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Weiler-Wichtl LJ, Fohn-Erhold V, Schneider C, Schwarzinger A, Krottendorfer K, Pletschko T, Rosenmayr V, Gojo J, Peyrl A, Dieckmann K, Kollmann AS, Hansl R, Slavc I, Fries J, Hopfgartner M, Leiss U. Bridging the gap: A quality improvement project to implement psychosocial care standards into clinical practice in pediatric oncology. KLINISCHE PADIATRIE 2023; 235:350-359. [PMID: 37494589 PMCID: PMC10635755 DOI: 10.1055/a-2104-1049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Psychosocial guidelines and standards systematically describe stressors and resources in particularly challenging situations and hence serve as a basis for interventions to achieve defined psychosocial goals. Despite fundamental principles and guidelines for psychosocial methods, the quality of provided care varies considerably depending on setting, provision, and profession. The purpose of the present protocol is to illustrate the development and evaluation of the standardized psychological intervention "My Logbook", a practical guide accompanying children through all stages of treatment by directly translating current quality standards of psychosocial care into practice. METHODS In an evidence-based set-up, using face-to-face discussions and telephone conferences, a multi-professional team of local experts decide on critical disease-related issues, structure, content (information and intervention elements) and design of the quality improvement tool. Via delphi surveys an extended expert team is asked to rate the content, method, and design of all booklets which is concluded by a final agreement by the specialist group for quality assurance of the psychosocial working group in the Society for Pediatric Oncology (PSAPOH). The developed tools are piloted in an international multicenter study to evaluate the patient-reported outcome and feasibility and to integrate practical views of patients, as well as psychosocial and interdisciplinary professionals into the further development of the "My Logbook". DISCUSSION The iterative development of the "My Logbook" including local and international experts as well as the patient and practical perspective allow for the design of a process-oriented, consensus - and evidence-based tool directly translating the S3-Guideline into clinical practice. Feasibility and applicability are fostered through an iterative process of constant evaluation and adaptation of the tool by international experts and through the clinical experience gathered in the multi-centered pilot study. Furthermore, the systematic evaluation of the tool by patients, psychosocial, and interdisciplinary professionals enables the identification of persisting gaps between evidence-based standards and clinical practice, discrepancies between the various stakeholders' perspectives as well as regional differences in feasibility, thereby directly linking practice and research. The preliminary results emphasize that psychological support can be standardized, enabling an evaluation and optimization of psychosocial care which future studies need to assess in multicenter clinical randomized controlled trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liesa J. Weiler-Wichtl
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Comprehensive Center
for Pediatrics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Verena Fohn-Erhold
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Comprehensive Center
for Pediatrics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Carina Schneider
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Comprehensive Center
for Pediatrics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Childhood Cancer International – Europe (CCI-E), Vienna,
Austria
| | | | - Kerstin Krottendorfer
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Comprehensive Center
for Pediatrics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas Pletschko
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Comprehensive Center
for Pediatrics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Verena Rosenmayr
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, General Hospital of
Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Johannes Gojo
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Comprehensive Center
for Pediatrics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Andreas Peyrl
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Comprehensive Center
for Pediatrics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Karin Dieckmann
- Department for Radiooncology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna,
Austria
| | - Alina Stefanie Kollmann
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Comprehensive Center
for Pediatrics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Kepler Universitätsklinikum, Universitätsklinik
für Kinder- und Jugendheilkunde, Med Campus IV, Onkologie
| | - Rita Hansl
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Comprehensive Center
for Pediatrics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Irene Slavc
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Comprehensive Center
for Pediatrics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jonathan Fries
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Comprehensive Center
for Pediatrics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Institute of Psychology of Development and Education, Faculty of
Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Maximilian Hopfgartner
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Comprehensive Center
for Pediatrics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ulrike Leiss
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Comprehensive Center
for Pediatrics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Darley A, Coughlan B, Maguire R, McCann L, Furlong E. A bridge from uncertainty to understanding: The meaning of symptom management digital health technology during cancer treatment. Digit Health 2023; 9:20552076231152163. [PMID: 36714543 PMCID: PMC9880573 DOI: 10.1177/20552076231152163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective Digital health technology is valued as a tool to provide person-centred care and improve health outcomes amongst people with cancer and their family caregivers. Although the evidence to date shows encouraging effectiveness, there is limited knowledge regarding the lived experience and personal meaning of using supportive technology during cancer treatment. The aim of this study was to explore the lived experiences of people with colorectal cancer receiving chemotherapy using digital health symptom management technology and their family caregivers. Methods A longitudinal and multi-perspective interpretative phenomenological analytical approach was adopted including three people with newly diagnosed colorectal cancer and four family caregivers. Findings Three superordinate themes and related subthemes were identified. The first theme (The 3 Cs of symptom management technology) centred on the continuity of care that participants felt while using the technology. The second theme (Digital health technology as a psychosocial support) offered insights into the psychological benefits using technology incurred as they navigated their cancer diagnosis including sense of control and psychological safety. The final theme (Impact of digital health technology on family caregivers) details the supportive effect the technology had on family caregivers' role, responsibilities and well-being during the cancer experience. Conclusion Digital health technology can act as a bridge from uncertainty to an understanding regarding a cancer diagnosis and its treatment. Digital health technology can support peoples' understanding of cancer and enhance self-management practices, while being a psychological support in navigating the uncertain and often worrying period of receiving cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Darley
- School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland,Andrew Darley, School of Medicine,
University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
| | - Barbara Coughlan
- School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Roma Maguire
- Digital Health and Wellness Group, Department of Computing and
Information Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
| | - Lisa McCann
- Digital Health and Wellness Group, Department of Computing and
Information Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
| | - Eileen Furlong
- School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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Reading Wishes from the Lips: Cancer Patients' Need for Psycho-Oncological Support during Inpatient and Outpatient Treatment. Diagnostics (Basel) 2022; 12:diagnostics12102440. [PMID: 36292128 PMCID: PMC9600894 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics12102440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Psycho-oncological support (PO) is an effective measure to reduce distress and improve the quality of life in patients with cancer. Currently, there are only a few studies investigating the (expressed) wish for PO. The aim of this study was to evaluate the number of patients who request PO and to identify predictors for the wish for PO. Methods: Data from 3063 cancer patients who had been diagnosed and treated at a Comprehensive Cancer Center between 2011 and 2019 were analyzed retrospectively. Potential predictors for the wish for PO were identified using logistic regression. As a novelty, a Back Propagation Neural Network (BPNN) was applied to establish a prediction model for the wish for PO. Results: In total, 1752 patients (57.19%) had a distress score above the cut-off and 14.59% expressed the wish for PO. Patients’ requests for pastoral care (OR = 13.1) and social services support (OR = 5.4) were the strongest predictors of the wish for PO. Patients of the female sex or who had a current psychiatric diagnosis, opioid treatment and malignant neoplasms of the skin and the hematopoietic system also predicted the wish for PO, while malignant neoplasms of digestive organs and older age negatively predicted the wish for PO. These nine significant predictors were used as input variables for the BPNN model. BPNN computations indicated that a three-layer network with eight neurons in the hidden layer is the most precise prediction model. Discussion: Our results suggest that the identification of predictors for the wish for PO might foster PO referrals and help cancer patients reduce barriers to expressing their wish for PO. Furthermore, the final BPNN prediction model demonstrates a high level of discrimination and might be easily implemented in the hospital information system.
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Barcellini A, Dal Mas F, Paoloni P, Loap P, Cobianchi L, Locati L, Rodríguez-Luna MR, Orlandi E. Please mind the gap-about equity and access to care in oncology. ESMO Open 2021; 6:100335. [PMID: 34902710 PMCID: PMC8671867 DOI: 10.1016/j.esmoop.2021.100335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- A Barcellini
- Radiation Oncology Unit, Clinical Department, National Center for Oncological Hadrontherapy (CNAO), Pavia, Italy
| | - F Dal Mas
- Department of Management, Lincoln International Business School, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, UK; Ipazia Observatory on Gender Research, Rome, Italy; Interdepartmental Research Center "Organization and Governance of the Public Administration", University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - P Paoloni
- Ipazia Observatory on Gender Research, Rome, Italy; Department of Law and Economics of Productive Activities, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - P Loap
- Radiation Oncology Unit, Clinical Department, National Center for Oncological Hadrontherapy (CNAO), Pavia, Italy; Department of Radiation Oncology, Institut Curie, Paris, France
| | - L Cobianchi
- Department of General Surgery, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo Foundation, Pavia, Italy; Department of Clinical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - L Locati
- Unit of Translational Oncology, IRCCS ICS Maugeri, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - M R Rodríguez-Luna
- Institute for Research against Digestive Cancer (IRCAD), Strasbourg, France
| | - E Orlandi
- Radiation Oncology Unit, Clinical Department, National Center for Oncological Hadrontherapy (CNAO), Pavia, Italy.
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Not seeing the forest for the trees: a systematic review of comprehensive distress management programs and implementation strategies. Curr Opin Support Palliat Care 2021; 14:220-231. [PMID: 32657813 DOI: 10.1097/spc.0000000000000513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Clinically significant distress is common in patients with cancer and if untreated can be associated with adverse outcomes. This article offers a review of current approaches to implementing and reporting the minimum components of distress screening and management interventions in cancer services. RECENT FINDINGS Twenty-two relevant published articles were identified from January 2018 to February 2020. The reporting of recommended minimum components of distress screening and management interventions in these articles was not consistent. The majority of studies used validated tools to conduct initial screening. However, recommendations were either not reported or not followed regarding subsequent pathway components, secondary assessment, referral pathways linked to screening results and rescreening. The majority of studies did not include a description of the implementation of the distress screening program. A small number of studies described a comprehensive set of implementation strategies. SUMMARY Distress screening and management interventions in cancer are an important component of comprehensive cancer care. To improve patient outcomes and guide researchers and services to identify effective models, studies must include and evaluate minimum recommended components and implementation strategies. Addressing these limitations with high-quality, robust interventions is vital for advancing the implementation of effective distress management.
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Cancer patients' wish for psychological support during outpatient radiation therapy : Findings from a psychooncological monitoring program in clinical routine. Strahlenther Onkol 2018. [PMID: 29532098 PMCID: PMC6008369 DOI: 10.1007/s00066-018-1288-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cancer patients frequently suffer from physical and psychosocial impairments due to their disease and its treatment. Psychooncology (PO) can help to cope with stress resulting from outpatient radiotherapy (RT) treatment. There are currently few data regarding patients' wishes for PO support. The aim of this study was to investigate the number of patients with a wish for PO, treatment paths, and predictors of the wish for PO among cancer patients at the beginning of RT. METHODS The results of routine psychological stress screening (Hornheide screening instrument; cut-off ≥ 4) of 944 cancer patients between 2015 and 2017 were analyzed in a retrospective cross-sectional study. Predictors for a wish for PO support were identified by stepwise binary logistic regression, in which sociodemographic and treatment data were included in addition to the screening items. RESULTS Around 20% of patients had above-average stress levels and 13% expressed a wish for PO support (participation rate was approximately 55%). Low emotional wellbeing (OR = 11.3) and lack of social support (OR = 9.4) were strong predictors for this treatment wish. Among patients with pancreatic cancer, head and neck tumors, and hematologic disease, there was a substantial difference between the degree of psychological stress and the wish for treatment. Patients with urological (23.5%) and lung tumors (20.9%) most frequently expressed a wish for PO support. CONCLUSION Patient-reported psychosocial problems were better predictors of a wish for PO support than sociodemographic or clinical data. Stress screening should thus be implemented in clinical routine.
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Loth FL, Meraner V, Holzner B, Singer S, Virgolini I, Gamper EM. Following patient pathways to psycho-oncological treatment: Identification of treatment needs by clinical staff and electronic screening. Psychooncology 2018; 27:1312-1319. [PMID: 29462499 PMCID: PMC6001788 DOI: 10.1002/pon.4675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2017] [Revised: 02/06/2018] [Accepted: 02/08/2018] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE In this retrospective investigation of patient pathways to psycho-oncological treatment (POT), we compared the number of POT referrals before and after implementation of electronic screening for POT needs and investigated psychosocial predictors for POT wish at a nuclear medicine department. METHODS We extracted medical chart information about number of referrals and extent of follow-up contacts. During standard referral (November 2014 to October 2015), POT needs were identified by clinical staff only. In the screening-assisted referral period (November 2015 to October 2016), identification was supported by electronic screening for POT needs. Psychosocial predictors for POT wish were examined using logistic regression. RESULTS We analysed data from 487 patients during standard referral (mean age 56.4 years; 60.2% female, 88.7% thyroid carcinoma or neuroendocrine tumours) of which 28 patients (5.7%) were referred for POT. Of 502 patients in the screening-assisted referral period (mean age 57.0 years; 55.8% female, 86.6% thyroid carcinoma or neuroendocrine tumours), 69 (13.7%) were referred for POT. Of these, 36 were identified by psycho-oncological (PO) screening and 33 by clinical staff. After PO-screening implementation, referrals increased by a factor of 2.4. The strongest predictor of POT wish was depressive mood (P < .001). During both referral periods, about 15% of patients visited the PO outpatient unit additionally to inpatient PO consultations. CONCLUSIONS Our results provide evidence from a real-life setting that PO screening can foster POT referrals, reduce barriers to express the POT wish, and hence help to meet psychosocial needs of this specific patient group. Differences between patients' needs, wish, and POT uptake should be further investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanny L Loth
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.,Faculty of Psychology and Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Verena Meraner
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Bernhard Holzner
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Susanne Singer
- Institute of Medical Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, University Medical Centre, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany.,University Cancer Centre Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Irene Virgolini
- Department for Nuclear Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Eva M Gamper
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.,Innsbruck Institute of Patient-centered Outcome Research, Innsbruck, Austria
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