Experiences with scans and scanxiety in people with advanced cancer: A qualitative study

Abstract Purpose: Scan-associated anxiety (‘scanxiety’) in people with advanced cancer is a common clinical problem. This study aims to explore the experiences of scans and scanxiety in people with advanced cancer, including their strategies to reduce scanxiety.Methods: Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with people with advanced cancers who had a computed tomography scan for monitoring of their cancer. Data was analysed with an interpretivist approach using framework analysis. Results: Interviews with 16 participants identified three key themes: the scan experience, the scanxiety experience and coping with scans. Scans and scanxiety were viewed as a routine and normal part of cancer care, though this was experienced differently by each person. Scanxiety often related to the scan result rather than the scan, and lead to psycho-cognitive manifestations. Adaptive coping strategies were often self-derived.Conclusion: People with advanced cancer experience scanxiety, but often accept scanxiety as a normal part of the cancer process. The findings fit within a transactional model of stress and coping, which influences the level of scanxiety for each individual. Quantitative research to determine the scope of scanxiety will be useful to develop formal approaches to reduce scanxiety.

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Psychosocial, emotional and professional challenges faced by female healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 outbreak in Lahore, Pakistan: a qualitative study

BMC Women s Health ◽

10.1186/s12905-021-01344-y ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Sumbal Shahbaz ◽

Muhammad Zeshan Ashraf ◽

Rubeena Zakar ◽

Florian Fischer

Keyword(s):

Healthcare Professionals ◽

Qualitative Interviews ◽

Working Environment ◽

Cultural Issues ◽

Self Reflection ◽

Professional Challenges ◽

Proper Training ◽

Phenomenological Methodology ◽

Novel Coronavirus ◽

And Coping

Abstract Background The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is spreading rapidly, increasing the stress and challenges for healthcare professionals around the world. This study aims to discover the psychosocial, emotional and professional challenges faced by female healthcare professionals (HCPs) treating COVID-19 patients in Pakistan. Methods Using an empirical phenomenological methodology, semi-structured telephone-based qualitative interviews were conducted with 22 female HCPs who were providing their expertise for COVID-19 patients in tertiary-level hospitals in Lahore, Pakistan. Purposive sampling was used for recruitment. The interviews were conducted between 20 July and 20 August 2020. The interviews were analysed using thematic analysis. Results This study explored the psychosocial, emotional and professional challenges faced by female HCPs serving COVID-19 patients. Five themes were observed in the interviews: apprehension while treating COVID-19 patients; feelings towards COVID-19 patients; challenges as female HCPs and coping strategies; confidence in government, administration and self-reflection; and finally, future concerns and recommendations. Many of these themes have also been linked with cultural issues, making the results specific to Pakistan. Conclusions During the COVID-19 pandemic, female frontline HCPs have faced immense psychosocial pressure, ranging from unsupportive family norms to an unwelcoming working environment and insensitive hospital administrations. Moreover, rumours among the general public, lack of proper training, missing incentives and improper system surveillance have increased the anxiety and stress among HCPs. Hence, legislators are advised to take appropriate actions countrywide in order to alleviate the still ongoing challenges and support female HCPs in their working environment.

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Reported infant feeding practices and contextual influences on breastfeeding: qualitative interviews with women registered to MomConnect in three South African provinces

International Breastfeeding Journal ◽

10.1186/s13006-020-00315-7 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Zara Trafford ◽

Sara Jewett ◽

Alison Swartz ◽

Amnesty E. LeFevre ◽

Peter J. Winch ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health System ◽

South African ◽

Infant Feeding ◽

Qualitative Interviews ◽

Feeding Practices ◽

Policy Support ◽

Infant Feeding Practices ◽

Local Policy ◽

Framework Analysis ◽

Younger Women

Abstract Background Global guidelines recommend exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) for the first 6 months of life. South African EBF rates have steadily increased but still only average 32% for infants below 6 months of age. Malnutrition and developmental delays continue to contribute substantially to the morbidity and mortality of South African children. MomConnect, a national mHealth messaging system used to send infant and maternal health messages during and after pregnancy, has a specific focus on improving rates of breastfeeding and has achieved high rates of population coverage. Methods For this qualitative study, we interviewed women who were registered to MomConnect to investigate their breastfeeding and other infant feeding practices, decision-making pre- and post-delivery, and the role of the health system, family members and the wider community in supporting or detracting from breastfeeding intentions. Data were collected from February–March 2018 in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal, Free State and Gauteng provinces. Framework analysis was conducted to identify common themes. Results Most women interviewed had breastfed, including HIV-positive women. Even when women had delivered by caesarean section, they had usually been able to initiate breastfeeding a few hours after birth. Understandings of EBF varied in thoroughness and there was some confusion about the best way to cease breastfeeding. Most women felt well-equipped to make infant feeding decisions and to stick to their intentions, but returning to work or school sometimes prevented 6 months of EBF. Advice from the health system (both via clinics and MomConnect) was considered helpful and supportive in encouraging EBF to 6 months, although family influences could thwart these intentions, especially for younger women. Mothers reported a range of breastfeeding information sources that influenced their choices, including social media. Conclusions Efforts to improve EBF rates must include consideration of the social and economic environment surrounding women. Interventions that focus only on improving women’s knowledge are valuable but insufficient on their own. Attention should also be paid to infant behaviors, and how these affect women’s breastfeeding choices. Finally, although there is strong local policy support for EBF, more rigorous implementation of these and other broader changes to create a more enabling structural environment ought to be prioritized.

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Chronic pain following elective inguinal hernia repair—is it a common clinical problem?

Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine ◽

10.1097/00115550-200709001-00337 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 32 (Suppl. 1) ◽

pp. 174

Author(s):

Z. M. Kirkor ◽

T. N. Evans ◽

H. Mathew ◽

C. Swart ◽

C. Morris ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chronic Pain ◽

Inguinal Hernia ◽

Hernia Repair ◽

Inguinal Hernia Repair ◽

Clinical Problem ◽

Common Clinical Problem

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The risk of shoulder pain after laparoscopic surgery for infertility is higher in thin patients

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-92762-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Xin You Li ◽

Ming Tian ◽

Ai Zhi Li ◽

Chun Lei Han ◽

Ke Zhong Li

Keyword(s):

Laparoscopic Surgery ◽

Shoulder Pain ◽

Prospective Observational Study ◽

Conditional Logistic Regression ◽

Specific Treatment ◽

Clinical Problem ◽

Pain Visual Analogue Scale ◽

Risk Patients ◽

Treatment Plans ◽

Common Clinical Problem

AbstractPostlaparoscopic shoulder pain (PLSP) is a common clinical problem that needs to be addressed by medical professionals who are currently perform laparoscopic surgeries. The purpose of this study was to determine the perioperative clinical factors and demographic characteristics associated with PLSP. A prospective observational study was performed with 442 inpatients undergoing laparoscopic surgery for infertility. The pain visual analogue scale was used as the measuring instrument. To identify the predictors of PLSP, we performed multivariate conditional logistic regression. PLSP was correlated with body mass index (BMI, odds ratio = 0.815). The incidence of shoulder pain and more severe shoulder pain in patients with a lower BMI was significantly higher than it was in patients with a higher BMI, and BMI was significantly negatively correlated with PLSP. Most of the patients (95%) began to experience shoulder pain on the first postoperative day, and it rarely occurred on the day of surgery. Patients with lower BMI presented a higher risk of reporting shoulder pain on the first postoperative day. We should identify high-risk patients in advance and make specific treatment plans according to the characteristics of their symptoms.

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Associations among awareness of prognosis, hopefulness, and coping in patients with advanced cancer participating in phase I clinical trials

Supportive Care in Cancer ◽

10.1007/s00520-003-0496-y ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 11 (10) ◽

pp. 644-651 ◽

Cited By ~ 31

Author(s):

Paul R. Helft ◽

Fay Hlubocky ◽

Ming Wen ◽

Christopher K. Daugherty

Keyword(s):

Clinical Trials ◽

Phase I ◽

Advanced Cancer ◽

Phase I Clinical Trials ◽

And Coping

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Spiritual issues and needs: Perspectives from patients with advanced cancer and nonmalignant disease. A qualitative study

Palliative & Supportive Care ◽

10.1017/s1478951504040490 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 2 (4) ◽

pp. 371-378 ◽

Cited By ~ 80

Author(s):

ELIZABETH GRANT ◽

SCOTT A. MURRAY ◽

MARILYN KENDALL ◽

KIRSTY BOYD ◽

STEPHEN TILLEY ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Advanced Cancer ◽

Health Professionals ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Qualitative Interviews ◽

Health Resources ◽

Well Being ◽

Spiritual Needs ◽

Policy Makers ◽

Self Identity ◽

Nonmalignant Disease

Objective: Health care professionals and policy makers acknowledge that spiritual needs are important for many patients with life-limiting illnesses. We asked such patients to describe their spiritual needs and how these needs may impinge on their physical, psychological, and social well-being. Patients were also encouraged to explain in what ways their spiritual needs, if they had any, could be addressed.Methods: We conducted two qualitative interviews, 3 months apart, with 20 patients in their last year of life: 13 patients with advanced cancer and 7 with advanced nonmalignant illness. We also interviewed each patient's general practitioner. Sixty-six interviews were tape-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed.Results: Patients' spiritual needs centered around their loss of roles and self-identity and their fear of dying. Many sought to make sense of life in relation to a nonvisible or sacred world. They associated anxiety, sleeplessness, and despair with such issues, which at times resulted in them seeking support from health professionals. Patients were best able to engage their personal resources to meet these needs when affirmed and valued by health professionals.Significance of results: Enabling patients to deal with their spiritual needs through affirmative relationships with health professionals may improve quality of life and reduce use of health resources. Further research to explore the relationship between spiritual distress and health service utilization is indicated.

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Homeopathic Treatment of Subclinical Hypothyroidism—A Series of 19 Cases

Homeopathy ◽

10.1055/s-0041-1734028 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Luiz Carlos Esteves Grelle ◽

Luiz Antonio Bastos Camacho

Keyword(s):

Subclinical Hypothyroidism ◽

Clinical Importance ◽

Clinical Problem ◽

Thyroid Stimulating Hormone ◽

Exclusion Criteria ◽

The Mean ◽

Common Clinical Problem ◽

Prompt Diagnosis ◽

Serum Tsh ◽

Tsh Levels

Abstract Background Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) is a common clinical problem. Controversy surrounds the definition, clinical importance, and need for prompt diagnosis and treatment of the mild form of SCH. Aim The aim of the study was to analyze the evolution of serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels after a therapeutic homeopathic intervention in women older than 40 years with SCH. Methods This study is a retrospective series of 19 cases of SCH, with serum TSH levels between 5 and 10 mIU/L, treated exclusively with homeopathic medicines prescribed on an individualized basis. Results Nineteen patients were included according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Their mean age was 56 years, they were followed for a mean duration of 69 months, the mean number of serum TSH level measurements was 18, and the intervention was successful for 13 patients. Conclusion The homeopathic therapeutic intervention was successful in 68% of the patients, with serum TSH levels back within the normal range (0.5–5.0 mIU/L).

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Abstract 42: Patient-Provider Communication in the Setting of Advanced Cancer: Experience and Views from Rwanda

10.1158/1538-7755.asgcr21-42 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Pacifique Uwamahoro ◽

Hubert Tuyishime ◽

Vincent Cubaka ◽

Egide Mpanumusingo ◽

Anita Ho ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Advanced Cancer ◽

Provider Communication ◽

Patient Provider Communication ◽

Cancer Experience

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The Sexual Experience of Married Middle-Aged Women as a Source of Mental Wellbeing: Perceptions, Challenges and Coping Mechanisms

Social Issues in Israel ◽

10.26351/siii/30-1/6 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 30 (1) ◽

pp. 181-203

Author(s):

Tal Braverman-Uriel ◽

Tal Litvak-Hirsch

Keyword(s):

Quantitative Research ◽

Sexual Experience ◽

Women's Leadership ◽

Mental Wellbeing ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Significant Development ◽

And Coping ◽

The Impact

The impact of sexuality on mental wellbeing in women in long-term relationships has only been partially investigated. Emphasis has been on quantitative research studies that do not capture the breadth of the field. The present study looked at how and to what extent women maintain sexual desire in long-term relationships, and how sexuality affects their mental wellbeing. The study used a qualitative narrative approach and included semi-structured interviews with approximately 20 Israeli women aged 40–55 from similar socioeconomic backgrounds and in longstanding, permanent relationships. The findings indicate significant development over the years in the perception of the role of sexuality and its impact on mental wellbeing. The path to good sexuality can and should follow women’s leadership and initiative. Such women have the desire to make an impact, willingness to make an effort, and even an actual ability to exert influence. The interviewees’ tools, strategies, insights and ways of coping can serve as models for other women seeking better sexuality in a long-term relationship.

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