Cervical cancer is largely preventable through screening and treatment of cervical lesions. In the province of Ontario, South Asian women have some of the lowest rates of screening. The roles of service providers-those in healthcare and community services-and their interactions with screen-eligible people can greatly impact the uptake of screening.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Little is known about how patients are managed after a suspected cancer diagnosis through the emergency department. The objective of this study was to examine the ED management, specifically referral practices, for ten suspected cancer diagnoses by emergency physicians across Ontario and to explore variability in management by cancer-type and centre.
Methods: An electronic survey was distributed to emergency physicians across Ontario, asking about referral practices for patients who could be discharged from the ED with one of ten suspected cancer diagnoses.
BMJ Open
July 2024
Introduction: The Building on Existing Tools to Improve Cancer and Chronic Disease Prevention and Screening in Primary Care (BETTER) programme trains allied health professionals working in primary care settings to develop personalised chronic disease 'prevention prescriptions' with patients. However, maintenance of health behaviour changes is difficult without ongoing support. Sustainable options to enhance the BETTER programme and ensure accessibility to underserved populations are needed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHealth care providers (HCPs) play a key role in psychosocial care of adolescents with cancer (AWC) and present a unique perspective. This prospective study included a brief survey followed by an interview, seeking to understand HCPs' viewpoints on peer support needs of AWC. Participants were 10 multidisciplinary HCPs with 5-30 years of experience.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: We previously identified specific immigrant groups (West African and Caribbean) with increased incidence of prostate cancer in Ontario, Canada. In this population-level retrospective cohort study, we used administrative databases to compare stage of diagnosis, 5-year overall survival and prostate cancer-specific survival for immigrants versus long-term residents of Ontario.
Methods: We linked several provincial-level databases available at ICES, an independent, non-profit research institute.
Objective: For young adults (YAs) with cancer, connecting with peer cancer survivors can provide a unique sense of community and may enhance post-traumatic growth (PTG). This study examined the relationship between connectedness to the YA cancer community and PTG among YAs, independent of overall social support.
Methods: Data were obtained from the young adults with cancer in their prime study, a cross-Canada survey of YA cancer survivors.
Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate associations between self-reported distress (anxiety/depression) and satisfaction with and desire for virtual follow-up (VFU) care among cancer patients during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods: Breast and prostate cancer patients receiving VFU at an urban cancer centre in Toronto, Canada completed an online survey on their sociodemographic, clinical, and technology, characteristics and experience with and views on VFU. EQ5D-5 L was used to assess distress.
Background: The intersection of race and older age compounds existing health disparities experienced by historically marginalised communities. Therefore, racialised older adults with cancer are more disadvantaged in their access to cancer clinical trials compared with age-matched counterparts. To determine what has already been published in this area, the rapid scoping review question are: what are the barriers, facilitators and potential solutions for enhancing access to cancer clinical trials among racialised older adults?
Methods: We will use a rapid scoping review methodology in which we follow the six-step framework of Arksey and O'Malley, including a systematic search of the literature with abstract and full-text screening to be conducted by two independent reviewers, data abstraction by one reviewer and verification by a second reviewer using an Excel data abstraction sheet.
Introduction: Adolescents and young adults diagnosed with cancer (AYAs) are under-represented in research. The Internet and social media could increase the reach of recruitment efforts but may impact sample characteristics. This study evaluated the characteristics of AYAs recruited in-person at an urban hospital versus the Internet in terms of their sociodemographic and medical characteristics, and psychosocial wellbeing, and offers recommendation for increasing the inclusivity and representativeness of research samples.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: To explore women's perceptions of and preferred peer characteristics for peer mentoring to support physical activity promotion. Understanding how women living beyond a cancer diagnosis perceive peers for physical activity may help guide further health behavior mentoring and support practices.
Participants & Setting: 16 English-speaking adult women living beyond a cancer diagnosis.
Purpose: A cancer diagnosis in young adulthood can negatively impact sleep quality. The present study describes sleep issues in young adults (YAs) and analyzes potential demographic and clinical characteristics related to sleep quality.
Methods: Canadian YAs (n = 359) diagnosed with cancer between ages 15-39 participated in the study.
Background: Aims were to: (1) compare social status among AYAs diagnosed with cancer to a community population; (2) describe AYAs' change in employment/education status; and (3) examine predictors of social status.
Method: Social status (i.e.
Healthcare providers have reported challenges with coordinating care for patients with cancer. Digital technology tools have brought new possibilities for improving care coordination. A web- and text-based asynchronous system (eOncoNote) was implemented in Ottawa, Canada for cancer specialists and primary care providers (PCPs).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: The study investigated peer and caregiver navigators' motivations for providing support, i.e., benefit finding, their mental and physical health, and program satisfaction.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Cancer poses a significant global health burden. With advances in screening and treatment, there are now a growing number of cancer survivors with complex needs, requiring the involvement of multiple health care providers. Previous studies have identified problems related to communication and care coordination between primary care providers (PCPs) and cancer specialists.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPrevious research has identified communication and care coordination problems for patients with cancer. Healthcare providers (HCPs) have reported communication issues due to the incompatibility of electronic medical records (EMR) software and not being consistently copied on patient reports. We evaluated an asynchronous web-based communication system ("eOncoNote") for primary care providers and cancer specialists to improve cancer care coordination.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Prostate cancer incidence has been associated with various sociodemographic factors, such as race, income and age, but the association with immigrant status in Canada is unclear. In this population-based study in Ontario, Canada, we compared age-standardized incidence rates for immigrant males from various regions of origin with the rates of long-term residents.
Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, we linked several provincial-level databases available at ICES, an independent, non-profit research institute.
Parents of adolescents with cancer (AWC) provide critical support throughout the cancer journey and could offer key insights into support needs. This prospective study aimed to obtain parent perspectives on peer support needs of AWC. Ten individual parents (9 mothers and 1 father) completed a survey and a semistructured interview.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study assessed the feasibility, acceptability and potential effects of True North Peer Navigation (PN)—a web-based peer navigation program for men with prostate cancer (PC) and their family caregivers. A one-arm, pre-post pilot feasibility study was conducted at two cancer centres in Canada. Participants were matched through a web-app with a specially trained peer navigator who assessed needs and barriers to care, provided support and encouraged a proactive approach to health for 3 months.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: The short report aims to examine differences in self-rated general health across racialized post-secondary students at a university in Ontario, Canada.
Methods: Binary logistic regression analysis was used to examine poor health as an outcome among racialized students as whole, as well as across Asian, South Asian, Afro-Caribbean and Middle Eastern student groups in comparison to white Caucasian post-secondary students.
Results: After adjusting for several covariates, racialized students as a whole had 2.
Adolescents and young adults (AYA) with cancer desire peer support and require support programs that address their unique needs. This study investigated the need for, and barriers to, peer support and preferences for digital peer navigation among AYA. A cross-sectional survey was administered to AYA, diagnosed with cancer between the ages of 15-39, at a cancer center and through social media.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Considerable observational evidence suggests that cancer online support groups reduce feelings of isolation, depression and anxiety, enhance coping and self-management, and lead to better informed patients. Other studies indicate that cancer online support groups can increase distress. Yet no studies theorise the complex, context-dependent mechanisms by which cancer online support groups generate their-sometimes contrasting-outcomes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAdolescents with cancer (AWC) in pediatrics may not have adequate opportunities for peer support. This mixed methods study aimed to characterize peer support needs of AWC during or shortly after treatment. Ten AWC with median age 16.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common cancer in Canadian men. Current models of survivorship care are no longer adequate to address the chronic and complex survivorship needs of patients today. Virtual care models for cancer survivorship have recently been associated with comparable clinical outcomes and lower costs to traditional follow-up care, with patients favouring off-site and on-demand visits.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Cancer patients may turn to social media (SM) to cope with distress. We investigated associations between distress and internet/SM use for cancer information/support.
Methods: Adult patients at a Canadian cancer centre completed a cross-sectional survey on sociodemographics, health status, use of cancer online resources and distress (EQ5D-5L).