The social trajectory of brain tumor: a qualitative metasynthesis

Social support and the burden of physical and psychiatric comorbidities in the patients with late-onset epilepsy in China: A cross-sectional study

INTRODUCTION

Epilepsy is the third most common neurological disorder in elderly people. Patients with epilepsy (PWEs) are more likely to have comorbidities. Social support is very important for PWEs. However, there are many gaps in the research on social support in older PWEs, especially the correlation between social support and comorbidities.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted in three hospitals in China. Social support was assessed using the Social Support Rate Scale. The burden of physical comorbidities was assessed using the CCI, and global disability was assessed using the mRS. The NDDIE was used to assess depression, the GAD7 was used for anxiety, the CDR was used for cognitive status, and the NPI was used for psychotic symptoms.

RESULTS

A total of 154 older PWEs participated in the study. There were 97 patients with at least one physical comorbidities. The burden of physical comorbidities was negatively correlated with overall social support (Adj. r = -0.35, P < 0.001) and global disability (Adj. r = -0.45, P < 0.001). In terms of psychiatric comorbidities, anxiety, depression, and cognitive status were not correlated with overall social support (Adj. r = -0.03, -0.02, and -0.11, P > 0.05). Psychotic symptoms were correlated with overall social support (Adj. r = -0.20, P < 0.05). The overall burden of psychiatric comorbidities was associated with overall social support (r = 0.30, P < 0.01).

DISCUSSION

Neurologists and social workers should consider more personalized biopsychosocial care to improve the quality of life of older PWEs.

Measuring Intolerance of Uncertainty After Acquired Brain Injury: Factor Structure, Reliability, and Validity of the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale-12

Intolerance of uncertainty (IU) is a risk factor for poor mental health. Acquired brain injury (ABI; for example, stroke, traumatic brain injury) often brings considerable uncertainty and increased mood disorder vulnerability. The Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale-Short Form (IUS-12) is a brief, well-validated IU measure in non-ABI samples, comprising two subscales, namely, Prospective Anxiety and Inhibitory Anxiety. Here, for the first time, we investigated its reliability and validity (N = 118), and factor structure (N = 176), in ABI. Both subscales had high test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficients [ICCs] of .75 and .86) and were significantly associated with mood disorder symptoms. The two-factor model was superior to a one-factor IU model fit. Some fit statistics were less than optimal (standardized root mean square residual [SRMR] = 0.06, root mean square error of approximation [RMSEA] = 0.09); hence, exploration of other factor structures in other ABI samples may be warranted. Nonetheless, the IUS-12 appears suitable in ABI.

"It changes everything": Understanding how people experience the impact of living with a lower-grade glioma

Background

Quantitative studies show people living with a lower-grade glioma (LGG) often report low health-related quality of life. However, it is unclear how this impact is experienced; resulting supportive care needs are also poorly understood. We explored how people experience the impact of living long-term with an LGG, to help identify potential supportive care needs.

Methods

We conducted semi-structured interviews with a diverse group of people with LGG (n = 28) across the United Kingdom, who had completed primary treatment (male n = 16, female n = 12, mean age 54.6 years, mean time since diagnosis 8.7 years). Interviews were transcribed and inductive thematic analysis was conducted.

Results

Four themes relating to the impact experiences of people with LGG were generated: "Emotional response to the diagnosis," "Living with the 'What ifs'," "Changing relationships," and "Faltering independence." These reflect participants' experiences with symptoms (eg, fatigue, seizures) and impairments (eg, motor dysfunction, cognitive deficits), and how these, in turn, drive impacts on daily living (including on work, relationships, social activities, and transport). Participants spoke about their experiences with profound emotion throughout.

Conclusions

People with LGG can experience wide-ranging everyday impacts and may have extensive supportive care needs. This study highlights how this impact is experienced and what it means to people with LGG. Best practice suggestions for conducting comprehensive needs assessments tailored to those with LGG, and the development of personalized plans to meet those needs, would be a critical step to ensure that people with LGG are best supported in living with their condition.

A Shifting Paradigm Toward Family-Centered Care in Neuro-Oncology: A Longitudinal Quasi-Experimental Mixed-Methods Feasibility Study

Family-centered intervention can help families facing illness-related issues. We investigated the feasibility of Family and Network Conversations (FNCs) in high-grade glioma patients and their families. Quasi-experimental feasibility study with longitudinal mixed-methods design. Patients and families were invited to three FNCs over 1 year. They completed questionnaires at four time points and expressed their perspectives on the intervention through telephone interviews. Nurses' perspectives were collected in a focus group. Twenty-one patients and 47 family members were included. On average, patients were 66 years old, mainly male, married, living with caregivers, with unifocal cancer. On average, caregivers were 47 years old, mainly female, being spouses or children of the patient. Quantitative and qualitative data did not always match and expanded each other. Nurse-delivered FNCs holistically addressed families' needs while strengthening family's dialogue and union. Nurses felt empowered, underling that advanced competencies were required. Nurse-delivered FNCs are feasible to provide family-centered care, but they should be tailored to each family's needs.

Reliability and validity of the telephone-based version of the Montgomery-Asberg depression rating scale for assessing depression in individuals with primary brain tumour

This study aimed to examine interrater reliability and construct validity of the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) semi-structured interview for assessing depression in adults with a primary brain tumour.

Fifty adults with a primary brain tumour (mean age = 45.86, SD = 12.48) reporting at least mild distress (Distress Thermometer [DT] ≥ 4) were recruited from a multidisciplinary brain tumour clinic and administered a telephone-based cognitive screener, MADRS, Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS) depression subscale and Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7). Audiotaped interviews were transcribed and then scored by two independent raters.

Interrater reliability for the MADRS total score was excellent (ICC = 0.98) and ranged from good to excellent (ICC = 0.83-0.96) for MADRS items. The MADRS total score was significantly associated with the DT, DASS depression, and GAD-7 (r = 0.50-0.76, p < 0.001), thus providing evidence of construct validity. Individuals with poorer cognitive function reported higher levels of depression.

The findings provide psychometric support for the MADRS as a semi-structured interview for assessing depression after brain tumour. Further research investigating the sensitivity and specificity of the MADRS is recommended.

Social network trajectory of young adults aged 18-35 years diagnosed with a brain tumour: a protocol for a mixed methods study

INTRODUCTION

Research indicates that social networks and roles are disrupted throughout the entire trajectory of someone living with a brain tumour. Young adults aged 18-35 years are particularly vulnerable to such disruption because they are in a process of establishing themselves. Pre-existing social roles and support networks of young adults living with a primary brain tumour may change. This study aims to identify the social networks of young adults aged 18-35 years diagnosed with a primary brain tumour and to map how the diagnosis and disease course affects the social network in relation to changes in relationships and roles over time.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

The study adopts a longitudinal design with a convergent mixed methods approach to describe the social network of young adults. The study utilizes a quantitative approach to social network analysis to measure network size, composition and density and a qualitative approach with interviews to gain insight into young adult's narratives about their network. Network maps will be produced, analysed and all the findings will then be compared and integrated. Interviews and network drawing will take place at the time of the diagnoses, with follow-up interviews 6 and 12 months later. This will shed light on transformations in network compositions and network support over time.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The study has been approved by the Danish Data Protection Agency (ID P-2022-733). Written informed consent will be obtained from all patients. The results will be disseminated through a peer-reviewed journal and reported at local, national and international conferences on brain cancer.

Neurorehabilitation in brain tumours: evidences and suggestions for spreading of knowledge and research implementation

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The last few decades have seen an increase in life expectancy in brain tumour patients; however, many patients report sensory-motor and cognitive disabilities due to the tumour itself, but also to the effect of anticancer treatments (surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy), supportive treatments, as well as individual patient factors. This review outlines the principles on which to base neurorehabilitation treatments, with the aim of stimulating an early rehabilitative management, in order to reduce disability and functional limitation and improve the quality of life of the persons affected by brain tumour.

RECENT FINDINGS

Although not definitive, evidences suggest that an early neurorehabilitative evaluation, performed with a multidisciplinary approach, may identify the different functional impairments that can affect people with brain tumour. Furthermore, identifying and classifying the person's level of functioning is useful for designing achievable recovery goals, through the implementation of tailored multidisciplinary rehabilitation programs. The involvement of different professional figures allows to treat all the components (physical, cognitive, psychological and participation) of the person, and to redesign one's life project, lastly improving the quality of life.

SUMMARY

Overall, the evidences suggest a critical need for the development of this clinical area by spreading the concept of rehabilitation among neuro-oncologists and producing high quality research.

Evaluation of the telehealth making sense of brain tumor psychological support intervention for people with primary brain tumor and their caregivers: A randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

This pragmatic randomized control trial aimed to evaluate clinical efficacy of the Making Sense of Brain Tumour program delivered via videoconferencing (Tele-MAST) for improving mental health and quality of life (QoL) relative to standard care in individuals with primary brain tumor (PBT).

METHOD

Adults with PBT experiencing at least mild distress (Distress Thermometer ≥4) and caregivers were randomly allocated to the 10-session Tele-MAST program or standard care. Mental health and QoL were assessed pre-intervention, post-intervention (primary endpoint), and 6-weeks and 6-months follow-up. The primary outcome was clinician-rated depressive symptoms on the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale.

RESULTS

82 participants with PBT (34% benign, 20% lower-grade glioma, 46% high-grade glioma) and 36 caregivers were recruited (2018-2021). Controlling for baseline functioning, Tele-MAST participants with PBT had lower depressive symptoms at post-intervention (95% CI: 10.2-14.6, vs. 15.2-19.6, p = 0.002) and 6-weeks post-intervention (95% CI: 11.5-15.8 vs. 15.6-19.9, p = 0.010) than standard care, and were almost 4 times more likely to experience clinically reduced depression (OR, 3.89; 95% CI: 1.5-9.9). Tele-MAST participants with PBT also reported significantly better global QoL, emotional QoL and lower anxiety at post-intervention and 6-weeks post-intervention than standard care. There were no significant intervention effects for caregivers. At 6-months follow-up participants with PBT who received Tele-MAST reported significantly better mental health and QoL relative to pre-intervention.

CONCLUSIONS

Tele-MAST was found to be more effective for reducing depressive symptoms at post-intervention than standard care for people with PBT but not caregivers. Tailored and extended psychological support may be beneficial for people with PBT.

'Make Them Wonder How You Are Still Smiling': The Lived Experience of Coping With a Brain Tumour

A brain tumour can be a life-threatening illness and cause unique symptoms compared to other types of cancer, such as cognitive or language deficits, or changes in personality. It is an exceptionally distressing diagnosis which can affect quality of life, even for those with a low-grade tumour or many years after the diagnosis. This study sought to gain an in-depth understanding of the lived experience of adjustment to living with a brain tumour. Twelve individuals (83% female) with a primary brain tumour (83% low-grade) took part in the study. Participants were aged 29-54 years, on average 43 months following the diagnosis, and were recruited through the charitable support organisations in the United Kingdom. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted, transcribed verbatim, and analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Six inter-related themes were identified: making sense of the diagnosis, seeking empowerment, feeling appreciative, taking charge of coping, learning to accept, and negotiating a new normality. Notions of empowerment, gratitude, and acceptance throughout the illness journey were prominent in the participants' narratives. Receiving sufficient information and initiating treatment were important in negotiation of control. The results highlighted what facilitates and hinders adaptive coping. Aspects which facilitated positive coping were as follows: trust in clinician, feeling in control, feeling grateful, or accepting. Participants on a 'watch and wait' approach, while feeling appreciative, perceived the lack of treatment as difficult and frustrating. Implications for patient-clinician communication are discussed, particularly for patients on a 'watch and wait' who might need additional support in adjusting.

Access to psychosocial support for people with brain tumor and family members: Healthcare professional perspectives

OBJECTIVES

Ongoing access to psychosocial support is important to maintain the well-being of people with brain tumor (PwBT) and their families; yet, there is limited knowledge of psychosocial care access. This qualitative study aimed to develop an understanding of psychosocial support pathways specific to PwBT from the perspectives of Australian healthcare professionals.

METHODS

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 healthcare professionals working in hospital and community services supporting PwBT and their family members. Transcribed interviews were coded and analyzed thematically.

RESULTS

The three major themes identified were: (1) Challenges in fitting people into the care system within existing pathways; (2) Benefits of longer-term care coordination and interdisciplinary connections; and (3) Brain tumor affects the whole family. Despite established psychosocial care pathways, service access varied and lacked continuity for individuals with lower-grade glioma and benign tumors across the illness trajectory.

CONCLUSIONS

Healthcare professionals recognize the need for improved access to care coordination and multidisciplinary psychosocial care tailored to the varying needs of PwBT and their families.

Factors affecting well-being in brain tumor patients: An LMIC perspective

Introduction

Brain tumor is a devastating and often fatal diagnosis; quality of life and patient well-being are important goals of treatment. This study addresses the gap in culture-specific literature exploring the needs and coping strategies of brain tumor patients within an LMIC setting.

Methodology

A qualitative approach was undertaken using an exploratory descriptive study design. In-depth interviews were conducted to capture the perspective of 250 brain tumor patients at a private tertiary center followed by extensive content analysis to identify major themes and sub-themes across responses.

Results

The analysis identified three major themes: (i) Factors affecting the lives of brain tumor survivors (BTSs) and their impact (ii) What works to improve QoL according to the survivors’ perspectives, and (iii) Coping tactics &amp; fostering healthy relationships. The need for financial navigation strategies improved patient-physician relationships, and reinforcing positive coping strategies were emphasized.

Conclusion

In our population, family support and spiritual connection played an important role in helping patients mitigate the psychosocial burden of illness. However, financial concerns were pervasive and need to be addressed for better overall well-being.

A single-center prospective study regarding time to return to activities of daily living after craniotomy for brain tumors

BACKGROUND

There are few studies on the time to return to activities of daily living (ADL) after craniotomy in patients with brain tumors. This study aimed to investigate the duration before returning to ADLs after craniotomy for brain tumors and present data that can provide information and guidelines on the appropriate time needed.

METHODS

Patients (n = 183 of 234) who underwent craniotomy for brain tumors between April 2021 and July 2021 capable of self-care upon discharge were enrolled, and data of 158 were collected. The start time of 85 ADL items was prospectively investigated for 4 months postoperatively, using the self-recording sheet.

RESULTS

Over 89% and 87% of the patients performed basic ADL items within a month and instrumental ADL items within 2 months (medians: within 18 days), except for a few. Regarding work, 50% of the patients returned within 4 months. Washing hair with a wound was performed at 18 days of median value, after 4 months of dyeing/perming hair, 6 days of drinking coffee/tea, after 4 months of air travel, and 40 days of complementary and alternative medicine. In patients with infratentorial tumors or surgical problems, return times were much later for various items.

CONCLUSIONS

It is possible to provide practical information and guidelines on the duration to return to ADL after craniotomy in brain tumor patients. These study findings also reduce uncertainty about recovery and daily life and help patients return to their daily life at the appropriate time, thereby maintaining function and daily well-being after surgery.

Adaptation of families of adult patients with brain tumor: Partial least squares structural equation modeling

Brain tumor patients experience physical, psychological, social, and cognitive changes. These changes are challenging for both the patients and their families. These patients and their families need to adapt together on the cancer treatment path. This study aimed to identify the factors affecting adaptation in families of adult patients with brain tumors. A quantitative, cross-sectional study of 165 families of adult patients with primary brain tumors was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was used to test a hypothetical model. The results showed that family stress, family functioning, and family resources influenced on family adaptation in families of adult patients with primary brain tumors. Among these factors, family resources were identified to be the strongest factor associated with family adaptation. The results of this study may be utilized as a theoretical basis in nursing to improve the family adaptation of patients with brain tumors. Regarding nursing practices, the results suggest that nurses should provide family-centered nursing interventions and promote family resources to help brain tumor patients and their families to adapt.

Factors Predicting Frailty Among Postoperative Brain Tumor Patients

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Surgical frailty is a condition in which patients are weak with varied recovery of various organ functions after surgery resulting in unpleasant outcomes. Frailty studies have been conducted in several populations with a limited knowledge on postoperative brain tumor patients. This study aimed to examine factors predicting frailty in brain tumor patients after craniotomy. METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional predictive study. The sample included 85 patients who were 18 years or older and underwent craniotomy with tumor removal from 1 university hospital in Bangkok, Thailand, between February and October 2021. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistic, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regression, which determined significance level at .05. RESULTS: The prevalence of frailty among participants was 50.6%. Postoperative symptom and mood state were positively associated with frailty (r = 0.410 and r = 0.448, respectively; P < .01). Postoperative symptom, mood state, age, tumor type, and income could explain the variance of frailty in brain tumor patients after craniotomy by 40.3% (R2 = 0.403, P < .01). CONCLUSION: Healthcare providers should plan for discharge planning including assessment and develop the intervention for managing postoperative symptoms and psychological symptoms to promote recovery from frailty that generally occurs after brain tumor surgery.

Experiences of language and communication after brain-tumour treatment: A long-term follow-up after glioma surgery

The purpose of this study was to explore how persons having received various treatments for glioma, a type of brain tumour, experience their language, speech, and communication in everyday life. Twelve persons with low-grade glioma and one with high-grade glioma who had undergone tumour resection in 2014-2016 in different tumour locations were interviewed using a semi-structured protocol. The video-recorded interviews were transcribed and analysed using qualitative content analysis, which revealed three manifest categories, nine sub-categories and one latent theme. Participants experienced changed communication that affected word finding, motor speech and comprehension. They also expressed how communication required a greater effort; time and context were important factors and participants felt frustrated with their communication. Further, they were dealing with changes and used multiple strategies to manage communication. For most participants it did not affect their everyday life, but it was not like before. In addition, participants adapted their way of living to manage illness-related problems. Uncertainty was a latent theme which emanated from the participants' illness experience, reflecting how living with a slow-growing brain tumour affects life-decisions and views of perceived symptoms. Discussion of how results can be interpreted in relation to previous research and health care are included.

"Hey, I'm still here!": Maintaining, managing and rebuilding social connections after brain tumour

It is well recognized that social networks can buffer the adverse effects of chronic illness on psychological wellbeing. However, the functional impairments associated with brain tumour often affect social participation, which may reduce people's capacity to draw upon their social capital for support. This qualitative phenomenological study aimed to understand how brain tumour influences people's ability to manage, maintain, and rebuild their social networks. Participants were 20 individuals (65% female) aged 22-69 years with diverse types of primary brain tumour (50% high grade or malignant) who were on average 35 months post-diagnosis. Two semi-structured interviews, conducted three months apart, comprised a Social Identity Mapping exercise and questions exploring changes in social groups since diagnosis. Two overarching and interrelated themes emerged: engaging and connecting and then versus now. An interplay of barriers, facilitators and strategies influenced people's ability to engage and connect with their social groups, which in turn influenced whether they experienced stability; maintenance and expansion; loss and rebuilding; or loss and shrinkage of their social networks over time. These novel findings highlight the need to develop interventions that specifically focus on enhancing individuals' abilities to maintain or rebuild their social networks.

Neuro-Oncological Symptoms: A Longitudinal Quantitative Study of Family Function, Perceived Support, and Caregiver Burden

The aim of this study was to establish preliminary quantitative evidence for the longitudinal change in family function, perceived support, and caregiver burden, acknowledging that physical and emotional symptoms are important variables for quality of life in families affected by a brain cancer diagnosis. This longitudinal quantitative study measured patient-reported and family member-reported outcomes at four different time points in 1 year. The patients reported that the symptom burden hindered their relationships with other people. Furthermore, the generally high level of strain due to the caregiver burden had an especially negative impact on close social relationships. Data indicate that family functioning was continually negatively affected as perceived by both patients and family caregivers. No significant changes over time were identified. The results underline the importance of providing systematic and ongoing support to the whole family that acknowledges their contribution as a valuable social support system for the individual experiencing high-grade glioma.

Evaluation of a multimodal rehabilitative palliative care programme for patients with high-grade glioma and their family caregivers

BACKGROUND

Patients diagnosed with high-grade glioma and their family caregivers often experience intense disease and treatment trajectories. Fluctuations in patient's symptoms lead to enormous burdens for caregivers and the risk of developing symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression.

AIM

The study aim is to explore patient and caregiver experiences and evaluate the relevance of and satisfaction with a multimodal rehabilitative palliative care programme for patients diagnosed with a high-grade glioma and their family caregivers.

METHODS

In a longitudinal multi-methods study, adult patients with high-grade glioma (n = 17) and their family caregivers (n = 16) completed a 4-day residential programme and a 2-day follow-up programme 3 months later. Participants completed questionnaires after each programme, scoring relevance and satisfaction on a 5-point Likert scale. Qualitative data were collected during four evaluation group interviews with patients and caregivers.

RESULTS

The mean overall satisfaction score was 4.80 (standard deviation [SD], 0.55) for the initial 4-day programme and 4.28 (SD, 0.83) for the follow-up programme. Three themes emerged in the evaluation group interviews: (1) meeting peers strengthens social well-being, (2) the value of information and focusing on individual needs, and (3) accepting life as an unpredictable passage.

CONCLUSION

Participants found completing the REHPA-HGG programme feasible and rated all sessions highly for relevance and satisfaction. Qualitative findings confirm the value of individualised information, acceptance, and peer interactions.

IMPLICATION FOR PRACTICE

A multimodal rehabilitative palliative care programme addressed unmet patient and caregiver needs. Peer-to-peer interventions for family caregivers may address individual support needs. Similar programmes may maximise benefit by avoiding planned behaviour changes and enhancing palliative approaches.

Brain cancer patient and support persons' experiences of psychosocial care: a mapping of research outputs

BACKGROUND

People with brain cancer and their support persons (SPs) are critical sources of information on the components of care that contribute to psychosocial outcomes.

AIMS

To determine the proportion of studies that examined (1) at least one of 14 nominated components of psychosocial cancer care and (2) more than one component of care.

METHODS

Medline, The Cochrane Library, PsycINFO and Embase were electronically searched for publications from January 1999 to December 2019. Publications that met the inclusion criteria were coded according to the number and type of psychosocial care components assessed from 14 listed components, and whether patient and/or SPs' views about care were elicited.

RESULTS

Of the 113 included publications, 61 publications included patient-reported data only (54%), 27 included both patient and SP-reported data (24%) and 25 included SP-reported data only (22%). Most assessed a single component of care (77% of patient-reported and 71% of SP-reported). No publications assessed all 14 components. The "Psychosocial" component was the most frequently assessed component of care for patient-reported (n = 80/88, 91%) and SP-reported publications (n = 46/52, 88%).

CONCLUSIONS

Publications reporting on psychosocial care in brain cancer present a relatively narrow view of patient and support person experiences. The inclusion of both patient and support person perspectives and the assessment of multiple components of care are required in future research to optimize psychosocial outcomes in brain cancer.

Quality of online self-management resources for adults living with primary brain cancer, and their carers: a systematic environmental scan

Background

A primary brain cancer diagnosis is a distressing, life changing event. It adversely affects the quality of life for the person living with brain cancer and their families (‘carers’). Timely access to evidence-based information is critical to enabling people living with brain cancer, and their carers, to self-manage the devastating impacts of this disease.

Method

A systematic environmental scan of web-based resources. A depersonalised search for online English-language resources published from 2009 to December 2019 and designed for adults (> 25 years of age), living with primary brain cancer, was undertaken using the Google search engine. The online information was classified according to: 1) the step on the cancer care continuum; 2) self-management domains (PRISMS taxonomy); 3) basic information disclosure (Silberg criteria); 4) independent quality verification (HonCode); 5) reliability of disease and treatment information (DISCERN Sections 1 and 2); and readability (Flesch-Kincaid reading grade).

Results

A total of 119 online resources were identified, most originating in England (n = 49); Australia (n = 27); or the USA (n = 27). The majority of resources related to active treatment (n = 76), without addressing recurrence (n = 3), survivorship (n = 1) or palliative care needs (n = 13). Few online resources directly provided self-management advice for adults living with brain cancer or their carers. Just over a fifth (n = 26, 22%) were underpinned by verifiable evidence. Only one quarter of organisations producing resources were HonCode certified (n = 9, 24%). The median resource reliability as measured by Section 1, DISCERN tool, was 56%. A median of 8.8 years of education was required to understand these online resources.

Conclusions

More targeted online information is needed to provide people affected by brain cancer with practical self-management advice. Resources need to better address patient and carer needs related to: rehabilitation, managing behavioural changes, survivorship and living with uncertainty; recurrence; and transition to palliative care. Developing online resources that don’t require a high level of literacy and/or cognition are also required.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12904-021-00715-4.

Evaluation of a novel application of a mindfulness phone application for patients with brain tumours: a feasibility study

PURPOSE

Despite the large clinical interest in mindfulness, little is known about its effects in patients with brain tumours. Novel delivery methods such as App based Mindfulness training (AMT) may assist in the delivery of mindfulness treatment to this group of patients.

METHODS

We aimed to determine the feasibility of administering an 8-week mindfulness treatment by AMT in patients operated on for brain tumours in a publically funded hospital. As a secondary aim we collected preliminary data regarding changes in self-reported psychological distress, quality of life and mindfulness capacity.

RESULTS

Uptake was of 40 potentially eligible participants. Of the 20 entering the study, only 10 completed the 8-week post group assessment and only 3 completed the follow-up assessment. There was a positive direction of pre-post change in almost all completers with statistically significant improvement in several mindfulness scales and illness-related quality of life however there was a deterioration in the social/family quality of life domain. The significant variability in individual usage of the AMT appeared to be related more to individual differences rather than tumour histology, progression or treatment. The treatment was well received by those completing the study.

CONCLUSIONS

Recruitment and retention feasibility issues were identified. Promising preliminary change and treatment satisfaction scores however suggest that further research with the AMT is warranted. Reduced assessment burden and more regular engagement during treatment is recommended to enhance retention. Large sample sizes however will be needed to address the heterogeneity of this group.

Feasibility and acceptability of a telehealth platform for delivering the Making Sense of Brain Tumour programme: A mixed-methods pilot study

ABSTRACTGlioma is a common type of brain tumour that is associated with neurocognitive and psychosocial impairments. This study primarily aimed to investigate the feasibility and acceptability of a videoconferencing format of the Making Sense of Brain Tumour (Tele-MAST) programme. Recruited from a multidisciplinary brain tumour clinic, participants were randomly allocated to the 10-session Tele-MAST programme or standard care, with the latter group offered Tele-MAST after re-assessment. Semi-structured interviews explored participants' experiences of receiving psychological support via the videoconferencing platform. Measures of mental health and quality of life were administered at pre-intervention and post-intervention assessments. Of the 35 patients deemed eligible for the study, 14 (40% accrual) with high grade (71%) or low grade (29%) glioma participated. They were randomized to the Tele-MAST condition (n = 8) or standard care/waitlist (n = 6). Ten individuals commenced the Tele-MAST programme, of whom eight completed ≥8 sessions. The major themes that depicted their experience of the Tele-MAST programme were ease of access and benefits of remote delivery, tailored support and immediacy, and sense of connection versus disconnection. Most participants (63%) demonstrated clinically reliable improvement at post-intervention. These preliminary findings support the feasibility and acceptability of remote delivery of psychological support and highlight the need for a larger-scale evaluation of the Tele-MAST programme.

The relationship between adult attachment and coping with brain tumour: the mediating role of social support

OBJECTIVE

A primary brain tumour diagnosis is known to elicit higher distress than other forms of cancer and is related to high depressive symptomatology. Using a cross-sectional design, the present study explored how individuals cope with this diagnosis using an attachment theory framework. Attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance were hypothesised to be positively related to helplessness/hopelessness, anxious preoccupation, and cognitive avoidance; and negatively related to fighting spirit and fatalism coping. We proposed perceived social support to play a mediating role in those associations.

METHODS

Four hundred and eighty participants diagnosed with primary brain tumours completed the Mini-Mental Adjustment to Cancer Scale (Mini-MAC), the Experiences in Close Relationships Questionnaire-Revised (ECR-R), and the modified Medical Outcomes Study-Social Support Scale (mMOS-SSS) online.

RESULTS

Lower perceived social support mediated the positive associations between both higher attachment anxiety and avoidance and higher helpless/hopeless coping. Attachment anxiety was also positively associated with anxious preoccupation. This relationship was not mediated by perceived social support. Cognitive avoidance was unrelated to both attachment dimensions and social support.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings highlight that the differences in coping repertoire are associated with social relatedness factors, specifically attachment security and its relationship to perceived social support. Implications of the findings are discussed.

Impairment of sociocognitive functions in patients with brain tumours

The ability to decode mental states and to come up with effective solutions for interpersonal problems aids successful initiation and maintenance of social interactions and contributes to participation and mental health. Since these abilities of social cognition are challenged in highly demanding situations, such as diagnosis and treatment of a life-threatening illness, this article reviews the literature on emotion recognition, empathy, Theory of Mind and socially skilled behaviour in brain tumour patients. The data available suggest that patients are affected by a slight but consistent impairment of emotion recognition, empathy and Theory of Mind before and immediately after brain tumour treatment, with the degree of impairment being influenced by tumour histology and localization. Impairments mostly decrease a few months after surgery due to assumed neuroplasticity. Future research may address more complex sociocognitive functions, such as social problem solving, and may investigate to which degree sociocognitive difficulties act as risk factors for poor or failed reintegration into occupational and social life following successful brain tumour treatment.

The interplay between emotion regulation, emotional well-being, and cognitive functioning in brain tumor patients and their caregivers: An exploratory study

OBJECTIVE

Brain tumor patients may suffer from a range of health-impairing problems reducing their quality of life. To identify potential targets for interventions, we examined the influence of different emotion regulation strategies on affective and cognitive functioning as indices of quality of life in patients and their caregivers in the early phase of treatment.

METHODS

To this end, we conducted an exploratory longitudinal study on a small cohort, measuring emotion regulation, emotional well-being, and cognitive functioning on the day before each patient's tumor resection (28 patients and 11 caregivers) and several months after neurosurgery (22 patients and 10 caregivers).

RESULTS

Results showed that emotion regulation strategies are relatively stable from preoperative to postoperative assessment. Nevertheless, several associations between emotion regulation strategies and quality of life indices were evident after tumor resection. In particular, our results were largely in line with previous research findings in healthy and other patient populations, corroborating the adaptive character of cognitive reappraisal, whereas suppression and expression of emotions were related to reduced cognitive and affective functioning, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on these results, we suggest that further intervention or qualitative studies explore whether therapeutic interventions directed toward mastery of cognitive reappraisal techniques and appropriate expression of emotions could lead to improved long-term adjustment among brain tumor patients and their caregivers.