Image Guidance is Associated with Improved Freedom From Recurrence After Superficial Radiation Therapy for Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer.

Purpose: This is the first study to quantify the 2-year freedom from recurrence for individuals with nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) such as basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and squamous carcinoma in situ (SCCIS) treated with image guided superficial radiation therapy (IGSRT) versus SRT without image guidance.

Methods And Materials: This retrospective cohort study evaluates the 2-year freedom recurrence rate of NMSCs treated by IGSRT (March 2016 to January 2022) and compares it to existing data on NMSCs treated by SRT via 1 sample proportion tests. Individuals >18 years old with biopsy-proven SCC, SCCIS, and/or BCC treated with IGSRT were included in the study, and 1602 patients/2880 treated lesions were followed until January 14, 2022.

Indirect Effects of Perceived Stress and Depression on the Relationship Between Insomnia Symptoms and Hazardous Drinking.

Insomnia is a risk factor for hazardous drinking, yet the mechanisms underlying this risk are not well characterized. Two factors that might contribute to the relationship between insomnia and drinking are stress and depression. Insomnia is strongly associated with increased stress and depression, which are, in turn, strongly linked to hazardous drinking.

Evaluating the effect of a virtual reality digital therapeutic on maternal stress among expectant and postpartum Black and Latina mothers: a protocol paper.

Background: Maternal mental health is vital to overall well-being, particularly among expectant and postpartum Black and Latina women who experience higher stress levels and mental health challenges. Traditional healthcare systems often fail to meet these needs, underscoring the need for innovative and accessible interventions. NurtureVR, a digital maternal mental health and educational program, leverages virtual reality to offer mindfulness, relaxation, and guided imagery to support these women.

Exploring Implementation of Reasonable Adjustments in Hospitals for People With Intellectual Disability: Using a Realist Lens.

Aim: To explore the factors influencing the implementation of reasonable adjustments in hospitals for people with intellectual disability: using a realist lens.

Design: A qualitative study using a realist lens.

Methods: Data collection involved one focus group interview and three semi-structured interviews with healthcare professionals working in hospital or community settings in September 2023.

Enablers of and Barriers to Perinatal Mental Healthcare Access and Healthcare Provision for Refugee and Asylum-Seeking Women in the WHO European Region: A Scoping Review.

Perinatal mental health is a growing public health concern. Refugee and asylum-seeking women are particularly susceptible to experiencing perinatal mental illness and may encounter a range of challenges in accessing healthcare. This scoping review sought to identify the enablers of and barriers to healthcare access and healthcare provision for refugee and asylum-seeking women experiencing perinatal mental illness in the WHO European Region.

"I Felt Dirty in a Way a Shower Wouldn't Fix": A Qualitative Examination of Sexual Trauma-Related Mental Contamination.

Trauma-related mental contamination (MC) is a distressing sense of dirtiness that arises absent a contaminant following a traumatic event. Existing work has linked MC to more severe posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms among individuals with sexual trauma histories and has begun to characterize some aspects of the experience of trauma-related MC. However, a more nuanced understanding of how individuals experience and respond to trauma-related MC is lacking.

Improvement in Post-traumatic Stress Symptoms Following an Internet-based Cognitive-Behavioral Intervention for Insomnia: An Open Trial among Rural Appalachian Women.

Appalachian women face significant health disparities and have limited access to health care. Mental health conditions and treatment-seeking are stigmatized in Appalachian communities. Appalachian women may benefit from web-based interventions targeting less stigmatized health complaints (e.

Virtual reality use and patient outcomes in palliative care: A scoping review.

Objective: Virtual reality is increasingly used in healthcare settings. Potentially, it's use in palliative carecould have a positive impact; however, there is limited evidence on the scope, purpose and patient outcomes relating to virtual reality use in this context. The objective of this scoping review is to chart the literature on virtual reality use in palliative care, identifying any evidence relating to biopsychosocial patient outcomes which could support its use in practice.

Parents' perspectives on reasonable adjustments in acute healthcare for people with intellectual disability: A qualitative descriptive study.

Aim: To describe parents' perspectives on reasonable adjustments in acute healthcare for people with intellectual disability (ID).

Background: People with ID are vulnerable in terms of their health needs and marginalized when accessing and utilizing acute healthcare services. Reasonable adjustments are positive measures that can help alleviate health disparities.

Analysis of image-guided superficial radiation therapy (IGSRT) on the treatment of early-stage non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) in the outpatient dermatology setting.

Background: Interest in image-guidance superficial radiation therapy (IGSRT) for the treatment of early-stage non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) has resurfaced given its low complication rates, superior cosmesis and local control and cure rates. In addition, it has been recommended by the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) for early-stage NMSC in patients who are considered poor surgical candidates.

Methods: 1899 NMSC lesions were treated with energies ranging from 50 to 100 kilovoltage (kV), for a mean of 20.

High resolution dermal ultrasound (US) combined with superficial radiation therapy (SRT) versus non-image guided SRT or external beam radiotherapy (XRT) in early-stage epithelial cancer: a comparison of studies.

Background: To compare the effectiveness of high-resolution dermal ultrasound (US) guided superficial radiotherapy (SRT) to non-image-guided radiotherapy in the treatment of early-stage Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer (NMSC).

Methods: A high-resolution dermal ultrasound (US) image guided form of superficial radiation therapy (designated here as US-SRT) was developed in 2013 where the tumor configuration and depth can be visualized prior to, during, and subsequent to treatments, using a 22 megahertz (MHz) dermal ultrasound (US) with a doppler component. We previously published the results using this technology to treat 2917 early-stage epithelial cancers showing a high local control (LC) rate of 99.

Local control comparison of early-stage non-melanoma skin Cancer (NMSC) treated by superficial radiotherapy (SRT) and external beam radiotherapy (XRT) with and without dermal image guidance: a meta-analysis.

Background: Various treatments exist for non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC), but the mainstay is surgical removal. Superficial radiotherapy (SRT) is one non-surgical technique that has been used for over a century but fell out of favor due to the advent of Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS). A new technology that combines a 22 megahertz (MHz) dermal ultrasound with SRT (US-SRT) enables tumor visualization before, during, and after treatment, and demonstrates increased cure rates and reduced recurrences.

Final year undergraduate nursing and midwifery students' perspectives on simulation-based education: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Simulation-based education is a teaching and learning approach that can enhance learning experiences for students on healthcare programmes. Within undergraduate nursing and midwifery education, simulation can support students in developing graduate attributes necessary to become practice-ready professionals. This paper reports on the evaluation of a simulation-based education initiative, which was introduced to support final year undergraduate nursing and midwifery students in preparation for their upcoming clinical internship in practice.

Sex Differences in the Association Between Poor Sleep Quality and Alcohol-Related Problems Among Heavy Drinkers With Insomnia.

Background: Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) and insomnia are highly comorbid; at least 40% of individuals with AUD suffer from insomnia. Women are more likely to report insomnia than men and have seen a concerning rise in rates of AUD in recent years. As such, the association between AUD and insomnia could be particularly pronounced in women.

Alcohol use, sleep, and depression among family caregivers in the time of COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic has substantially altered daily life around the world, resulting in significant impacts on health behaviors. The additional burdens imposed by family caregiving (i.e.

The value and contribution of intellectual disability nurses/nurses caring for people with intellectual disability in intellectual disability settings: A scoping review.

Background: People with intellectual disability experience poorer health and healthcare access issues. As a leading role in healthcare provision for people with intellectual disability nurses are key to supporting person-centred care and health outcomes. However, little is known about specialist intellectual disability nursing and their contribution to care provision for people with intellectual disability.

Time to re-envisage integrity among nurse leaders.

Aim: This paper highlights integrity as a central tenet in the journey of ethical leadership among nurse leaders and dialogue as a way of working within integrity.

Background: Nurse leaders play a critical role in ensuring ethically sound, safe patient care by supporting staff and fostering positive working environments. Although there is an abundance of literature on leadership, no universally accepted leadership theory exists.

Service User and Service Provider Perceptions of Enablers and Barriers for Refugee and Asylum-Seeking Women Accessing and Engaging with Perinatal Mental Health Care Services in the WHO European Region: A Scoping Review Protocol.

There is a need to understand the specific perinatal mental health care needs of migrant subgroups who often have differing health care needs and specific barriers to accessing and engaging with health care services. It is important to have evidence about the WHO European context given the rising numbers of refugees and asylum seekers in the region. The aim of this scoping review is to map the factors that enable and prevent access and engagement of refugee and asylum-seeking women with perinatal mental health care services in the WHO European Region, from the perspectives of service providers and service users.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and its related restrictions on people with pre-existent mental health conditions: A scoping review.

Context: Globally, governments have introduced a variety of public health measures including restrictions and reducing face-to-face contact, to control the spread of COVID-19. This has implications for mental health services in terms of support and treatment for vulnerable groups such as people with pre-existent mental health conditions. However, there is limited evidence of the impact of COVID-19 and its related restrictions on people with pre-existent mental health conditions.

Appalachian Women's perspectives on preterm birth and transvaginal ultrasound cervical length screening: Implications for addressing disparities in preterm birth.

Purpose: Preterm birth (PTB), a pressing issue for US maternal-child health, disproportionately impacts women in Appalachia. Transvaginal ultrasound (TVU) cervical length (CL) screening is the most accurate PTB risk predictor but remains underutilized. This study characterizes the knowledge, attitudes and beliefs of patients with prior PTB concerning PTB prevention efforts and TVU CL screening.

Preterm Birth Prevention in Appalachia: Restructuring Prenatal Care to Address Rural Health Disparities and Establish Perinatal Health Equity.

This perspective piece reflects off previously published qualitative work to explore (1) themes surrounding equitable prenatal care in Appalachia and (2) strategies to restructure care delivery in a population with disparate rates of preterm birth (PTB). This study reflects in-depth interviews with 22 Appalachian women who experienced PTB and 14 obstetric providers. Our findings underscore the need for greater cultural humility in prenatal care, heightened awareness of social determinants of health, and strategic planning to establish equity in birth outcomes.

Preterm Birth Prevention in Appalachian Kentucky: Understanding Barriers and Facilitators Related to Transvaginal Ultrasound Cervical Length Surveillance Among Prenatal Care Providers.

Appalachian Kentucky has higher-than-average rates of preterm birth (PTB)-a health disparity associated with increased maternal and fetal/neonatal morbidity and neonatal mortality. Transvaginal ultrasound (TVU) cervical length measurement is the best predictor of PTB risk, but is underutilized in Appalachia. This study explores prenatal care providers' TVU-related knowledge and practices, and identifies barriers and facilitators, which impact the adoption of this evidence-based technology.