Psycho-oncology
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Inflammation and psychosocial factors mediate exercise effects on sleep quality in breast cancer survivors: pilot randomized controlled trial.
To improve mechanistic understanding, this pilot randomized controlled trial examined mediators of an exercise intervention effects on sleep in breast cancer survivors (BCS). ⋯ Inflammation and psychosocial factors may mediate or enhance sleep response to our exercise intervention. Further study is warranted to confirm our results and translate our findings into more effective interventions aimed at improving sleep quality in BCS.
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Predictors of psychological distress and unmet needs amongst adolescents and young adults (AYAs) who have a brother or sister diagnosed with cancer were examined. ⋯ These results highlight the variables that can assist in identifying AYA siblings of cancer patients who are at risk and have a greater need for psychosocial assistance. Variables that may be associated with increased distress and unmet needs are reported to assist with future research. The results are also useful in informing the development of targeted psychosocial support for AYA siblings of cancer patients.
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The complexity of end-of-life (EOL) communication in cancer care is often increased by family caregivers, who frequently affect the information and decision-making process. We assessed cancer patient preferences (PP), family caregiver preferences (FCP), and family caregiver predictions of patient preferences (FCPPP) regarding the disclosure of terminal status, family involvement in the disclosure process, and EOL choices, and we evaluated the concordances among them. ⋯ Family caregivers do not generally concur with patients in their preferences, nor do they reliably predict PP. Open dialogue between patient and family caregivers would reduce the discrepancy. More emphasis on incorporating family caregivers in EOL communication is needed from clinical, research, and training perspectives.
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The primary aim of this study was to examine the impact of patient sense of coherence (SOC) on anxiety and depressive symptoms, and quality of life (QoL) dimensions in the acute phase of haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). A secondary aim was to determine if SOC measured pre-transplant was predictive of psychological distress and QoL post-transplantation, after controlling for physical wellbeing. ⋯ Given that SOC was related to depression and QoL dimensions post-transplantation, it may be important for health care professionals to conduct psychosocial assessments to determine patient SOC. This would enable provision of tailored psychological support prior to and following stem cell transplantation.
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Posttraumatic growth at end of life, a positive psychological consequence of dealing with a life crisis, may be catalyzed by the trauma of facing mortality. Studies on cancer patients' posttraumatic growth have overwhelmingly examined early-stage survivors. Of the few studies on advanced cancer patients, none anchored posttraumatic growth with the patient's death. Therefore, the purposes of this study were to describe longitudinal changes in and to identify determinants of posttraumatic growth over the dying process. ⋯ Interventions are needed to appropriately relieve symptom distress, facilitate functional independence, enhance social support, and improve prognostic awareness and acceptance to inspire positive changes for cancer patients at end of life.