Psycho-oncology
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As the concept of distress as the 6th vital sign gains strength in cancer care, research on the experience of patients is critical. This study longitudinally examined patients' physical and psychosocial concerns over the year following diagnosis. ⋯ For some people, distress, depression, and anxiety may be transient and decrease over time, but for others they may be sustained. Pain and fatigue may remain present in many cancer patients. There is a need to modify current clinical practice to facilitate the appropriate assessment and management of distress.
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Comparative Study
Effects of an interactive tailored patient assessment on patient-clinician communication in cancer care.
To test the effect of Choice, an interactive tailored patient assessment (ITPA) tool on the number and types of symptoms addressed during consultations with cancer patients, cancer patients' active participation during consultation with clinicians, and clinicians' responses. ⋯ The Choice ITPA was successful in making cancer patients more active participants in the consultation with their clinician.
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Comparative Study
Work stress and well-being in oncology settings: a multidisciplinary study of health care professionals.
Staff working in oncology report high levels of work-related stress. This arises partly from the nature of clinical work, including practitioner perceptions of high demand and low control or high effort and low reward. This comparative study investigated the correlates of work stress in a multidisciplinary group of staff and the associations between staff perceptions of the work environment, emotional distress, job satisfaction and work-based social support. ⋯ The development and introduction of multilevel strategies to reduce demand, improve control and support perceptions are warranted, particularly for support staff.
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A cancer diagnosis can have a profound impact on partners and close family members of patients. Little is currently known about the long-term impact. ⋯ Most partners/family members of long-term cancer survivors report few ongoing issues. However, a small proportion (<10%) have high levels of anxiety and/or moderate or strong unmet needs. Strategies for identifying this group and addressing their needs are required, while allowing the majority to resume normal life.
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Individual differences in stress appraisal, coping, optimism and social support have contributed to variability in adjustment to breast cancer, but less is known about their relative influence particularly at diagnosis. The purpose of this study was to compare the predictive role of these variables on both positive and negative adjustment in a sample of recently diagnosed women. ⋯ Global appraisal of stress was the most powerful predictor in the model, and findings suggest that it contributes to patients' affective status, indicating that women should be screened as part of the diagnostic process to identify those at risk for poor adaptation to the illness.