Estimating survival time in older adults receiving chemotherapy for advanced cancer.

Purpose: We determined the accuracy of oncologists' estimates of expected survival time (EST) for older adults with advanced cancer, and explored predictors of survival from a geriatric assessment (GA).

Methods: Patients aged ≥65 years starting a new line of palliative chemotherapy were eligible. For each patient at enrolment, oncologists estimated EST and rated frailty (Canadian Study on Health and Aging Clinical Frailty Scale, 1 = very fit, to 7 = severely frail), and a researcher completed a GA.

Oncologists' perceptions on the usefulness of geriatric assessment measures and the CARG toxicity score when prescribing chemotherapy for older patients with cancer.

Background: The use of geriatric assessment (GA) and the Cancer and Aging Research Group (CARG) Toxicity Score by Australian oncologists is low. We sought oncologists' views about the value of GA and the CARG Score when making decisions about chemotherapy for their older patients.

Methods: Patients aged ≥65 yrs.

Predicting chemotherapy toxicity in older adults: Comparing the predictive value of the CARG Toxicity Score with oncologists' estimates of toxicity based on clinical judgement.

Aim: The Cancer and Aging Research Group's (CARG) Toxicity Score was designed to predict grade ≥3 chemotherapy-related toxicity in adults aged ≥65 yrs. commencing chemotherapy for a solid organ cancer. We aimed to evaluate the CARG Score and compare it to oncologists' estimates for predicting severe chemotherapy toxicity in older adults.

Times to Diagnosis and Treatment of Lung Cancer in New South Wales, Australia: A Multicenter, Medicare Data Linkage Study.

Introduction: Earlier access to lung cancer specialist (LCS) care improves survival. We examined times to diagnosis and treatment of patients with lung cancer in rural and metropolitan New South Wales (NSW) Australia, benchmarked against recent timeframe recommendations.

Materials And Methods: Semistructured interviews of recently diagnosed patients with lung cancer from five NSW cancer centers were used to determine standardized time intervals to diagnosis and treatment, triangulated with Medicare data linkage and medical records.

Examining the influence of personal goal interference and attainability on psychological distress in non-metastatic breast cancer patients.

The present study investigated the relationship between two goal-related appraisals - perceived cancer-related interference and perceived attainability of important personal goals - and psychological distress among non-metastatic breast cancer patients across the short-term treatment and recovery period. Forty-five women completed self-report questionnaires at approximately 1 and 6 months following surgery. A mixed idiographic-nomothetic goal methodology assessed perceived cancer-related interference and attainability of self-generated important personal goals.

Educational and vocational goal disruption in adolescent and young adult cancer survivors.

Objective: Cancer in adolescents and young adults (AYAs) can interrupt important developmental milestones. Absence from school and time lost from work, together with the physical impacts of treatment on energy and cognition, can disrupt educational and vocational goals. The purpose of this paper is to report on AYA cancer survivors' experiences of reintegration into school and/or work and to describe perceived changes in their educational and vocational goals.

Exploring the nature of situational goal-based coping in early-stage breast cancer patients: A contextual approach.

Purpose: The psychosocial impact of breast cancer varies widely across patients and over time. Greater insight into goal-based coping processes theorised to underpin psychological resilience may inform efforts to support the maintenance and recovery of psychological wellbeing in the context of breast cancer treatment and recovery. This prospective study adopted a qualitative descriptive design to better understand the nature of situational goal-based coping in response to personal goal interference encountered across the six months following surgery for early-stage breast cancer.

Investigating physical symptom burden and personal goal interference in early-stage breast cancer patients.

Purpose: Physical symptoms associated with breast cancer and its treatment can substantially interfere with functional outcomes and quality of life. The present study seeks to delineate the relationship between physical symptom burden and cancer-related goal interference in early-stage breast cancer patients.

Methods: Self-report questionnaires were administered to 43 eligible female patients at four time-points in the 6 months following surgery for early-stage breast cancer.

The association between job demands/control and health in employed parents: the mediating role of work-to-family interference and enhancement.

This paper examined whether work-to-family interference (WFI) and work-to-family enhancement (WFE) mediated the association between job demands/control and self-reported mental and physical health. Data were from the Household, Income and Labor Dynamics in Australia survey and included 1,404 Australian adults aged 18-64 years at baseline; 820 participants provided data at three time points (baseline, 12-month follow-up, and 24-month follow-up). Self-report questionnaires assessed mental and physical health, WFI and WFE, and job demands/control.

Occupational factors and sick leave in Australian employees.

Objectives: To investigate occupational factors associated with sick leave over a 4-year period in Australian employees.

Methods: Longitudinal data (self-report) from 2861 Australian full-time employees (69.4% male) were used.

Occupational factors associated with 4-year weight gain in Australian adults.

Objective: This article examined whether occupational factors predicted 4-year change in body mass index (BMI) in a sample of full-time Australian employees.

Methods: Data from 1670 full-time Australian employees were collected through the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children. Multinomial logistic regression was used to examine whether several occupational factors at baseline predicted changes in BMI at 4-year follow up; several health and demographic covariates were controlled.