A novel Family Dignity Intervention (FDI) for enhancing and informing holistic palliative care in Asia: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: The lack of a holistic approach to palliative care can lead to a fractured sense of dignity at the end of life, resulting in depression, hopelessness, feelings of being a burden to others, and the loss of the will to live among terminally ill patients. Building on the clinical foundation of Dignity Therapy, together with the empirical understanding of dignity-related concerns of Asian families facing terminal illness, a novel Family Dignity Intervention (FDI) has been developed for Asian palliative care. FDI comprises a recorded interview with a patient and their primary family caregiver, which is transcribed, edited into a legacy document, and returned to the dyads for sharing with the rest of the patient's family.

A culturally adapted survivorship programme for Asian early stage breast cancer patients in Singapore: A randomized, controlled trial.

Background: As cancer mortality rates improve in Singapore, there is an increasing need to improve the transition to posttreatment survivorship care. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a psychoeducation group (PEG) intervention program compared with usual care to reduce distress for physical symptom and psychological aspects in Asian breast cancer survivors who have completed adjuvant chemotherapy.

Methods: This was a randomized, controlled trial comprising 72 Asian early stage breast cancer survivors who were randomized into the PEG (n = 34) or the control (n = 38) arm.

Experiential group work for cancer patients shaped by experiences of participants during group intervention.

Cancer tends to have an impact on a person's psychological and social well-being. Group work is one approach that can help manage the psychosocial impact of cancer. Group interventions for people living with cancer have existed for a number of decades with a majority of them adopting the cognitive-behavioral approach.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor genetic polymorphism (rs6265) is protective against chemotherapy-associated cognitive impairment in patients with early-stage breast cancer.

Background: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a neurotrophin that regulates neuronal function and development, is implicated in several neurodegenerative conditions. Preliminary data suggest that a reduction of BDNF concentrations may lead to postchemotherapy cognitive impairment. We hypothesized that a single nucleotide polymorphism (rs6265) of the BDNF gene may predispose patients to cognitive impairment.

Assessment of mental health literacy in patients with breast cancer.

Introduction: Psychosocial distress is often underdiagnosed and undertreated among breast cancer patients due to the poor recognition of the associated symptoms and inadequate knowledge of the treatments available.

Objective: To evaluate the mental health literacy of breast cancer patients by assessing (1) their ability to recognize the symptoms of anxiety, fatigue, depression, and cognitive disturbances, and (2) their knowledge of help-seeking options and professional treatments.

Methods: In this multi-center, cross-sectional study, early-stage breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy underwent four assessments to measure their levels of anxiety, depression, fatigue, and cognitive disturbances.

Validation of Chinese and English versions of the Holistic Well-being Scale in patients with cancer.

Objective: The study aims to examine the psychometric properties of the Holistic Well-Being Scale (HWS), a new instrument developed on the Eastern concepts of affliction, and equanimity in a new sample involving patients with cancer.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 300 patients with cancer in Singapore. The patients completed the HWS, WHO-5 Well-Being Index (WHO-5), and Hospital Anxiety and Depressions Scale (HADS).

Quality of life domains important and relevant to family caregivers of advanced cancer patients in an Asian population: a qualitative study.

Purpose: This study aims to identify domains of quality of life (QoL) that are culturally relevant to Chinese caregivers of advanced cancer patients in Singapore and to evaluate content adequacy of currently available instruments for use in the target population.

Methods: English- and Chinese-speaking caregivers of advanced cancer patients receiving care under a tertiary cancer center and/or a community hospice home care/day care provider were recruited for in-depth interviews. The interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis.

Minimal clinically important difference (MCID) for the functional assessment of cancer therapy: cognitive function (FACT-Cog) in breast cancer patients.

Objectives: This is the first reported study to determine the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) of Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Cognitive Function (FACT-Cog), a validated subjective neuropsychological instrument designed to evaluate cancer patients' perceived cognitive deterioration.

Study Design And Setting: Breast cancer patients (n = 220) completed FACT-Cog and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC-QLQ-C30) at baseline and at least 3 months later. Anchor-based approach used the validated EORTC-QLQ-C30-Cognitive Functioning scale (EORTC-CF) as the anchor for patients who showed minimal deterioration and a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve to identify the optimal MCID cutoff for deterioration.

Unintended consequences: the social context of cancer survivors and work.

Purpose: This article describes the ways in which socioeconomic characteristics and workplace contexts shape the unintended consequences that cancer survivors can experience as they return to work. The study was conducted in an employment setting where there is a major focus on productivity and economic growth in the business sector.

Methods: Five focus groups (N = 33 participants) were conducted in 2012 in Singapore.