Piloting a new cross-sector model of care to support parents with cancer: feasibility and acceptability of the Parent Support Worker role.

Purpose: A new Parent Support Worker (PSW) service was piloted in three Australian hospitals. This study assesses the feasibility and acceptability (including preliminary effectiveness) of the service in supporting cancer patients with children.

Methods: A multi-site, mixed-methods study collected quantitative and qualitative data on the effectiveness of the service (pre post-test, n = 36), qualitative and quantitative data on acceptability of the service (survey, n = 43), and qualitative data on acceptability (semi-structured interviews, n = 13).

Evaluating the Feasibility and Acceptability of a Psychosexual Intervention for Couples Post-allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation.

Purpose: Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) can have a long-term impact on patients' sexual functioning and consequently, their relationship satisfaction. This study aimed to examine the feasibility and acceptability of a 5-session psychosexual intervention for HSCT survivors and their partners.

Methods: To be eligible patients were required to be more than 3 months post-allogeneic HSCT.

Exploring the experiences of staff conducting psychology consultations via telehealth in an oncology hospital.

Purpose: During the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth delivery of psychological care services expanded to meet the needs of people with cancer. This study examined psychologists' attitudes toward using telehealth during the pandemic peak in a tertiary oncology hospital.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten psychologists who used telehealth to deliver psychological services.

Cancer patients as parents: implementation of a cross sector service for families with adolescent and young adult children.

Background: Cancer patients who are parents show concerns about their ability to parent following diagnosis, and their adolescent and young adult (AYA) children have a need for improved cancer communication within the family. However, psychosocial support for families affected by parental cancer is not routinely available. This study explores the implementation of the Parent Support Worker (PSW) role, as part of a new cross sector model of care to support parent patients, their partners, and AYA children.

Efficacy and cost-effectiveness of an online mindfulness program (MindOnLine) to reduce fear of recurrence among people with cancer: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

Introduction: Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) is a common condition among cancer survivors that can lead to significant levels of distress, anxiety and depression. Online mindfulness programmes may provide the mechanism to support cancer survivors manage FCR and distress, and improve people's well-being over the short, medium and long term. The primary aim of this study is to determine the potential efficacy of MindOnLine, a 9 session mindfulness-based programme for survivors of breast, prostate and colorectal cancer.

Functional and patient-reported changes in swallowing and voice after combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy for limited-stage small-cell lung cancer.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to describe the nature and impact of dysphagia and dysphonia in patients with limited-stage small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) before and after chemoradiation.

Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted on patients receiving chemoradiotherapy for limited-stage SCLC. Patients received either 40, 45 or 50 Gy, commencing the second cycle of chemotherapy.

Study protocol of a pilot study evaluating feasibility and acceptability of a psychosexual intervention for couples postallogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Introduction: Sexual dysfunction is one of the most common side effects of allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for haematological cancers. Problems can persist between 5 and 10 years post-transplant and impact mood, couple intimacy and relationship satisfaction. Few intervention studies, however, target sexual dysfunction in patients post-HSCT.

Feasibility and Acceptability of : A Stepped-Care Program to Manage Fear of Cancer Recurrence in People with Metastatic Melanoma.

Immunotherapies and targeted therapies have revolutionised treatment of metastatic melanoma and improved survival rates. However, survivors treated with novel therapies are vulnerable to high levels of fear of cancer recurrence or progression (FCR). Existing FCR interventions have rarely been trialled in people with advanced cancer.

Corrigendum to: Cancer patients' use of and attitudes towards medicinal cannabis.

Access to medicinal cannabis is a timely and important issue in cancer care. Recent legislative changes in Australia have increased access to medicinal cannabis, but the views of people with cancer on this topic are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to explore the prevalence of the use of and attitudes towards medicinal cannabis among people with cancer.

Testing Consultation Recordings in a Clinical Setting With the SecondEars Smartphone App: Mixed Methods Implementation Study.

Background: Health care systems are increasingly looking to mobile device technologies (mobile health) to improve patient experience and health outcomes. SecondEars is a smartphone app designed to allow patients to audio-record medical consultations to improve recall, understanding, and health care self-management. Novel health interventions such as SecondEars often fail to be implemented post pilot-testing owing to inadequate user experience (UX) assessment, a key component of a comprehensive implementation strategy.

Cancer patients' use of and attitudes towards medicinal cannabis.

Objectives Access to medicinal cannabis is a timely and important issue in cancer care. Recent legislative changes in Australia have increased access to medicinal cannabis, but the views of people with cancer on this topic are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to explore the prevalence of the use of and attitudes towards medicinal cannabis among people with cancer.

Outcomes of a randomized controlled trial assessing a smartphone Application to reduce unmet needs among people diagnosed with CancEr (ACE).

Background: Smartphone technology represents an opportunity to deliver practical solutions for people affected by cancer at a scale that was previously unimaginable, such as information, appointment monitoring, and improved access to cancer support services. This study aimed to determine whether a smartphone application (app) reduced the unmet needs among people newly diagnosed with cancer.

Methods: A single blind, multisite randomized controlled trial to determine the impact of an app-based, 4-month intervention.

Understanding rural caregivers' experiences of cancer care when accessing metropolitan cancer services: a qualitative study.

Objective: To explore the experiences of cancer caregivers who live in rural Australia and travel to a metropolitan cancer health service to access cancer treatment.

Design: A qualitative study using semistructured, audio-recorded interviews conducted between December 2017 and July 2018 with caregivers and social workers. Thematic analysis using interpretative descriptive techniques performed on textual interview data within a critical realist paradigm to develop understanding of rural caregivers' lived experiences.

SCORE: Shared care of Colorectal cancer survivors: protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the most common cancer affecting both men and women. Survivors of CRC often experience various physical and psychological effects arising from CRC and its treatment. These effects may last for many years and adversely affect QoL, and they may not be adequately addressed by standard specialist-based follow-up.

A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Nurse-Led Supportive Care Package (SurvivorCare) for Survivors of Colorectal Cancer.

Introduction: Colorectal cancer (CRC) and its treatments can cause distressing sequelae. We conducted a multicenter randomized controlled trial aiming to improve psychological distress, supportive care needs (SCNs), and quality of life (QOL) of patients with CRC. The intervention, called SurvivorCare (SC), comprised educational materials, needs assessment, survivorship care plan, end-of-treatment session, and three follow-up telephone calls.

Psychological distress, quality of life, symptoms and unmet needs of colorectal cancer survivors near the end of treatment.

Purpose: This study investigated psychological morbidity, quality of life (QoL), colorectal cancer (CRC)-specific symptoms and supportive care needs in a CRC population at the end of treatment (EOT).

Methods: CRC survivors (n = 152) completed a post-treatment baseline questionnaire as part of a multisite supportive care randomised controlled trial (SurvivorCare). CRC survivors had completed treatment with curative intent within 0 to 6 months.

Evaluating a nurse-led survivorship care package (SurvivorCare) for bowel cancer survivors: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the most common cancer affecting both men and women in Australia. The illness and related treatments can cause distressing adverse effects, impact on emotional and psychological well-being, and adversely affect social, occupational and relationship functioning for many years after the end of treatment or, in fact, lifelong. Current models of follow-up fail to address the complex needs arising after treatment completion.

Fatigue and sleep disturbance following traumatic brain injury--their nature, causes, and potential treatments.

Background: Although fatigue and sleep disturbance are commonly reported following traumatic brain injury (TBI), understanding of their nature and treatment remains limited.

Objectives: This article reviews a series of investigations of the nature and causes of fatigue and sleep disturbance following TBI.

Methods: A large cohort of community-based patients with TBI, recruited from a TBI rehabilitation program, completed measures of subjective fatigue and sleep disturbances, as well as attentional measures.

Temporal profile of prolonged, night-time driving performance: breaks from driving temporarily reduce time-on-task fatigue but not sleepiness.

Breaks are often used by drivers to counteract sleepiness and time-on-task fatigue during prolonged driving. We examined the temporal profile of changes in driving performance, electroencephalogram (EEG) activity and subjective measures of sleepiness and fatigue during prolonged nocturnal driving in a car simulator. In addition, the study examined the impact of regular breaks from driving on performance, sleepiness and fatigue.

Sleep disturbance and melatonin levels following traumatic brain injury.

Objectives: Sleep disturbances commonly follow traumatic brain injury (TBI) and contribute to ongoing disability. However, there are no conclusive findings regarding specific changes to sleep quality and sleep architecture measured using polysomnography. Possible causes of the sleep disturbances include disruption of circadian regulation of sleep-wakefulness, psychological distress, and a neuronal response to injury.

Blue light exposure reduces objective measures of sleepiness during prolonged nighttime performance testing.

This study examined the effects of nocturnal exposure to dim, narrowband blue light (460 nm, approximately 1 lux, 2 microW/cm2), compared to dim broad spectrum (white) ambient light ( approximately 0.2 lux, 0.5 microW/cm2), on subjective and objective indices of sleepiness during prolonged nighttime performance testing.

Daytime exposure to bright light, as compared to dim light, decreases sleepiness and improves psychomotor vigilance performance.

Study Objectives: This study examined the effects of bright light exposure, as compared to dim light, on daytime subjective sleepiness, incidences of slow eye movements (SEMs), and psychomotor vigilance task (PVT) performance following 2 nights of sleep restriction.

Design: The study had a mixed factorial design with 2 independent variables: light condition (bright light, 1,000 lux; dim light, < 5 lux) and time of day. The dependent variables were subjective sleepiness, PVT performance, incidences of SEMs, and salivary melatonin levels.