Cost-Utility of Group Versus Individual Acupuncture for Cancer-Related Pain Using Quality-Adjusted Life Years in a Noninferiority Trial.

Individual acupuncture (AP) is the gold standard method of AP delivery for cancer-related pain; however, costs can be prohibitive. Group AP allows four to six patients to be treated in a single session. This study sought to examine the cost-utility of group AP compared with individual AP from a patient perspective.

Integrative Oncology Trials in the Real World: Assessing the Pragmatism of an Ongoing Integrative Oncology Trial of Mindfulness and T'ai Chi/Qigong.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to highlight features of pragmatic real-world integrative oncology research by applying the PRagmatic Explanatory Continuum Indicator Summary (PRECIS-2) criteria to an ongoing integrative oncology clinical trial. The ongoing trial is a preference-based randomized comparative effectiveness trial of mindfulness-based cancer recovery (MBCR) versus t'ai chi/qigong (TCQ) for cancer survivors (the Mindfulness and T'ai Chi for Cancer Health [MATCH] study). The primary outcome of the MATCH study is distress, and secondary outcomes are quality of life, sleep disturbance, and physical functioning.

Distress and unmet needs during treatment and quality of life in early cancer survivorship: A longitudinal study of haematological cancer patients.

Objective: To examine the influence of anxiety, depression and unmet supportive care needs on future quality of life (QoL) in multiple myeloma (MM) and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients.

Methods: Multiple myeloma and DLBCL patients recruited through the population-based Victorian Cancer Registry. Data were collected through two telephone interviews: (T1) on average 7 months postdiagnosis, (T2) average 8 months later.

Caregivers' information needs and their 'experiences of care' during treatment are associated with elevated anxiety and depression: a cross-sectional study of the caregivers of renal cancer survivors.

Purpose: This study aims to examine the unmet needs and psychological distress (anxiety and depression) in family caregivers of renal cell carcinoma survivors.

Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used. Unmet needs were assessed with the Supportive Care Needs Survey-Partners and Caregivers (SCNS-P&C) questionnaire, and psychological distress was measured with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) in a telephone survey of 196 caregivers of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) survivors.

Do Men Know Which Lower Bowel Symptoms Warrant Medical Attention? A Web-Based Video Vignette Survey of Men in Western Australia.

The current study aims to explor how men would advise other men about seeking help for lower bowel symptoms and also to determine the factors that may influence help seeking. A purposive sample of Western Australian men aged 18 years and older was recruited for the study. Participants completed 8 of the 28 randomly assigned video vignettes (video clips) displaying men (older or younger) with various combinations of one or more lower bowel symptoms.

Men's help-seeking behavior with regards to lower bowel symptoms.

Objective: To explore the barriers to help-seeking among men experiencing lower bowel symptoms.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 men recruited via purposive sampling. Interviews were audio-taped, transcribed, and analyzed thematically.

Barriers to help-seeking in men diagnosed with benign colorectal diseases.

Objective: To explore the help-seeking pathway for lower bowel symptoms in men diagnosed with benign bowel diseases.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted. The data were analyzed thematically using Andersen's Model of Patient Delay as the theoretical framework.

Colorectal cancer--applying a gender lens.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major global health problem with survival varying according to stage at diagnosis. The incidence of CRC is much higher in patients with lower bowel symptoms. The symptoms are non-specific and are commonly experienced in the general population.

Peer review versus editorial review and their role in innovative science.

Peer review is a widely accepted instrument for raising the quality of science. Peer review limits the enormous unstructured influx of information and the sheer amount of dubious data, which in its absence would plunge science into chaos. In particular, peer review offers the benefit of eliminating papers that suffer from poor craftsmanship or methodological shortcomings, especially in the experimental sciences.