Evaluation of a nature-based virtual reality intervention to support hospice caregivers: a pilot feasibility study.

Objectives: Hospice family caregivers (CGs) may experience poor emotional health and diminished quality of life (QOL) secondary to stressors that accompany home-based end-of-life caregiving. Innovative flexible strategies are needed to support hospice CGs in their homes. Being outdoors in nature enhances well-being but is often not accessible to home-based CGs.

Acceptability of a Portable Exercise Bike in Older Adults With Cardiovascular Diseases.

Background: Ways to help older adults overcome barriers to performing regular exercise is a challenge to nurses.

Objective: The study evaluated the acceptability of a portable exercise bike for arm/foot pedaling among older patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).

Methods: Participants reported their physical activity levels using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (short form) and thereafter performed two 6-minute-long arm/foot pedal biking sessions using a portable exercise bike.

Palliative and End-of-Life Family Caregiving in Rural Areas: A Scoping Review of Social Determinants of Health and Emotional Well-Being.

Due to their remote location, rural-dwelling family caregivers (FCGs) experience geographic and psychosocial challenges when providing home-based palliative and end-of-life (PEOL) care for their care recipient. Limited research has evaluated the social and environmental factors that may compound FCG burden and contribute to adverse emotional health outcomes among rural-dwelling PEOL FCGs. To characterize the social determinants of health (SDOH) that affect the provision of PEOL care among rural-dwelling FCGs, along with symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Relationships Among Determinants of Health, Cancer Screening Participation, and Sexual Minority Identity: A Systematic Review.

To address cancer screening disparities and reduce cancer risk among sexual minority (SM) groups, this review identifies individual, interpersonal, and community/societal determinants of cancer screening (non)participation among differing SM identities. Seven scientific databases were searched. Inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) used quantitative methods; (2) English language; (3) cancer screening focus; and (4) at least one SM group identified.

Nature-Based Virtual Reality Feasibility and Acceptability Pilot for Caregiver Respite.

Home-based informal caregivers (CGs), such as the family members and friends of cancer patients, often suffer averse emotional symptoms, such as anxiety and depression, due to the burden associated with providing care. The natural environment has been valued as a healing sanctuary for easing emotional pain, promoting calmness, relaxation, and restoration. The use of virtual reality (VR) nature experiences offers an alternative option to CGs to manage emotional symptoms and improve their quality of life.

Perceptions of families with adolescents utilizing augmentative and alternative communication technology: A qualitative approach.

Purpose: Although family involvement is critical to successful augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device utilization, little is known about how families adapt to technology. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore parent-reported factors contributing to family adaptation among families with adolescents diagnosed with autism and/or Down syndrome (DS) utilizing AAC technology. This study describes families' experiences related to several interacting variables of the Resiliency Model, including demand, type, appraisal, resources, and problem-solving/coping, that helped shape the outcome of adaptation to AAC technology.

Embracing midcareer in the tenure system.

Midcareer faculty are the "keystone" of academia. Faculty in midcareer experience an increase or change in responsibilities and expectations as well as reduced support and mentorship usually extended to junior faculty. Nonetheless, midcareer can be an ideal time for re-evaluating and defining one's career path and taking advantage of leadership and service opportunities.

A literature review of coping strategies and health-related quality of life among patients with heart failure.

Aims: To identify and provide clarity on factors that influence coping and the type of coping strategies used by patients with heart failure (HF) to improve health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

Methods And Results: The Arksey and O'Malley template framed this scoping review guided by the stress and coping model. Five databases were explored: PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, CINAHL, and PsycINFO.

Family caregivers of those with cancer: quality of life outcomes from a sequential multiple assignment randomized trial.

Purpose: To conduct a secondary analysis focused on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among caregivers engaged in a 12-week complementary therapy sequential multiple assignment randomized trial (SMART) of reflexology and/or meditative practices (MP), to manage cancer patients' symptoms.

Methods: In this SMART, patient-caregiver dyads were initially randomized to 4 weeks of caregiver-delivered reflexology for the patient (N = 150), MP with the patient (N = 150), or control (N = 47). After 4 weeks, dyads with patients not improving on fatigue (non-responders, n = 69 to reflexology and n = 57 to MP) were re-randomized to continue the same therapy or add the other therapy for an additional 4 weeks.

Engaging Patients in Research That Involves Meditation: Religious Concerns and Nursing Implications.

Background: Studies evaluating the use of meditative practices for supporting symptom management among patients undergoing cancer treatment have increased substantially in recent years. Although meditative practices as adjuncts to promoting health have become mainstream, concerns that such strategies conflict with traditional religious tenets have co-occurred. In the context of a 12-week sequential multiple assignment randomized trial of home-based meditative practices and reflexology delivered to patients with cancer by or with family caregivers to manage symptoms, early attrition was identified in the meditative practices arm.

An Evaluation of Natural Environment Interventions for Informal Cancer Caregivers in the Community.

Home-based informal caregiving by friends and family members of patients with cancer is be-coming increasingly common globally with rates continuing to rise. Such caregiving is often emo-tionally and cognitively demanding, resulting in mental exhaustion and high perceived burden. Support for caregivers may be fostered by engagement with the natural environment.

Reflexology and meditative practices for symptom management among people with cancer: Results from a sequential multiple assignment randomized trial.

Optimal sequencing of complementary therapies can help improve symptom management through nonpharmacological approaches. A 12-week sequential multiple assignment randomized trial comparing home-based reflexology and meditative practices on severity of fatigue and other symptoms was conducted among patients with cancer and their informal caregivers. Dyads were initially randomized to reflexology (N = 150), meditative practices (N = 150), or control (N = 47).

Increased Use of Porch or Backyard Nature during COVID-19 Associated with Lower Stress and Better Symptom Experience among Breast Cancer Patients.

Contact with nature has been used to promote both physical and mental health, and is increasingly used among cancer patients. However, the COVID-19 pandemic created new challenges in both access to nature in public spaces and in cancer care. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the change in active and passive use of nature, places of engaging with nature and associations of nature contact with respect to improvements to perceived stress and symptom experience among breast cancer patients during the pandemic.

Burden and psychological symptoms among caregivers of patients with solid tumor cancers.

Purpose: To evaluate factors associated with burden reported by caregivers of people undergoing treatment for solid tumor cancers.

Methods: A secondary analysis of baseline data collected in a cancer symptom management trial was conducted guided by the Organizing Framework for Caregiver Interventions. A total of 349 caregivers completed the Caregiver Reaction Assessment Tool evaluating caregiver burden; Bayliss Comorbidity Tool; and PROMIS-29 version1.

Informal caregiver burden for solid tumour cancer patients: a review and future directions.

Objective: Recent shifts in healthcare delivery and treatment for solid tumour cancer patients have modified the responsibilities of informal caregivers. The objective of this study was to: review informal caregiver burden factors and determine areas where future research is needed.

Methods: The Arksey and O'Malley's framework and a modified Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses were used in conducting this review.

Pain and Spirituality Outcomes Among Women With Advanced Breast Cancer Participating in a Foot Reflexology Trial.

Objectives: To examine pain and spirituality, demographic and clinical factors associated with pain and spirituality, the contribution of spirituality to experiences of pain over time, and how pain and spirituality relate to engagement with a caregiver-delivered intervention.

Sample & Setting: Women with advanced breast cancer (N = 256) enrolled in a home-based randomized controlled trial of foot reflexology.

Methods & Variables: Secondary analyses were conducted with baseline and postintervention data.

Validity and Reliability of the 8-Item Inventory of Dimensions of Emerging Adulthood in a Sample of Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients.

Background And Purpose: The purpose was to examine the 8-item Inventory of Dimensions of Emerging Adulthood (IDEA-8) among 61 emerging adults (ages 18-29) with the chronic condition of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Methods: An online continence sample of participants' ages 18-29 years with a self-reported diagnosis of IBD completed a questionnaire including IDEA-8, demographic, and clinical characteristics.

Results: The exploratory factor analysis identified a three-factor structure.

Factors Influencing Received Social Support Among Emerging Adults With Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The majority of research among individuals with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) focuses on perceived social support. A gap exists regarding the role of received social support in self-management enhancement. The purpose of this study was to examine specific contextual factors (individual, condition-specific, and emerging adulthood factors) that influence received social support (total, informational, emotional, and tangible) among emerging adults (ages 18-29 years) with IBD.

Spirituality, Quality of Life, and End of Life Among Indigenous Peoples: A Scoping Review.

Introduction: While spirituality and quality of life (QOL) are essential components of end-of-life (EOL) care, limited studies have examined these constructs for indigenous peoples. Therefore, the purpose of this article was to examine the state of the science regarding spirituality and QOL at EOL for indigenous people, particularly Native Americans.

Method: The Arksey and O'Malley (2005) framework guided this scoping review, which examined 30 articles that included qualitative and quantitative studies, commentary papers, and reviews.

Adaptation to Technology Use in Families of Children With Complex Communication Needs: An Integrative Review and Family Theory Application.

Families with children who have developmental disabilities and complex communication needs (CCNs) face challenging demands affecting family adaptation. Many children with CCNs use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices to support communication, yet little is known about family adaptation to such technology. To fill this gap, an integrative review, guided by the Resiliency Model of Family Stress, Adjustment, and Adaptation was conducted to assess conceptual foundations and the state of the science of family adaptation among children utilizing AAC.

Expectancy and Utilisation of Reflexology among Women with Advanced Breast Cancer.

Objective: Little is understood about patient expectations and use of complementary therapies (CT) during cancer treatment. A secondary analysis of an 11-week reflexology trial among women with breast cancer was conducted. We examined factors that predicted women's expectations about reflexology for symptom relief, factors that predicted utilisation of reflexology, and whether by the end of the trial they believed that reflexology had helped with symptom management.

Expanding Application of the Long-Term Quality of Life Instrument to the Population of Women Undergoing Treatment of Advanced Breast Cancer.

Background: The Long-Term Quality of Life (LTQL) instrument was designed for female cancer survivors who have completed treatment and includes an existential spirituality subscale that is omitted in many other quality of life scales. Women with advanced breast cancer are now living longer, while also expressing greater spiritual concerns.

Objective: The objective of this analysis was to test the psychometric properties of the LTQL among women undergoing treatment of advanced breast cancer.

Symptoms among emerging adults with inflammatory bowel disease: a descriptive study.

Individuals with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are commonly diagnosed when they are between the ages of 18-29, a developmental period known as emerging adulthood. Typically, emerging adults are subsumed into the category of adults even though emerging adults have unique developmental needs. In this descriptive study of IBD in emerging adults, the aims were to (a) determine the prevalence of symptoms; (b) describe the severity of symptoms and their interference with daily activities; and (c) examine the association between individual symptom severity and presence of fatigue.

Characterization of Internal Validity Threats to Phase III Clinical Trials for Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Management: A Systematic Review.

Objective: The recent American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Clinical Guidelines for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) management (48 Phase III trials reviewed) only recommend duloxetine. However, before concluding that a CIPN intervention is ineffective, scientists and clinicians should consider the risk of Type II error in Phase III studies. The purpose of this systematic review was to characterize internal threats to validity in Phase III CIPN management trials.