Including 'Work as a Treatment Goal' in the Care for Patients with Chronic Diseases : The Development of a Generic Care Model-A Descriptive Study.

Background: The Netherlands faces 60% prevalence of chronic conditions by 2040, impacting societal participation and quality of life. Current clinical care inadequately addresses these consequences, and most hospitals do not integrate occupational health in their care.

Objectives: To develop a generic person- and work-oriented medical care model (WMCM) based on real life experiences with work-oriented care and supporting the chronically ill in active societal participation.

Work-related support in clinical care for patients with a chronic disease: development of an intervention.

Background: Patients with a chronic disease are more vulnerable in the labor market, and work-related support in clinical care would enhance the timely support greatly needed in each phase of their working life. This paper describes the development of a generic stay-at-work intervention to provide work-related support in clinical care to patients with a chronic disease.

Methods: Steps 1-4 of Intervention Mapping (IM) were combined with action research principles.

Short fatigue questionnaire: Screening for severe fatigue.

Objective: To determine psychometric properties, a cut-off score for severe fatigue and normative data for the 4-item Short Fatigue Questionnaire (SFQ) derived from the multi-dimensional fatigue questionnaire Checklist Individual Strength (CIS).

Methods: Data of previous studies investigating the prevalence of fatigue in ten chronic conditions (n = 2985) and the general population (n = 2288) was used to determine the internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) of the SFQ, its relation with other fatigue measures (EORTC QLQ-30 fatigue subscale and digital fatigue diary), a cut-off score for severe fatigue (ROC analysis) and to examine whether the four SFQ items truly measure the same construct. Norms were calculated for ten patient groups and the Dutch general population.

Does a regular nurse-led distress screening and discussion improve quality of life of breast cancer patients treated with curative intent? A randomized controlled trial.

Objective: We performed a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to investigate whether regular screening with the distress thermometer (DT) by a nurse improved global quality of life (QOL) of patients with breast cancer (BC) treated with curative intent.

Methods: BC patients were randomized between regular screening for distress with a nurse-led DT intervention (NDTI) and usual care (UC). Both groups filled out questionnaires at baseline, after each received treatment modality and at follow-up visits up to 2 years.

Psychosocial interventions for fatigue during cancer treatment with palliative intent.

Background: Fatigue is a prevalent and burdensome symptom for patients with incurable cancer receiving cancer treatment with palliative intent and is associated with reduced quality of life. Psychosocial interventions seem promising for management of fatigue among cancer patients.

Objectives: To assess the effects of psychosocial interventions for fatigue in adult patients with incurable cancer receiving cancer treatment with palliative intent.

The effectiveness of a nurse-led intervention with the distress thermometer for patients treated with curative intent for breast cancer: design of a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Distress in patients with cancer influences their quality of life. Worldwide, screening on distress with the Distress Thermometer (DT) in patients with cancer is recommended. However, the effects of the use of the DT on the psychosocial wellbeing of the patient are unknown.

Fatigue in Advanced Cancer Patients: Congruence Between Patients and Their Informal Caregivers About Patients' Fatigue Severity During Cancer Treatment With Palliative Intent and Predictors of Agreement.

Context: Informal caregivers (ICs) are increasingly involved in the monitoring of symptoms during advanced cancer patients' treatment with palliative intent. A common but subjective symptom during this extended treatment phase is fatigue.

Objectives: This exploratory longitudinal study aimed to determine agreement between patients and ICs about patients' fatigue severity.

How did partners experience cancer patients' participation in a phase I study? An observational study after a patient's death.

Objective: It can be assumed that patients' participation in a phase I study will have an important impact on their partners' life. However, evaluation of partners' experiences while patients are undergoing experimental treatment and of their well-being after the patient's death is lacking. We aimed to explore partners' experience of patients' participation in phase I studies and to investigate their well-being after a patient's death.

Fatigue and its associated psychosocial factors in cancer patients on active palliative treatment measured over time.

Purpose: Fatigue is a frequently reported symptom by patients with advanced cancer, but hardly any prospective information is available about fatigue while on treatment in the palliative setting. In a previous cross-sectional study, we found several factors contributing to fatigue in these patients. In this study, we investigated the course of fatigue over time and if psychosocial factors were associated with fatigue over time.

A prospective analysis on fatigue and experienced burden in informal caregivers of cancer patients during cancer treatment in the palliative phase.

Background: Although fatigue is the most frequently occurring symptom in patients with cancer, hardly anything is known about fatigue of their informal caregivers and the impact fatigue might have on perceived burden with providing care. We investigated the presence of fatigue in caregivers, its course and the relation of fatigue severity between caregivers and patients. Furthermore, we explored in caregivers whether fatigue severity was correlated to experienced burden.

Exploring the Routine Administration of Decision Aids for Palliative Chemotherapy to Patients by Nurses: A Qualitative Study Among Nurses and Oncologists.

Background: Decision aids (DAs) effectively support patient decision making but are rarely used in daily practice.

Objective: To explore nurses' and oncologists' views on routinely offering DAs on palliative chemotherapy to patients by nurses. Most interviewees had clinical experience with the DAs, which were booklets administered to patients by nurses.

Management of fatigue in patients with cancer -- a practical overview.

Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a serious clinical problem and is one of the most common symptoms experienced by cancer patients. CRF has deleterious effects on many aspects of patient quality of life including their physical, psychological and social well-being. It can also limit their ability to function, socialise and participate in previously enjoyable activities.

Exploring the contribution of psychosocial factors to fatigue in patients with advanced incurable cancer.

Objective: Fatigue is the most frequently occurring and distressing symptom in patients with advanced cancer, caused by multiple factors. Neither a specific histological diagnosis of malignancy nor the type of anticancer treatment seem to be strongly related to fatigue, which support the idea that other factors may play a role. This study investigated to what extent the model of fatigue-perpetuating factors that is known for cancer survivors was applicable for patients with advanced cancer.

Severe fatigue during the palliative treatment phase of cancer: an exploratory study.

Background: Because of a rise in incidence and more effective treatments, the prevalence of patients with metastatic cancer is increasing fast. When palliative treatment is aimed at maintaining or improving patients' quality of life, knowledge about severe fatigue is clinically relevant because of its debilitating effect, but at present this information is lacking.

Objective: This study investigated the prevalence of severe fatigue in patients with various incurable cancers and whether severe fatigue increased with further treatment lines and differed between various cancers and treatment modalities.

Moderators and long-term effectiveness of cognitive behaviour therapy for fatigue during cancer treatment.

Objective: A randomised controlled trial (RCT) demonstrated that cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) for fatigue during curative cancer treatment was effective shortly after cancer treatment. This study aimed to identify which patient characteristics predict fatigue improvement after CBT. In addition, the long-term effectiveness was investigated.

Is increasing physical activity necessary to diminish fatigue during cancer treatment? Comparing cognitive behavior therapy and a brief nursing intervention with usual care in a multicenter randomized controlled trial.

Background: Two interventions for fatigue were given during curative cancer treatment. The aim of this multicenter randomized controlled trial (RCT) with three conditions was to demonstrate the efficacy and to determine the contribution of physical activity.

Methods: Recruited from seven hospitals, 220 patients with various malignancies participated in a RCT.

A phase I study of the natural killer T-cell ligand alpha-galactosylceramide (KRN7000) in patients with solid tumors.

Purpose: alpha-galactosylceramide (KRN7000) is a glycosphingolipid that has been shown to inhibit tumor growth and to prolong survival in inoculated mice through activation of natural killer (NK) T cells. We performed a dose escalation study of KRN7000 in advanced cancer patients.

Experimental Design: Patients with solid tumors received i.