scholarly journals Utility of telemedicine in COVID-19 pandemic: our experience at a tertiary cancer center in North East India

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 4027
Author(s):  
Ashok Kumar Das ◽  
Sumanjit S. Boro ◽  
Anupam Das ◽  
Partha Pratim Medhi ◽  
Kaberi Kakati ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Task Force ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cancer Center ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Ongoing Treatment ◽  
North East ◽  
Phone Calls

Background: Telemedicine is a very useful tool of communication between the doctor and the patient. The aim of this study was to find out the utility of telemedicine during the lockdown period of COVID-19 pandemic in North East India.Methods: It is a cross sectional study among the cancer patients at our center on follow up or ongoing treatment and analysis of all the data acquired from telephonic conversation with our patients from 30th March, 2020 to 3rd May, 2020. Have contacted 4181 patients during this period over phone. All phone calls were done by respective department doctors.Results: From the demographic data, we get that 35.4% of patients were at good physical condition, 3.5% with poor general condition, 11.6% patients having ongoing treatment in our institute, 21.1% patients expired, 0.9% patients have nonmalignant diagnosis, 1.4% patients left the institute due to various reasons. Analyzed this data with brain storming sessions amongst the COVID-19 task force doctors and tried to find out solutions of each problem.Conclusions: Telemedicine cannot replace conventional method of in person treatment, but it proved to be a useful tool during the COVID-19 pandemic for patient follow up and treatment of cancer patients.

Breakfast Skipping Is an Independent Predictor of Obesity but not Overweight Among Children in a Southeastern European Population

2016 ◽  
Vol 86 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 242-248 ◽  
Author(s):  
Genc Burazeri ◽  
Jolanda Hyska ◽  
Iris Mone ◽  
Enver Roshi
Keyword(s):  
Task Force ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
European Population ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
World Health ◽  
Communist Country ◽  
Western Balkans ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Breakfast Skipping

Abstract.Aim: To assess the association of breakfast skipping with overweight and obesity among children in Albania, a post-communist country in the Western Balkans, which is undergoing a long and difficult political and socioeconomic transition towards a market-oriented economy. Methods: A nationwide cross-sectional study was carried out in Albania in 2013 including a representative sample of 5810 children aged 7.0 – 9.9 years (49.5% girls aged 8.4 ± 0.6 years and 51.5% boys aged 8.5 ± 0.6 years; overall response rate: 97%). Children were measured for height and weight, and body mass index (BMI) calculated. Cut-off BMI values of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) were used to define overweight and obesity in children. Demographic data were also collected. Results: Upon adjustment for age, sex, and place of residence, breakfast skipping was positively related to obesity (WHO criteria: OR = 1.5, 95% CI = 1.3–1.9; IOTF criteria: OR = 1.9, 95% CI = 1.4–2.5), but not overweight (OR = 1.1, 95% CI = 0.9–1.3 and OR = 1.1, 95% CI = 0.9–1.4, respectively). Furthermore, breakfast skipping was associated with a higher BMI (multivariable-adjusted OR = 1.05, 95% CI = 1.02–1.07). Conclusions: Our findings point to a strong and consistent positive relationship between breakfast skipping and obesity, but not overweight, among children in this transitional southeastern European population. Future studies in Albania and other transitional settings should prospectively examine the causal role of breakfast skipping in the development of overweight and obesity.

scholarly journals Pathways to care and diagnostic delay among cervical cancer patients attending a tertiary care hospital in Puducherry: a cross-sectional study

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 2298
Author(s):  
Roshina Sunny ◽  
Sitanshu Sekhar Kar ◽  
Dasari Papa ◽  
Sujiv Akkilagunta ◽  
Jeby Jose Olickal
Keyword(s):  
Cervical Cancer ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Diagnostic Delay ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cancer Center ◽  
Care Hospital ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Care Facilities

Background: The high mortality among cervical cancer patients in India can be attributed to presentation at advanced stages. The varied and lengthy pathway taken up to diagnosis could be a major reason for advanced stage at presentation. Hence, we aimed to describe the care pathways and diagnostic delay among cervical cancer patients.Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 101 cervical cancer patients attending a cancer clinic at a Regional Cancer Center. The histo-pathologically confirmed cases of cervical cancer, who registered in July to October 2018 were approached. Data were collected through personal interviews using a semi-structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the number of providers visited and diagnostic delay.Results: The median (range) number of providers visited by the patients up to diagnosis was 2 (1-5). As the first point of care, 14% of participants approached sub-center or primary care facilities, 27% approached secondary care facilities, 49% participants approached tertiary care facilities and 11% came directly to a regional cancer center. Diagnosis was made only in 24% of participants at secondary and tertiary care levels. The median (IQR) number of days to get diagnosed was 66 (30-130) days and three fourth of the patients had a diagnostic delay.Conclusions: The diagnostic delay was higher among patients who consulted multiple providers. Implementing a protocol to be followed at all three levels of health care delivery system may enhance the early diagnosis. 

The experience of pain among cancer patients at the University of the Philippines: Philippine General Hospital Cancer Institute—A cross-sectional study.

2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e24078-e24078
Author(s):  
Harold Nathan C. Tan ◽  
Rogelio Nona Velasco ◽  
Lance Isidore Garcenila Catedral ◽  
Michael Ducusin San Juan ◽  
Corazon Ngelangel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pain Management ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Pain Control ◽  
Severe Pain ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Pain Interference ◽  
Cancer Center ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Adequate Pain Management

e24078 Background: Pain is one of the most common and dreaded sequelae of cancer, occurring in approximately 55% of patients. The experience of pain takes a toll on the patients’ quality of life. However, many patients do not receive adequate pain management. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of pain, its severity, and the adequacy of pain management among cancer patients in the Philippines. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at a representative cancer center in the Philippines, enrolling 351 cancer patients. Pain severity was assessed using the Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form (BPI-SF) Filipino. The BPI evaluates pain severity and its impact on daily functioning (pain interference). To ascertain the adequacy of pain control, the pain management index (PMI) was calculated by subtracting the subtracting the severity of pain reported by the patient from the type of analgesic treatment received. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to evaluate the factors associated with worst pain and adequacy of pain management. Data were analyzed using Stata version 16.0, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Results: Three hundred three cancer patients (86.3%) experienced pain. Approximately 3 out of 5 patients (n = 208) did not receive adequate pain control, and one-third of patients experienced severe pain (n = 121). Patients who reported severe pain interference (n = 110) had three times greater odds to experience severe pain (OR 3.2, 95% CI 1.82-5.61, p < 0.001). Those patients who had regular follow up were 65% less likely to experience severe pain (OR 0.35, 95% CI 0.16 – 0.78, p = 0.01). Patients who used pain medications (n = 196) were 14 times more likely to experience adequate pain management (OR 14.19, 95% CI 6.53 – 30.83, p < 0.001). Patients who were referred to pain service (n = 25) were seven times more likely to report adequate pain control (OR 6.62, 95% CI 2.50 – 17.56, p < 0.001). Conversely, those patients who reported a severe rating on total pain interference were 75% less likely to experience adequate pain management (OR 0.25, 95% CI 0.17 – 0.35, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Unexpectedly, there was a high prevalence of pain among cancer patients at a representative cancer center in the Philippines. Pain exerts a heavy toll on patients, affecting daily functioning. The undertreatment of pain discovered in this study (59% of cancer patients) is alarming. Timely pain evaluation can help identify the presence of pain and the need for appropriate use of analgesics. The assessment and management of pain is a critical component of cancer care that should not be neglected.

scholarly journals Self-reported awareness and attitude of cancer patients towards clinical nurse coordinators

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (7) ◽  
pp. 95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmad Deeb ◽  
Mohammad O. AlKaiyat ◽  
Emad Abu Hlal ◽  
Areej Attari ◽  
Rania Mahaireh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Positive Attitude ◽  
Clinical Care ◽  
Negative Attitude ◽  
Patient Characteristics ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cancer Center ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Clinical Nurse ◽  
Roles And Responsibilities

Background and objective: Lack of knowledge or poor perception towards the roles and responsibilities of clinical nurse coordinators among cancer patients might lead to a decrease in seeking their services. The objective of the study was to assess the knowledge, perception and attitude towards clinical nurse coordinators among cancer patients at a specialized cancer center in Jordan.Methods: This is a cross sectional study that was conducted by distributing a self-reported and anonymous survey to 240 cancer patients visiting the center. The survey questioned some patient characteristics such as sex, age, educational level, marital status, disease type and duration, type of therapy. The patients’ knowledge (12-statement), the perception (9-statement) regarding the actual roles/responsibilities of coordinators and the attitude (5-statement) towards seeking their services were measured. Responses on Likert scales were converted to percentage mean scores.Results: The overall percentage mean scores ± standard deviation of knowledge was 59 ± 17, perception towards clinical nurse coordinators (79 ± 14) and attitude towards seeking their services (69 ± 16). Linear regression showed that participants on chemotherapy had significantly better perception (higher scores) compared to participants on concurrent therapies (β = -3.91, p = .049). Participants with higher knowledge scores had better perception indicating a better comprehension about the clinical nurse coordinators’ roles, compared to those with lower knowledge percentage mean scores (β = 0.13, p = .019). Female patients had higher percentage mean score of attitude compared to male particpants (β = -3.77, p = .034). Better perception of Clinical nurse coordinators (CNCs) among cancer patients was significantly more associated with  a more positive attitude towards seeking CNC services (β = 0.72, p < .001).Conclusions: Patients’ knowledge about the roles and responsibilities of nurse coordinators is associated with a better patients’ perception towards coordinators, which in return is associated with a more positive attitude towards seeking their services. Special consideration should be paid for patients on concurrent therapies who were more likely to have poorer perception towards clinical care coordinators compared to patients on chemotherapy. In addition, coordinators are expected to observe a more negative attitude towards seeking their services among male cancer patients.

Elimination of second-hand smoke (SHS) exposure after a lung or head and neck (HN) cancer diagnosis and subsequent patient smoking cessation.

2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 183-183 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lawson Eng ◽  
Devon Alton ◽  
Yuyao Song ◽  
Delaram Farzanfar ◽  
Olivia Krys ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Smoking Cessation ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Cancer Diagnosis ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Quit Smoking ◽  
Shs Exposure

183 Background: Exposure to SHS after a cancer diagnosis is associated with continued smoking in lung and HN cancer patients (PMID: 24419133, 23765604). However, smoking is a social activity. We evaluated whether elimination of SHS exposure around and after a diagnosis of lung or HN cancer is associated with smoking cessation in the cancer patient. Methods: Lung and HN cancer patients from Princess Margaret Cancer Centre (2006-12) completed questionnaires at diagnosis and follow-up (median 2 years apart) that assessed smoking history and SHS exposures (cohort study). Multivariate logistic regression analysis evaluated the association of elimination of SHS exposure after a diagnosis of cancer with subsequent smoking cessation, adjusted for significant covariates. A cross-sectional study (2014-15) of 183 lung and HN smoking patients assessed consistency in associations and interest in SHS cessation programs. Results: For the cohort study, 261/731 lung and 145/450 HN cancer patients smoked at diagnosis; subsequent quit rates were 69% and 50% respectively. 91% of lung and 94% of HN cancer patients were exposed to SHS at diagnosis while only 40% (lung) and 62% (HN) were exposed at follow-up. Elimination of SHS exposure was associated with smoking cessation in lung (aOR = 4.76, 95% CI [2.56-9.09], P< 0.001), HN (aOR = 5.00 [1.61-14.29], P< 0.001), and combined cancers (aOR = 5.00 [3.03-8.33], P< 0.001). The cross-sectional study has similar cessation and SHS exposure rates and a similar association for elimination of SHS with smoking cessation (aOR = 3.42 [1.16-10.10], P= 0.03). However when asked directly, only 26% of patients quit smoking with another individual and 13% of patients exposed to SHS had at least 1 interested party in joining a SHS cessation program. Conclusions: Elimination of SHS exposure around patients is significantly associated with smoking cessation in lung and HN cancer patients, but few patients quit smoking together with others around them, despite the ‘teachable moment’ with a cancer diagnosis. Clinicians should encourage patients and their household/friends to quit smoking together to improve cessation rates in cancer patients and those around them.

scholarly journals Electronic Cigarette Awareness, Use, and Perceptions among Cancer Patients

OTO Open ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 2473974X1877454
Author(s):  
Erin J. Buczek ◽  
Kathleen F. Harrington ◽  
Peter S. Hendricks ◽  
Cecelia E. Schmalbach
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Electronic Cigarettes ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Comprehensive Cancer Center ◽  
Rank Test ◽  
Cancer Center ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Advertising Exposure ◽  
Calming Effect ◽  
Nicotine Cravings

Objective Electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) are an emerging trend, yet little is known about their use in the cancer population. The objectives of this study were (1) to describe characteristics of e-cig use among cancer patients, (2) to define e-cig advertising exposure, and (3) to characterize perceptions of traditional cigarettes versus e-cigs. Study Design Cross-sectional study. Setting Comprehensive cancer center. Subjects and Methods Inpatient, current smokers with a cancer diagnosis. E-cig exposure and use were defined using descriptive statistics. Wilcoxon rank test was used to compare perceptions between e-cigs and traditional cigarettes. Results A total of 979 patients were enrolled in the study; 39 cancer patients were identified. Most cancer patients were women (59%), with an average age of 53.3 years. Of the patients, 46.2% reported e-cig use, most of which (88.9%) was “experimental or occasional.” The primary reason for e-cig use was to aid smoking cessation (66.7%), alternative use in nonsmoking areas (22.2%), and “less risky” cigarette replacement (5.6%). The most common sources for e-cig information were TV (76.9%), stores (48.7%), friends (35.9%), family (30.8%), and newspapers or magazines (12.8%). Compared with cigarettes, e-cigs were viewed as posing a reduced health risk ( P < .001) and conferring a less negative social impression ( P < .001). They were also viewed as less likely to satisfy nicotine cravings ( P = .002), to relieve boredom ( P = .0005), to have a calming effect ( P < .001), and as tasting pleasant ( P = .006) Conclusions E-cig use and advertising exposure are common among cancer patients. E-cig use is perceived as healthier and more socially acceptable but less likely to produce a number of desired consequences of cigarette use.

scholarly journals Prevalence of sleep – wake cycle disturbance among cancer patients of Bhaktapur cancer hospital, Nepal

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 6-13
Author(s):  
P Marita ◽  
R Acharya Pandey
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Sleep Disturbances ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Severity Index ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Cancer Hospital ◽  
Chi Square Test ◽  
Clinically Significant

 Cancer patients are at great risk for developing insomnia and disorders of the sleep-wake cycle. Insomnia is the most common sleep disturbance in this population and is most often secondary to physical and/or psychological factors related to cancer and/or cancer treatment. It is estimated that nearly 45% of cancer patients experience sleep disturbances; this is nearly three times the estimate of its occurrence in the general population. The purpose of the study is to determine the prevalence of sleep-wake cycle disturbance in patient receiving chemotherapy. A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in 2013. A total of 205 respondents, visiting Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital and who met criteria were purposively sampled and interviewed face to face. Insomnia Severity Index Scale was used to grade insomnia. Descriptive statistics such as frequency and percentage was used to describe demographic data. Chi-square test was done to find out the association between prevalence of sleep-wake cycle disturbance and selected variables. Among the total respondents (205), 70.7% had sleep-wake cycle disturbances. Majority (71.21%) of respondents had some form of clinically significant insomnia. The ages of the respondents ranged from 20 to 81 years with the mean age of 56.25 (SD ± 13.87). More than half i.e. 69.3% of the respondents were female. Patients being treated with Methotrexate were found to be more associated with the development of sleep-wake cycle disturbance. The significant association was found on drinking tea/coffee with the prevalence sleep-wake cycle disturbance. Sleep disorders are a common and often chronic problem for patients with cancer. Recently, such symptoms have attracted little attention. This might be the reasons for increased prevalence of sleep-wake cycle disturbance. It is recommended to take early and adequate intervention for the reduction of increased prevalence rate of sleep-wake cycle disturbance. 

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