Educational level and gender are associated with emotional well-being in a cohort of Dutch dialysis patients.

Background: Patients undergoing dialysis have an impaired health-related quality of life (HRQOL). There are conflicting data from small series on whether patient-related factors such as educational level have an impact on experienced HRQOL. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between educational level and HRQOL in dialysis patients.

The Role of Researcher for Advanced Practice Nurses in Oncology: Challenges and Lessons Learned.

Objectives: To reflect on current practice analyses regarding the role of advanced practice nurse (APN) researcher in oncology, and report on the challenges that were faced and lessons we have learned when intensively working with APNs on doing research within the domain of oncology.

Methods: Discussions with APNs supervised by or who collaborated with academics in nursing science during the past 10 years on doing research within the domain of oncology.

Results: Several misconceptions exist regarding the role of APNs as researchers.

Development of a competency framework for advanced practice nurses: A co-design process.

Aims: The aim of the study was to develop a comprehensive competency framework for advanced practice nurses in Belgium.

Design: A co-design development process was conducted.

Methods: This study consisted of two consecutive stages (November 2020-December 2021): (1) developing a competency framework for advanced practice nurses in Belgium by the research team, based on literature and (2) group discussions or interviews with and written feedback from key stakeholders.

Recommendations for Improving Chronic Care in Times of a Pandemic Based on Patient Experiences.

Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic had a profound and pervasive impact on the health of chronic care patients and disrupted care systems worldwide. Our research aimed to assess the impact of the pandemic on chronic care provision and provide recommendations for improving care provision, based on patient experiences.

Design: Qualitative semi-structured interviews were held among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or heart failure.

The Psychosocial Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Chronic Care Patients.

Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound and pervasive impact on psychosocial health and disrupted care systems world-wide. Our research aims to assess the psychosocial impact of the pandemic and related changes in chronic care provision on patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and heart failure.

Design: A qualitative survey using semi-structured interviews was held among patients with COPD and heart failure.

Development, Implementation, and Evaluation of an Advance Care Planning Program for Professionals in Palliative Care of People With Intellectual Disability.

In this article we describe how an advance care planning (ACP) program was developed, implemented, and evaluated. Our aim was to improve ACP in palliative care for people with intellectual disability (ID). The program was based on 10 competencies needed for ACP and was developed in a co-design process with people with ID, relatives, and professionals.

Palliative care education in the undergraduate medical curricula: students' views on the importance of, their confidence in, and knowledge of palliative care.

Background: The need for palliative care is increasing. Since almost every junior doctor will come across palliative care patients, it is important to include palliative care in the undergraduate curriculum. The objective of this research is to gather undergraduate students' views on palliative care in terms of its importance, their confidence in and knowledge of the domain.

What is important for advance care planning in the palliative phase of people with intellectual disabilities? A multi-perspective interview study.

Background: Advance care planning (ACP) is the process of discussing and documenting wishes and preferences for future care. Research about ACP for people with intellectual disabilities (ID) is limited. This study describes what is important for ACP in the palliative phase of people with intellectual disabilities.

Advance care planning in the palliative phase of people with intellectual disabilities: analysis of medical files and interviews.

Background: Advance care planning (ACP) is a process in which professionals, patients and their relatives discuss wishes and options for future care. ACP in the palliative phase reduces the chance that decisions have to be taken suddenly and can therefore improve the quality of life and death. The primary aim of this study is to explore how ACP takes place in cases of people with intellectual disabilities (ID).

Conservative care as a treatment option for patients aged 75 years and older with CKD stage V: a National survey in the Netherlands.

Background And Objectives: Conservative care for patients aged 75 years and older with CKD stage 5 as a treatment option besides dialysis was proposed officially in the Netherlands in October 2016. This national survey showed the current implementation of this option in Netherlands nephrology departments.

Design Setting Participants And Measurement: A web-based survey was sent to medical managers of 60 nephrology departments in the Netherlands in August 2016.

Advance Care Planning in Palliative Care for People With Intellectual Disabilities: A Systematic Review.

Context: Advance care planning (ACP) is defined as a person-centered, ongoing process of communication that facilitates patients' understanding, reflection, and discussion of goals, values, and preferences for future care. There is evidence for the general palliative care population that ACP increases compliance with patients' end-of-life preferences and improves quality of care near the end of life.

Objectives: To gain insight into what is known about the use and effects of ACP in palliative care for people with intellectual disabilities (IDs).

Co-creative development of an eHealth nursing intervention: Self-management support for outpatients with cancer pain.

Introduction: Co-creative methods, having an iterative character and including different perspectives, allow for the development of complex nursing interventions. Information about the development process is essential in providing justification for the ultimate intervention and crucial in interpreting the outcomes of subsequent evaluations. This paper describes a co-creative method directed towards the development of an eHealth intervention delivered by registered nurses to support self-management in outpatients with cancer pain.

Feasibility of a mobile and web-based intervention to support self-management in outpatients with cancer pain.

Purpose: Cancer pain is a prevalent and distressing symptom. To enhance self-management in outpatients, a multi-component intervention was developed, integrating patient self-management and professional care through healthcare technology. This article describes feasibility of the intervention in everyday practice.

Self-management support intervention to control cancer pain in the outpatient setting: a randomized controlled trial study protocol.

Background: Pain is a prevalent and distressing symptom in patients with cancer, having an enormous impact on functioning and quality of life. Fragmentation of care, inadequate pain communication, and reluctance towards pain medication contribute to difficulties in optimizing outcomes. Integration of patient self-management and professional care by means of healthcare technology provides new opportunities in the outpatient setting.

[Treatment of breakthrough pain in cancer patients].

Pain is common in patients with cancer (33-64%) and can be divided into background and breakthrough pain (BTP). BTP is a passing, acute pain that occurs despite the use of analgesia to control background pain. BTP may arise spontaneously or be provoked by certain movements or activities.

Randomized clinical trial of an intensive nursing-based pain education program for cancer outpatients suffering from pain.

Introduction: The prevalence of pain in patients with cancer is still too high. Factors relating to ineffective pain treatment fall into three categories: the health care system, professional care providers, and patients. In patients, various barriers lead to noncompliance.

[Results of a study on fatigue in breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy: the first four days after treatment are the worst].

A large number of breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy is suffering from fatigue. Until now there has been a lack of knowledge concerning the course of fatigue in breast cancer patients between two cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy. Therefore a prospective cohort study was conducted including 151 breast cancer patients from six hospitals in The Netherlands.

Course of fatigue between two cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer patients.

The purpose of this study was to determine the course of fatigue in patients with breast cancer between 2 cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy, from the day of administration until the day of the next infusion. In a prospective cohort study, a sample of 151 patients with breast cancer receiving adjuvant chemotherapy was recruited from 6 hospitals in mainly the south of the Netherlands. Patients reported their experience of fatigue in a diary, the Shortened Fatigue Questionnaire, on a daily basis between the third and fourth treatment with adjuvant chemotherapy.

Spiritual issues in palliative care consultations in the Netherlands.

Introduction: In the Netherlands, healthcare professionals are able to consult Palliative Care Consultation (PCC) teams about individual patients, for information, support and advice. This study aims to understand which spiritual issues are discussed in these consultations and to determine which factors influence whether they are raised or not.

Methods: The national register of the consultations of the PCC teams was analysed for a two-year period.

Course of the fatigue dimension "activity level" and the interference of fatigue with daily living activities for patients with breast cancer receiving adjuvant chemotherapy.

The purpose of this study was to determine the course of the activity level, seen as a dimension of fatigue, as a function of chemotherapy within a breast cancer population receiving adjuvant chemotherapy. The second purpose of this study was to determine the course of the interference of fatigue, in general, with daily activities within a breast cancer population receiving adjuvant chemotherapy. In a prospective cohort study, a sample of 157 patients with breast cancer was interviewed, at the first, third, and fifth cycle of adjuvant chemotherapy as well as 4 and 12 weeks after the last cycle of adjuvant chemotherapy.

A comparison between telephone and bedside consultations given by palliative care consultation teams in the Netherlands: results from a two-year nationwide registration.

Palliative Care Consultation (PCC) teams in The Netherlands give support to professional caregivers in palliative care. In contrast to many other countries, consultants only give advice. They do not give prescriptions.

Requests from professional care providers for consultation with palliative care consultation teams.

Goals Of Work: Professional care providers need a substantial basis of competence and expertise to provide appropriate palliative care. Little is known about the problems professionals experience in their palliative care provision in daily practice or about the nature of the advice and support they request from experts. Our aim was to investigate the extent to which professionals requested assistance from palliative care consultation teams and the reasons behind these requests to trace any gaps they experience in the provision of palliative care.