Exploring the effectiveness of crisis counseling and psychoeducation in relation to improving mental well-being, quality of life and treatment compliance of breast cancer patients in Qatar

The effect of perceived social support on psychological resilience and surgical fear in surgical oncology patients

In our study, we examined the effect of perceived social support on psychological resilience and surgical fear in surgical oncology patients. This study was performed with 139 patients planning to have surgery at the oncology unit of a research and practice hospital in Turkey. The Personal Information Form, the Multi-Dimensional Perceived Social Support Scale, the Brief Resilience Scale, and the Surgical Fear Questionnaire were used in the data collection process. Of all surgical oncology patients participating in our study, 51.8% were aged 45-64 years, 60.4% were male, 41.7% were diagnosed with a malignancy in the last 4-7 months, 66.9% had comorbidities alongside the malignancy, and 21.6% had colorectal tumors whilst 20.1% had malignant tumors in the liver. Surgical oncology patients' psychological resilience had statistically significant relationships with their surgical fear and perceived social support (p = 0.000). It was determined that the independent variable of perceived social support explained 59% of the total variance (R2 = 0.593, p = 0.000) in the resilience dependent variable and 35% of the variance in the surgical fear dependent variable (R2 = 0.353, p = 0.000). The increase in perceived social support of surgical oncology patients increases their psychological resilience. The increasing psychological resilience of the patients and the increase in perceived social support also reduce their fear of surgery. In this context, it is recommended that patients who will undergo oncological surgery should increase their social support in the early period and take initiatives to increase their psychological resilience.

Health-related quality of life measured by EQ-5D-3L for the spouses of breast cancer patients

To explore factors influencing the health-related quality of life of spouses of breast cancer patients and the suitable questionnaires for this purpose. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University. The spouses of breast cancer patients were included and evaluated via face-to-face interviews. Self-designed demographic characteristics and disease-related questionnaires, the 12-item health survey questionnaire (SF-12), the three-level European five-dimensional health status scale (EQ-5D-3L), and the Social Support Rate Scale (SSRS) were used. The internal consistency reliability measure Cronbach’s coefficient, criterion-related validity, construct validity, and sensitivity were used to evaluate the applicability of the EQ-5D-3L. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to analyze the factors associated with the health-related quality of life of spouses of breast cancer patients. We investigated a total of 100 spouses of breast cancer patients. Cronbach’s α, the internal consistency reliability coefficient, was 0.502. The EQ-5D-3L health utility score was moderately correlated with PCS-12 (r=0.46, p=0.0001) and weakly correlated with MCS-12 (r=0.35, p=0.0001). The EQ-5D-3L health utility score for the spouses of breast cancer patients was 0.870, and the EQ-VAS was 78.3. In multivariate analysis, social support and cognition of the treatment effect were factors that influenced the EQ-5D-3L health utility score. The EQ-5D-3L has good reliability, validity, and sensitivity for measuring the physiological aspects of the health-related quality of life of spouses of BC patients. EQ-5D-3L was considered suitable for this study.

Patient and economic benefits of psychological support for noncompliant patients

The current paper provides an overview of treatment noncompliance at various points in the treatment pathway, especially with respect to treatment for Pelvic-floor Dysfunction (PFD). The effects of noncompliance on healthcare are considered, and examples of supporting patients psychologically to increase compliance are discussed. An outline of a method to identify costs of non-compliance, and where such costs most intensely impact the healthcare system, is provided. It is suggested that psychological support is effective in terms of increased compliance and improved healthcare economics. The model is presented for PFD, but the principles developed can be generalised to many aspects of healthcare.

Effects of an African Circle Dance Programme on Internally Displaced Persons with Depressive Symptoms: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Background: Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are people who have been forced to flee their homes due to disasters. Depressive symptoms, at over 31–67%, are prevalent in IDPs in Africa. Despite the evidence for the benefits of the promotion of dance interventions on psychological health, supporting information is needed to outline the benefits of an African Circle Dance (ACD) intervention for IDPs in Africa. Methods: A quasi-experimental design (pre-/post-test) was employed. Two IDP camps were randomized into the intervention group (psychoeducation and ACD intervention) and the control group (psychoeducation). Adults aged ≥18 years, living in an IDP camp, able to perform brisk walking, and who scored ≥10 on a depressive symptoms subscale were recruited. The intervention group received an 8-week ACD dance intervention and two 1-h psychoeducation sessions on stress management; the controls only received the psychoeducation sessions. Outcomes were depressive symptoms, stress, and anxiety. Data were collected at baseline (T0), immediately after the intervention at week 8 (T1), and at week 12 (T2) at the post-intervention and follow-up session. A generalized estimating equation was used to test the effects of the ACD intervention, with a 0.05 significance level. Results: 198 IDPs completed the study (n_control = 98; n_intervention = 100). The intervention group reported significantly greater improvements in depressive symptoms (v = 0.33, p < 0.001) and stress (v = 0.15, 0.008) than did the control group. Conclusions: ACD could be a valuable complementary intervention in health promotion but more research is needed.

The structure and contents of the helping relationship as a nursing psychotherapeutic intervention: A modified e-Delphi study

PURPOSE

The aim of this study is to evaluate the content validity of the helping relationship as a nursing psychotherapeutic intervention.

DESIGN AND METHODS

The present research work is a modified e-Delphi study. A total of 205 experts were identified between January and May 2018, and a questionnaire was sent to all of them in different rounds.

FINDINGS

The nurse must have specific knowledge (self-knowledge and knowledge about the person) and attitudes (empathy and respect) to be able to carry out the intervention. The helping relationship can address different nursing diagnoses, such as anxiety or depressed mood, and it can be developed in a set of sessions with specific objectives and contents.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

The systematization of the helping relationship creates the conditions for its implementation in clinical practice enabling an evidence-based practice that results in the improvement of care.

Mediating effect of hope level between psychological pain and quality of life in patients on chemotherapy for esophageal cancer

BACKGROUND

Esophageal cancer (EC) seriously endangers the life and health of patients, and the physical and psychological pain due to gastrointestinal and other adverse reactions caused by chemotherapy rarely attracts the attention of medical staff and family members. Hope is a kind of dynamic psychological energy, which can effectively alleviate the influence of risk factors on mental health, and is an important psychological resource for individuals to cope with stress. Therefore, this study investigated the relationship between psychological pain, hope level, and quality of life in patients on chemotherapy for EC, in order to provide an objective basis for appropriate clinical psychological intervention.

AIM

To explore the mediating effect of hope level between psychological pain and quality of life in patients with EC on chemotherapy, so as to provide a basis for psychological management of patients with EC.

METHODS

The psychological pain thermometer, Herth hope scale, and quality of life scale were used to investigate the psychological pain, hope level, and quality of life in 80 patients with EC on chemotherapy by convenient sampling method.

RESULTS

The psychological pain score of the 80 patients was 2.98 ± 0.65, among which no psychological pain accounted for 20.0% (16/80), mild psychological pain accounted for 40.0% (32/80), and significant psychological pain accounted for 40.0% (32/80). The score of hope level was 34.98 ± 4.65, and the score of quality of life was 103.56 ± 18.47. Pearson analysis showed that the patient's hope level was negatively correlated with the degree of psychological pain (P < 0.01) and positively correlated with the quality of life (P < 0.01), while psychological pain was negatively correlated with the quality of life (P < 0.01). Mediating effect variance analysis showed that the hope level had a partial mediating effect between psychological pain and overall quality of life, emotional state, and functional state (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Psychological distress and hope level both affect the quality of life in patients with EC on chemotherapy, and hope level in patients with EC on chemotherapy plays an intermediary role between psychological distress and quality of life. Psychological pain and hope level assessment should be enhanced in clinical work, and measures should be taken to improve the level of hope, reduce psychological distress, and thus improve patients' quality of life.

Progress in psycho-oncology with special reference to developing countries

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Psycho-oncology has completed 25 years. There is growing recognition of the psychosocial needs of persons living with cancer and the role of sociocultural factors in addressing the needs. This review addresses the research in developing countries relating to distress associated with living with cancer and psychosocial care.

RECENT FINDINGS

There is growing recognition of the emotional needs, understanding of the sociocultural aspects of the emotional responses of persons, caregivers, role of resilience and posttraumatic growth and spirituality in cancer care. Psychosocial aspects of cancer are largely influenced by social, economic, cultural, religious and health systems. A number of innovative approaches to care like use of yoga, financial and material support and involvement of caregivers have been implemented. A positive development is the increasing professional attention to document and develop innovative care programmes.

SUMMARY

A significant proportion of the general population are living with cancer. There are significant psychosocial needs largely influenced by social, economic, cultural, religious aspects of the communities. There are a wide range of interventions from self-care to professional care to address the needs. In developing countries, there is need for longitudinal studies of psycho-social experiences, develop interventions that are culturally appropriate, along with enhanced use of information technology along with evaluation of interventions.