scholarly journals Role of Peer Support in Posttraumatic Growth Among Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Patients and Survivors with Pediatric and AYA Cancer

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Motohiro Matsui ◽  
Kanako Taku ◽  
Rina Tsutsumi ◽  
Midori Ueno ◽  
Mayuri Seto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Posttraumatic Growth ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Peer Support ◽  
Psychosocial Interventions ◽  
Adolescent And Young Adult ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Community Or ◽  
Stress Symptoms

Abstract Purpose Adolescents and young adults (AYA) who undergo cancer treatment sometimes report posttraumatic growth (PTG) and experience posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). Although the importance of peer support has been demonstrated, its association with PTG, especially in the five, distinct domains of PTG, needs to be investigated further in AYA cancer survivors. The present study examined the role of demographics, peer support, and PTSS in PTG among AYA cancer patients and survivors. MethodsThe present, multicenter, cross-sectional, prospective, web-based study enrolled AYA cancer patients and survivors (median age 28 years). Of 549 AYA patients recruited, 212 patients from 11 cancer centers and 12 cancer patient communities agreed to participate by completing a self-reported measure of PTG (PTGIX-J) and providing information about their diagnosis, treatment, peer support (affiliation with an AYA patient community or friendship with other AYA cancer patients), social status, and PTSS. Multiple regression analysis was used to identify significant correlates in the total score and five PTG domains. ResultsIn general, PTG was positively associated with male sex, years since diagnosis, having a confidant, and friendship with other AYA cancer patients. PTG was not significantly related to age, age at diagnosis, affiliation to an AYA patient community or PTSS. Friendship with other AYA cancer patients was positively associated with all five PTG subscales. PTSS was not associated with PTG but was associated with a subscale of “appreciation of life”. For the five subscale scores, “belonging to a religion” was positively associated with “spiritual change,” and “having a confidant” and “a good relationship with siblings” were positively associated with “appreciation of life.” Conclusion “Having a confidant” and “friendship with other AYA cancer patients” was positively associated with PTG. Psychosocial interventions mobilizing peer support can potentially contribute to promoting PTG in AYA cancer patients.

scholarly journals Cognitive mechanisms in adolescent and young adult cancer patients and survivors: Feasibility and preliminary insights from the Cognitions and Affect in Cancer Resiliency Study

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Urska Kosir ◽  
Milan Wiedemann ◽  
Jennifer Wild ◽  
Lucy Bowes
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Psychosocial Interventions ◽  
Coping Mechanisms ◽  
Adolescent And Young Adult ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Cancer Worry ◽  
Cognitive Mechanisms ◽  
Cognitive Coping ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Mental Defeat

This cross-sectional pilot study assesses the feasibility of conducting online research into cognitive coping mechanisms in AYA cancer populations. Twenty-one participants, aged 18 - 39 years, answered questionnaires about mental defeat, rumination, cancer worry, anxiety, and experience participating in such research. Seven participants scored in the clinical range for anxiety. Cancer-related worry was common. Rumination and mental defeat were positively associated with anxiety. The participants reported the length and type of questions to be appropriate and not distressing. Findings may inform future research into cognitive coping mechanisms, which could aid the development of psychosocial interventions for young cancer patients.

The role of peer support in psychosocial outcomes among adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors.

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e22528-e22528
Author(s):  
Motohiro Matsui ◽  
Kanako Taku ◽  
Rina Tsutsumi ◽  
Midori Ueno ◽  
Mayuri Seto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Posttraumatic Growth ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Peer Support ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Adolescent And Young Adult ◽  
Single Spectrum ◽  
Event Scale ◽  
Good Communication ◽  
The Impact

e22528 Background: Adolescents and young adults (AYA) who experienced cancer treatment sometimes show posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and yet report positive psychological changes, known as posttraumatic growth (PTG). Literature suggests PTSS and PTG are not on opposite ends of a single spectrum but rather coexist. It is expected to have distinct relationships with social support, and yet, the roles of peer support remain unknown. This study examines PTG and PTSS, and their correlates with peer support among AYA cancer survivors. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a questionnaire survey with AYA cancer survivors. A total of 212 AYA survivors were recruited from 11 cancer centers and 12 cancer patients’ communities. They completed a self-report measure of the PTG Inventory and the Impact of Event Scale revised (IES-R) to assess PTSS. Diagnosis, treatment, peer support (i.e., affiliation to AYA patients’ community and friendship with other AYA cancer patients), and social status information was also collected from questionnaires. A series of multiple regression analyses was used to identify significant correlates among peer support, PTG and PTSS. Results: PTG and PTSS were not significantly correlated with each other, being consistent with the previous studies. PTG was positively associated with male gender, years since diagnosis, good communication with others, and friendship with other AYA cancer patients. Friendship with other AYA cancer patients was positively associated with not just the overall PTG but all five domains of PTG. PTSS was associated with years since diagnosis, unemployed status, and symptom of late effects. PTSS was, however, unlike PTG, not related with friendship with other AYA cancer patients or affiliation to AYA patients’ community. Conclusions: Good communication and friendship with other AYA cancer patients is suggested to play an important role in PTG but not PTSS. Psychosocial intervention to facilitate peer support among AYA cancer patients would possibly contribute to revive their lives through PTG. Future studies should further investigate what factors would contribute to alleviation of PTSS and foster PTG. Clinical trial information: UMIN000035439.

scholarly journals Parenting Experiences of Cancer Patients with Minor Children and Their Conversations About the Possibility of Death: A Cross-Sectional Web-Based Survey for an Online Cancer Community

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuko Usui ◽  
Kazuhiro Kosugi ◽  
Yohei Nishiguchi ◽  
Tomofumi Miura ◽  
Daisuke Fujisawa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Peer Support ◽  
Support Group ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Know How ◽  
Peer Support Group ◽  
Disease Condition ◽  
Minor Children ◽  
Experience Difficulty

Abstract Purpose Many cancer patients with minor children experience difficulty when talking about their illness with their children. The aim of this study is to investigate the parenting experiences of cancer patients with minor children and their conversations about the possibility of death. Methods A cross-sectional web-based survey was conducted between April and May 2019. Cancer patients with minor children were recruited from among an online peer support group called “Cancer Parents”. The participants were asked to complete a questionnaire about their experiences talking about their illness with their children. The participants were classified into those who disclosed their cancer to their children (“disclosed group”), and those who didn’t disclose (“undisclosed group”). The association between whether they talked with their children about their cancer and their conversations about the possibility of death were examined. Results A total of 370 participants were analyzed (80.8% female, median age 43.0 years). The disclosed group (n = 274, 74.1%) wanted to know what their child felt than the undisclosed group (p < 0.001). The undisclosed group didn’t want their children to see their suffering (p = 0.002) and didn’t know how to explain their disease condition ( p < 0.002). Both the disclosed (42.1%) and undisclosed (6.5%) groups told their children about the possibility of death. Conclusion This study showed the disclosed group wanted to know their children’s feelings and they tended to have a conversation about the possibility of death with their children, compared to the undisclosed group.

Seeking and experiencing meaning: Exploring the role of meaning in promoting mental adjustment and eudaimonic well-being in cancer patients

2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 673-681 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Scrignaro ◽  
Elisabetta Bianchi ◽  
Cinzia Brunelli ◽  
Guido Miccinesi ◽  
Carla Ida Ripamonti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Posttraumatic Growth ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Protective Factor ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Search For Meaning ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Mediation Analyses ◽  
Presence Of Meaning ◽  
Mental Adjustment

AbstractObjective:The present study is the result of theory-driven research investigating the role of the search for and presence of meaning in enhancing both mental adjustment and eudaimonic well-being in cancer patients.Method:A cross-sectional study involved 266 cancer patients currently in the treatment and management phase of their illness. Data were collected by a written questionnaire. The search for meaning was assessed with the Seeking of Noetic Goals Test, and the presence of meaning was assessed using the Purpose in Life Test. Mental adjustment to a cancer diagnosis was assessed by two subscales of the Italian version of the Mini-Mental Adjustment to Cancer Scale, and eudaimonic well-being was assessed with the Psychological Well-Being Scale. Correlation and mediation analyses based on five thousand bootstrapping samples were performed.Results:The mediation analyses showed that the presence of meaning totally or partially mediated the effect of the search for meaning on both mental adjustment and eudaimonic well-being. Further correlation analyses showed a high negative correlation between eudaimonic well-being and hopelessness.Significance of results:Our results appear relevant from both the theoretical and clinical points of view. They support a deeper understanding of the combined contribution of the search for and presence of meaning in promoting well-being in cancer patients. Simultaneously, they are consistent with suggestions from recent studies on the clinical psychology of posttraumatic growth and emphasize the relevance of eudaimonic well-being as a protective factor for hopelessness.

Somatic Distress, Mental Health and Psychological Resilience Among Cancer Patients During the Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eser Sağaltıcı ◽  
Özcan Sönmez ◽  
Ebru Karcı ◽  
Şengül Kocamer Şahin ◽  
Arzu Ertürk
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Life Events ◽  
Stressful Life Events ◽  
Psychological Symptoms ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Stressful Life ◽  
Psychological Resilience ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Somatic Distress ◽  
Stress Symptoms

Abstract Objective The current researches during COVID-19 have not yet addressed somatic distress among cancer patients. The aims of this study are to investigate the somatic distress and psychological symptoms levels of cancer patients, and analyze the influencing factors on somatic distress during the pandemic. Methods This cross-sectional study included consecutively selected 216 eligible cancer patients. The Patient Health Questionnaire-15, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Checklist for DSM-5, The Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21, the Brief Resilience Scale, the Stressful Life Events List due to Pandemic and, demographic and clinical characteristics form were administered to the participants with face to face interviewing. Results The moderate to severe somatic distress rate was % 38 and probable PTSD rate was 20.4%. Depression, anxiety and stress symptoms were 36.1%, 49.1% and 45.4%, respectively, from mild to extremely severe at any level. There were substantial association between somatic symptoms severity and high PTSD, anxiety, depression, and stress symptoms levels. Low educations levels, high anxiety levels, high experience stressful life events, and low psychological resilience predicted high somatic distress levels. Conclusion This study demonstrates the high risk of somatic distress, PTSD, depression, anxiety and stress in patients with cancer during the pandemic. In addition, somatic distress may indicate high levels of psychological symptoms, high experience stressful life events, and low psychological resilience. It underscores the need to assess psychological status during the pandemic, especially those with high level somatic symptoms.

Nurses’ attitudes towards euthanasia in conflict with professional ethical guidelines

2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 70-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anja Terkamo-Moisio ◽  
Tarja Kvist ◽  
Mari Kangasniemi ◽  
Teuvo Laitila ◽  
Olli-Pekka Ryynänen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ethical Guidelines ◽  
Ethical Considerations ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Ethical Approval ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
The Moment ◽  
The Right ◽  
The University

Background: Despite the significant role of nurses in end-of-life care, their attitudes towards euthanasia are under-represented both in the current literature and the controversial debate that is ongoing in several countries. Research questions: What are the attitudes towards euthanasia among Finnish nurses? Which characteristics are associated with those attitudes? Research design: Cross-sectional web-based survey. Participants and research context: A total of 1003 nurses recruited via the members’ bulletin of the Finnish Nurses Association and social media. Ethical considerations: Ethical approval was obtained from the Committee on Research Ethics of the university to which the authors were affiliated. Findings: The majority (74.3%) of the participants would accept euthanasia as part of Finnish healthcare, and 61.8% considered that Finland would benefit from a law permitting euthanasia. Most of the nurses (89.9%) thought that a person must have the right to decide on his or her own death; 77.4% of them considered it likely that they would themselves make a request for euthanasia in certain situations. Discussion: The value of self-determination and the ability to choose the moment and manner of one’s death are emphasized in the nurses’ attitudes towards euthanasia. Conclusion: A continuous dialogue about euthanasia and nurses’ shared values is crucial due to the conflict between nurses’ attitudes and current ethical guidelines on nursing.

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