The impact of brain cancer care coordinators on healthcare utilization and outcomes in patients with glioblastoma.

Background: Cancer care coordinators (CCCs) are recognized as having an important role in patients' and carers' cancer journey. However, there are no studies investigating the impact of CCCs on quantitative outcomes. We performed a retrospective cohort study investigating the impact of brain cancer care coordinators (BCCCs) on health service resource use and survival in patients with glioblastoma.

A qualitative study investigating Australian cancer service outpatients' experience of distress screening and management: what is the personal relevance, acceptability and improvement opportunities from patient perspectives?

Purpose: People diagnosed with cancer experience high distress levels throughout diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship. Untreated distress is associated with poor outcomes, including worsened quality of life and higher mortality rates. Distress screening facilitates need-based access to supportive care which can optimize patient outcomes.

Feasibility of patient-focused behavioral interventions to support adults experiencing chronic noncancer pain during opioid tapering: a systematic literature review.

Guidelines for chronic noncancer pain prioritize behavioral treatments. In clinical practice transition from opioids to behavioral treatments is often not endorsed by patients or providers. Feasible interventions to support opioid tapering are needed, particularly in primary care.

WNT11-Conditioned Medium Promotes Angiogenesis through the Activation of Non-Canonical WNT-PKC-JNK Signaling Pathway.

Background: We demonstrated that the transduction of Wnt11 into mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) (MSC) promotes these cells differentiation into cardiac phenotypes. In the present study, we investigated the paracrine effects of MSC on cardiac function and angiogenesis.

Methods And Results: Conditioned medium was collected from MSC (CdM) and their control cells (CdM).

Distress screening and supportive care referrals used by telephone-based health services: a systematic review.

Purpose: People affected by chronic diseases such as cancer report high levels of distress and a need for psychosocial support. It is unclear whether telephone-based services for people affected by chronic disease are a practical setting for implementing distress screening, referral protocols and rescreening to direct supportive care where it is needed. This systematic review aimed to describe the published literature regarding distress screening and supportive care referral practices in telephone-based services for people affected by chronic diseases such as cancer.

A cross-sectional audit of current practices and areas for improvement of distress screening and management in Australian cancer services: is there a will and a way to improve?

Background: It is unknown how many distressed patients receive the additional supportive care recommended by Australian evidence-based distress management guidelines. The study identifies the (1) distress screening practices of Australian cancer services; (2) barriers to improving practices; and (3) implementation strategies which are acceptable to service representatives interested in improving screening practices.

Method: Clinic leads from 220 cancer services were asked to nominate an individual involved in daily patient care to complete a cross-sectional survey on behalf of the service.

How can we help haematological cancer survivors cope with the changes they experience as a result of their cancer?

Haematological cancer often necessitates that individuals make significant lifestyle and behaviour changes to protect themselves against infections. It is essential that haematological cancer survivors receive the support and information they require to adjust to such changes. This cross-sectional survey of 259 haematological cancer survivors found that over two thirds of haematological cancer survivors would like to receive more detailed information or help with: diet and nutrition that takes into account their diagnosis and treatment, how to manage the symptoms from the cancer and/or treatment, signs and symptoms to be aware of that may indicate a possible infection and appropriate exercise.

An organisational change intervention for increasing the delivery of smoking cessation support in addiction treatment centres: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: The provision of smoking cessation support in Australian drug and alcohol treatment services is sub-optimal. This study examines the cost-effectiveness of an organisational change intervention to reduce smoking amongst clients attending drug and alcohol treatment services.

Methods/design: A cluster-randomised controlled trial will be conducted with drug and alcohol treatment centres as the unit of randomisation.

Prevalence and associates of psychological distress in haematological cancer survivors.

Purpose: To explore outcomes of psychological distress, including anxiety, depression and stress, amongst adult haematological cancer survivors, with a specific focus on potential differences between rural and urban survivors.

Methods: One thousand four hundred fourteen urban and rural survivors were recruited from five Australian population-based cancer registries and completed a self-report pen-and-paper survey on their well-being, including the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale 21-item version.

Results: A quarter of survivors were identified as reporting above normal levels of anxiety and depression, respectively, and almost one fifth (17 %) reported above normal levels of stress.

Which Type of Antismoking Advertisement Is Perceived as More Effective? An Experimental Study With a Sample of Australian Socially Disadvantaged Welfare Recipients.

Purpose: Evaluate the perceived effectiveness of key antismoking messages among highly disadvantaged smokers and assess the impact of nicotine dependence and cessation cognitions on message processing.

Design: The experimental crossover trial, undertaken between March and December 2012, randomly exposed participants to two of three antismoking advertisements delivered via touchscreen computer.

Setting: Welfare recipients were recruited from a community service organization in New South Wales, Australia.

To adhere or not to adhere: Rates and reasons of medication adherence in hematological cancer patients.

To conduct a comprehensive review to examine among hematological cancer patients: (1) rates of adherence to self-administered cancer treatments; and (2) factors impacting on their adherence. Fifty two eligible publications were identified. The majority focused on Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia (CML) (n=40) and Acute Lymphoid Leukaemia (ALL) (n=11) patients.

Comparing socially disadvantaged smokers who agree and decline to participate in a randomised smoking cessation trial.

Objectives: This study examined sociodemographic, smoking and psychosocial characteristics associated with consent to participate in a smoking cessation trial for socially disadvantaged smokers.

Design: Baseline data were collected prior to seeking consent for the Call it Quits, a randomised controlled trial.

Setting: An Australian social and community service organisation.

Enablers of the implementation of tissue plasminogen activator in acute stroke care: a cross-sectional survey.

Objective: To assess emergency physicians' perceptions of individual and system enablers to the use of tissue Plasminogen Activator in acute stroke.

Method: Australian fellows and trainees of Australasian College for Emergency Medicine completed a 57-item online survey assessing enablers to implementation of evidence-based practice across six domains: knowledge, skills, modelling, monitoring, feedback, and maintenance. Demographic and workplace characteristics were obtained.

Reaching the hard-to-reach: a systematic review of strategies for improving health and medical research with socially disadvantaged groups.

Background: This study aims to review the literature regarding the barriers to sampling, recruitment, participation, and retention of members of socioeconomically disadvantaged groups in health research and strategies for increasing the amount of health research conducted with socially disadvantaged groups.

Methods: A systematic review with narrative synthesis was conducted. Searches of electronic databases Medline, PsychInfo, EMBASE, Social Science Index via Web of Knowledge and CINHAL were conducted for English language articles published up to May 2013.

Socioeconomically disadvantaged smokers' ratings of plain and branded cigarette packaging: an experimental study.

Objectives: This study aimed to test the potential impact of plain packaging for cigarettes on brand appeal among highly socioeconomically disadvantaged smokers using the new design for cigarettes implemented in Australia, which combines plain packaging with larger health warning labels.

Design: A 2×2 factorial design trial embedded within a cross-sectional computer touchscreen survey. Data were collected between March and December 2012.

Associations between alcohol, smoking, socioeconomic status and comorbidities: evidence from the 45 and Up Study.

Introduction And Aims: Understanding how tobacco, alcohol and mental health are related is important for developing population-level policies and individual-level treatments that target comorbidities. The current study aimed to examine sociodemographic characteristics and mental health comorbidities associated with the odds of using tobacco and harmful levels of alcohol concurrently.

Design And Methods: Data were drawn from the 45 and Up Study, a large cohort study with 267 153 adults aged 45 years and over in New South Wales, Australia.

Do we get it right? Radiation oncology outpatients' perceptions of the patient centredness of life expectancy disclosure.

Objective: A patient-centred approach to discussing life expectancy with cancer patients is recommended in Western countries. However, this approach to eliciting and meeting patient preferences can be challenging for clinicians. The aims of this study were the following: (i) to examine cancer patients' preferences for life expectancy disclosure; and (ii) to explore agreement between cancer patients' preferences for, and perceived experiences of, life expectancy disclosure.

A cross-sectional survey of health risk behaviour clusters among a sample of socially disadvantaged Australian welfare recipients.

Objective: To examine the prevalence and clustering of six health risk behaviours (smoking, alcohol, inadequate sun protection, physical inactivity, and inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption) among severely disadvantaged individuals.

Methods: A cross-sectional touch screen computer survey was conducted with 383 clients attending a social and community welfare organisation in New South Wales. Participants were assessed on smoking status, alcohol consumption, fruit and vegetable consumption, physical activity, sun protection and socio-demographic characteristics.

The unmet needs of partners and caregivers of adults diagnosed with cancer: a systematic review.

Objectives: The recognition that a partner or caregiver is typically the patient's primary support person and is also deeply affected by the cancer diagnosis has prompted efforts to document their unmet supportive care needs. This review aimed to: (1) quantify the prevalence of unmet needs reported by partners and caregivers, (2) categorise their unmet needs by domain and (3) identify the main variables associated with reporting more unmet needs.

Methods: Manuscripts were identified through systematically searching electronic databases, checking the reference lists of retrieved publications, online searching of key journals and contacting researchers in this field.

Anti-tobacco mass media and socially disadvantaged groups: a systematic and methodological review.

Issues: Only a limited amount of research has been conducted to explore whether there are socioeconomic status differences in responses to mass media. However, the methodological quality of this evidence has not been assessed, limiting confidence in conclusions that can be drawn regarding study outcomes. A systematic review of the effectiveness of anti-tobacco mass media campaigns with socially disadvantaged groups was conducted, and the methodological quality of included studies was assessed.

How well are we meeting haematological cancer survivors' preferences for involvement in treatment decision making?

Objective: This study aimed to examine preferred and perceived roles of haematological cancer survivors in treatment decision making.

Methods: Participants were within three years of diagnosis and registered with a cancer registry in one Australian state. 732 eligible survivors were invited to complete a paper and pencil survey.

The unfulfilled promise: a systematic review of interventions to reduce the unmet supportive care needs of cancer patients.

Purpose: This review aimed to examine (a) trends in the number of publications on unmet needs over time and (b) the effectiveness of interventions designed to reduce unmet needs among cancer patients.

Methods: An electronic literature search of Medline to explore trends in the number of publications on patients' unmet needs and an additional literature search of Medline, CINAHL, PsychINFO, and Web of Science databases to identify methodologically rigorous research trials that evaluated interventions to reduce unmet needs were conducted.

Results: Publications per year on unmet needs have increased over time, with most being on descriptive research.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effectiveness of behavioural smoking cessation interventions in selected disadvantaged groups.

Aims: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to assess the methodological quality and effectiveness of behavioural smoking cessation interventions targeted at six disadvantaged groups; the homeless, prisoners, indigenous populations, at-risk youth, individuals with low socio-economic status and individuals with a mental illness.

Methods: Medline, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library and PsycInfo databases were searched using MeSH and keywords for studies conducted in developed countries prior to October 2010. Included studies were assessed for methodological quality.

Australian general practitioners' and oncology specialists' perceptions of barriers and facilitators of access to specialist palliative care services.

Purpose: Doctors in Australia play an important role in facilitating access to specialist palliative care (SPC) services for people with advanced cancer. This study aimed to describe doctors' perceptions of barriers to referring patients for SPC, and to identify triggers and facilitators for referral.

Method: Forty semistructured telephone interviews were conducted with doctors involved in the care of people with advanced cancer from a variety of settings.

Australian palliative care providers' perceptions and experiences of the barriers and facilitators to palliative care provision.

Objective: People with advanced cancer who may benefit from specialised palliative care (SPC) do not necessarily access such services.

Methods: To obtain a deeper understanding of issues affecting access to SPC, five focus groups were undertaken with nurses (35), physicians (three), allied health professionals (seven) and an academic involved in providing care.

Results: Thematic analysis revealed that palliative care providers consistently view palliative care as a broad holistic approach to care benchmarked on good symptom management.