Grieving the Loss of a Child and the Use of Online Social Support: An Exploratory Survey Study.

Purpose: To describe social media online grief supports, accessing behaviors, psychosocial variables, and feelings of support among individuals grieving the loss of a child aged <18 years.

Method: This online survey study recruited 26 adults grieving the loss of a child using social media. Dependent variables included feelings of support and frequency of access.

An Examination of Cognitive Function Abilties in Bereaved Adults.

Grieving individuals experience changes in cognitive function. The purpose of this study was to examine factors that are associated with a decline in cognitive function in grieving adults. Questionnaires for sleep, depression, anxiety, self-efficacy to manage emotions, and cognitive function were completed.

Disparities in Advance Directive Documentation for Rural-Dwelling Persons With Lung Cancer.

Advance directives (AD) are recommended for persons with lung cancer, yet few studies have investigated AD and healthcare power of attorney (HCPOA) documentation for this population in rural regions of the United States. The purpose of this study was to examine demographic and clinical factors associated with AD and HCPOA documentation for persons with lung cancer in rural eastern North Carolina (ENC). A cross-sectional retrospective chart review was conducted to collect demographic and clinical data from electronic health records from 2017 to 2021 at a tertiary cancer center and regional satellite sites in ENC.

Gag order laws threaten nursing education and health equity.

Since 2021, some state legislators have passed laws that limit what public institutions can teach about discrimination. The number of these laws, also called gag orders, is increasing despite a national outcry against racism, homophobia and transphobia, and other forms of discrimination. Many nursing and other professional healthcare organizations have recognized and published statements decrying racism in healthcare and calling for an increased focus on health disparities and advancing health equity.

Financial interventions for family caregivers of individuals with chronic illness: a scoping review protocol.

Introduction: There are 53 million caregivers in the USA providing informal care for individuals with chronic illnesses. These caregivers contribute significantly to the healthcare system, yet they may experience adverse consequences due to caregiving, including financial burden. The purpose of this scoping review is to fill a research gap on understanding the nature and effect of financial interventions for family caregivers.

Disparities in Comorbidities in Lung Cancer: Findings From the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.

Background: In persons with lung cancer, sex and race are independent predictors of comorbidities and are associated survival. It is unclear how comorbidity profiles differ across sex and race.

Objective: The objective was to examine comorbidity differences between men and women and Blacks and Whites.

Using Participatory Action Research to Sustain Palliative Care Knowledge and Readiness Among Latino Community Leaders.

Objective: We examined the effectiveness of nurse-led training on palliative care knowledge and advance care planning readiness with Latino leaders.

Methods: As part of a larger participatory action research study, we used a one-group, pretest-posttest design to evaluate Latino leaders' preparation to share information during home visits with Latinos with advanced cancer. Using Spanish and English materials, 2 palliative care nurse specialists provided a 10-hour training plus a 6-month, post-training booster session.

Prevalence and health outcomes in community-dwelling older adults with comorbid cancer and dementia: a longitudinal analysis.

Objectives: To examine health outcomes in community-dwelling older adults with: dementia only, cancer only, and comorbid cancer and dementia.

Methods: Longitudinal analysis was conducted using data from 2010 to 2016 waves of the Health and Retirement Study. Health outcomes included mortality, limitations in activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), nursing home utilization, hospital stay, homecare use, self-rated health, and out-of-pocket medical expenditure.

Call the : Aiding Latino Families at the End of Life.

Introduction: The , a lay spiritual leader, provides support to Latino families as they provide end-of-life (EOL) care for loved ones. The purpose of this study was to learn about the work of the rezadora in Guatemala as a resource for Latinos with serious illness in the United States.

Methods: An ethnographic exploratory case study was conducted during summer 2018 in rural Guatemala.

Influencing Factors of Inflammatory Bowel Disease-Fatigue: A Path Analysis Model.

Background: Fatigue is a common symptom in adults with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and is influenced by many physiological, psychological, and situational factors. However, the influencing factors of fatigue associated with IBD have not been evaluated.

Objective: This study aims to examine factors associated with fatigue during IBD and develop a parsimonious model that describes the influencing factors of fatigue.

Developing a theoretically grounded, digital, ecological momentary intervention for parental bereavement care using the ORBIT model-Phase 1.

Current models of bereavement care do not address all of bereaved parents' unique needs. Diverse challenges limit parents' ability to access certain bereavement services. A web-based intervention prototype for bereaved parents was developed.

Four Kinds of Hard: An Understanding of Cancer and Death among Latino Community Leaders.

Early integration of palliative care after a diagnosis of cancer improves outcomes, yet such care for Latino populations is lacking in rural regions of the United States. We used a participatory action research design with Latino community leaders from emerging immigrant communities in North Carolina to explore sociocultural perspectives on cancer and death. Thematic analysis was conceptualized as represented by four themes: Receiving an Eviction Notice, Getting in the Good Book, Talking is (Sometimes) Taboo, and Seeing Their Pain Makes us Suffer.

An integrative review of physical activity in adults with inflammatory bowel disease.

Adults with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) search for self-management strategies to manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life (QOL). Physical activity (PA) is one of the self-management strategies widely adopted by adults with IBD. This integrative review aimed to synthesize the evidence on health outcomes of PA in adults with IBD as well as to identify the barriers to engaging in PA.

Chemotherapy in the Last 30 Days and 14 Days of Life in African Americans With Lung Cancer.

Background: African Americans with lung cancer are diagnosed at later stages and have high mortality rates. Chemotherapy is considered aggressive treatment near the end of life and prevents enrollment in hospice.

Objectives: This study explored chemotherapy in the last 30 and 14 days of life among African Americans with lung cancer.

Dimensions of Distress in Lung Cancer.

Objectives: To (a) compare the domains of distress between patients who were distressed and patients who were not distressed and (b) examine the relationship between the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Distress Thermometer and Problem List for Patients (DT-PL) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) in individuals with advanced lung cancer.

Sample & Setting: Individuals with advanced lung cancer receiving chemotherapy were recruited from a comprehensive cancer center in the southeastern United States.

Methods & Variables: A cross-sectional, descriptive, exploratory design was used.

Using Demographics to Predict Palliative Care Access in Inpatient Facilities in Rural North Carolina.

Purpose: For individuals with cancer, palliative care improves quality of life, mood, and survival. Rural residents experience limited access to palliative care. In eastern North Carolina, a rural area, little is known about access to inpatient cancer-related palliative care.

Social media as a recruitment method to reach a diverse sample of bereaved parents.

Background: Recruiting a diverse group of parents who are grieving the loss of a child into research is challenging. Social media users represent all demographic groups in the United States. Online platforms, such as Facebook and Twitter, may be one potential method to reach and recruit a diverse group of bereaved parents.

Stigma and Quality of Life in Patients With Advanced Lung Cancer.

Objectives: To identify groups of participants with high and low levels of stigma and to examine the influence of stigma on social support, social constraints, symptom severity, symptom interference, and quality of life (QOL).

Sample & Setting: 62 individuals with lung cancer were identified and recruited from a comprehensive cancer center in the southeastern United States.

Methods & Variables: Participants completed a questionnaire that included demographic information and measures of stigma, symptom severity and interference, social support, social constraints, and QOL.

Health Disparities in Hospice Utilization and Length of Stay in a Diverse Population With Lung Cancer.

Background: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths globally. Individuals are diagnosed at an advanced stage with limited life expectancy.

Objectives: To explore potential health disparities in hospice utilization and length of stay (LOS) in a diverse sample of patients with lung cancer.

Post-Treatment Symptoms of Pain, Anxiety, Sleep Disturbance, and Fatigue in Breast Cancer Survivors.

Background: In part because of improvements in early detection and treatment, the number of breast cancer survivors is increasing. After treatment, however, breast cancer survivors often experience distressing symptoms, including pain, sleep disturbance, anxiety, and fatigue; at the same time, they have less frequent contact with health care providers. Pain commonly co-occurs with other symptoms and the combination of symptoms contribute to the amount of distress experienced by survivors.

Factors influencing oral adherence: qualitative metasummary and triangulation with quantitative evidence.

Background: Concern about adherence to oral agents among patients with cancer has grown as more oral agents are being used for cancer treatment. Knowledge of common factors that facilitate or inhibit adherence to oral medication regimens can be beneficial to clinicians in identifying patients at risk for nonadherence, in planning care to address barriers to adherence, and in educating patients about ways to improve adherence.

Objectives: The focus of this review is to synthesize the evidence about factors that influence adherence and identify implications for practice.

Evidence-based interventions for cancer treatment-related mucositis: putting evidence into practice.

Mucositis is an inflammatory process that can involve the mucosal epithelial cells from the mouth to the rectum. Historically, mucositis and stomatitis were used interchangeably, but momentum has increased toward more specific terminology since the 2000s. Stomatitis refers to inflammatory diseases of the mouth, including the mucosa, dentition, periapices, and periodontium, whereas mucositis refers more globally to an inflammatory process involving the mucous membranes of the oral cavity and the gastrointestinal tract.

Putting evidence into practice.

The Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) Putting Evidence Into Practice (PEP®) resources provide easily accessible evidence-based resources on 20 cancer-related topics. Using a team-based approach, the ONS PEP teams search for relevant literature, create comprehensive summaries of empirically tested intervention research, and rank each intervention according to its effectiveness. PEP resources are available to nurses and other clinicians caring for people with cancer and their caregivers online and through multiple print sources.

Occurrence of Escherichia coli, noroviruses, and F-specific coliphages in fresh market-ready produce.

Forty samples of fresh produce collected from retail food establishments were examined to determine the occurrence of Escherichia coli, F-specific coliphages, and noroviruses. An additional six samples were collected from a restaurant undergoing investigation for a norovirus outbreak. Nineteen (48%) of the retail samples and all outbreak samples were preprocessed (cut, shredded, chopped, or peeled) at or before the point of purchase.

Comparison of genotypic-based microbial source tracking methods requiring a host origin database.

Microbial source tracking (MST) results, obtained using identical sample sets and pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), repetitive element PCR (rep-PCR) and ribotyping techniques were compared. These methods were performed by six investigators in analysis of duplicate, blind sets of water samples spiked with feces from five possible sources (sewage, human, dog, cow and seagull). Investigators were provided with samples of the fecal material used to inoculate the water samples for host origin database construction.