Psychosocial stressors at work and inflammatory biomarkers: PROspective Quebec Study on Work and Health.

Background: Chronic low-grade inflammation has been associated with high risk of several chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, depression, and dementia. As low-grade inflammation could be present long before the apparition of the disease, identifying modifiable risk factors could allow to act upstream. Psychosocial stressors at work have been suggested as modifiable risk factors of low-grade inflammation, but few longitudinal studies have evaluated the association between these stressors and inflammatory biomarkers, such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6).

Cumulative exposure to psychosocial stressors at work and global cognitive function: the PROspective Quebec Study on Work and Health.

Objectives: Psychosocial stressors at work have been proposed as modifiable risk factors for mild cognitive impairment (MCI). This study aimed to evaluate the effect of cumulative exposure to psychosocial stressors at work on cognitive function.

Methods: This study was conducted among 9188 white-collar workers recruited in 1991-1993 (T1), with follow-ups 8 (T2) and 24 years later (T3).

Wage losses among spouses of women with nonmetastatic breast cancer.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the wage losses incurred by spouses of women with nonmetastatic breast cancer in the 6 months after the diagnosis.

Methods: A prospective cohort study of spouses of women diagnosed with nonmetastatic breast cancer who were recruited in 8 hospitals in the province of Quebec (Canada) was performed. Information for estimating wage losses was collected by telephone interviews conducted 1 and 6 months after the diagnosis.

Effects of interdisciplinary teamwork on patient-reported experience of cancer care.

Background: Interdisciplinary teamwork (ITW) is deemed necessary for quality cancer care practices. Nevertheless, variation in ITW intensity among cancer teams is understudied, and quantitative evidence of the effect of different ITW intensities among cancer teams on patients' perceived experience of care is limited. This study aims to compare patient-reported experience measures (PREMs) of cancer outpatients followed by teams characterized by high vs.

Factors Associated With Early Discontinuation of Study Treatment in the Mammary Prevention.3 Breast Cancer Chemoprevention Trial.

Purpose Aromatase inhibitors are established breast cancer chemoprevention interventions. However, nonadherence remains a significant challenge. We investigated the association between worsening menopause-specific quality of life, baseline participant characteristics, and early treatment discontinuation within the Mammary Prevention.

Telomere Length and Breast Cancer Prognosis: A Systematic Review.

Telomeres ensure genome integrity during replication. Loss of telomeric function leads to cell immortalization and accumulation of genetic alterations. The association of telomere length (TL) with breast cancer prognosis is examined through a systematic review.

Association of Telomere Length with Breast Cancer Prognostic Factors.

Introduction: Telomere length, a marker of cell aging, seems to be affected by the same factors thought to be associated with breast cancer prognosis.

Objective: To examine associations of peripheral blood cell-measured telomere length with traditional and potential prognostic factors in breast cancer patients.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of data collected before surgery from 162 breast cancer patients recruited consecutively between 01/2011 and 05/2012, at a breast cancer reference center.

Effect of physical activity on sex hormones in women: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Introduction: Exposure to high levels of endogenous estrogens is a main risk factor for breast cancer in women, and in observational studies was found to be inversely associated with physical activity. The objective of the present study is to determine the effect of physical activity interventions on sex hormone levels in healthy women.

Methods: Electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL), from inception to December 2014, and reference lists of relevant reviews and clinical trials were searched, with no language restrictions applied.

A survivorship care plan for breast cancer survivors: extended results of a randomized clinical trial.

Purpose: Prevailing wisdom suggests that implementation of a survivorship care plan (SCP) will address deficits in survivorship care planning and delivery for cancer patients. Here, we present 24-month results of a randomized clinical trial on health service and patient-reported outcomes among breast cancer patients transferred to their primary care physician for follow-up care. The 24-month assessments represent the long-term benefit and sustainability of the implantation of a SCP.

Measurement invariance of English and French Health Education Impact Questionnaire (heiQ) empowerment scales validated for cancer.

Purpose: If measurement invariance (MI) is demonstrated for a scale completed by respondents from two different language groups, it means that the scale measures the same construct in the same way in both groups. We assessed MI of the French- and English-language versions of the five Health Education Impact Questionnaire (heiQ) empowerment scales validated for the cancer setting.

Methods: Data came from two cross-sectional studies of Canadian cancer survivors (704 English, 520 French).

Indicators for evaluating cancer organizations' support services: performance and associations with empowerment.

Background: Community-based cancer organizations provide services to support patients. An anticipated benefit of these services is patient empowerment. However, this outcome has not been evaluated because of the lack of validated health-related empowerment questionnaires in the cancer context.

Health-related empowerment in cancer: validity of scales from the Health Education Impact Questionnaire.

Background: Empowerment refers to an individual's feelings of being able to manage the challenges of the cancer experience and of having a sense of control over one's life. However, empowerment questionnaires that have been validated for the cancer setting are lacking. The objective of this study was to validate scales from the Health Education Impact Questionnaire (heiQ), which assesses the effects of health education programs among individuals with chronic conditions.

Validating the content of a brief informational intervention to empower patients and spouses facing breast cancer: perspectives of both couple members.

Purpose: The study objectives were to identify key information components that would be the basic content of a brief informational intervention, developed from a population perspective, to empower individual couple members facing breast cancer and to validate the relevance and acceptability of these components.

Methods: A review of information relevant to couples facing cancer presented in internet sites and documents of national cancer organizations was made to identify information components to include in a brief informational intervention. These information components were framed as messages, that is, very brief sentences or tips.

Smoking at time of diagnosis and breast cancer-specific survival: new findings and systematic review with meta-analysis.

Introduction: In women with breast cancer who smoke, it is unclear whether smoking could impair their survival from the disease.

Methods: We examined the relation of smoking at diagnosis to breast cancer-specific and overall survival among 5,892 women with invasive breast cancer treated in one Canadian center (1987 to 2008). Women were classified as never, former or current smokers.

Quality of life in MAP.3 (Mammary Prevention 3): a randomized, placebo-controlled trial evaluating exemestane for prevention of breast cancer.

Purpose: Exemestane, a steroidal aromatase inhibitor, reduced invasive breast cancer incidence by 65% among 4,560 postmenopausal women randomly assigned to exemestane (25 mg per day) compared with placebo in the National Cancer Institute of Canada (NCIC) Clinical Trials Group MAP.3 (Mammary Prevention 3) trial, but effects on quality of life (QOL) were not fully described.

Patients And Methods: Menopause-specific and health-related QOL were assessed by using the four Menopause-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (MENQOL) domains and the eight Medical Outcomes Study Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) scales at baseline, 6 months, and yearly thereafter.

Acupuncture for menopausal hot flushes.

Background: Hot flushes are the most common menopausal vasomotor symptom. Hormone therapy (HT) has frequently been recommended for relief of hot flushes, but concerns about the health risks of HT have encouraged women to seek alternative treatments. It has been suggested that acupuncture may reduce hot flush frequency and severity.

Out-of-pocket costs in the year after early breast cancer among Canadian women and spouses.

Background: We lack comprehensive information about the extent of out-of-pocket costs after diagnosis of early breast cancer and their effects on the family's financial situation.

Methods: This longitudinal study assessed out-of-pocket costs and wage losses during the first year after diagnosis of early breast cancer among Canadian women and spouses. Out-of-pocket costs for treatments and follow-up, consultations with other practitioners, home help, clothing, and natural health products were estimated, with information collected from telephone interviews.

Iron and cardiac ischemia: a natural, quasi-random experiment comparing eligible with disqualified blood donors.

Background: The theory that elevated iron stores can induce vascular injury and ischemia remains controversial. We conducted a cohort study of the effect of blood donation on the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) by taking advantage of the quasi-random exclusion of donors who obtained a falsely reactive test for a transmissible disease (TD) marker.

Study Design And Methods: Whole blood donors who were permanently disqualified because of a false-reactive test between 1990 and 2007 in the province of Quebec were compared to donors who remained eligible, matched for baseline characteristics.

Incidence and predictors of positive and negative effects of BRCA1/2 genetic testing on familial relationships: a 3-year follow-up study.

Purpose: Little is known about the long-term impact of BRCA1/2 testing on the relationships between family members. We assessed the incidence of positive and negative family relationship effects of BRCA1/2 testing in the 3 years after result disclosure and identified predictors of these effects.

Methods: A total of 485 women and 67 men who had undergone BRCA1/2 testing were asked 3 years later whether having been tested had improved and/or disrupted relationships with their relatives.

Evaluating survivorship care plans: results of a randomized, clinical trial of patients with breast cancer.

Purpose: An Institute of Medicine report recommends that patients with cancer receive a survivorship care plan (SCP). The trial objective was to determine if an SCP for breast cancer survivors improves patient-reported outcomes.

Patients And Methods: Women with early-stage breast cancer who completed primary treatment at least 3 months previously were eligible.

The impact of anogenital warts on health-related quality of life: a 6-month prospective study.

Background: The burden of anogenital warts will be a determining factor when making decisions about the type of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to be used (bivalent or quadrivalent) and whether to vaccinate males. We conducted a multicenter prospective study to (1) describe the impact of anogenital warts on quality of life and (2) estimate the quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) lost due to anogenital warts.

Methods: Between September 2006 and February 2008, 272 patients with a first or recurrent episode of anogenital warts were recruited from the clinical practices of 42 physicians across Canada.

Out-of-pocket costs for accessing adjuvant radiotherapy among Canadian women with breast cancer.

Purpose: Patients with breast cancer incur out-of-pocket costs when they receive adjuvant radiation. These treatments are administered in dedicated centers on a daily basis over 4 to 5 weeks. We assessed the extent of out-of-pocket costs to access radiotherapy and identified women at risk of experiencing higher costs.

Effort-reward imbalance at work and psychological distress: a validation study of post-myocardial infarction patients.

Objectives: To examine whether the psychometric properties of the effort-reward imbalance (ERI) at work scales could be replicated with post-myocardial infarction (post-MI) patients and to measure the criterion validity through its association with psychological distress.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 814 patients (739 men and 75 women) who had returned to work after their first MI and who were followed up by telephone at an average of 2.2 years after their baseline interview (1998-2000).