Publications by authors named "Kayla N Roche"
Purpose: Cancer patients experience distress and anxiety when undergoing imaging studies to monitor disease status, yet these symptoms are not always appropriately identified or well-managed. This interim analysis of a phase 2 clinical trial explored feasibility and acceptability of a virtual reality relaxation (VR) intervention for primary brain tumor (PBT) patients at the time of clinical evaluation.
Methods: English speaking, adult PBT patients with previous reports of distress and upcoming neuroimaging were recruited between March of 2021 and March 2022.
Article Synopsis
- Cancer patients often face anxiety during imaging studies, leading to the need for effective management of their distress.
- A phase 2 clinical trial tested a virtual reality relaxation (VR) intervention for primary brain tumor patients, assessing its feasibility and acceptability before neuroimaging.
- Out of 55 approached, 20 patients enrolled, with high satisfaction reported (90%) and minimal adverse effects, indicating the potential of VR as a supportive tool for managing psychological symptoms in this population.
Article Synopsis
- Financial toxicity, especially linked to unemployment, has a significant impact on cancer survivors, prompting an evaluation of how it relates to patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in individuals with primary CNS tumors (PCNST).
- The study, conducted between September 2016 and December 2019 with 277 participants, revealed that Hispanic individuals faced higher unemployment rates and reported greater functional impairments and reduced health-related quality of life (HRQOL) than employed counterparts.
- Unemployed participants exhibited notably higher levels of depressive (25% vs. 8%) and anxiety symptoms (30% vs. 15%), highlighting the mental health challenges associated with unemployment in this patient group.
Purpose: Research has demonstrated that solid tumor patients experience high levels of psychological distress at the time of diagnosis. While distress has been associated with many adverse clinical outcomes, little is known about how this symptom may influence the disease trajectory for cancer patients, affecting outcomes such as progression, recurrence, and survival. The purpose of this systematic review was to explore the literature linking distress with survival in solid tumor patients, which may guide future work exploring clinical outcomes as a function of distress.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- Cognitive impairments are common in patients with primary CNS tumors, and traditional neuropsychological assessments are often too lengthy for routine use, prompting the study of the brief Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) during in-person and telehealth visits.
- The study involved 71 adults with CNS tumors who took the MoCA, revealing an average score of 25 in-person and 26 via telehealth, with a notable percentage scoring abnormally; satisfaction surveys indicated healthcare providers found the MoCA useful in both settings.
- Findings demonstrated a correlation between lower MoCA scores and worse symptoms, emphasizing the importance of incorporating both objective cognitive measures and patient-reported outcomes for a comprehensive understanding of patient cognition in neuro-oncology care.