Cancer Caregiver Anxiety Over Time: The Influence of Palliative Care.

To explore anxiety experienced by caregivers providing home-based, end-of-life care to patients with cancer. We examined the relationship between caregiver anxiety and receipt of palliative care by the patient. A case series of terminal cancer patient-caregiver dyads (n = 223) were recruited from oncology clinics in Virginia and Pennsylvania and followed for 12 months or until patient death.

Acceptability of a Self-Guided Lifestyle Intervention Among Young Men: Mixed Methods Analysis of Pilot Findings.

Background: Young men are vastly underrepresented in lifestyle interventions, suggesting a need to develop appealing yet effective interventions for this population.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the acceptability of a self-guided lifestyle intervention designed specifically for young men (age: 18-35 years old).

Methods: Semistructured interviews and surveys were completed by 14 men following completion of a remotely delivered, 12-week lifestyle intervention.

The Chickahominy T.R.U.T.H. (Trust, Research, Understand, Teach, and Heal) Project-A Tribal Community-Academic Partnership for Understanding the Impact of Structural Factors on Perceived Cancer Risk in Rural Virginia.

In 2022, the Virginia Chickahominy Indian Tribe partnered with Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center to investigate concerns about a potential cancer cluster near a local landfill. While investigating cancer clusters is complex due to long latency and multifactorial causes, the community's concerns about structural factors driving cancer risk warrant exploration. Thus, the Chickahominy T.

Where you begin is not necessarily where you end: the mental and physical health trajectories of cancer caregivers over time.

Purpose: Cancer caregiving, a critical component in the cancer-care model, has deleterious effects on the caregiver's physical and mental health. The degree to which these negative effects are uniformly experienced by caregivers is unclear; effects may be exacerbated at the end of life when caregiving is intensified. Not all caregivers have the support of an additional involved support person (secondary caregiver).

Where you begin is not necessarily where you end: the mental and physical health trajectories of cancer caregivers over time.

Purpose: Cancer caregiving, a critical component in the cancer-care model, has deleterious effects on the caregiver's physical and mental health. The degree to which these negative effects are uniformly experienced by caregivers is unclear. The impact of the secondary caregiver's absence on the primary caregivers' well-being is understudied.

Economic costs of family caregiving for persons with advanced stage cancer: a longitudinal cohort study.

Purpose: To form a multifaceted picture of family caregiver economic costs in advanced cancer.

Methods: A multi-site cohort study collected prospective longitudinal data from caregivers of patients with advanced solid tumor cancers. Caregiver survey and out-of-pocket (OOP) receipt data were collected biweekly in-person for up to 24 weeks.

Associations between blood pressure control and clinical events suggestive of nutrition care documented in electronic health records of patients with hypertension.

Background: Clinical events suggestive of nutrition care found in electronic health records (EHRs) are rarely explored for their associations with hypertension outcomes.

Methods: Longitudinal analysis using structured EHR data from primary care visits at a health system in the US from December 2017-December 2020 of adult patients with hypertension (n = 4,237) tested for associations between last visit blood pressure (BP) control (≤ 140 Systolic BP and ≤ 90 Diastolic BP) and ≥ 1 nutrition care clinical event operationalized as (overweight or obesity (BMI > 25 or 30, respectively) diagnoses, preventive care visits, or provision of patient education materials (PEM)). Descriptive statistics and longitudinal targeted maximum likelihood estimation (LTMLE) models were conducted to explore average treatment effects (ATE) of timing and dose response from these clinical events on blood pressure control overall and by race.

Pre-diagnosis Symptoms, Attributed Causes, and Healthcare Seeking Assets of Younger Colorectal Cancer Survivors.

Younger onset colorectal cancer (CRC) rates continue to rise. Survivors younger than the requisite age of population-based screening guidelines experience adverse symptoms, longer appraisal delays, and more advanced-stage diagnoses. This secondary analysis of interviews with n=252 recently diagnosed CRC survivors was completed to compare younger and older survivors' symptoms, attributed causes, and healthcare seeking assets.

The many "costs" of transportation: Examining what cancer caregivers experience as transportation obstacles.

Background: Transportation has been identified as a specific source of burden for cancer caregivers. This study examined cancer caregivers' subjective experiences and objectives costs associated with transportation over a 6-month period of providing end-of-life care to a family member or friend.

Methods: This was a multi-site longitudinal, prospective cohort study that followed 223 caregiver-patient dyads.

Associations between Blood Pressure Control and Documented Nutrition Care Using Structured Data from Electronic Health Records of Patients with Hypertension.

Background: Documentation in Electronic Health Records (EHRs) of nutrition care events (overweight or obesity (BMI > 25 or 30, respectively) diagnoses, preventive care visits, or provision of patient education materials (PEM)) for chronic diseases is unclear.

Methods: Cross-sectional analysis using structured EHR data from primary care visits at a health system in the US from January 2018 - December 2020 of adult patients with hypertension (n = 6,419) tested for associations between last visit blood pressure (BP) control (≤ 140 Systolic BP and ≤ 90 Diastolic BP) and aggregate nutrition care events. Descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression models were constructed to examine the predictive power of nutrition care events for blood pressure control.

Cancer patient and caregiver communication about economic concerns and the effect on patient and caregiver partners' perceptions of family functioning.

Purpose: Financial strain and stressful life events can constrain open communication within families. A cancer diagnosis can bring heightened emotional stress and financial strain for most cancer patients and their families. We evaluated how level of comfort and willingness to discuss important but sensitive economic topics affected longitudinal assessments of family relationships, exploring both within-person and between partner effects over 2 years after a cancer diagnosis.

Use of photo methods in research studies with cancer survivors and their caregivers: a scoping review.

Purpose: Photo methods such as photo-elicitation and photovoice have traditionally been implemented as knowledge-generation techniques; however, they have also been conceptualized as tools for community impact and as interventions in and of themselves. We performed a scoping review to document how photo methods have been used in studies of cancer, to describe participant populations, and to identify opportunities for future directions for the use of photo methods in cancer.

Methods: An a priori search strategy was implemented across health-related databases with the following inclusion criteria: (1) study participants were diagnosed with cancer and/or were caregivers of those with cancer; (2) study participants were asked to take and/or respond to photographs as part of the study protocol; (3) articles were published in peer-reviewed journals; (4) articles were written in English.

Are primary care providers' nutrition care and food insecurity screening practices associated with their perceptions of team-based care?

Background: Screening for food insecurity (FI) and providing nutrition care are important management strategies for chronic diseases, but rates are low. Aspects of team-based care and providers' nutrition competence may help inform interventions to improve these services. The objectives of this study were to describe US primary care providers' FI screening and nutrition care practices (counselling, referrals, and time spent counselling) and test for associations with scored measures of their perceptions of team-based care (care continuity, patient-centredness, coordination with external providers and resources) and nutrition competence (confidence counselling and attitudes towards nutrition).

Project COALESCE-An Example of Academic Institutions as Conveners of Community-Clinic Partnerships to Improve Cancer Screening Access.

In Virginia, 56% of colorectal cancers (CRC) are diagnosed late, making it one of three enduring CRC mortality hotspots in the US. Cervical cancer (CCa) exhibits a similar pattern, with 48% late-stage diagnosis. Mortality for these cancers is worse for non-Latinx/e(nL)-Black people relative to nL-White people in Virginia, but preventable with equitable screening access and timely diagnostic follow-up.

Understanding cancer caregiver burden over time: Dyadic assessments of family cohesion, conflict and communication.

Objective: Previously we identified three distinct cancer communication concordance groups among cancer patient-caregiver dyads. This secondary analysis examined patient and caregiver reports of family functioning (cohesion and conflict) as associated with cancer communication concordance and assessed each as independent predictors of perceived caregiver burden among hematological cancer caregivers.

Methods: A case series of hematological cancer patient-caregiver dyads (n = 171) were recruited from oncology clinics in Virginia and Pennsylvania and followed for 2 years.

Engaging rural communities in cancer prevention and control research: Development and preliminary insights from a community-based research registry.

Objective: To report on the development and preliminary findings of a community-based cancer registry, including the community-engaged approach to recruitment, participant profile, and distribution of cancer risk factors by race/ethnicity and geography.

Methods: Community outreach and engagement best practices were used to recruit a diverse convenience sample of Virginia residents (≥18 years) that oversampled residents living in rural areas, defined as Rural-Urban Continuum Codes (RUCC) 4-9 and African American (AA)/Black residents. Multiple survey administration methods included electronic (e-survey) and in-person survey by community-based staff.

The presence of a secondary caregiver differentiates primary cancer caregiver well-being.

Background: Informal caregivers play a fundamental role in the care of hematological cancer patients, but less is known about how secondary caregivers are involved. We assessed the presence or absence of a secondary caregiver, the types of caregiving activities performed by primary and secondary caregivers, and examined whether the presence of a secondary caregiver was associated with primary caregiver characteristics and well-being over time.

Methods: A case series of hematological cancer patient-caregiver dyads (n = 171) were recruited from oncology clinics in Virginia and Pennsylvania and followed for 2 years.

Recruitment of African Americans into Cancer Clinical Research: Strategies and Outcomes.

This study utilized data from four cancer-focused research studies that recruited and retained African Americans. Strategies and outcomes across four cancer prevention and control studies were analyzed. Descriptive statistics were used to display participant characteristics.

Factors Associated With Use of and Satisfaction With Telehealth by Adults in Rural Virginia During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

This survey study examines the use of and satisfaction with telehealth services by adults in rural Virginia during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Colorectal cancer lifetime risk accuracy and behavior change intentions before and after risk assessment.

Purpose: This study examined accuracy of perceived lifetime risk of colorectal cancer prior to and following receipt of cancer risk assessment (CRA) feedback among average risk adults. The specific aims were to identify predictors of improved risk perceptions and assess whether improvement in perceived lifetime risk accuracy was associated with changes in behavioral intentions for physical activity, diet, and colorectal cancer screening.

Methods: Adults with no known history of colorectal cancer (n = 419) were enrolled in a study examining the impact of colorectal cancer risk assessment feedback.

A cross-sectional analysis of associations between lifestyle advice and behavior changes in patients with hypertension or diabetes: NHANES 2015-2018.

Clinicians supporting patients in lifestyle behavior change is an important strategy to help reduce chronic disease burden. Using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data from 2015 to 2018, this study assessed rates of and associations between patient-reported receipt of lifestyle behavior change advice and corresponding self-reported behavior change for four different lifestyle behaviors: 1) weight loss, 2) increase physical activity, 3) reduce sodium, and 4) reduce fat and calories. Adult survey respondents with hypertension and/or diabetes (n = 4716) who received lifestyle advice ranged from 43% to 58%, with the most common recommendation being to increase physical activity.

Hematological cancer patient-caregiver dyadic communication: A longitudinal examination of cancer communication concordance.

Objective: Informal caregivers play a fundamental role in care and decision making with hematological cancer patients. Concordant patient-caregiver communication is a critical antecedent to high quality decision making. Little is known about patterns of dyadic communication throughout the cancer treatment continuum.

A Tale of Two Diverse Qualtrics Samples: Information for Online Survey Researchers.

Background: There is often a lack of transparency in research using online panels related to recruitment methods and sample derivation. The purpose of this study was to describe the recruitment and participation of respondents from two disparate surveys derived from the same online research panel using quota sampling.

Methods: A commercial survey sampling and administration company, Qualtrics, was contracted to recruit participants and implement two Internet-based surveys.

The Effects of Personalizing Colorectal Cancer Risk Communication on Risk Perceptions and Health Behavior Intentions: a Randomized Trial of Average-Risk Adults.

Risk assessment tools may help individuals gauge cancer risk and motivate lifestyle and screening behavior changes. Despite the evermore common availability of such tools, little is known about their potential utility in average-risk population approaches to cancer prevention. We evaluated the effects of providing personalized (vs.