Efficacy of Op Koers Online, an online group intervention for parents of children with cancer: Results of a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: Parents of children with cancer are at risk for developing psychosocial problems. The present study aims to evaluate the effect of an online group intervention (Op Koers Online, in English: On Track Online) on psychosocial wellbeing and coping skills. METHODS: Parents of a child with cancer (diagnosis <5 years ago) participated in a randomized controlled trial. In six consecutive (and one booster-) protocolled sessions in an online chatroom, trained psychologists and social workers taught coping skills using cognitive behavioral and acceptance and commitment techniques. Questionnaires assessed anxiety, depression, distress, situation-specific emotional reactions and coping skills (Op Koers Questionnaire/Cognitive Coping Strategies Scale Parent Form) and evaluated the intervention. Linear mixed-model analyses were performed to detect differences between the conditions in changes over time; T0-T1 and T0-T2 (6-week and 6-month follow-up), and to detect changes in scores T2-T3 (12-month follow-up) for the intervention group only. RESULTS: 89 parents were included in analyses (mean age 41.9 years, 86% female, 62%/38% post/during treatment of their child). Beneficial intervention effects (p < 0.05) were found at T1 for anxiety, depression, distress, loneliness and relaxation, and at T2 for anxiety, uncertainty and relaxation. In the intervention condition, scores did not change from T2 to T3, except loneliness that decreased and relaxation that improved. All effect sizes were small to medium (ß = -0.21 to 0.46). Parents were generally positive about the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Op Koers Online for parents of children with cancer has a positive effect on psychosocial wellbeing and the coping skill relaxation. Implementation is recommended to prevent psychosocial problems. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: Dutch Trial Register https://onderzoekmetmensen.nl/en NL73763.041.20.

Digital health tools for pain monitoring in pediatric oncology: a scoping review and qualitative assessment of barriers and facilitators of implementation.

PURPOSE: We aimed to systematically identify and characterize existing digital health tools for pain monitoring in children with cancer, and to assess common barriers and facilitators of implementation. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search (PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, and PsycINFO) was carried out to identify published research on mobile apps and wearable devices focusing on acute and/or chronic pain in children (0-18 years) with cancer (all diagnoses) during active treatment. Tools had to at least include a monitoring feature for one or more pain characteristic(s) (e.g., presence, severity, perceived cause interference with daily life). Project leaders of identified tools were invited for an interview on barriers and facilitators. RESULTS: Of 121 potential publications, 33 met inclusion criteria, describing 14 tools. Two methods of delivery were used: apps (n=13), and a wearable wristband (n=1). Most publications focused on feasibility and acceptability. Results of interviews with project leaders (100% response rate), reveal that most barriers to implementation were identified in the organizational context (47% of barriers), with financial resources and insufficient time available mentioned most often. Most factors that facilitated implementation related to end users (56% of facilitators), with end-user cooperation and end-user satisfaction mentioned most often. CONCLUSIONS: Existing digital tools for pain in children with cancer were mostly apps directed at pain severity monitoring and little is still known about their effectiveness. Paying attention to common barriers and facilitators, especially taking into account realistic funding expectations and involving end users during early stages of new projects, might prevent evidence based interventions from ending up unused.

Support needs of Dutch young adult childhood cancer survivors.

BACKGROUND: Studies about support needs of young adult childhood cancer survivors (YACCS) previously focused mainly on information needs. This study assessed support needs and associated factors (sociodemographic, medical, and psychosocial functioning) in Dutch YACCS. METHODS: YACCS (aged 18-30, diagnosed ≤ 18 years, time since diagnosis ≥ 5 years) cross-sectionally filled out a questionnaire regarding their need for various types of support (concrete information, personal counseling, and peer contact) in eight domains (physical consequences of childhood cancer, social-emotional consequences, relationships and sexuality, fertility, lifestyle, school and work, future perspective, insurance and mortgage), and questionnaires assessing health-related quality of life (PedsQL-YA), anxiety and depression (HADS), and fatigue (CIS-20R). Descriptive statistics were used to describe support needs. Linear regression was used to identify characteristics associated with support needs. RESULTS: One hundred fifty-one YACCS participated (response = 40%). Most YACCS reported a need for support in one or more domains (88.0%, N = 133). More than half of the participants reported a need for concrete information in the domains lifestyle, fertility, and physical consequences of childhood cancer and 25-50% in the domains insurance and mortgages, future perspective, and social-emotional consequences of childhood cancer. In the domains lifestyle and physical as well as emotional consequences of childhood cancer, 25-50% reported a need for counseling. Overall need for support was positively associated with middle (ß = 0.26, p = 0.024) and high (ß = 0.35, p = 0.014) compared to low educational attainment and (sub)clinical anxiety (ß = 0.22, p = 0.017), and negatively associated with social functioning (ß = - 0.37, p = 0.002) in multivariate analyses. CONCLUSION: YACCS report the strongest need for support, for concrete information, in the domains lifestyle, fertility, and physical consequences of childhood cancer. Associated factors were mostly socioeconomic and psychosocial in nature. Psychosocial care should be an integral part of survivorship care for YACCS, with screening for psychosocial problems, information provision including associated emotional consequences and support if necessary (psycho-education) and tailored interventions, and adequate referrals to more specialized care if necessary.

Health-related quality of life in Dutch adult survivors of childhood cancer: A nation-wide cohort study.

AIM: To investigate the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of Dutch adult childhood cancer survivors (CCS) and to identify risk factors of impaired HRQOL. METHODS: Adult CCS (age >18, diagnosed <18, ≥5 years since diagnosis) from the Dutch LATER registry completed the Medical Outcome Study Short Form 36 (SF-36) to measure HRQOL and provided sociodemographic characteristics. Age-adjusted mean SF-36 scale scores of CCS were compared to the Dutch general population for men and women separately using t-tests, with effect size d. Multivariate logistic regression models were built to identify sociodemographic and cancer-related risk factors for impaired physical and mental HRQOL. RESULTS: Both male and female CCS (N = 2301, mean age = 35.4 years, 49.6% female) reported significantly (p ≤ .005) worse HRQOL than the general population on almost all scales of the SF-36 (-.11 ≤ d ≤ -.56). Largest differences were found on vitality and general health perceptions. Significant risk factors (p ≤ .05) for impaired physical HRQOL were female sex, older age at diagnosis, not having a partner, low educational attainment, disease recurrence and exposure to radiotherapy, specifically to lower extremity radiation. Odds ratios (ORs) ranged from 1.6 to 3.7. Significant risk factors for impaired mental HRQOL were age 26-35 years, male sex, not having a partner and low educational attainment. ORs ranged from 1.3 to 2.0. CONCLUSION: Adult CCS had worse HRQOL than the general population. CCS most at risk were those with low educational attainment and without a partner. Adult CCS could benefit from routine surveillance of their HRQOL. Special attention for CCS' vitality and health perceptions and beliefs is warranted.

Wavelength selection of vortex ripples in an oscillating cylinder: The effect of curvature and background rotation.

We present results of laboratory experiments on the formation, evolution, and wavelength selection of vortex ripples. These ripples formed on a sediment bed at the bottom of a water-filled oscillating cylindrical tank mounted on top of a rotating table. The table is made to oscillate sinusoidally in time, while a constant background rotation was added for some experiments. The changes in bed thickness are measured using a light attenuation technique. It was found that the wavelength normalized with the excursion length depends on both a Reynolds number and the Strouhal number. This differs from straight or annular geometries where the wavelength is proportional to the excursion length. The flow in an oscillating cylinder has the peculiarity that it develops a secondary flow in the radial direction that depends on the excursion length. The effect of this secondary circulation is evident in the radial transport for small values of the Strouhal number or in the orientation of the ripples for strong enough background rotation. Additionally, ripples in an oscillating cylinder present a rich dynamic behavior where the number of ripples can oscillate even with constant forcing parameters.

Similar incidence of periprosthetic fluid collections after ceramic-on-polyethylene total hip arthroplasties and metal-on-metal resurfacing arthroplasties: results of a screening metal artefact reduction sequence-MRI study.

Patients from a randomised trial on resurfacing hip arthroplasty (RHA) (n = 36, 19 males; median age 57 years, 24 to 65) comparing a conventional 28 mm metal-on-metal total hip arthroplasty (MoM THA) (n = 28, 17 males; median age 59 years, 37 to 65) and a matched control group of asymptomatic patients with a 32 mm ceramic-on-polyethylene (CoP) THA (n = 33, 18 males; median age 63 years, 38 to 71) were cross-sectionally screened with metal artefact reducing sequence-MRI (MARS-MRI) for pseudotumour formation at a median of 55 months (23 to 72) post-operatively. MRIs were scored by consensus according to three different classification systems for pseudotumour formation. Clinical scores were available for all patients and metal ion levels for MoM bearing patients. Periprosthetic lesions with a median volume of 16 mL (1.5 to 35.9) were diagnosed in six patients in the RHA group (17%), one in the MoM THA group (4%) and six in the CoP group (18%). The classification systems revealed no clear differences between the groups. Solid lesions (n = 3) were exclusively encountered in the RHA group. Two patients in the RHA group and one in the MoM THA group underwent a revision for pseudotumour formation. There was no statistically significant relationship between clinical scoring, metal ion levels and periprosthetic lesions in any of the groups. Periprosthetic fluid collections are seen on MARS-MRI after conventional CoP THA and RHA and may reflect a soft-tissue collection or effusion. Currently available MRI classification systems seem to score these collections as pseudotumours, causing an-overestimatation of the incidence of pseudotumours.

Does the experience level of the radiologist, assessment in consensus, or the addition of the abduction and external rotation view improve the diagnostic reproducibility and accuracy of MRA of the shoulder?

AIM: To prospectively evaluate the influence of observer experience, consensus assessment, and abduction and external rotation (ABER) view on the diagnostic performance of magnetic resonance arthrography (MRA) in patients with traumatic anterior-shoulder instability (TASI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-eight MRA examinations (of which 51 had additional ABER views) were assessed by six radiologists (R1-R6) and three teams (T1-T3) with different experience levels, using a seven-lesion standardized scoring form. Forty-five out of 58 MRA examination findings were surgically confirmed. Kappa coefficients, sensitivity, specificity, and differences in percent agreement or correct diagnosis (p-value, McNemar's test) were calculated per lesion and overall per seven lesion types to assess diagnostic reproducibility and accuracy. RESULTS: Overall kappa ranged from poor (k = 0.17) to moderate (k = 0.53), sensitivity from 30.6-63.5%, and specificity from 73.6-89.9%. Overall, the most experienced radiologists (R1-R2) and teams (T2-T3) agreed significantly more than the lesser experienced radiologists (R3-R4: p = 0.014, R5-R6; p = 0.018) and teams (T2-T3: p = 0.007). The most experienced radiologist (R1, R2, R3) and teams (T1, T2) were also consistently more accurate than the lesser experienced radiologists (R4, R5, R6) and team (T3). Significant differences were found between R1-R4 (p = 0.012), R3-R4 (p = 0.03), and T2-T3 (p = 0.014). The overall performance of consensus assessment was systematically higher than individual assessment. Significant differences were established between T1-T2 and radiologists R3-R4 (p<0.001, p = 0.001) and between T2 and R3 (p<0.001/p = 0.001) or R4 (p = 0.050). No overall significant differences were found between the radiologists' assessments with and without ABER. CONCLUSION: The addition of ABER does not significantly improve overall diagnostic performance. The radiologist's experience level and consensus assessment do contribute to higher reproducibility and accuracy.

[Ancillary diagnostic imaging is useful if there is atypical evidence of appendicitis]. / Aanvullend beeldvormend onderzoek is nuttig bij atypische aanwijzingen voor appendicitis.

Patients with an atypical presentation of acute appendicitis may benefit from ancillary diagnostic imaging, especially CT. The literature shows a decrease of the number of negative appendectomies with this approach, and other causes are diagnosed in about one third of the patients. In addition, costs were reduced. Ultrasonography is a good alternative in pregnant women and in women with suspected gynaecological pathology.

Decision guidelines for prophylactic replacement of Björk-Shiley convexo-concave heart valves: impact on clinical practice.

BACKGROUND: Because of risk of outlet strut fracture, prophylactic replacement should be considered for Björk-Shiley convexo-concave (BScc) valve recipients. We assessed the effects of epidemiological and decision-analytic guidelines on actual BScc valve replacement. METHODS AND RESULTS: We performed a retrospective cohort study including all 2263 Dutch BScc patients with a mean follow-up of 11.3 years (range, 0 to 23 years). Outcomes were outlet strut fracture, mortality, and BScc valve replacement. For the surviving patients in 1992 (n=1330), we calculated the expected differences in life expectancy (LE) with and without BScc valve replacement according to decision guidelines developed in 1992. Differences in LE were compared with actual replacements. During 8 years of follow-up, there were 494 deaths (40%), and 11 patients had suffered outlet strut fracture. Of 1330 patients, 96 (10%) had undergone BScc valve replacement, particularly in years after introduction of initial and updated guidelines. One hundred seventeen patients (9%) had an estimated gain in LE after BScc valve replacement. These patients were more likely to undergo replacement than patients with an estimated loss of LE (hazard ratio, 6.6; 95% CI, 4.4 to 10; P<0.0001). A loss in LE after reoperation was predicted for 8 of 11 patients who experienced outlet strut fracture after guidelines were available. CONCLUSIONS: Valve replacement for BScc heart valve patients was largely in concordance with guidelines in the Netherlands. Individualized guidelines that are based on high-quality epidemiological data and are updated and implemented rigorously can influence clinical practice in complex decision problems.

Clinical prediction rule for 30-day mortality in Björk-Shiley convexo-concave valve replacement.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: We aimed to develop a clinical prediction rule for 30-day mortality in patients undergoing Björk-Shiley convexo-concave (BScc) valve replacement, based on primary valve implantation procedures. METHODS: We studied 30-day mortality in 2,263 patients who received a BScc valve between 1979 and 1985 in The Netherlands. A logistic regression model was constructed and internally validated with bootstrapping techniques. RESULTS: Predictors for mortality were emergency operation, coronary artery disease, mitral or double-valve replacement, BScc implant being a reoperation, endocarditis, poor left ventricular function, age, concomitant tricuspid valve plasty, and aortic root replacement. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) for the predicted probability of death was 0.76 (95% CI 0.72-0.80). The model calibrated well, and had adequate discriminative ability in 195 BScc valve patients who underwent explantation, including 53 prophylactic explantations (AUC 0.81, 95% CI 0.73-0.89). CONCLUSION: A prediction rule derived from BScc valve implantation data performed well in patients undergoing explantation. Because the model provides accurate individualized estimates of the risk of mortality after reoperation, it may be helpful for decision making in patients with BScc valves.