionals (HCPs) and policy makers are insufficiently equipped to provide culturally competent care to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI) cancer patients and their families. We examined HCP attitudes, knowledge, and practices regarding LGBTQI cancer care using a mixed-methods research design.

Method: Surveys were completed by 357 oncology HCPs in nursing (40%), medical (24%), allied health (19%), and clinical leadership roles (11%); 48 of the surveyed HCPs were interviewed.

Barriers and Facilitators to Integrative Oncology Services in Australia: A Changed Mind Set Required.

This study aimed to explore barriers and facilitators to integrative oncology (IO) service provision and access in Australia. The study design was mixed method with two substudies: a cross-sectional national cancer service survey of public and private sectors; and focus group interviews and an online survey of cancer survivors. Triangulation analysis of qualitative and quantitative data was used to identify and interrogate meta-themes.

Talking but not always understanding: couple communication about infertility concerns after cancer.

Background: Cancer related infertility can have an impact on couple relationships, with evidence that couple communication facilitates coping. However, little is known about the ways in which couples communicate about cancer-related fertility concerns. The aim of this article is to examine couple communication about fertility concerns in the context of cancer, and the perceived quality of such communication from the perspective of cancer survivors and their partners.

The impact of cancer-related fertility concerns on current and future couple relationships: People with cancer and partner perspectives.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine how cancer-related fertility concerns impact on couple relationships from the perspectives of people with cancer (PWC) and partners of people with cancer.

Methods: A qualitative research design was used, drawing data from open-ended responses to a survey and in-depth individual interviews. Eight hundred and seventy-eight PWC (693 women, 185 men) and 144 partners (82 women, 62 men), across a range of tumour types and age groups, completed a survey, and 78 PWC (61 women and 17 men) and 26 partners (13 women and 13 men), participated in semi-structured interviews.

Parents' experiences of information-seeking and decision-making regarding complementary medicine for children with autism spectrum disorder: a qualitative study.

Background: Complementary and alternative medicine and therapies (CAM) are widely used by parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, there is a gap in our understanding of how and why parents of children with ASD make decisions about CAM treatment, and how "evidence" influences their decision-making. The aim of this study was to explore views and perspectives on CAM decision-making among parents of children with ASD in Australia.

Hope, burden or risk: a discourse analytic study of the construction and experience of fertility preservation in the context of cancer.

Objective: Infertility is a significant concern for people with cancer and fertility preservation is often recommended. However, uptake of preservation interventions remains low. In this study, we examined how people with cancer construct their subjectivity - their sense of self - in relation to decision making and processes of fertility preservation.

The treatment of booking gestational diabetes mellitus (TOBOGM) pilot randomised controlled trial.

Background: We piloted a randomised controlled trial (RCT) comparing pregnancy outcomes among women with booking gestational diabetes (GDM) receiving immediate or deferred treatment.

Methods: Consecutive, consenting women < 20 weeks gestation, with GDM risk factors attending the hospital book-in clinic, completed an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Clinicians were blinded to OGTT results.

Australian integrative oncology services: a mixed-method study exploring the views of cancer survivors.

Background: The significant use of traditional and complementary medicine (T&CM) by cancer survivors is well documented. The aim of this study was to explore cancer survivors' views on integrating T&CM services with conventional cancer care.

Method: A mixed-method study design with an emphasis on qualitative methodology was used to conduct and analyse four focus group interviews and an on-line survey.

Need for information, honesty and respect: patient perspectives on health care professionals communication about cancer and fertility.

Background: Individuals affected by cancer report a need for information about fertility from health care professionals (HCPs), in order to inform decision making and alleviate anxiety. However, there is evidence that many health professionals do not engage in such discussions.

Method: A mixed method design was used to examine the construction and subjective experience of communication with health professionals about fertility in the context of cancer, from the perspective of patients.

"Is it menopause or bipolar?": a qualitative study of the experience of menopause for women with bipolar disorder.

Background: Menopause can be a time of change for women and may be marked by disturbances in mood. For women living with a mental illness, such as bipolar disorder, little is known about how they experience mood changes during menopause. This study aimed to explore how women with bipolar disorder constructed mood changes during menopause and how this impacted on treatment decisions.

'Normal' and 'failing' mothers: Women's constructions of maternal subjectivity while living with multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis causes physical and cognitive impairment that can impact women's experiences of motherhood. This study examined how women construct their maternal subjectivities, or sense of self as a mother, drawing on a framework of biographical disruption. A total of 20 mothers with a multiple sclerosis diagnosis took part in semi-structured interviews.

Experiencing menopause in the context of cancer: Women's constructions of gendered subjectivities.

Objective: Many women experience premature menopause following cancer treatment, accompanied by psychological distress, and poor health-related quality of life. In this qualitative study, we examined how women construct their gendered subjectivities - their sense of self as a woman - in the context of premature menopause after cancer.

Design: We analysed data from open-ended survey items and semi-structured interviews with women who had experienced cancer.

Constructions and experiences of motherhood in the context of an early intervention for Aboriginal mothers and their children: mother and healthcare worker perspectives.

Background: The colonisation of Australia has been associated with traumatic consequences for Aboriginal health and wellbeing, including the breakdown of the traditional family unit and negative consequences for the mother/child relationship. Early-intervention programs have been developed to assist families to overcome disadvantage and strengthen mother/child attachment. However, there is no research examining Aboriginal women's subjective experiences and constructions of motherhood in the context of such programs, and no research on the perceived impact of such programs, from the perspective of Aboriginal mothers and healthcare workers (HCWs), with previous research focusing on child outcomes.

Women's Construction of Embodiment and the Abject Sexual Body After Cancer.

Cancer and cancer treatments can cause significant changes to women's sexual well-being. We explored how women construct a sense of their bodies and sexual "selves" in the context of cancer. Sixteen women, across a range of ages (20-71 years), cancer types, and cancer stages, took part in in-depth semistructured interviews.