Publications by authors named "Laura S Porter"
Article Synopsis
- Sexual concerns are prevalent among breast cancer survivors, impacting their sexual adjustment significantly, which suggests that involving partners in the therapeutic process could be beneficial.
- The study tested the Intimacy Enhancement (IE) intervention, a telephone-based program for couples, to tackle these sexual issues, comparing its effectiveness to a control group intervention.
- Results indicated that the IE intervention led to notable short-term improvements in the sexual function and satisfaction of survivors, although sustaining these benefits over time may require additional strategies.
Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) patients and their caregivers often experience multiple co-occurring symptoms (eg, fatigue, depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbance). There is a noticeable gap in research regarding symptom management for patient-caregiver dyads, particularly using technology-based tools.
Objective: This study aimed to describe the needs and perceptions of patient-caregiver dyads regarding a technology-based tool to manage their multiple symptoms.
Article Synopsis
- Cancer impacts both patients and their caregivers, and avoidant communication styles are linked to poorer psychological and relationship adjustments for both parties involved.* ! -
- The study involved 286 patient-caregiver pairs responding to smartphone prompts over 14 days, focusing on their communication and relationship dynamics.* ! -
- Results indicated that intimacy plays a critical role in relationship satisfaction and psychological distress, suggesting that improving communication could help foster closer relationships and better coping in cancer care.* !
Article Synopsis
- The study highlights the connection between relationship distress and mental health issues, specifically focusing on how couples interact during conversations.
- It analyzed the vocal emotional expressions (measured by fundamental frequency) of 404 couples, finding that those with more depression showed less vocal energy and reacted more to their partner's emotional cues.
- The results indicate that relationship distress had a stronger impact on these vocal interactions than anxiety symptoms, suggesting that future research should explore how relationship issues influence individual mental health.
Article Synopsis
- This study creates a technology-driven program aimed at improving care for underserved colorectal cancer patients and their caregivers.
- It uses generative artificial intelligence to personalize educational resources based on the specific needs of each individual.
- The goal is to improve symptom management and promote health equity among those affected by colorectal cancer.
Article Synopsis
- * A study compared 97 participants in-person with 134 participants using videoconferencing, measuring attendance and engagement metrics like class participation and phone call durations.
- * The virtual group attended more sessions and had longer phone calls, indicating better engagement, but overall weight outcomes were similar to in-person programs, suggesting virtual interventions could be equally effective.
Background: Partner support is associated with better weight loss outcomes in observational studies, but randomized trials show mixed results for including partners. Unclear is whether teaching communication skills to couples will improve weight loss in a person attempting weight loss (index participant).
Purpose: To compare the efficacy of a partner-assisted intervention versus participant-only weight management program on 24-month weight loss.
Article Synopsis
- A study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a mobile app for mindfulness to reduce psychological distress in COVID-19 survivors, particularly focusing on depression symptoms after hospitalization. !* -
- Out of 56 participants, the app intervention showed no significant improvement in depression, anxiety, or quality of life compared to usual care after 3 and 6 months, with only half of participants starting the intervention. !* -
- Challenges such as regulatory delays impacted the study's initiation, leading to low engagement and limited completion of prescribed activities among participants. !*
Article Synopsis
- Psychological distress is common among survivors of critical illness, but effective therapies are limited, prompting the need for a tailored mindfulness intervention.
- This randomized clinical trial aimed to find the best way to deliver mindfulness meditation through a mobile app, evaluating components like introduction method, meditation frequency, and symptom management.
- Results showed that participants who practiced meditation twice daily had significantly lower depression scores compared to those who practiced once daily, while adherence to the intervention was high among participants.
Article Synopsis
- Psychological distress is a common yet often overlooked issue among veterans coping with lung cancer, significantly impacting their mental health and quality of life.
- In a study of 60 veterans with lung cancer, high levels of distress were noted, with 37% showing signs of depression, 35% experiencing anxiety, and 13% having cancer-related PTSD.
- Recommendations for future research include identifying veterans at risk for psychological distress and testing mental health interventions specifically targeting this vulnerable group.
Article Synopsis
- Physical activity typically decreases in patients after hematopoietic cell transplantation, impacting their overall physical functioning, with caregivers also experiencing reduced activity due to caregiving demands.
- The Family-Focused Facilitated Fitness (FFFF) intervention aims to improve physical activity for both patients and caregivers through joint communication and problem-solving training over an 8-week remote program, using Fitbits for tracking.
- In a pilot study of 26 couples, 17 agreed to participate, and 14 began the intervention, meeting initial benchmarks for feasibility and acceptability during the enrollment phase.
Article Synopsis
- Cancer brings physical and emotional challenges that affect both patients and their partners, complicating intimate communication about the illness.
- The study investigates how different levels of intimacy in couples coping with cancer influence their communication behaviors and emotional expressions during discussions.
- Findings reveal that couples with lower intimacy tend to use more negative communication and avoidance, while those with higher intimacy engage in more positive, reciprocal emotional interactions, suggesting a need for improved couple-based interventions.
Article Synopsis
- This study investigates the differences in knowledge, misconceptions, and beliefs about palliative care between patients with cancer and those with other chronic diseases.
- It utilized data from a national survey and found that a significant percentage of respondents from both groups had never heard of palliative care, with chronic condition respondents being less informed.
- The results highlight the need for educational initiatives to improve understanding of palliative care, especially for underserved populations with chronic illnesses.
Article Synopsis
- A study is being conducted to create a web-based program called CRCweb to help patients with colorectal cancer receiving chemotherapy and their caregivers manage psychoneurological symptoms like fatigue, depression, and anxiety.
- The research includes interviews with selected patient-caregiver pairs to develop this program and will assess its effectiveness through a clinical trial with pre- and post-tests.
- The study began in late 2022, with approval and registration completed by April 2023, and aims to finish by October 2024, potentially improving symptom management for cancer patients and their caregivers.
Article Synopsis
- - The COVID-19 pandemic increased psychological distress and burnout among frontline healthcare workers, particularly nurses, leading to a need for effective intervention methods.
- - A pilot randomized trial involving 102 nurses tested the feasibility and impact of a mobile mindfulness program aimed at reducing psychological distress and burnout, comparing intervention participants with a control group on various mental health metrics over a month.
- - Results showed that while the mindfulness intervention effectively reduced depression symptoms (as measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9), it did not significantly impact burnout levels, indicating limited use of the program among participants despite meeting initial feasibility targets.
Article Synopsis
- Cancer can cause significant emotional stress for patients and their partners, and how they communicate about it affects their adjustment.
- This study analyzed conversations between 133 couples dealing with cancer to see how their emotional arousal (measured by vocal tone) related to their well-being over time.
- Results showed that higher emotional arousal at the start of conversations was linked to better adjustment, and maintaining this arousal throughout the conversation led to improvements in individual well-being over the following months.
Article Synopsis
- The study assessed the feasibility and effects of Meaning-Centered Pain Coping Skills Training (MCPC) for adults with advanced cancer experiencing significant pain, targeting improved well-being through meaning and peace.
- Sixty participants were randomly assigned to either MCPC plus usual care or usual care alone, receiving four weekly sessions via videoconference or phone, and their progress was measured at multiple intervals.
- Results showed high completion rates in the MCPC group, with significant improvements in pain severity, pain interference, and pain self-efficacy compared to the control group, indicating MCPC as a promising pain management strategy.
Attachment in Couples Coping with Cancer: Associations with Observed Communication and Long-Term Health.
Int J Environ Res Public Health
March 2023
Article Synopsis
- - Cancer can trigger attachment issues and impact how couples communicate, which in turn affects their overall well-being.
- - The study looked at how patients' and partners' attachment styles relate to their communication during discussions about cancer and how this connects to their long-term physical health.
- - Results showed that insecure attachment (anxious and avoidant styles) led to more negative communication and poorer health outcomes over time, highlighting the importance of emotional expression in relationships facing cancer.
Objective: To develop a new caregiver-assisted pain coping skills training protocol specifically tailored for community-dwelling persons with cognitive impairment and pain, and assess its feasibility and acceptability.
Method: In Phase I, we conducted interviews with 10 patient-caregiver dyads to gather feedback about intervention content and delivery. Phase II was a single-arm pilot test to evaluate the intervention's feasibility and acceptability.
Article Synopsis
- Seriously ill patients often face ongoing pain, and palliative care can offer relief through behavioral pain management techniques.
- This approach includes evidence-based psychosocial methods designed to lower pain intensity and improve overall quality of life, based on the biopsychosocial model.
- The article presents a review of current evidence and offers 10 recommendations for implementing effective behavioral pain management strategies.
Article Synopsis
- Patients recently hospitalized with cardiorespiratory failure often experience psychological distress, but there aren't many effective therapies available post-discharge.
- A study tested the feasibility and impact of a self-guided mobile app called "Blueprint" that offers coping skills, comparing its two versions (with and without a therapist) to usual care for patients experiencing high levels of distress after leaving the hospital.
- Results showed that most patients (71%) could be randomized into groups, with high retention (75.6%) and adherence (97%), and both Blueprint versions led to a significant reduction in anxiety and post-traumatic stress symptoms compared to the usual care group.
Background: The use of digital technologies and software allows for new opportunities to communicate and engage with research participants over time. When software is coupled with automation, we can engage with research participants in a reliable and affordable manner. Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap), a browser-based software, has the capability to send automated text messages.
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- The study investigates the effectiveness of a Couples Communication Skills Training (CCST) intervention delivered via videoconference for couples dealing with advanced cancer, focusing on those who struggle to discuss cancer-related issues.
- The randomized controlled trial (RCT) includes 230 patients with various types of advanced cancer and their partners, comparing CCST against an educational control to measure improvements in relationship and psychological functioning.
- The research aims to provide insights on improving couple dynamics and coping strategies for both patients and their partners, contributing to better long-term adjustment to the challenges posed by advanced cancer.
Purpose Of Review: Cancer causes significant impacts on patients and their caregivers. Cancer is also associated with multiple physical and emotional challenges for the patient-caregiver dyad. This patient-caregiver dyad should be considered as a unit of care by healthcare providers and supported through dedicated psychological interventions.
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- A qualitative study investigated the sexual and intimacy-related concerns of metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients and their partners, revealing limited prior research in this area.
- The study involved focus groups and interviews, highlighting how the disease impacts sexual experiences, including emotional distress and altered relationship dynamics.
- Key findings included long-term sexual issues exacerbated by treatment, perceptions of the relationship's time limit due to MBC, and a need for information that encompasses both physical and emotional aspects of intimacy.