Exploring disparities in post-cancer treatment instructions: an analysis of rural vs. urban breast cancer survivors in Missouri using BRFSS data.

Background: There are more than 4 million breast cancer survivors in the United States. With continuing improvements in early detection and treatment, the number of breast cancer survivors will only continue to increase. Breast cancer survivors face a lifetime risk of long-term or late-effects from cancer treatments, thus post-cancer treatment care, referred to as survivorship care, is critical.

An Internet Mantram Repetition Program to Promote Well-being in Breast Cancer Survivors: A Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial.

The primary objective of this study was to assess the feasibility of a 6-week internet-delivered Mantram Repetition Program (MRP) for women recently treated for breast cancer. A secondary objective explored changes in perceived stress, psycho-spiritual measures, and cytokines in the treatment group compared to a waitlist. A feasibility study (ORBIT model Phase IIa) with a randomized controlled trial pilot was conducted.

Understanding advanced practice registered nurse perspectives on providing care to people with a history of breast cancer.

Background: People with a history of breast cancer (PHBC) face a lifelong risk of treatment-related sequelae affecting their quality of life. Stakeholders advocate for improving breast cancer survivorship outcomes by increasing clinicians' knowledge of cancer survivorship issues. In Missouri, advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) in nononcology settings provide routine survivorship care to PHBC; however, little is known about how they approach survivorship care planning for PHBC.

Prevalence, characteristics and measurement of somatic symptoms related to mental health in medical students: a scoping review.

Introduction: Somatic symptoms related to mental health in medical students are under-researched, with nothing on the topic being published in the United States in over three decades. This scoping review is the first of its kind to explore the prevalence, type and severity of somatic symptoms induced by stress, anxiety, depression and burnout amongst medical students, with the objective of describing the significance and breadth of this issue.

Methods: PRISMA-ScR guidelines were used to guide this review.

Personality and Spirituality as Predictors of Mental Health and Salivary Alpha-Amylase Activity in Breast Cancer Survivors.

Objectives: To determine the relative predictive validity of personality and spirituality for mental health and salivary alpha-amylase (sAA) in breast cancer (BC) survivors.

Sample & Setting: 23 BC survivors participated in a single-group, cross-sectional study.

Methods & Variables: Predictor variables included personality and spiritual variables.

Acceptability of the Mantram Repetition Program to Reduce Stress in Adolescent Survivors of Pediatric Cancer or Brain Tumors.

A mixed-methods approach was used to explore the acceptability of the Mantram Repetition Program (MRP) to reduce stress in adolescents with a history of pediatric cancer or brain tumor. Five male participants diagnosed at ages 1-14 years and currently, ages 13-18 years, completed assessments of stress, anxiety, and sleep disturbance and were interviewed about the acceptability of a mantram repetition intervention. Adolescent survivors reported low to moderate levels of stress, anxiety, and sleep disturbance.

Mean Differential Continuous Pulse Method for Accurate Optical Measurements of Light-Emitting Diodes and Laser Diodes.

Limited sources exist for the application of germicidal ultraviolet (GUV) radiation. Ultraviolet light-emitting diodes (UV-LEDs) have significantly improved in efficiency and are becoming another viable source for GUV. We have developed a mean differential continuous pulse method (M-DCP method) for optical measurements of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and laser diodes (LDs).

Associations between religious and spiritual variables and neuroimmune activity in survivors of breast cancer: a feasibility study.

Purpose: Chronic stress is associated with neuroimmune inflammation and adverse outcomes in breast cancer survivors. Some breast cancer survivors rely on religious and spiritual (R/S) variables to manage stress after breast cancer treatment. A spiritually based psychoneuroimmunological (PNI) model of health suggests that R/S variables influence neuroimmune activity; however, these associations are not well-established.

Psychosocial Issues Associated with Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema: a Literature Review.

Purpose Of Review: Breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) is a chronic disease affecting breast cancer survivors. The purpose of this article is to update the scientific literature regarding psychosocial issues associated with BCRL.

Recent Findings: Reports describe economic burdens, social support, sexuality, BCRL patient-education needs, and interventions to reduce BCRL symptoms and improve QOL among women with breast cancer.

Forgiveness and Health Outcomes in Cancer Survivorship: A Scoping Review.

Background: Religious and spiritual beliefs including forgiveness are an important aspect of cancer survivorship; however, the relationship between forgiveness and health is not well understood.

Objective: The aim of this study was to conduct a scoping review that examines and maps the current research regarding relationships between forgiveness and health outcomes in individuals with cancer.

Methods: We searched 5 electronic databases using key search terms related to forgiveness and cancer.

Rural-Urban Differences in Neuroimmune Biomarkers and Health Status Among Women Living With Breast Cancer.

Background: Because of chronic emotional and psychosocial stressors following breast cancer (BC) treatment, BC survivors are at risk of neuroimmune dysfunction in survivorship. Rural BC survivors experience more health disparities than urban BC survivors. Rural-urban residence as a variable on neuroimmune activity in extended BC survivorship continuum has not been explored.

How Theory Can Help Facilitate Implementing Relaxation as a Complementary Pain Management Approach.

Complementary therapies provide cancer survivors and clinicians with options for managing chronic pain. Recent published clinical guidelines and research findings support the use of relaxation therapy for managing chronic pain in cancer survivors. However, translating research findings into clinical practice remains a challenge.

Mind-Body Interventions in the Management of Chronic Cancer Pain.

Objectives: To describe mind-body interventions used in the management of chronic cancer pain including their mechanisms of action, dosing, and delivery methods based on available evidence to date.

Data Sources: Peer-reviewed publications.

Conclusion: Further high-quality research is needed to establish the effectiveness and mechanisms of actions for mind-body interventions in chronic cancer pain management.

Rigor and Reproducibility: A Systematic Review of Salivary Cortisol Sampling and Reporting Parameters Used in Cancer Survivorship Research.

Salivary cortisol is a commonly used biomarker in cancer survivorship research; however, variations in sampling protocols and parameter reporting limit comparisons across studies. Standardized practices to provide rigor and reproducibility of diurnal salivary cortisol sampling and reporting are not well established. Previous systematic reviews examining relationships between diurnal salivary cortisol and clinical outcomes have resulted in mixed findings.

A systematic review of interventions to improve adherence to endocrine therapy.

Purpose: Adherence to endocrine therapy for hormone positive breast cancer is a significant problem, especially in minority populations. Further, endocrine therapy reduces recurrence and thus mortality. However, little data are available on interventions to improve adherence.

Nursing Support of Home Hospice Caregivers on the Day of Patient Death.

Purpose/objectives: To describe nurse-caregiver communication on the day of patient death.
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Design: A descriptive secondary analysis of 44 audio-recorded home hospice nursing visits on day of death.

Caregiver, patient, and nurse visit communication patterns in cancer home hospice.

Objective: Few studies have examined the triadic communication between patients, spouse caregivers, and nurses in the home hospice setting. Thus, little is known about the types of communication patterns that unfold. The goals of the study were to, first, identify common patterns of communication in nurse-patient-caregiver home hospice visits and, second, to identify nurse, caregiver-patient dyad, and visit characteristics that predict visit communication patterns.

A Systematic Review of Spiritually Based Interventions and Psychoneuroimmunological Outcomes in Breast Cancer Survivorship.

Objective This is a review of spiritually based interventions (eg, mindfulness-based stress reduction) that utilized psychoneuroimmunological (PNI) outcome measures in breast cancer survivors. Specifically, this review sought to examine the evidence regarding relationships between spiritually based interventions, psychosocial-spiritual outcomes, and biomarker outcomes in breast cancer survivors. Methods A systematic search of 9 online databases was conducted for articles of original research, peer-reviewed, randomized and nonrandomized control trials from 2005-2015.

Perspectives of the Breast Cancer Survivorship Continuum: Diagnosis through 30 Months Post-Treatment.

This study explored breast cancer survivors' perspectives regarding their experiences of the survivorship continuum from diagnosis through 30 months post-treatment. The sample included women (N = 379) with newly-diagnosed breast cancer undergoing treatment at a Midwestern university-affiliated cancer center. Semi-structured interviews were conducted using the Lymphedema and Breast Cancer Questionnaire at time of diagnosis, post-operatively, quarterly during the first year, and then semi-annually thereafter through 30 months post-treatment.

Animal source foods have a positive impact on the primary school test scores of Kenyan schoolchildren in a cluster-randomised, controlled feeding intervention trial.

Micronutrient deficiencies and suboptimal energy intake are widespread in rural Kenya, with detrimental effects on child growth and development. Sporadic school feeding programmes rarely include animal source foods (ASF). In the present study, a cluster-randomised feeding trial was undertaken to determine the impact of snacks containing ASF on district-wide, end-term standardised school test scores and nutrient intake.