Survey of healthcare professionals' awareness of appearance care for Japanese cancer patients and their institutions' appearance care systems: report from the Japan Society of Clinical Oncology.

Background: Appearance care enables cancer patients to maintain social connections during treatment, but it remains an unmet need in Japan. We surveyed healthcare professionals in Japan to collect information on their awareness of appearance care and their institutions' appearance care systems.

Methods: From November 1 to December 13, 2022, we performed an online survey of 16,838 members of the Japan Society of Clinical Oncology.

Coping flexibility and associated factors after gastrectomy in patients with gastric cancer: A cross-sectional multisite study.

Objective: To elucidate the current state of coping flexibility and associated factors in gastric cancer patients after gastrectomy.

Methods: A cross-sectional multisite study was conducted with 142 patients with gastric cancer who completed questionnaires on coping flexibility, postgastrectomy dysfunction, health literacy, and perceived social support. Coping flexibility was measured using the Coping Flexibility Scale-Revised, which includes three subscales: Abandonment Coping (i.

Identifying physicians' needs in community-based palliative care consultation for cancer patients in palliative care specialist-deficient settings: a qualitative study.

Background: Consultation with palliative care specialists can be beneficial in addressing the numerous demands of patients with cancers and their families within communities. In settings lacking palliative care specialists, establishing a new community-based palliative care consultation system necessitates gathering evidence to support its development. This study aimed to identify the specific palliative care consultation needs and the consultation methods requested by Japanese physicians in settings without palliative care specialists.

Good Death and Quality of End-of-Life Care in Patients with Coexisting Cancer and Dementia: Perspective of Bereaved Families.

Background: Patients with coexisting cancer and dementia often have complex health care needs and face challenges in achieving a good death.

Objectives: To evaluate good death achievement and end-of-life (EOL) care in patients with coexisting cancer and dementia from the perspective of bereaved families.

Design: Cross-sectional nationwide postal survey.

A Nursing Pre-Transplant Intervention to Reduce Patients' Uncertainty about Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation.

Patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) procedures often experience high levels of uncertainty. In this study, we developed and implemented a nursing intervention program to help patients recognize and reduce pre-transplant uncertainty. This study used a pretest-posttest single-group design without a control group.

Quantitative analysis of the effect of docetaxel-induced edema on quality of life in patients with breast cancer and related factors: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Systemic edema is an adverse effect of docetaxel chemotherapy and causes distress to patients, including those receiving this agent for breast cancer. However, its characteristics and factors related to its effect on quality of life (QoL) have not been adequately investigated. In this study, we assessed systemic edema quantitatively, explored related factors, and evaluated QoL in patients receiving docetaxel for breast cancer.

Relationship between nurses' perceptions and financial toxicity management in the public health insurance system.

To describe nursing practices for financial toxicity management based on nurses' perceptions. A survey was conducted with 615 oncology nurses in Japan, focusing on nurses' perspectives on the importance of financial toxicity, nursing practices to manage financial toxicity and factors inhibiting its management. A total of 521 participated, of whom 266 respondents (51.

Financial toxicity and patient experience associated with financial burden of molecular-targeted and immune therapies for cancer: an observational study under public health insurance.

Background: Financial burden of cancer treatment can negatively affect patients and their families. This study aimed to evaluate the financial toxicity of patients treated with molecular-targeted and immune therapies and explore the relationship between financial toxicity and patient experiences associated with the financial burden of cancer treatment.

Methods: This anonymous, self-administered questionnaire survey conducted across nine hospitals in Japan included patients aged 20-60 years who were receiving molecular-targeted agents or immune checkpoint inhibitors for any type of cancer for ≥ 2 months.

Exercise intervention for the management of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Purpose: Although exercise is recommended for cancer survivors with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), the effective types of exercise for preventing and treating CIPN remain unclear. This systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA) aimed to evaluate the comparative effects of exercise on CIPN.

Methods: We included relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) identified in a 2019 systematic review that evaluated the effects of exercise on CIPN and conducted an additional search for RCTs published until 2023.

Autonomic function measurements for evaluating fatigue and quality of life in patients with breast cancer undergoing radiation therapy: a prospective longitudinal study.

Background: Fatigue during radiation therapy in women with breast cancer can decrease quality of life (QOL), yet it is often underestimated and needs to be evaluated objectively. This longitudinal study aimed to evaluate fatigue and QOL of women with breast cancer undergoing radiotherapy with a simple autonomic function measurement.

Methods: Women with breast cancer who underwent postoperative radiotherapy in eight cancer care hospitals in Chubu and Kinki regions in Japan were recruited between October 2021 and June 2022.

What are the barriers to medical collaboration in community-based integrated care supporting cancer patients? A qualitative analysis of healthcare and long-term care providers' perceptions.

Background: Patients required comprehensive cancer treatment in the community based on medical collaboration between designated cancer care hospitals and community medical and nursing care facilities to help them live life on their own terms. This study aims to describe the barriers to medical collaboration in community-based integrated care from the perspectives of healthcare providers (HCPs) and long-term care providers (LCPs) supporting cancer patients.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 88 HCPs and LCPs supporting cancer patients.

Nationwide Survey on Caregiver Burden When Supporting Terminal Cancer Patients with Dementia: Bereaved Family Members' Perspective.

The prevalence of dementia and cancer has increased in recent years. The presence of dementia complicates the care of terminal cancer patients and affects their family caregivers. However, palliative care research seldom focuses on the family caregivers of patients with terminal cancer and dementia.

Cancer survivorship care for post-treatment cancer survivors in Japan: A secondary analysis of a multinational study across Asia-Pacific countries.

Objective: The global understanding of cancer survivorship care leads to optimal care delivery for cancer survivors. This study aimed to assess the perceptions of Japanese oncology nurses regarding cancer survivorship care and explore the factors influencing the provision of survivorship care.

Methods: A questionnaire survey of oncology nurses was conducted as part of a multinational, cross-sectional survey.

The Effectiveness of Complementary Therapy as Mind-Body Practice on Quality of Life among Cancer Survivors: A Quasi-Experimental Study.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate quality of life (QOL) improvement in long-term cancer survivors using complementary therapy (CT) as mind-body practice.

Methods: A quasi-experimental study including intervention and control groups was conducted. Participants in the intervention group engaged in CTs, including music therapy, progressive muscle relaxation, and deep-breathing exercises for 8 weeks at home.

Care Associated With Satisfaction of Bereaved Family Members of Terminally Ill Cancer Patients With Dyspnea: A Cross-sectional Nationwide Survey.

Context: Terminal dyspnea in dying cancer patients is frequent and distressing, and the impact extends to their families. Families are often involved in providing care for terminal dyspnea.

Objectives: This study aimed to describe various care strategies for terminal dyspnea in cancer patients hospitalized in palliative care units (PCUs), evaluate families' satisfaction with care for terminal dyspnea, and explore determinants contributing to families' satisfaction.

Self-compassion mediates the association between conflict about ability to practice end-of-life care and burnout in emergency nurses.

Introduction: End-of-life care (EOLC) is necessary for patients who are not expected to live long. Nurses have positive attitudes toward EOLC, but they encounter difficulties in practice. That situation creates conflict, which can affect burnout.

Assessment of Fall-Related Self-Efficacy: Characteristics that Influence the Perception of Patients with Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy.

Objective: The present study aims to describe fall-related self-efficacy as perceived by patients with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). The characteristics of patients associated with low perceived self-efficacy of preventing falls were investigated.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of four hospitals in Japan.

Evaluation of the Japanese Version of the Cancer Survivors' Unmet Needs Scale.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Japanese version of the Cancer Survivors' Unmet Needs (CaSUN-J) scale among cancer survivors in Japan.

Methods: The CaSUN-J was developed using standardized translation methodology. Content validity was evaluated by a group of experts, and a pilot test was conducted with a convenience sample of 10 cancer patients.

Conflict Experienced by Nurses Providing End-of-life Care in Emergency Departments in Japan.

Saving lives is the first priority in emergency departments. However, it is important to provide end-of-life care (EOLC) for patients and their families in these departments when the patient's life cannot be saved. Existing work reporting the obstacles and difficulties of nursing practice has found that the perceptions of nurses who provide EOLC include distress and conflict.

Unfinished Business in Families of Terminally Ill With Cancer Patients.

Context: Unfinished business often causes psychological issues after bereavement. Providing care for families of terminally ill patients with cancer to prevent unfinished business is important.

Objectives: To clarify the prevalence and types of unfinished business in families of end-of-life patients with cancer admitted to palliative care units (PCUs), explore depression and grief associated with unfinished business, and explore the factors affecting unfinished business.

Effect of persistent menopausal symptoms on the wellbeing of Japanese breast cancer survivors.

While more women with breast cancer survive because of advances in cancer treatment including hormonal therapy, they are at a risk of menopausal symptoms, which can threaten their psychological wellbeing. We examined the effect of menopausal symptoms on women's psychological wellbeing during three different phases of breast cancer: short-term (0-1 years since diagnosis), medium-term (2-5 years), and long-term (more than 5 years). In this cross-sectional study, 425 survivors treated with hormonal therapy were recruited from a convenience sample in Japan and completed an anonymous self-administered questionnaire.

Support not corresponding to transition to a new treatment: Women's perceptions of support provided by their male partners during hormonal therapy.

Women with breast cancer receive support from their partners to deal with the side effects of therapies over the cancer trajectory. Hormonal therapy (HT) is usually given after completing other treatments, and women receiving HT reclaim their normal life. This may lead to changes in support from their partners.

Evaluating the self-care agency of patients receiving outpatient chemotherapy.

Dramatic advances have been made in cancer treatment in recent years, enabling patients to leave the hospital more quickly and stay home while still undergoing treatment. As a result, the percentage of outpatients has been on the rise. Healthcare providers engaged in actual outpatient treatment, however, spend so much energy implementing daily procedures safely that they have little time remaining to provide patient education or carry out any other systematic patient support programs.