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Vagnini D, Grassi MM, Valenti F, Bombardieri E, Saita E. Beauty Therapy to Support Psychosocial Recovery from Oncological Care: A Qualitative Research on the Lived Experience of Women with Breast Cancer Treated with Chemotherapy. Curr Oncol 2024; 31:2527-2541. [PMID: 38785470 PMCID: PMC11119433 DOI: 10.3390/curroncol31050189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2024] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
During the oncological care path, breast cancer patients treated with chemotherapy suffer from a number of psycho-physical changes, and appearance-related side effects are among the primary determinants of psychosocial impairment. Appropriate interventions are needed due to the fact that treatment-induced transformations have been associated with a decline in overall quality of life, interpersonal and sexual difficulties, and adverse effects on therapeutic adherence. In the framework of integrative oncology, beauty therapy is an affordable and straightforward intervention that could be used in the clinical management of breast cancer side effects. This study aims to comprehend the emotional and lived experiences of women undergoing chemotherapy after a brief beauty therapy intervention with licensed beauticians. The Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was used as a methodological guideline. Sixteen women were purposefully recruited in a day hospital of a cancer unit, where the beauty therapy was implemented. At the end of the intervention, data were gathered using a semi-structured interview with open-ended questions. A thematic analysis was performed on verbatim transcriptions. Findings support the proposal of beauty therapy for patients undergoing chemotherapy. Assuming a relational viewpoint, beauty therapy could improve patients' feelings about themselves and the way they feel about others, even if they do not declare a specific interest in their outward appearance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denise Vagnini
- Department of Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 20123 Milan, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Emanuela Saita
- Department of Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 20123 Milan, Italy
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Vagnini D, Natalucci V, Moi S, Vallorani L, Pietrelli A, Panico AR, Ferri Marini C, Lucertini F, Annibalini G, Sisti D, Rocchi MBL, Catalano V, Saita E, Emili R, Barbieri E. Home-based lifestyle intervention for breast cancer survivors: A surprising improvement in the quality of life during the first year of COVID-19 pandemic. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0296163. [PMID: 38165970 PMCID: PMC10760703 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0296163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/04/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The COVID-19 pandemic induced an extraordinary impact on public mental health to a degree not completely understood, especially in vulnerable populations such as breast cancer (BC) survivors. In this study, we described the short- (after 3-month) and long- (after 12-month) term effects of a multidisciplinary home-based lifestyle intervention in Italian women BC survivors during the first year of COVID-19 pandemic. MATERIALS AND METHODS In total, 30 Italian BC survivors with risk factors for recurrence took part in the ongoing MoviS trial (protocol: NCT04818359). Between January 2020 and January 2021, a 3-month lifestyle intervention based on psychological counseling, nutrition, and exercise was carried out. Participants were asked to fill out psychological questionnaires for the assessment of quality of life (QoL) indicators (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QoL, EORTC-QLQ-C30) and psychological health measures such as fatigue (Brief Fatigue Inventory, BFI), distress (Distress Thermometer, DT and Psychological Distress Inventory, PDI), cancer-related fatigue (Verbal Rating Scale, VRS), and mood states (Profile of Mood States Questionnaire, POMS). IBM SPSS Statistical Software version 27.0 and R Project for Statistical Computing version 4.2.1 were used to process data. All participants were assessed at four time points: T0 (baseline), T1 (3-month), and follow-up at T2 and T3 (6- and 12-month, respectively) to measure primary (quality of life indicators) and secondary (psychological health) outcomes. Friedman non parametric test and Wilcoxon signed rank test (with Bonferroni correction) were conducted to investigate the statistically significant differences in psychometric scores and between assessment times. RESULTS Compared to baseline (T0), at T1 most of the QoL indicators (i.e., symptoms of fatigue and general health) were improved (p < 0.017) with the exception of a worsening in participants' social functioning ability. Also, perception of severity of fatigue, distress, cancer-related fatigue, depression, and anger enhanced. Compared to baseline (T0), at T3 we mainly observed a stable condition with T0-T1 pairwise comparison, however other secondary outcomes (i.e., fatigue mood state, confusion, and anxiety) significantly improved. DISCUSSION Our preliminary findings support the proposal of this lifestyle intervention for BC survivors. Despite the home-confinement due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the intervention surprisingly improved QoL indicators and psychological health of the participants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denise Vagnini
- Department of Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan, Italy
| | - Valentina Natalucci
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Division of Exercise and Health Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy
| | - Sara Moi
- Department of Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan, Italy
| | - Luciana Vallorani
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Division of Exercise and Health Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy
| | - Alice Pietrelli
- Medical Oncology Unit, AST Pesaro-Urbino, Santa Maria della Misericordia Hospital Urbino, Urbino, Italy
| | - Andrea Rocco Panico
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Division of Exercise and Health Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy
| | - Carlo Ferri Marini
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Division of Exercise and Health Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy
| | - Francesco Lucertini
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Division of Exercise and Health Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy
| | - Giosuè Annibalini
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Division of Exercise and Health Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy
| | - Davide Sisti
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Division of Exercise and Health Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy
| | - Marco Bruno Luigi Rocchi
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Division of Exercise and Health Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Catalano
- Medical Oncology Unit, AST Pesaro-Urbino, Santa Maria della Misericordia Hospital Urbino, Urbino, Italy
| | - Emanuela Saita
- Department of Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan, Italy
| | - Rita Emili
- Medical Oncology Unit, AST Pesaro-Urbino, Santa Maria della Misericordia Hospital Urbino, Urbino, Italy
| | - Elena Barbieri
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Division of Exercise and Health Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy
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Vagnini D, Lamperti N, Molgora S, Barile F, Facchin F, Mazza U, Saita E. Mental Health Issues as a Consequence of the Pandemic: Group Psycho-Educational Intervention to Support Patients Recovered from COVID-19 Infection. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:6105. [PMID: 37372692 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20126105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
Common psycho-physical symptoms have emerged in patients who were previously recovered for COVID-19 infection, including traumatic experience and enduring emotional disturbances. A group psycho-educational intervention of seven weekly sessions and a follow-up after three months was proposed to all Italian-speaking patients formally discharged from a public hospital in northern Italy and physically recovered from infection. Eighteen patients were recruited and divided into four age-homogenous groups, each led by two facilitators (psychologists and psychotherapists). The group sessions followed a structured format with thematic modules, including main topics, tasks, and homework assignments. Data were collected through recordings and verbatim transcripts. The objectives of the study were twofold: (1) to analyze the emerging themes and gain insight into the significant aspects of the participants' lived experience of COVID-19, and (2) to examine changes in how participants approached these themes throughout the intervention process. Semantic-pragmatic text analyses, specifically thematic analysis of elementary context and correspondence analysis, were conducted using T-LAB software. Linguistic analysis revealed a congruence between the intervention's objectives and the participants' experiences. The study highlighted an evolution in the narratives, as participants transitioned from a passive and concrete perspective on the disease to a more comprehensive cognitive and emotional elaboration of their personal illness stories. These findings hold potential relevance for healthcare services and professionals working in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denise Vagnini
- Department of Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 20123 Milan, Italy
| | - Nicolò Lamperti
- Clinical Psychology Unit, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, 20162 Milan, Italy
| | - Sara Molgora
- Department of Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 20123 Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Barile
- Clinical Psychology Unit, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, 20162 Milan, Italy
| | - Federica Facchin
- Department of Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 20123 Milan, Italy
| | - Umberto Mazza
- Clinical Psychology Unit, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, 20162 Milan, Italy
| | - Emanuela Saita
- Department of Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 20123 Milan, Italy
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Cilli E, Ranieri J, Guerra F, Colicchia S, Di Giacomo D. Digital affinitiy and cognitive reserve: Salience for resilient aging
in pandemic. Gerontol Geriatr Med 2023; 9:23337214231162773. [PMID: 36968122 PMCID: PMC10037122 DOI: 10.1177/23337214231162773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2022] [Revised: 02/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective: The study aimed to analyze the impact of technology in
the older adults after acute pandemic regarding to the development of digital
confidence. Method: A sample of n. 56 healthy
older adults (N = 22 female, N = 34 male) aged
64 to 86 years (M = 73.7, SD = 6.40) participated in observational study. The
sample was distributed in two groups: (a) pre-COVID and (b) post-COVID.
Psychological battery was applied: Mini-Mental State Examination, Cognitive
Reserve Index Questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory-II, Affinity for
Technology Interaction Scale, and then Digital Mastery Questionnaire.
Descriptive and (M)ANOVA statistical analyses have been applied.
Results: Our results confirmed the increase in technology usage
among elders, the higher use of smart devices and then more confident digital
daily living; then, the improving of digital affinity for technology and higher
adherence in seniors than older. In sex effect, men seemed developing higher
digital confidence for digital experience, for access and use of financial
online services than women. In the process of improvement by massive digital
experience in daily living the cognitive reserve had relevant influence: elders
with high level of cognitive reserve appeared to enhance own competence in
digital mastery and affinity for technology. Conclusions: Our study
highlighted the higher cognitive reserve being protective in older adults
favoring the efficacy to the changing in daily living as well the develop of
adaptive behaviors in order to achieve high Quality of Life.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Dina Di Giacomo
- University of L’Aquila, Italy
- Dina Di Giacomo, Department of Life, Health
and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, P.le Tommasi n. 1, L’Aquila
67100, Italy.
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Manfredini A, Pisano F, Incoccia C, Marangolo P. The Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown Measures and COVID-19 Infection on Cognitive Functions: A Review in Healthy and Neurological Populations. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:4889. [PMID: 36981800 PMCID: PMC10049620 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20064889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic severely affected people's mental health all over the world. This review aims to present a comprehensive overview of the literature related to the effects of COVID-19 lockdown measures and COVID-19 infection on cognitive functioning in both healthy people and people with neurological conditions by considering only standardized tests. We performed a narrative review of the literature via two databases, PUBMED and SCOPUS, from December 2019 to December 2022. In total, 62 out of 1356 articles were selected and organized into three time periods: short-term (1-4 months), medium-term (5-8 months), and long-term (9-12 months), according to the time in which the tests were performed. Regardless of the time period, most studies showed a general worsening in cognitive performance in people with neurological conditions due to COVID-19 lockdown measures and in healthy individuals recovered from COVID-19 infection. Our review is the first to highlight the importance of considering standardized tests as reliable measures to quantify the presence of cognitive deficits due to COVID-19. Indeed, we believe that they provide an objective measure of the cognitive difficulties encountered in the different populations, while allowing clinicians to plan rehabilitation treatments that can be of great help to many patients who still, nowadays, experience post-COVID-19 symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessio Manfredini
- Department of Humanities Studies, University Federico II, 80133 Naples, Italy
| | - Francesca Pisano
- Department of Humanities Studies, University Federico II, 80133 Naples, Italy
| | | | - Paola Marangolo
- Department of Humanities Studies, University Federico II, 80133 Naples, Italy
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