Psychological Support and Training of Cancer Patients

Abstract Purpose People living with and beyond cancer often experience nutrition-related issues and should receive appropriate advice on nutrition that is consistent and evidence based. The aim of this study was to investigate current practice for the provision of nutritional care by healthcare professionals (HCPs) from a UK national survey produced by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Cancer and Nutrition Collaboration. Methods An online survey sent to professional groups and networks included questions on discussing nutrition, providing information, awareness of guidelines, confidence in providing nutritional advice, training and strategies for improving nutritional management. Results There were 610 HCPs who responded including nurses (31%), dietitians (25%), doctors (31%) and speech and language therapists (9%). The majority of HCPs discusses nutrition (94%) and provides information on nutrition (77%). However, only 39% of HCPs reported being aware of nutritional guidelines, and just 20% were completely confident in providing nutritional advice. Awareness of guidelines varied between the different professional groups with most but not all dietitians reporting the greatest awareness of guidelines and GPs the least (p = 0.001). Those HCPs with a greater awareness of guidelines had received training (p = 0.001) and were more likely to report complete confidence in providing nutritional advice (p = 0.001). Conclusion Whilst HCPs discuss nutrition with cancer patients and may provide information, many lack an awareness of guidelines and confidence in providing nutritional advice. To ensure consistency of practice and improvements in patient care, there is scope for enhancing the provision of appropriate nutrition education and training.

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A Survey of Therapeutic Radiographers’ Knowledge, Practices, and Barriers in Delivering Health Behaviour Advice to Cancer Patients

Journal of Cancer Education ◽

10.1007/s13187-020-01896-x ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Nickola D. Pallin ◽

Rebecca J. Beeken ◽

Kathy Pritchard Jones ◽

Nick Woznitza ◽

Abigail Fisher

Keyword(s):

Cancer Patients ◽

Health Behaviour ◽

Online Survey ◽

Healthy Lifestyle ◽

Health Behaviours ◽

Positive Health ◽

Knowledge Resources ◽

The Uk ◽

Healthy Behaviour ◽

And Training

Abstract Therapeutic radiographers (TRs) are well-placed to deliver advice to cancer patients; however, limited research exists on their practices in providing advice on healthy lifestyle behaviours. Through an online survey, this study aimed to explore TRs’ current practices, barriers, and facilitators around delivering healthy behaviour advice to cancer patients. An online survey was sent to 72 radiotherapy departments in the UK and 583 TRs responded to the survey. Findings showed that levels of enquiry and provision of advice on healthy behaviours were low, with less than 25% advising patients on physical activity, healthy eating, weight management, smoking cessation, and reducing alcohol intake as standard practice. Lack of knowledge, resources, and training were identified as barriers, in addition to perceived lack of patient interest and lack of time. TRs reported a strong desire to undergo training to enable them to deliver health behaviour advice to patients, with an identified preference for online training. Cancer patients look to healthcare professionals for advice on health behaviours, and TRs are well-placed to deliver this advice. The findings of this study provide insight into the areas that need addressing to enable TRs to support positive health behaviours among cancer patients.

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Individual psychological support for cancer patients: Utilisation and patient satisfaction

Patient Education and Counseling ◽

10.1016/s0738-3991(98)00033-0 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 34 (3) ◽

pp. 247-256 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Maria Hellbom ◽

Yvonne Brandberg ◽

Bengt Glimelius ◽

Per-Olow Sjödén

Keyword(s):

Patient Satisfaction ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Psychological Support

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Psychological Support and Telehealth Options for Patients with Cancer during the Covid-19 Pandemic in Saudi Arabia

Integrative Journal of Medical Sciences ◽

10.15342/ijms.2021.487 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Author(s):

Manal Banaser ◽

Sami Alshammary

Keyword(s):

Cancer Patients ◽

Support Groups ◽

Cancer Care ◽

Healthcare Delivery ◽

Psychosocial Care ◽

Multidisciplinary Care ◽

Psychological Support ◽

Registry Data ◽

Cancer Center ◽

Healthcare Delivery System

Background: COVID-19 concerns are associated with an increase in symptoms of depression and anxiety among cancer patients. Telehealth services hold incredible potential for providing psychological support to cancer patients. In a technology-assisted intervention for telehealth, hotline services are a valuable tool to provide psychosocial care. This paper examines the use of hotline services to offer psychological support to cancer patients. Methods: A retrospective analysis of hotline calls patient registry data was conducted. Data were collected from a single cancer center in Riyadh, from May 2020 to March 2021, with a random sample of 877 callers to cancer hotline services. Responses of a satisfaction questionnaire were linked to call-related concerns of registry data. Results: A total of 877 calls were received, the majority of which came from Riyadh locals. Patient disease complaints accounted for 210 calls (24%), while retake medicine requests accounted for 251 calls (28.62%). 143 (16.31%) calls were about scheduled new appointments, 261 calls (29.76%) were about psychological issues induced by Covid-19, such as worry, fear, and anxiety symptoms, and 12 calls (1.37%) having to do with Covid-19. Seven hundred seventy-two callers (88 %) indicated satisfaction with the services call attended. Discussion: Hotline services in cancer care have been identified as a key resource telehealth service that positively influences patient satisfaction and meets cancer patient needs in the face of the pandemic. This study also highlighted the need for other telehealth services, such as mental health mobile applications, virtual multidisciplinary care, and online support groups, which can provide an excellent option for providing psychological support to cancer patients. Conclusion: This study found that providing Cancer Care Hotline services during a pandemic improves patient-centered care and a more efficient healthcare delivery system.

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Informing esophagogastric cancer patients about treatment outcomes: development and evaluation study of a web-based tool and training (Preprint)

Journal of Medical Internet Research ◽

10.2196/27824 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Loïs Francesca van de Water ◽

Héctor G. van den Boorn ◽

Florian Hoxha ◽

Inge Henselmans ◽

Mart M. Calff ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Treatment Outcomes ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Evaluation Study ◽

Web Based ◽

Esophagogastric Cancer ◽

And Training

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Level of Stress and Adapting approaches among Caretakers of Cancer Patients receiving Palliative Care

International Journal of Research in Pharmaceutical Sciences ◽

10.26452/ijrps.v10i4.1619 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 10 (4) ◽

pp. 3182-3185

Author(s):

Jagadeeswari J ◽

Prathap Mohan M

Keyword(s):

Palliative Care ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Sampling Technique ◽

Structured Interview ◽

Hindu Religion ◽

Multistage Sampling ◽

And Training ◽

Day By Day ◽

Moderate Stress

Cancer influences the patients as well as his/her whole house. Managing Cancer patients is a regular task of handling them. In the expansion of making stress to the clients, it puts monetary, individual, stress and social disturbance to the relatives. The study focuses on evaluating the level of stress and Adapting approaches among Caretakers of Cancer Patients receiving Palliative Care. A descriptive study was conducted among caretakers of cancer patients receiving palliative care, Data were assembled using self-administered stress rating scale, COPE inventory, and structured interview schedule. Multistage sampling technique was adopted. The sample size was 60. The outcomes demonstrated that 72% of the members were females, and 28% of them were placed with the age bunch of 51 and 60 years. 52% of them belong to the Hindu religion, and 41% were jobless. 63% of the patients were reliant on relatives for all tasks of day by day living. Evaluation of stress uncovered that 85% of the members had moderate stress, and 15% had severe stress. Members received both negative and positive adapting. There was a huge negative connection (r = 0.80, P = 0.01) among stress and adapting. Palliative care is stressful, testing and can affect the parental figure's physical, enthusiastic, mental, and social prosperity. Comprehension lived encounters of caretakers of cancer patients receiving palliative care is significant for the health personnel's to improve the help, direction, and training given to the caretakers of cancer patients receiving palliative care.

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COVID-19 and the impact on doctor wellbeing and training

The Physician ◽

10.38192/1.6.3.2 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 (3) ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Joseph Salem ◽

Lois Hawkins ◽

Jessica Gates ◽

Ashwin Sundaram ◽

Yee-Ean Ong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Online Survey ◽

Psychological Support ◽

Junior Doctors ◽

Training Requirements ◽

Daily Risk ◽

Personal Anxiety ◽

National Training ◽

Impaired Sleep ◽

The Impact ◽

And Training

Introduction - There is limited literature on how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the wellbeing and training of junior doctors. The restructuring of rotas, redeployment of specialties and daily risk of COVID-19 exposure is likely to have had a significant impact on frontline doctors. Aim - To understand the impact of COVID-19 on the wellbeing and training of junior doctors at a tertiary, London Hospital. Methods - A mixed methods study was undertaken with an initial online survey three weeks after the peak of the COVID-19 surge; followed by a series of focus groups. Results - Of 541 junior doctors, 161 responded to the questionnaire, and 10 participated in focus group sessions Over a third (34%; n=47) were concerned about the risk to personal health, 71% (n=102) had impaired sleep and many changed their lifestyles to adapt. Almost 40% felt the pandemic had an adverse impact on their careers, including their ability to complete training requirements, leading to an inevitable need to extend training. There was a reluctance to show or share any personal anxiety or vulnerability at work, hence participation in organised psychological support/ debrief sessions and online resources were considered unhelpful. Conclusion - Employers need to recognise the impact of COVID-19 on the wellbeing of doctors and implement strategies to effectively support staff. The development of safe, timely, and confidential psychological support strategies may be of benefit to doctors. National training leads will need to closely supervise training changes appreciating both the variation in expectations and adaption required across different specialties and grades.

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Non-clinical needs of cancer patients in Spain under different perspectives: A comparative study.

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2019.37.15_suppl.e18266 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 37 (15_suppl) ◽

pp. e18266-e18266

Author(s):

Juan J. Cruz-Hernández ◽

Isabel Ruiz ◽

Ana Fernandez-Marcos ◽

Rosana Martin ◽

Enrique Aranda ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Decision Making ◽

Social Workers ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Shared Decision Making ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Psychological Support ◽

Shared Decision ◽

Newly Diagnosed ◽

Information Processes

e18266 Background: Patients with cancer and their caregivers express unmet needs beyond the clinical approach to cancer. The ECO Foundation (Quality and Excellence in Oncology) and the Spanish Association Against Cancer (AECC) have promoted a qualitative research study with the objective to compare the perceptions of newly diagnosed and 2-3 years after diagnosis cancer patients, caregivers, oncologists, nurses and social workers in relation to a set of non-clinical needs expressed by cancer patients and caregivers, and to obtain concrete and feasible proposals for improvement aimed at satisfying these needs. Methods: A multidisciplinary group of experts developed a questionnaire containing information processes for cancer patients and caregivers, shared decision-making, healthcare circuits, the architecture of consultations, psychological support, support of associations and hospital social workers. Fourteen Medical Oncology Services of Spanish hospitals have participated in this study collecting 310 forms. Data were statistically analyzed using Fisher's exact test. Results: Information processes. The opportunity to have a second opinion is positively valuated for 72.6% of patients and 70.2% of caregivers. However, although 62.5% of oncologists referred to offer this option to their patients, only 10.9% of patients reported having received it. Shared decision-making. For 58% of oncologists, patients are sufficiently trained to share decision-making, but only 24.6% of newly diagnosed patients consider being prepared. In addition, although 95.8% of oncologists report offering the participation of their patients in decision-making, only 45.8% of newly diagnosed patients and 64.4% of 2-3 years after diagnosis patients, consider having received this opportunity. Psychological support. Psychological assistance was considered positive for 94.2% of the patients, 97.4% of the caregivers, 85.4% of the oncologists and 97.1% of the nurses. However, only 21.3% of oncologists and 31.4% of nurses recognize offering such proffessional care given by psychologists to patients. Conclusions: Knowing the non-clinical needs, not only of patients and caregivers, but also from the health care professionals, is essential when designing health strategies that should align the perceptions of patients and health care professionals.

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