Annals of behavioral medicine : a publication of the Society of Behavioral Medicine
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We review a decade of review articles concerning psychosocial interventions for cancer patients. We find a distinct progression in the tone of interpretations of the literature, as better quality studies accumulate and the sophistication of reviews improves. ⋯ The bulk of the literature reviews in this field take a narrative rather than a systematic approach, and serious compromises in standards are necessary to muster an adequate set of studies for review. The more rigorous the review, the less likely it is to conclude there is evidence that psychological interventions are effective.
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Review Comparative Study
Environmental correlates of walking and cycling: findings from the transportation, urban design, and planning literatures.
Research in transportation, urban design, and planning has examined associations between physical environment variables and individuals' walking and cycling for transport. Constructs, methods, and findings from these fields can be applied by physical activity and health researchers to improve understanding of environmental influences on physical activity. In this review, neighborhood environment characteristics proposed to be relevant to walking/cycling for transport are defined, including population density, connectivity, and land use mix. ⋯ Implications of the transportation literature for physical activity and related research are outlined. Future research directions are detailed for physical activity research to further examine the impact of neighborhood and other physical environment factors on physical activity and the potential interactive effects of psychosocial and environmental variables. The transportation, urban design, and planning literatures provide a valuable starting point for multidisciplinary research on environmental contributions to physical activity levels in the population.
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Most of the rhetoric decrying the incorporation of basic and positive spiritual care into clinical practice is not based on reliable evidence. We briefly review the current evidence, which demonstrates that (a) there is frequently a positive association between positive spirituality and mental and physical health and well being, (b) most patients desire to be offered basic spiritual care by their clinicians, (c) most patients censure our professions for ignoring their spiritual needs, (d) most clinicians believe that spiritual interventions would help their patients but have little training in providing basic spiritual assessment or care, (e) professional associations and educational institutions are beginning to provide learners and clinicians information on how to incorporate spirituality and practice, and (j) anecdotal evidence indicates that clinicians having received such training find it immediately helpful and do apply it to their practice. ⋯ Further, unless or until there is evidence of harm from a clinician's provision of either basic spiritual care or a spiritually sensitive practice, interested clinicians and systems should learn to assess their patients' spiritual health and to provide indicated and desired spiritual intervention. Clinicians and health care systems should not, without compelling data to the contrary, deprive their patients of the spiritual support and comfort on which their hope, health, and well-being may hinge.