Advances in breathlessness support services for people with serious illness.

Purpose Of Review: Breathlessness remains a common and distressing symptom among people with serious illness, particularly in advanced disease. This review synthesises recent advances in the development, characteristics, and outcomes of breathlessness support services.

Recent Findings: The expanding body of evidence regarding breathlessness support services has broadened and strengthened our understanding of clinical and cost-effectiveness.

A Systematic Review of Interventions Targeting Cancer-Related Financial Hardship: Current Evidence and Implications.

Background: Despite an increasing emphasis on alleviating financial hardship in cancer care delivery, limited knowledge of evidence-based and effective interventions is available.

Objective: This systematic review aimed to identify gaps in the literature and provide insights for future evidence-based interventions targeting financial hardship from both micro and macro perspectives.

Methods: We comprehensively searched the PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), EMBASE, and PsycINFO databases from inception to October 2022.

Factors associated with cancer-related cognitive impairment in patients with lung cancer: A systematic review.

Purpose: Cognitive impairment is common in lung cancer patients and impacts their quality of life. Little is known about the etiology of cognitive impairment in lung cancer patients. However, the associated factors of cognitive impairment among lung cancer patients have not been systematically reviewed.

Financial hardship experience in middle- and older-aged patients with advanced lung cancer.

Purpose: Advancements in medical treatments have resulted in increased medical costs for cancer patients. More than half of the patients with advanced lung cancer reported unmet financial needs. The purpose of this study is to examine the differences in the prevalence and correlates of financial hardship between middle- and older-aged patients with advanced lung cancer, and its impact on multiple health-related outcomes.

Tai Chi and Aerobic Exercise on Cancer-Related Dyspnea in Advanced Lung Cancer Patients: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Context: Dyspnea, a prevalent and debilitating symptom in patients with advanced lung cancer, negatively affects symptom burden and prognosis. Physical activity has emerged as a promising non-pharmacological intervention for managing dyspnea.

Objectives: This study compared the effectiveness of two widely-recognized physical activity modalities, namely Tai Chi (TC) and aerobic exercise (AE) for treating dyspnea in patients with advanced lung cancer.

Comparative effect of Tai Chi and aerobic exercise on cognitive function in advanced lung cancer survivors with perceived cognitive impairment: a three-arm randomized controlled trial with mediation analysis.

Purpose: Cancer-related cognitive impairment is prevalent in metastatic lung cancer survivors. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of aerobic exercise and Tai Chi on perceived cognitive function and the mediating role of psychoneurological symptoms with perceived cognitive impairment.

Methods: In a subgroup of a parent randomized clinical trial, participants who reported cognitive impairment underwent a 16-week aerobic exercise (n = 49), Tai Chi (n = 48), and control (n = 54) groups.

Effectiveness of Aerobic Exercise and Tai Chi Interventions on Sleep Quality in Patients With Advanced Lung Cancer: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Sleep disturbances prevalent among patients with advanced lung cancer can aggravate physical and psychological symptoms, contributing to decreased quality of life and survival.

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of 2 physical activities of different modalities and intensities, namely aerobic exercise (AE) and tai chi (TC), on subjective sleep quality, physical and psychological outcomes, and survival in patients with advanced lung cancer.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This assessor-blinded, randomized clinical trial was conducted in 3 public hospitals in Hong Kong between December 19, 2018, and September 7, 2022.

Effectiveness of motivational strategies on physical activity behavior and associated outcomes in patients with cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Motivational interviewing is a client-centered counseling technique widely applied as a behavior change strategy. It has been adopted to help cancer patients modify health behaviors. The effectiveness of motivational interviewing on physical activity behavior and its associated outcomes in cancer patients is unclear.

Relationship Between Cortisol Rhythm and Psychoneurological Symptom Cluster in Patients With Advanced Lung Cancer.

Background: Patients with advanced lung cancer commonly experience a high prevalence of physical and psychological symptoms, which tend to co-occur as a symptom cluster. Cortisol rhythm has the potential to influence psychoneurological symptom cluster based on neuroendocrine-immune models; however, little is known about the relationship between them.

Objective: To examine the intercorrelation among symptoms in psychoneurological symptom cluster and the factors influencing the severity of psychoneurological symptom cluster.

Impact of adherence to exercise interventions on effectiveness in a randomized controlled trial in improving sleep in advanced lung cancer patients: A comparison between aerobic exercise and Tai Chi.

Objectives: Adherence plays a vital role in the effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions. The disappearance of interventions' effects at follow-up was caused by inadequate self-practice beyond intervention period. The purpose of this study is to examine the factors associated with adherence to aerobic exercise and Tai Chi and the impact of adherence on the short- and long-term effectiveness in improving sleep in patients with advanced lung cancer.

The effects of exercise with or without dietary advice on muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical functioning among older cancer survivors: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of exercise with or without dietary advice on muscle mass, muscle strength and physical functioning (including perceived physical functioning and physical performance) in old cancer survivors.

Methods: A systematic literature search was undertaken in May 2022 by searching multiple databases. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared exercise with or without dietary advice to control group among old cancer survivors were screened.

Virtual simulation and problem-based learning enhance perceived clinical and cultural competence of nursing students in Asia: A randomized controlled cross-over study.

Background: Both clinical and cultural competencies are of paramount importance in ensuring patients' safety and high-quality care. While problem-based learning (PBL) is a widely applied pedagogy in nursing education, an emerging technology-based pedagogy, virtual simulation provides a realistic clinical learning experience for students. It can be an effective solution for continuing clinical and cultural learning across countries in the era of the pandemic.

Invasive or noninvasive? A systematic review and network meta-analysis of acupuncture and acupressure to treat sleep disturbance in cancer patients.

Background: Both acupuncture and acupressure have been suggested beneficial for reducing sleep disturbance in cancer patients. While acupuncture is invasive involving needle insertion, acupressure is noninvasive. Their comparative effectiveness is unclear, hindering clinical recommendations.

Prevalence and predictors of advance directive among terminally ill patients in Taiwan before enactment of Patient Right to Autonomy Act: a nationwide population-based study.

Background: Signing advance directives (ADs) ensures that terminally ill patients receive end-of-life care, according to their wishes, thereby promoting human dignity and sparing them from unnecessary suffering. Despite the enactment of the Hospice Palliative Care Act in Taiwan in 2000, the completion rates of ADs have been found to be low among patients with chronic illness conditions. To date, limited existing research is available regarding the factors associated with AD completion in terminally ill patients in Taiwan.

Factors associated with perceived cognitive impairment in patients with advanced lung cancer: a cross-sectional analysis.

Purpose: Perceived cognitive impairment refers to cognitive dysfunction that particularly involves impairment in working or short-term memory, and inattention. This study aimed to identify factors associated with perceived cognitive impairment in patients with advanced lung cancer.

Methods: This cross-sectional analysis used pooled data from a prospective, ongoing randomized controlled trial examining the effectiveness of exercise in patients with advanced lung cancer (Trial Registration: NCT04119778).

Evaluating end-of-life care capacity building training for home care nurses.

Background: With the rapidly aging population, the quality of end-of-life (EOL) care has become a significant issue. As the majority of deaths in Hong Kong (HK) currently occur in public hospitals, promoting palliative home care can relieve hospital burden and provide good deaths. There is a practical need to properly educate and train nurses on the skills to provide EOL care in home care settings.

The effects of advance care planning intervention on nursing home residents: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

Background: Advance care planning is a communication and decision-making process during which people express their wishes for future healthcare and treatment decisions. Advance care planning is particularly relevant to frail older adults. Recently, more advance care planning interventions have been implemented in nursing homes using randomised controlled trial approaches; however, no meta-analysis has been performed evaluating and synthesising the effect of advance care planning in nursing homes.

Promoting moderate-to-vigorous physical activities in patients with advanced lung cancer: preferences and social cognitive factors, and the mediating roles.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to assess the prevalence and preferences of moderate-to-vigorous physical activities (MVPA) in patients with advanced lung cancer, explore the social cognitive factors that were associated with MVPA and interest in PA counseling and program, and examine the mediating role of social cognitive factors.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. Questionnaires on PA levels, PA counseling and programming preferences, and social cognitive variables (social support and self-efficacy) were administered to 105 patients with advanced lung cancer.

A pilot randomized controlled trial using Baduanjin qigong to reverse frailty status among post-treatment older cancer survivors.

Objectives: To evaluate the feasibility and potential effects of qigong Baduanjin for reversing frailty status among older cancer survivors.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-eight older cancer survivors screened as pre-frail or frail were recruited. They were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive a sixteen-week Baduanjin intervention or an active control condition (light flexibility exercise).

Feasibility of Aerobic Exercise and Tai-Chi Interventions in Advanced Lung Cancer Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: A majority of lung cancer patients are diagnosed at advanced stages. Although there is considerable evidence of the benefits of aerobic exercise and tai-chi for lung cancer patients, little is known about the comparative effectiveness of the 2 exercise modes in advanced lung cancer patients.

Objectives: To explore the feasibility and preliminary effects of aerobic exercise and tai-chi interventions on survival and well-being among advanced lung cancer patients.

Relationship of subjective and objective sleep measures with physical performance in advanced-stage lung cancer patients.

Advanced lung cancer patients suffer from deteriorated physical function, which negatively impacts physical and psychological health. As little is known about sleep and physical function in this population, this study aimed to examine the association between subjective and objective sleep parameters and physical function among them. 164 advanced lung cancer patients were included.

Psychological Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Licensed Full-Time Practicing Nurses Undertaking Part-Time Studies in Higher Education: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Frontline nurses face an unpreceded situation with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, and many report suffering from physical and psychological stress. This online, cross-sectional survey used questionnaires, such as the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) questionnaire, the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2), the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, stress-related questions, and Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (Brief-COPE), to determine the psychological impact of COVID-19 on licensed full-time practicing nurses undertaking part-time studies in higher education. Recruitment commenced from August to September 2020; 385 students were approached, and 124 completed the survey (response rate: 32%).

Effect of qigong for sleep disturbance-related symptom clusters in cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: To examine the effects of qigong interventions on sleep disturbance-related symptom clusters for cancer patients and to explore the possible mediating role of fatigue and depression in affecting sleep.

Methods: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, a systematic search was conducted through October 2020 by searching multiple English and Chinese databases. Inclusion was limited to randomized controlled trials that measured the effect of qigong on sleep and fatigue/depressive symptoms in cancer patients.