Home-Based Educational Programs for Management of Dyspnea: A Systematic Literature Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 211-217
Author(s):  
Aristides Chorattas ◽  
Evridiki Papastavrou ◽  
Andreas Charalambous ◽  
Christiana Kouta
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Educational Programs ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Greek Language ◽  
Home Based ◽  
At Home

Dyspnea or breathlessness is a symptom of a plethora of diseases; despite that its management poses a challenge, it leads to frequent hospitalizations and a poor quality of life. In lung cancer, dyspnea may appear at any time of the disease but mainly during the end-of-life period. This article aims to explore the effectiveness of home-based educational programs for the management of dyspnea. This is a systematic review. The inclusion criteria were studies published between 2000 and 2018, and structured nurse-led home educational programs for the management of dyspnea due to cancer. The search via PUBMED, COCHRANE, EBSCO, and Google Scholar was worldwide for English- and Greek-language articles. The keywords included “education, program, intervention, patient, dyspnea, breathlessness, cancer, home, nurse.” The review was expanded to dyspnea being due to any chronic disease as it gave only one research article for lung cancer. The review identified seven research articles evaluating the effectiveness of various home-based educational programs for dyspnea management due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart failure, and lung cancer. They showed that a structured home-based educational program is of benefit for the patients by improving their dyspnea levels and their quality of life. There is the need to evaluate the benefits of home-based educational programs for cancer patients with dyspnea at home either as part of a symptom alone support program or as part of the general support given to cancer patients at home.

Role of Erlotinib in Influencing the Quality of Life of Cancer Patients

2020 ◽  
Vol 07 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deepika Purohit ◽  
Parijat Pandey
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Kinase Inhibitors ◽  
Treatment Modalities ◽  
Pancreatic Cancers ◽  
Review Reports ◽  
Causes Of Deaths

Background:: Cancer is one of the significant causes of morbidity and mortality in patients globally. Lung cancer, among other cancers, remains to be one of the principal causes of deaths in both men and women. The most common type of lung cancer is the non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Apart from lung cancer, pancreatic cancer is also one of the common cancers currently. Objective:: The assessment of QoL in erlotinib-treated patients can also prove to be very useful in the establishment of this drug as the main treatment option for the patients with pancreatic and lung cancer. Methods:: Therapies that target EGFR-mediated signalling are the latest keystones for treating these two types of cancers. They comprise of two main treatment modalities: firstly, against the extracellular fields, that include monoclonal antibodies and secondly, mechanisms that create interferences in the signalling pathways, primarily the small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Results:: Quality of life (QoL) is one of the key advantages in erlotinib therapy over chemotherapy. Conclusion:: The present review reports the role of erlotinib in improving the quality of life of cancer patients especially in NSCLC and pancreatic cancers. The studies or trials establishing the relations between erlotinib and QoL are discussed in detail in this review.

scholarly journals “Randomized trial of physical activity on quality of life and lung cancer biomarkers in patients with advanced stage lung cancer: a pilot study”

BMC Cancer ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Brett C. Bade ◽  
Geliang Gan ◽  
Fangyong Li ◽  
Lingeng Lu ◽  
Lynn Tanoue ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Randomized Trial ◽  
Cancer Biomarkers ◽  
Advanced Stage ◽  
Home Based ◽  
Advanced Stage Lung Cancer ◽  
Stage Lung Cancer

Abstract Background Lung cancer survivors need more options to improve quality of life (QoL). It is unclear to what extent patients with advanced stage disease are willing to participate in home-based physical activity (PA) and if these interventions improve QoL. The goal of our study was to determine interest in participating in our 3-month home-based walking regimen in patients with advanced stage lung cancer. We used a randomized design to evaluate for potential benefit in PA and patient-reported outcomes. Methods We performed an open-label, 1:1 randomized trial in 40 patients with stage III/IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) evaluating enrollment rate, PA, QoL, dyspnea, depression, and biomarkers. Compared to usual care (UC), the intervention group (IG) received an accelerometer, in-person teaching session, and gain-framed text messages for 12 weeks. Results We enrolled 56% (40/71) of eligible patients. Participants were on average 65 years and enrolled 1.9 years from diagnosis. Most patients were women (75%), and receiving treatment (85%) for stage IV (73%) adenocarcinoma (83%). A minority of patients were employed part-time or full time (38%). Both groups reported low baseline PA (IG mean 37 (Standard deviation (SD) 46) vs UC 59 (SD 56) minutes/week; p = 0.25). The IG increased PA more than UC (mean change IG + 123 (SD 212) vs UC + 35 (SD 103) minutes/week; p = 0.051)). Step count in the IG was not statistically different between baseline (4707 step/day), week 6 (5605; p = 0.16), and week 12 (4606 steps/day; p = 0.87). The intervention improved EORTC role functioning domain (17 points; p = 0.022) with borderline improvement in dyspnea (− 13 points; p = 0.051) compared to UC. In patients with two blood samples (25%), we observed a significant increase in soluble PD-1 (219.8 (SD 54.5) pg/mL; p < 0.001). Conclusions Our pilot trial using a 3-month, home-based, mobile health intervention enrolled over half of eligible patients with stage III and IV NSCLC. The intervention increased PA, and may improve several aspects of QoL. We also identified potential biomarker changes relevant to lung cancer biology. Future research should use a larger sample to examine the effect of exercise on cancer biomarkers, which may mediate the association between PA and QoL. Clinical trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03352245).

scholarly journals Integrative Treatment of Lung Cancer Patients: Observational Study of 57 Cases

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorenzo Anelli ◽  
Alessia Di Nardo ◽  
Massimo Bonucci
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Nutritional Status ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Immune Status ◽  
Conventional Medicine ◽  
Integrative Therapy ◽  
Lung Cancer Patients ◽  
Retrospective Clinical Study

Abstract Introduction A retrospective clinical study was performed to identify the characteristics of patients with lung cancer treated with integrative cancer treatment in addition to conventional medicine. Materials and Methods We reviewed medical records for lung cancer patients who visited a single integrative setting in Rome, Italy. A total of 57 patients were included, and the majority had advanced-stage cancer. All of them underwent integrative therapy with nutrition and phytotherapy indications. The diet was designed to reduce most of possible factors promoting cancer proliferation, inflammation, and obesity. Foods with anti-inflammatory, prebiotic, antioxidant, and anticancer properties had been chosen. Herbal supplements with known effects on lung cancer were prescribed. In particular, astragal, apigenine, fucosterol, polydatin, epigallocatechin gallate, cannabis, curcumin, and inositol were used. Furthermore, medical mushrooms and other substances were used to improve the immune system and to reduce chemotherapy side effects. Five key parameters have been evaluated for 2 years starting at the first surgery: nutritional status, immune status, discontinuation of therapy, quality of life, and prognosis of the disease. Results A relevant improvement in parameters relative to nutritional status, immune status, and quality of life has been observed after integrative therapy compared with the same parameters at the first medical visit before starting such approach. Conclusion The results suggest that integrative therapy may have benefits in patients with lung cancer. Even though there are limitations, the study suggests that integrative therapy could improve nutritional status and quality of life, with possible positive effect on overall survival.

scholarly journals Acceptability, Feasibility and Preliminary Evaluation of a Novel, Personalised, Home-Based Physical Activity Intervention for Chronic Heart Failure (Active-at-Home-HF): a Pilot Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nduka C. Okwose ◽  
Leah Avery ◽  
Nicola O’Brien ◽  
Sophie Cassidy ◽  
Sarah J. Charman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Heart Failure ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Chronic Heart Failure ◽  
Physical Activity Intervention ◽  
Step Count ◽  
Home Based ◽  
At Home

Abstract Purpose Less than 10% of heart failure patients in the UK participate in cardiac rehabilitation programmes. The present pilot study evaluated feasibility, acceptability and physiological effects of a novel, personalised, home-based physical activity intervention in chronic heart failure. Methods Twenty patients (68 ± 7 years old, 20% females) with stable chronic heart failure due to reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (31 ± 8 %) participated in a single-group, pilot study assessing the feasibility and acceptability of a 12-week personalised home-based physical activity intervention aiming to increase daily number of steps by 2000 from baseline (Active-at-Home-HF). Patients completed cardiopulmonary exercise testing with non-invasive gas exchange and haemodynamic measurements and quality of life questionnaire pre- and post-intervention. Patients were supported weekly via telephone and average weekly step count data collected using pedometers. Results Forty-three patients were screened and 20 recruited into the study. Seventeen patients (85%) completed the intervention, and 15 (75%) achieved the target step count. Average step count per day increased significantly from baseline to 3 weeks by 2546 (5108 ± 3064 to 7654 ± 3849, P = 0.03, n = 17) and was maintained until week 12 (9022 ± 3942). Following completion of the intervention, no adverse events were recorded and quality of life improved by 4 points (26 ± 18 vs. 22 ± 19). Peak exercise stroke volume increased by 19% (127 ± 34 vs. 151 ± 34 m/beat, P = 0.05), while cardiac index increased by 12% (6.8 ± 1.5 vs. 7.6 ± 2.0 L/min/m2, P = 0.19). Workload and oxygen consumption at anaerobic threshold also increased by 16% (49 ± 16 vs. 59 ± 14 watts, P = 0.01) and 10% (11.5 ± 2.9 vs. 12.8 ± 2.2 ml/kg/min, P = 0.39). Conclusion The Active-at-Home-HF intervention is feasible, acceptable and effective for increasing physical activity in CHF. It may lead to improvements in quality of life, exercise tolerance and haemodynamic function. Trial Registration www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT0367727. Retrospectively registered on 17 September 2018.

scholarly journals PCN115 Quality of Life in Lung Cancer Patients During Adjuvant or Palliative Chemotherapy

2012 ◽  
Vol 15 (7) ◽  
pp. A430
Author(s):  
L.M. Wintner ◽  
A. Zabernigg ◽  
J.M. Giesinger ◽  
M. Sztankay ◽  
K. Gattringer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Palliative Chemotherapy ◽  
Lung Cancer Patients
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