scholarly journals Acupuncture in Oncology: The Effectiveness of Acupuncture May Not Depend on Needle Retention Duration

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 458-466 ◽  
Author(s):  
Byeongsang Oh ◽  
Thomas Eade ◽  
Andrew Kneebone ◽  
George Hruby ◽  
Gillian Lamoury ◽  
...  

Background. Guidelines surrounding optimum needle retention duration in acupuncture have not been established, despite a growing evidence base for acupuncture over recent decades. This retrospective study explored the effect of varying acupuncture needle retention durations in cancer patients. Method. Patients received either 2 (n = 35), 10 (n = 53), or 20 minutes (n = 54) of acupuncture once a week for 6 weeks. Outcomes of anxiety and depression, stress, fatigue, and quality of life (QOL), with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–Fatigue, and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life, were measured at baseline and at 6 weeks following the intervention. Results. The mean age of participants was 58 years (n = 152). The majority were female, diagnosed with breast cancer. Depression, stress, fatigue, and QOL were significantly improved in all 3 groups at 6 weeks postintervention. No significant differences in all outcomes were found between the 3 groups (≤2 vs 10 minutes vs 20 minutes). There were no differences with the satisfaction of the acupuncture services and perceived efficacy of acupuncture among the 3 groups. More than 95% of participants indicated that they would recommend acupuncture to other cancer patients, friends, and their family members. Conclusion. The efficacy of acupuncture may not only depend on needle retention duration, but may also be associated with multiple factors. Considering the limitations of this study design, robust randomized controlled studies are warranted to confirm the findings.

2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (11) ◽  
pp. 5469-5478
Author(s):  
Yemataw Wondie ◽  
Andreas Hinz

Abstract Purpose Cancer is of increasing prevalence in less-developed countries. However, research on the patients’ quality of life (QoL) in these countries is very limited. The aim of this study was to examine QoL of cancer patients in Africa. Method A sample of 256 cancer patients treated in an Ethiopian hospital was examined with the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire EORTC QLQ-C30, the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. A group of 1664 German cancer patients served as a comparison group. Results Most of the scales of the EORTC QLQ-C30 showed acceptable reliability in the Ethiopian sample. Compared with the German cancer patients, the Ethiopian patients showed lower QoL in most dimensions, especially in financial difficulties, physical functioning, pain, and appetite loss (effect sizes between 0.52 and 0.75). Illiteracy, tumor stage, and treatment (surgery and chemotherapy) were associated with QoL in the Ethiopian sample. QoL was strongly correlated with fatigue, anxiety, and depression. Conclusion The EORTC QLQ-C30 is a suitable instrument for measuring QoL in Ethiopia. The detriments in QoL in the Ethiopian patients indicate specific cancer care needs for the patients in a developing country.


Author(s):  
Kristina Holmegaard Nørskov ◽  
Dorthe Overgaard ◽  
Jannie Boesen ◽  
Anne Struer ◽  
Sarah Elke Weber Due El-Azem ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose This study investigated the feasibility of patient ambassador support in newly diagnosed patients with acute leukemia during treatment. Methods A multicenter single-arm feasibility study that included patients newly diagnosed with acute leukemia (n = 36) and patient ambassadors previously treated for acute leukemia (n = 25). Prior to the intervention, all patient ambassadors attended a 6-h group training program. In the intervention, patient ambassadors provided 12 weeks of support for patients within 2 weeks of being diagnosed. Outcome measures included feasibility (primary outcome), safety, anxiety, and depression measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, quality of life by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–Leukemia and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire, and symptom burden by MD Anderson Symptom Inventory, the Patient Activation Measure, and the General Self-Efficacy Scale. Results Patient ambassador support was feasible and safe in this population. Patients and patient ambassadors reported high satisfaction with the individually adjusted support, and patients improved in psychosocial outcomes over time. Patient ambassadors maintained their psychosocial baseline level, with no adverse events, and used the available support to exchange experiences with other patient ambassadors and to manage challenges. Conclusion The patient ambassador support program is feasible and has the potential to be a new model of care incorporated in the hematology clinical care setting, creating an active partnership between patients and former patients. This may strengthen the existing supportive care services for patients with acute leukemia. Trial registration NCT03493906


2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (34_suppl) ◽  
pp. 171-171
Author(s):  
Oscar Galindo Vazquez ◽  
Mayra CU Menes ◽  
David Ortiz ◽  
Abelardo Meneses-Garcia ◽  
Jose Luis Aguilar ◽  
...  

171 Background: Cervical cancer is considered one of the most frequent cancers among women and with the greatest causes of death in the world. In Mexico it is considered the second cause of death. Objective: The identify predictors of quality-of-life, symptomatology of anxiety and depression in patients with cervical cancer. Methods: 192 patients with cervical cancer aged between 44 and 60 years were included, through interview and consultation of the clinical file, information on sociodemographic and clinical variables were obtained. Instrument: European Organization Scale for Cancer Research and Treatment and Quality of Life (EORTC QLC-C30) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Statistical analysis: Chi square or Fisher´s exact test. The association of the variables was evaluated by logistic regression analysis. Results: 48% had poor quality of life, 24% with depression, and 29% with anxiety.The predictors of a low quality of life are: presenting one or more comorbidities, family history with cancer, presenting anxious, and depressive symptoms Conclusions: Psychological assumptions are predictors of variables such as quality of life, in a population with cervical cancer, in Mexico this group of patients have low educational and economic levels. Psychosocial care programs are required in this group of Latina women.


2012 ◽  
Vol 30 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e16507-e16507
Author(s):  
David Goldstein ◽  
Ming Sze ◽  
Melanie Bell ◽  
Madeleine King ◽  
Michael Jefford ◽  
...  

e16507 Background: Immigration is increasing world-wide. We explored disparities in quality of life outcomes for immigrant (IM) versus Anglo-Australian (AA) cancer patients having anti-cancer treatment. Methods: In a cross-sectional design, cancer patients were recruited through outpatient Oncology clinics in New South Wales, Victoria, and the Northern Territory in Australia. IM participants, their parents and grand parents were born in a country where Chinese, Greek, or Arabic is spoken and spoke one of those languages. AAs were born in Australia and spoke English. All were diagnosed with cancer < 1 year previously. Questionnaires (completed in preferred language) included the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (anxiety/depression), FACT-G (quality of life) and the Supportive Care Needs Survey (unmet needs). Adjusted regression models comparing AA and IM groups included age, gender, socio-economic status, education, marital status, religion, time since diagnosis, and cancer type (colorectal, breast, lung, other). Results: There were 910 participants (response rate 57%). IM were similar to AA, except that IM were more likely to be married (76 vs 67 %, p = 0.01) and in the low and the highly educated groups (p < 0.0001). In adjusted analyses, IMs had clinically significant higher anxiety, greater unmet information and physical needs and lower quality of life than AAs (see table). The possible ranges are 0-21 for anxiety and depression, and 0-100 otherwise. Conclusions: In this hospital-based study with a high rate of advanced disease, immigrants with cancer experienced poorer quality of life outcomes, even after adjusting for socio-economic, demographic, and disease variables. Interventions are required to improve their experience of cancer care. Results highlight areas of unmet need that might be better addressed by the health system (particularly with regards to provision of information and meeting support and physical needs). [Table: see text]


2015 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helena Sousa ◽  
Leonor Lencastre ◽  
Marina Guerra

ResumoObjetivos: Caracterizar as variáveis alexitimia, espiritualidade (dimensão crenças espirituais/religiosas e dimensão esperança/otimismo), assertividade e qualidade de vida de mulheres com cancro de mama.Método: A amostra é composta por 85 mulheres com cancro de mama de um Hospital do Grande Porto, com uma média de 47 anos e maioritariamente casadas. As doentes foram avaliadas através de 6 instrumentos de autopreenchimento: Questionário Sociodemográfico e Clínico; Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS); Escala de Alexitimia de Toronto (TAS-20); Escala de Avaliação da Espiritualidade; Escala de Assertividade de Rathus e The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQC-30, v.3.0). Resultados: Os resultados indicam que a alexitimia se correlaciona de forma negativa com a dimensão esperança/otimismo e com a assertividade e que estas três variáveis têm influência na qualidade de vida. Mostram ainda a existência de uma correlação positiva entre a idade e a qualidade de vida global, bem como uma correlação negativa do número de anos de escolaridade com a alexitimia e com a dimensão crenças. O modelo preditor da qualidade de vida obtido exclui a influência da assertividade e mostra o impacto negativo da alexitimia e a influência positiva da dimensão esperança/otimismo na qualidade de vida de mulheres com cancro de mama, mesmo depois de controladas as variáveis ansiedade e depressão.


2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 114-125
Author(s):  
Loai Abu Sharour ◽  
Omar Al Omari ◽  
Ayman Bani Salameh ◽  
Dalal Yehia

Background Up to 35% of cancer patients have clinically significant levels of psychological distress during their treatment. Accordingly, better understanding of health-related quality of life and its predictors will help oncology nurses plan appropriate interventions to improve health-related quality of life. Aims This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between hope, depression and anxiety and health-related quality of life among Jordanian cancer patients during their treatment period. Methods Cross-sectional descriptive correlational design was conducted using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Herth Hope Index and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Colorectal surveys. Results 260 Jordanian patients with cancer from three Jordanian hospitals completed the study survey. The bivariate analysis indicated significant positive relationships between hope and quality of life ( r = .57, p < .0001). A significant negative relationship was found between anxiety and depression and quality of life ( r = −.76, p < .0001). A multiple regression analysis indicated that hope, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and time since diagnosis were predictors of quality of life, and explained 66% of the variance in the quality of life for this sample. Conclusions The assessment of psychosocial elements including hope, depression, anxiety, and quality of life should be a part of daily nurse-caring behaviours and practices. Implement education programmes to increase nurses' competencies in the psychosocial assessment are recommended.


2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-91
Author(s):  
Cátia Andreia Clara ◽  
Sara Otília Marques Monteiro ◽  
Ana Cláudia Pereira Bártolo

Lung cancer (LC) is one of the most common types of cancer disease worldwide. Studies in the field show that the appearance of a pathology of this form causes changes not only in the patient’s life, namely psychological problems, functional limitations and poorer health due to the clinical consequences of treatments, but also in their family, where caregivers often face the challenge of providing long-term daily care that induces a physical, psychosocial and financial burden (Borges et al., 2017; Hewitt et al., 2003; Tan et al., 2018). The main objective of the present study is to compare and relate the two groups (patients and caregivers) considering the quality of life (QoL) and symptoms of psychological distress (anxiety and depression). The total sample consisted of 30 patient/caregiver dyads. The instruments used were: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; European Organization for Research and Treatment of Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ C-30) and its specific module for lung cancer (LC13); Caregiver Oncology Quality of Life Questionnaire (CarGOQoL) and Zarit Burden Interview Scale (ZBI). The results suggest the influence of depressive symptomatology on patients’ QoL [F(1)=6.390; p<0.05] and depressive and anxious symptomatology and burden on caregivers’ QoL [F(3)=7.815; p<0.001]. A positive association was found between depressive symptomatology of patients and caregivers (r=0.458; p=0.011) and differences in anxious symptomatology were also observed, with a higher result in the patient’s group.


2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e24111-e24111
Author(s):  
Long Wang ◽  
Jing Zuo ◽  
Yudong Wang ◽  
Li Feng ◽  
Xue Zhang ◽  
...  

e24111 Background: Many gastroesophageal cancer patients in China are not made aware of their cancer diagnosis/prognosis. Explorations of the differences in depression, anxiety and quality of life between cancer patients with and without such awareness are rare. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between cancer awareness status and quality of life, anxiety and depression in gastroesophageal cancer patients. Methods: Participants were gastroesophageal cancer patients recruited from a medical center in North China. The degree of awareness of their cancer diagnosis/prognosis was evaluated via interviews. Data were collected using the Self-Rating Anxiety/Depression Scale and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 and were analyzed using quantitative methods. Results: The study included 157 gastroesophageal cancer patients: 31 were completely unaware of their cancer diagnosis/prognosis (19.75%); 51 were partly aware (32.48%); and 75 were fully aware (47.78%). Thirty patients (19.11%) experienced anxiety and 35 (22.9%) depression. Unawareness of the real disease status was significantly correlated with worse quality of life (cognitive functioning, social functioning and appetite loss) ( Ps < 0.05) and anxiety ( P = 0.003). Conclusions: More than 50% of gastroesophageal cancer patients were unaware their diagnosis/prognosis completely and were more likely to experience worse quality of life and anxiety. Medical staff and family members should take appropriate measures to make patients aware of their cancer diagnosis/prognosis, as awareness is valuable for improving quality of life and negative emotions, contributing to the successful overall management of gastroesophageal cancer.


2004 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 115-124 ◽  
Author(s):  
JÖRG DIRMAIER ◽  
SILKE ZAUN ◽  
UWE KOCH ◽  
TIMO HARFST ◽  
HOLGER SCHULZ

Objective: Recent years have shown an increase in the use of questionnaires measuring health-related quality of life to verify the quality of treatment in the field of oncology. An often used cancer-specific questionnaire is the “Quality of Life Core Questionnaire of the European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer” (EORTC QLQ-C30). The purpose of this study is to analyze the psychometric properties of the EORTC QLQ-C30 (version 1) in order to determine the feasibility and appropriateness for its use in inpatient cancer rehabilitation in Germany with heterogeneous diagnoses.Methods: The questionnaire was administrated to a sample of 972 cancer patients at the beginning of treatment and to 892 patients after treatment. Besides descriptive analysis, the statistical analyses include confirmatory analysis and the multitrait/multimethod approach to test the questionnaire's postulated scale structure (factorial validity) and its reliability (internal consistencies). The analysis also includes a comparison of responsiveness indices (effect size, reliable change index) to test the sensitivity of the instrument.Results: The EORTC QLQ-C30 showed satisfactory levels of reliability and sensitivity, but the postulated scale structure could not be confirmed. The results illustrate that the varimax-rotated solution of a principal component analysis does not confirm the scale structure postulated by the authors. Correspondingly, the selected fit indices within the scope of the confirmatory factor analysis do not show satisfactory results either.Significance of results: We therefore consider version 1 of the EORTC QLQ-C30 to be only limitedly useful for the routine assessment of changes in the quality of life of cancer patients in inpatient rehabilitation in Germany, especially because of the instrument's length and possible redundancies. For this reason, a scoring procedure limited to a subset of items is suggested, revealing satisfactory to good psychometric indices. However, further psychometric tests are necessary, especially with regard to validity and sensitivity.


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