Reflective Engagement With a Digital Physical Activity Intervention Among People Living With and Beyond Breast Cancer: Mixed Methods Study.

Background: People living with and beyond breast cancer can face internal barriers to physical activity (eg, fatigue and pain). Digital interventions that promote psychological acceptance and motivation may help this population navigate these barriers. The degree to which individuals (1) adhere to intervention protocols and (2) reflect on and internalize intervention content may predict intervention efficacy.

Guided imagery for treatment (GIFT): protocol of a pilot trial of guided imagery versus treatment as usual to address radiotherapy-related distress in head and neck cancer.

Background: Cancers of the head and neck region are associated with high symptom burden and elevated levels of psychological distress. Radiotherapy (RT) is a common treatment for patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) that is associated with psychological distress related to the immobilizing nature of the treatment, frequency of treatment delivery, and side effects. Guided imagery is a relaxation technique that is beneficial in reducing psychological distress in patients with other cancer diagnoses but has not been studied in this patient population.

Psychosocial Interventions for Pain Management in Breast Cancer Survivors: A RE-AIM Evaluation.

Psychosocial interventions for breast-cancer-related pain are effective, yet over 45% of survivors continue to struggle with this often-chronic side effect. This study evaluated multilevel indicators that can influence successful translation of interventions into clinical practice. The Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework was applied to evaluate reporting of individual and setting/staff-level intervention indicators.

The Acceptability of an Electronically Delivered Acceptance- and Mindfulness-Based Physical Activity Intervention for Survivors of Breast Cancer: One-Group Pretest-Posttest Design.

Background: Survivors of breast cancer can face internal barriers to physical activity, such as uncertainty and frustration stemming from physical limitations, decreased physical functioning, fatigue, and pain. Interventions that draw from the principles of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) may help survivors of breast cancer overcome some of the internal barriers associated with physical activity.

Objective: The primary aim of this study was to investigate the acceptability of an electronically delivered physical activity intervention for survivors of breast cancer, centered on ACT processes.

Acceptance- and mindfulness-based techniques for physical activity promotion in breast cancer survivors: a qualitative study.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop and characterize the relevance and potential utility of an electronically delivered acceptance- and mindfulness-based approaches to physical activity promotion for insufficiently active breast cancer survivors.

Methods: The acceptance- and mindfulness-based physical activity intervention was delivered to participants electronically over the course of 4-8 weeks. It consisted of didactic videos, experiential exercises, and workbook-type activities that targeted principles from acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT).

Psychotropic medications in oncology.

Context: Psychological distress is common in patients with cancer, and oncology providers are often tasked with utilizing psychotropic medications to treat such symptoms.

Objective: This study aims to characterize how oncology providers prescribe psychotropic medications and to assess their comfort level with prescribing these medications.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was sent to oncology medical doctors, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants who prescribe psychotropic medications to patients with cancer at a large academic medical center in the Mountain West.

Chronic pain, health-related quality of life, and employment in working-age cancer survivors.

Purpose: This study estimated the prevalence of cancer-related pain in working-age cancer survivors (age 25-64 years) and evaluated differences in demographic and clinical variables in those with and without pain. We also investigated the impact of cancer-related pain on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and employment outcomes in this population.

Methods: We used cross-sectional data from the 2016 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS).

An Ecological Momentary Assessment Study Investigating Self-efficacy and Outcome Expectancy as Mediators of Affective and Physiological Responses and Exercise Among Endometrial Cancer Survivors.

Background: Previous studies have shown affective and physiological states in response to exercise as predictors of daily exercise, yet little is known about the mechanism underlying such effects.

Purpose: To examine the mediating effects of self-efficacy and outcome expectancy on the relationships between affective and physiological responses to exercise and subsequent exercise levels in endometrial cancer survivors.

Methods: Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) surveys were delivered up to eight 5- to 7-day periods over 6 months.

Changing multiple health behaviors in cancer survivors: smoking and exercise.

Research regarding cross-behavioral relationships between the cognitive mechanisms motivating health behavior change is lacking for cancer survivors. This study investigated these relationships to inform the development of multiple health behavior change (MHBC) interventions for this at-risk population. Eligible participants included cancer survivors attending an intake appointment for smoking cessation services.

Predictors of enrollment in individual- and couple-based lifestyle intervention trials for cancer survivors.

Purpose: To utilize data from lifestyle intervention pilot studies for cancer survivors to elucidate demographic, disease-related, and health behavior factors that might predict enrollment in this type of research. Additionally, factors were differentially compared based on intervention design (i.e.

Evaluation of the effects of a clinically implemented exercise program on physical fitness, fatigue, and depression in cancer survivors.

Purpose: Despite national recommendations, exercise programs are still not clinically implemented as standard of care for cancer survivors. This investigation examined the effects of a clinically implemented and personalized exercise program on physical fitness, fatigue, and depression in a diverse population of cancer survivors. The association of various participant characteristics on program performance was also examined.

Psychometric Study of the Pain Drawing.

Purpose: The objectives of the study were to (1) assess the extent to which interrater reliability of pain drawing location and dispersion scoring methods are similar across pain disciplines in a sample of patients with cancer treatment-induced neuropathic pain ( = 56) and (2) investigate indicators of validity of the pain drawing in this unique sample.

Methods: Patients undergoing cancer therapy completed the Brief Pain Inventory Body Map, the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory, and the McGill Pain Questionnaire.

Results: Intraclass correlation coefficients among medical and psychology professionals ranged from .

Comparison of Internet and Telephone Interventions for Weight Loss Among Cancer Survivors: Randomized Controlled Trial and Feasibility Study.

Background: Weight loss interventions have been successfully delivered via several modalities, but recent research has focused on more disseminable and sustainable means such as telephone- or Internet-based platforms.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare an Internet-delivered weight loss intervention to a comparable telephone-delivered weight loss intervention.

Methods: This randomized pilot study examined the effects of 6-month telephone- and Internet-delivered social cognitive theory-based weight loss interventions among 37 cancer survivors.

Disease burden and pain in obese cancer patients with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.

Purpose: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) and obesity are prevalent in cancer survivors and decrease quality of life; however, the impact of the co-occurrence of these conditions has garnered little attention. This study investigated differences between obese and non-obese cancer survivors with CIPN and predictors of symptom burden and pain.

Methods: Patients with CIPN were administered the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory and a modified version of pain descriptors from the McGill Pain Inventory.