Costs and Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Art Therapy versus Standard Breast Cancer Support Group for Women with Cancer.

Background: The results of several studies have demonstrated that women and men with a cancer diagnosis benefit from interventions to reduce distress and improve quality of life (QOL). However, little is known about the costs and effectiveness of such interventions. Identifying a stress-reduction program that is low cost and effective is important for payers, employers, and healthcare professionals, as well as for patients with cancer.

Changes in cerebral blood flow and anxiety associated with an 8-week mindfulness programme in women with breast cancer.

This study employed functional magnetic resonance imaging to evaluate changes in cerebral blood flow (CBF) associated with the Mindfulness-based Art Therapy (MBAT) programme and correlate such changes to stress and anxiety in women with breast cancer. Eighteen breast cancer patients were randomized to the MBAT or education control group. The patients received the diagnosis of breast cancer between 6 months and 3 years prior to enrollment and were not in active treatment.

Population-based worksite obesity management interventions: a qualitative case study.

Due to the increased prevalence of obesity and associated direct and indirect costs to employers, weight management programs have become an integral component of employer and insurer benefits plans. The programs vary in foci, scope, breadth, and implementation. The aim of this study was to explore promising employer-sponsored population-based obesity management programs.

Is disease management right for oncology?

The disease management (DM) model for the treatment of chronic conditions has been around for many years and has been found to be effective for diseases of high prevalence and high cost (eg, diabetes, asthma, heart disease). With an increasing number of people living with cancer and the continual escalation of treatment costs, DM vendors have begun to implement DM concepts into cancer care. However, the multitude of cancer types, treatment options, and adverse effects have all presented barriers to oncology DM, and data reflecting the effectiveness of oncology DM have remained scarce.

Quality measurement in diabetes care.

This study aimed to evaluate diabetes quality measurement efforts, assess their strengths and areas for improvement, and identify gaps not adequately addressed by these measures. We conducted an environmental scan of diabetes quality measures, focusing on metrics included in the National Quality Measures Clearinghouse or promulgated by leading measurement organizations. Key informant interviews were also completed with thought leaders who develop, promote, and use quality measures.

ACGME competencies in neurology: web-based objective simulated computerized clinical encounters.

Objective: The American Headache Society developed an innovative Web-based neurology resident educational program to 1) meet the objectives of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education Outcomes Project; 2) provide measurable improvement of a neurology resident's understanding of headache and the performance within each core competency; 3) assist residents and program directors in identifying knowledge gaps; and, ultimately, 4) improve the quality of patient care through enhanced educational initiatives.

Methods: Quantitative analysis focused on pretest and post-test results, level attainment on case-based simulations, competency achievement, and interactions between cases. One of four validated global scores was related to each resident response on all competency learning opportunities and was measured, from one case to another, to determine improvement and understanding.

Electrochemical pinning of the Fermi level: mediation of photoluminescence from gallium nitride and zinc oxide.

Charge transfer between diamond and an electrochemical redox couple in an adsorbed water film has recently been shown to pin the Fermi level in hydrogen-terminated diamond. Here we show that this effect is a more general phenomenon and influences the properties of other semiconductors when the band lineup between the ambient and electronic states in the semiconductor is appropriate. We find that the luminescent intensities from GaN and ZnO change in different, but predictable, ways when exposed to HCl and NH3 vapors in humid air.

Genetic testing for BRCA1: effects of a randomised study of knowledge provision on interest in testing and long term test uptake; implications for the NICE guidelines.

Introduction: Interest in searching for mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 is high. Knowledge regarding these genes and the advantages and limitations of genetic testing is limited. It is unknown whether increasing knowledge about breast cancer genetic testing alters interest in testing.

Genetic and environmental risk assessment for colorectal cancer risk in primary care practice settings: a pilot study.

Purpose: The assessment of genetic variants and environmental exposures (i.e., genetic and environmental risk assessment) may permit individualized risk stratification for common diseases as part of routine care.

Psycho-oncology: review and update.

The field of psycho-oncology is moving forward rapidly, especially for a relatively new field. Cancer patients and survivors are willing to discuss their needs and interests relating to diagnosis and treatment. There are guidelines and algorithms for determining levels of distress in cancer patients in both inpatient and outpatient settings.

Does genetic counseling have any impact on management of breast cancer risk?

Despite there being an increasing literature on the impact of cancer genetic counseling on risk perception and mental health, there is a lack of data describing impact on risk management. Genetic counseling and testing for cancer predisposition genes aims to improve the future health of those at high risk through appropriate surveillance and screening. However, management of breast cancer risk in women with a family history of this disease is an area of controversy.

Psychosocial oncology: supportive care for the cancer patient.

Increasing attention is being paid to the emotional and psychosocial needs of cancer patients. As a result of huge advances in early detection and in treatment modalities, there now are millions of cancer survivors in the United States. There has been a realization that cancer survivors have distinct psychosocial needs.

Factors predicting prostate specific antigen testing among first-degree relatives of prostate cancer patients.

First-degree relatives (FDRs) of prostate cancer patients are known to be at increased risk for the disease, yet relatively little is known about their screening behaviors. The current lack of consensus about the value of prostate cancer screening underscores the importance of examining why some men at increased risk participate in screening and others do not. In this study, variables from Protection Motivation Theory were used to identify predictors of prostate specific antigen (PSA) testing in this at-risk population.

Relation of family history of prostate cancer to perceived vulnerability and screening behavior.

Men with a positive family history of prostate cancer are known to be at increased risk for the disease; however, relatively little is known about their risk perceptions or screening behavior. To address these issues, the current study examined the relationship of family history of prostate cancer to perceived vulnerability of developing prostate cancer and prostate cancer screening practices. Participants were 83 men with a positive family history of prostate cancer and 83 men with a negative family history of prostate cancer.

Psychological aspects of cancer screening in high-risk populations.

Background: The focus of this paper is to define who is at high risk for breast cancer and the psychological issues in breast cancer screening. Within this context, the emphasis is on secondary malignancies after treatment for childhood cancers, including age appropriate guidelines for cancer screening. While there have been no studies of distress in women at high risk for breast cancer related to childhood cancer treatments, we can extrapolate from this study of women at high risk for breast cancer because of genetic susceptibility.

Stress and burnout in oncology.

This article identifies the professional stressors experienced by nurses, house staff, and medical oncologists and examines the effect of stress and personality attributes on burnout scores. A survey was conducted of 261 house staff, nurses, and medical oncologists in a cancer research hospital, and oncologists in outside clinical practices. It measured burnout, psychological distress, and physical symptoms.

Psychosocial aspects of cancer genetics: women at high risk for breast and ovarian cancer.

In the past five years the advent of cancer genetic testing has created concern about the negative psychosocial sequelae of genetic counseling and testing. Research indicates that the women most likely to seek genetic testing are anxious about carrying a gene mutation and developing breast cancer. Women who are at high risk have poor knowledge and the expectation of being a gene-mutation carrier.

The role of religious and spiritual beliefs in coping with malignant melanoma: an Israeli sample.

This preliminary study examined the possible relationship between a newly developed instrument, the Spiritual Beliefs Inventory (SBI-54), and the coping style of a group of cancer patients in Israel. The sample consisted of 100 malignant melanoma patients diagnosed at stages I and II, A and B. Patients were individually interviewed at home and completed seven self-reports.

The role of religious and spiritual beliefs in coping with malignant melanoma.

This study investigated the role of spiritual and religious beliefs in ambulatory patients coping with malignant melanoma. One-hundred and seventeen patients with melanoma being seen in an outpatient clinic completed a battery of measurements including the newly validated Systems of Belief Inventory (SBI-54). No correlation was found between SBI-54 scores and levels of distress.

A brief spiritual beliefs inventory for use in quality of life research in life-threatening illness.

This paper reports on the initial efforts to validate a brief self-report inventory, the Systems of Belief Inventory(SBI-15R), for use in quality of life (QOL) and psychosocial research studying adjustment to illness. The SBI-15R was designed to measure religious and spiritual beliefs and practices, and the social support derived from a community sharing those beliefs. The authors proposed this scale to address the need for greater exploration of spiritual and religious beliefs in QOL, stress and coping research.