European journal of oncology nursing : the official journal of European Oncology Nursing Society
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Exploring the use of Immersive Virtual Reality to enhance Psychological Well-Being in Pediatric Oncology: A pilot randomized controlled trial.
To investigate whether Immersive Virtual Reality (VR) has a greater positive influence on oncology patients' physical and emotional mood states when compared to an iPad attentional control condition. Our secondary objective was to understand what factors influenced VR effectiveness. ⋯ These preliminary findings support the use of Immersive VR in clinical oncology settings to improve patient well-being. Further studies examining the application of Immersive VR in supporting children adjusting to hospitalization and cancer treatment are therefore warranted. Factors found to moderate VR effectiveness provide important clinical implications.
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Fever and associated neutropenia presentations are frequent occurrences for children with cancer. Prompt treatment is required to prevent adverse outcomes; however, delays are common. In Australia's vast landscape, presentations occur in both tertiary metropolitan sites and smaller regional sites. Management and experiences differ between sites. Our primary aim was to identify the barriers to optimal management of febrile neutropenia in children with cancer from patient/parent and clinician perspectives. ⋯ We identified multifactorial reasons for delays at different time points in care. Regional centres and families have unique needs which require considerations and tailored interventions. Ongoing education, monitoring compliance with initiation of practice changes and identifying and overcoming barriers as they arise are strategies for improving management of the febrile child with cancer.
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The simple diet self-assessment tool (SDSAT) is a simple instrument for estimating the cancer patients' dietary intake. This study aimed to evaluate its reliability and validity among head and neck (HNC) cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy (RT). ⋯ The SDSAT demonstrated favorable reliability and validity. It is appropriate for estimation of dietary intake among HNC patients.
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Multiple symptoms can have a negative impact on quality of life (QoL), but there is little information about the impact of multiple symptoms on QoL of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) during outpatient chemotherapy. Therefore, the purpose was to assess the physical and mental QoL in CRC patients over six months of chemotherapy, to evaluate the association of QoL with the presence of multiple symptoms, and to determine which demographic and clinical characteristics are associated with physical and mental QoL scores. ⋯ Impaired QoL was associated with symptoms in CRC outpatients. This information about the symptoms and characteristics associated with worse QoL during chemotherapy may help clinicians identify and inform at-risk patients.
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The purpose of this study was to explore the dyadic experience of caring for a family member with cancer. Particular attention was given to examine the relationship between dyadic perceptions of role adjustment and mutuality as facilitators in resilience for posttreatment cancer patients and family caregivers. ⋯ New patterns of role adjustment and mutuality can assist with making meaning and finding benefit, and these patterns contribute to dyadic resilience when moving through a cancer experience. There are few interventions that target the function of the dyad, yet the emergent model identified in this paper provides a direction for future dyadic research. By developing interventions at a dyadic level, providers have the potential to encourage dyadic resilience and sustain partnerships from cancer treatment into survivorship.