Cost-effectiveness of different exercise intensities during oncological treatment in the Phys-Can RCT.

BACKGROUND: Cost-effectiveness is important in the prioritisation between interventions in health care. Exercise is cost-effective compared to usual care during oncological treatment; however, the significance of exercise intensity to the cost-effectiveness is unclear. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the long-term cost-effectiveness of the randomised controlled trial Phys-Can, a six-month exercise programme of high (HI) or low-to-moderate intensity (LMI) during (neo)adjuvant oncological treatment. METHODS: A cost-effectiveness analysis was performed, based on 189 participants with breast, colorectal, or prostate cancer (HI: n = 99 and LMI: n = 90) from the Phys-Can RCT in Sweden. Costs were estimated from a societal perspective, and included cost of the exercise intervention, health care utilisation and productivity loss. Health outcomes were assessed as quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), using EQ-5D-5L at baseline, post intervention and 12 months after the completion of the intervention. RESULTS: At 12-month follow-up after the intervention, the total cost per participant did not differ significantly between HI (€27,314) and LMI exercise (€29,788). There was no significant difference in health outcome between the intensity groups. On average HI generated 1.190 QALYs and LMI 1.185 QALYs. The mean incremental cost-effectiveness ratio indicated that HI was cost effective compared with LMI, but the uncertainty was large. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that HI and LMI exercise have similar costs and effects during oncological treatment. Hence, based on cost-effectiveness, we suggest that decision makers and clinicians can consider implementing both HI and LMI exercise programmes and recommend either intensity to the patients with cancer during oncological treatment to facilitate improvement of health.

Reallocating sedentary time to physical activity: effects on fatigue and quality of life in patients with breast cancer in the Phys-Can project.

PURPOSE: We aimed to investigate the effects of reallocating sedentary time to an equal amount of light (LPA) or moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) on cancer-related fatigue and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with breast cancer. We also aimed to determine the daily amount of sedentary time needed to be reallocated to LPA or MVPA to produce minimal clinically important changes in these outcomes. METHODS: Pooled baseline data from three studies were used, including women with breast cancer who participated in the Phys-Can project. Fatigue was assessed with the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory questionnaire (MFI; five dimensions, 4-20 scale) and HRQoL with the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer quality of life questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30; 0-100 scale). Sedentary time and physical activity were measured with accelerometry. Isotemporal substitution modelling was used for the analyses. RESULTS: Overall, 436 participants (mean age 56 years, fatigue 11 [MFI], HRQoL 66 [EORTC QLQ-C30], LPA 254 min/day, MVPA 71 min/day) were included. Fatigue significantly decreased in two MFI dimensions when reallocating 30 min/day of sedentary time to LPA: reduced motivation and reduced activity (ß = - 0.21). Fatigue significantly decreased in three MFI dimensions when reallocating 30 min/day of sedentary time to MVPA: general fatigue (ß = - 0.34), physical fatigue (ß = - 0.47) and reduced activity (ß = - 0.48). To produce minimal clinically important changes in fatigue (- 2 points on MFI), the amount of sedentary time needed to be reallocated to LPA was ≈290 min/day and to MVPA was ≥ 125 min/day. No significant effects were observed on HRQoL when reallocating sedentary time to LPA or MVPA. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that reallocating sedentary time to LPA or MVPA has beneficial effects on cancer-related fatigue in patients with breast cancer, with MVPA having the greatest impact. In relatively healthy and physically active breast cancer populations, a large amount of time reallocation is needed to produce clinically important changes. Future studies are warranted to evaluate such effects in broader cancer populations. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT02473003 (10/10/2014) and NCT04586517 (14/10/2020).

Role of interaction for caller satisfaction in telenursing-A cross-sectional survey study.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to explore caller satisfaction with interaction, and the association to overall satisfaction with calls. BACKGROUND: In the era of expanding healthcare at distance, the telephone remains a common tool for the provision of nursing care. Interaction between telenurse and caller in telenursing is vital for safety, satisfaction and adherence reasons. Few studies have quantitatively explored interaction in calls and how it relates to overall satisfaction with calls. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey study with a deductive approach. METHODS: A total of 466 callers to the Swedish Medical Advisory Service completed the Telenursing Interaction and Satisfaction Questionnaire. Satisfaction with four theoretically defined components of interaction were compared using repeated measures ANOVA. Associations between satisfaction with interaction and overall satisfaction with calls were evaluated with ordinal logistic regression models with and without adjustment for age, sex, health status, waiting time, time for call, main result of the call and expectations. The study followed the STROBE checklist. RESULTS: Callers were most satisfied with affective support, followed by professional-technical competence, health information and decisional control-in that order. A summated score of satisfaction with interaction was positively and significantly associated with overall satisfaction with calls before and after adjustment for waiting time, main result of call and variables related to the individual caller. CONCLUSIONS: Caller satisfaction with interaction is generally high but can be improved, especially regarding decisional control. Satisfaction with interaction is important for overall satisfaction with calls. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: This study provides support for professionals at all levels in telenursing organisations to pay attention to interactional matters. The development of best practice for telenurses needs to consider all four components of interaction to enhance satisfaction with calls.

Putting life on hold: A longitudinal phenomenological-hermeneutic study of living with [or close to someone with] an enterocutaneous fistula before and after reconstructive surgery.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: Illuminate meanings of living with [or close to someone with] an enterocutaneous fistula before and after reconstructive surgery. BACKGROUND: Enterocutaneous fistula is a serious condition affecting the well-being and social life of both patients and families, sometimes for several years. DESIGN: A longitudinal qualitative design. METHODS: Patients and families (n = 14) were followed with dyadic interviews at three occasions, conducted 2017-2020. The interviews were analysed with a phenomenological-hermeneutic approach. COREQ guidelines were followed. RESULT: Living with an enterocutaneous fistula was explained as life being put on hold, while living in a bubble for an uncertain time. This bubble meant facing an unpredictable and restricted life where the dyads were forced to take control over the situation despite being vulnerable inside, striving to resume normality. The patients dealt with never-ending symptoms such as leakage from the fistula, pain and fatigue, while the family supported with practical matters and just being close. Dependency on intravenous fluids resulted in social isolation, which caused mode swings and depressiveness. In this situation, healthcare professionals often became a substitute for other interactions, but the lack of understanding about the dyads' situation, affected their trust in the healthcare. Despite all, they still had belief in the future, the patients having higher expectations than the family. CONCLUSIONS: Living with an enterocutaneous fistula meant a daily life struggling with many limitations. This implies that the transition was associated with difficulties and the dyads strived to accept their situation. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The findings indicate that these patients must be cared for with a multidisciplinary approach. A person-centred health plan could impact on the dyads' feeling of control and thereby making them less dependent on healthcare. Every patient should have their own contact nurse and be offered psychological support. NO PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: Not applicable due to the current method.

Psychometric evaluation of the Telenursing Interaction and Satisfaction Scale.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: Interaction between caller and telenurse in telenursing is important for caller satisfaction and subsequent compliance. Despite this, satisfaction measures with focus on interaction in telenursing are scarce and rarely anchored in nursing theory. The aim was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Telenursing Interaction and Satisfaction Scale (TISS) with focus on data quality, factor structure, convergent validity, and reliability. METHODOLOGICAL DESIGN AND JUSTIFICATION: This psychometric study was based on cross-sectional data. RESEARCH METHODS, INSTRUMENTS, AND/OR INTERVENTIONS: Callers to the National Medical Advisory Service in Sweden (n = 616) completed the 60-item Telenursing Interaction and Satisfaction Questionnaire based on Cox's Interaction Model of Client Health Behavior. Twenty-five of these items were selected to form the TISS in four subscales according to the model. Data quality was evaluated in terms of missing data patterns and score distributions. The factor structure was evaluated with confirmatory factor analysis for ordinal data, convergent validity with Spearman correlations, internal consistency with ordinal alpha, scale reliability with composite reliability coefficients, and test-retest reliability with intraclass correlations. RESULTS: The amount of missing data was acceptable and equally distributed. Data deviated significantly from a normal distribution. All response options were endorsed. The factor analysis confirmed the hypothesised four-factor structure; factor loadings ranged from 0.56 to 0.97 and factor correlations were high (0.88-0.96). Internal consistency (ordinal alpha = 0.82-0.97), scale reliability (0.88-0.99), and test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.77-0.86) were satisfactory for all scales. STUDY LIMITATIONS: The study design did not allow drop-out analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The TISS showed satisfactory psychometric properties in the study sample. It provides a measure that enables quantitative measurement of caller satisfaction with interaction in telenursing.

Long-term resource utilisation and associated costs of exercise during (neo)adjuvant oncological treatment: the Phys-Can project.

BACKGROUND: Exercise during oncological treatment is beneficial to patient health and can counteract the side effects of treatment. Knowledge of the societal costs associated with an exercise intervention, however, is limited. The aims of the present study were to evaluate the long-term resource utilisation and societal costs of an exercise intervention conducted during (neo)adjuvant oncological treatment in a randomised control trial (RCT) versus usual care (UC), and to compare high-intensity (HI) versus low-to-moderate intensity (LMI) exercise in the RCT. METHODS: We used data from the Physical Training and Cancer (Phys-Can) project. In the RCT, 577 participants were randomised to HI or to LMI of combined endurance and resistance training for 6 months, during oncological treatment. The project also included 89 participants with UC in a longitudinal observational study. We measured at baseline and after 18 months. Resource utilisation and costs of the exercise intervention, health care, and productivity loss were compared using analyses of covariance (RCT vs. UC) and t test (HI vs. LMI). RESULTS: Complete data were available for 619 participants (RCT HI: n = 269, LMI: n = 265, and UC: n = 85). We found no difference in total societal costs between the exercise intervention groups in the RCT and UC. However, participants in the RCT had lower rates of disability pension days (p < .001), corresponding costs (p = .001), and pharmacy costs (p = .018) than the UC group. Nor did we find differences in resource utilisation or costs between HI and LMI exercise int the RCT. CONCLUSION: Our study showed no difference in total societal costs between the comprehensive exercise intervention and UC or between the exercise intensities. This suggests that exercise, with its well-documented health benefits during oncological treatment, produces neither additional costs nor savings.

Short- and long-term effect of high versus low-to-moderate intensity exercise to optimise health-related quality of life after oncological treatment-results from the Phys-Can project.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of high intensity (HI) vs low-to-moderate intensity (LMI) exercise on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) up to 18 months after commencement of oncological treatment in patients with breast, colorectal or prostate cancer. In addition, we conducted a comparison with usual care (UC). METHODS: Patients scheduled for (neo)adjuvant oncological treatment (n = 577) were randomly assigned to 6 months of combined resistance and endurance training of HI or LMI. A longitudinal descriptive study (UC) included participants (n = 89) immediately before the RCT started. HRQoL was assessed by EORTC QLQ-C30 at baseline, 3, 6 and 18 months (1 year after completed exercise intervention) follow-up. Linear mixed models were used to study the groups over time. RESULTS: Directly after the intervention, HI scored significant (P = 0.02), but not clinically relevant, higher pain compared with LMI. No other significant difference in HRQoL was found between the exercise intensities over time. Clinically meaningful improvements in HRQoL over time were detected within both exercise intensities. We found favourable significant differences in HRQoL in both exercise intensities compared with UC over time. CONCLUSION: This study adds to the strong evidence of positive effect of exercise and shows that exercise, regardless of intensity, can have beneficial effects on HRQoL during oncological treatment and also for a substantial time after completion of an exercise intervention. In this study, for one year after. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Patients can be advised to exercise at either intensity level according to their personal preferences, and still benefit from both short-term and long-term improvements in HRQoL.

Who makes it all the way? Participants vs. decliners, and completers vs. drop-outs, in a 6-month exercise trial during cancer treatment. Results from the Phys-Can RCT.

PURPOSE: To compare sociodemographic, health- and exercise-related characteristics of participants vs. decliners, and completers vs. drop-outs, in an exercise intervention trial during cancer treatment. METHODS: Patients with newly diagnosed breast, prostate, or colorectal cancer were invited to participate in a 6-month exercise intervention. Background data for all respondents (n = 2051) were collected at baseline by questionnaire and medical records. Additional data were collected using an extended questionnaire, physical activity monitors, and fitness testing for trial participants (n = 577). Moreover, a sub-group of decliners (n = 436) consented to additional data collection by an extended questionnaire . Data were analyzed for between-group differences using independent t-tests and chi2-tests. RESULTS: Trial participants were younger (59 ± 12yrs vs. 64 ± 11yrs, p < .001), more likely to be women (80% vs. 75%, p = .012), and scheduled for chemotherapy treatment (54% vs. 34%, p < .001), compared to decliners (n = 1391). A greater proportion had university education (60% vs 40%, p < .001), reported higher anxiety and fatigue, higher exercise self-efficacy and outcome expectations, and less kinesiophobia at baseline compared to decliners. A greater proportion of trial participants were classified as 'not physically active' at baseline; however, within the group who participated, being "physically active" at baseline was associated with trial completion. Completers (n = 410) also reported less kinesiophobia than drop-outs (n = 167). CONCLUSION: The recruitment procedures used in comprehensive oncology exercise trials should specifically address barriers for participation among men, patients without university education and older patients. Individualized efforts should be made to enroll patients with low exercise self-efficacy and low outcome expectations of exercise. To retain participants in an ongoing exercise intervention, extra support may be needed for patients with kinesiophobia and those lacking health-enhancing exercise habits at baseline.

Does exercise intensity matter for fatigue during (neo-)adjuvant cancer treatment? The Phys-Can randomized clinical trial.

Exercise during cancer treatment improves cancer-related fatigue (CRF), but the importance of exercise intensity for CRF is unclear. We compared the effects of high- vs low-to-moderate-intensity exercise with or without additional behavior change support (BCS) on CRF in patients undergoing (neo-)adjuvant cancer treatment. This was a multicenter, 2x2 factorial design randomized controlled trial (Clinical Trials NCT02473003) in Sweden. Participants recently diagnosed with breast (n = 457), prostate (n = 97) or colorectal (n = 23) cancer undergoing (neo-)adjuvant treatment were randomized to high intensity (n = 144), low-to-moderate intensity (n = 144), high intensity with BCS (n = 144) or low-to-moderate intensity with BCS (n = 145). The 6-month exercise intervention included supervised resistance training and home-based endurance training. CRF was assessed by Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI, five subscales score range 4-20), and Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue scale (FACIT-F, score range 0-52). Multiple linear regression for main factorial effects was performed according to intention-to-treat, with post-intervention CRF as primary endpoint. Overall, 577 participants (mean age 58.7 years) were randomized. Participants randomized to high- vs low-to-moderate-intensity exercise had lower physical fatigue (MFI Physical Fatigue subscale; mean difference -1.05 [95% CI: -1.85, -0.25]), but the difference was not clinically important (ie <2). We found no differences in other CRF dimensions and no effect of additional BCS. There were few minor adverse events. For CRF, patients undergoing (neo-)adjuvant treatment for breast, prostate or colorectal cancer can safely exercise at high- or low-to-moderate intensity, according to their own preferences. Additional BCS does not provide extra benefit for CRF in supervised, well-controlled exercise interventions.

Sense of coherence and health-related quality of life in patients with neurotoxicity after cancer chemotherapy: Assessment from a real-time mobile phone-based system.

OBJECTIVE: In the present study, we aimed to assess sense of coherence (SOC) and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) during and after adjuvant chemotherapy by mobile phone-based reporting in patients with colorectal cancer experiencing neurotoxicity. METHODS: In this prospective descriptive cohort study, a mobile phone-based system was used to receive a series of real-time longitudinal patient-reported assessments of SOC (13-item), HRQOL (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) 27-item), and neurotoxicity (OANQ 29-item) from 43 patients with colorectal cancer after being treated with chemotherapy including oxaliplatin. Measurements were conducted during the whole treatment period (mean 5 cycles) and up to 12 months after completing chemotherapy. RESULTS: In total, 817 questionnaire responses (226 SOC, 221 FACT-G, 370 OANQ) answered during and after chemotherapy treatment were available for analysis. Even though all patients experienced neurotoxicity during the treatment period, HRQOL was stable over time. Over time, the ratings of physical wellbeing tended to increase, while the subscale of social wellbeing tended to decrease. Overall SOC, including the three components comprehensibility, manageability, and meaningfulness was stable during the entire study period. No internal data was missing due to the mobile phone-based system. CONCLUSIONS: All patients had neurotoxicity during the treatment period that seemed to affect the social wellbeing component of HRQOL, but SOC seemed unaffected. Real-time patient-reported assessment using mobile phone technology could be valuable in the clinical setting to provide continuous individualised monitoring to help identify patients who need further evaluation to maintain or improve their psychosocial health.

Evaluation of antiemetic practices for prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV): results of a European oncology nurse survey.

INTRODUCTION: Preventing CINV is possible when guideline-recommended antiemetics are used. Because oncology nurses play a critical role in risk assessment and management of CINV, a survey of European nurses was conducted to evaluate antiemetic practices, assess awareness of and adherence to current guideline recommendations, and explore barriers to adherence. METHODS: From March 2016 to Feb 2017, 212 oncology nurses in 16 European countries completed a 20-question online survey. RESULTS: Respondents had 15-year (median) oncology nursing experience, and most (75%) were able to suggest or prescribe antiemetics. Most (80%) worked in the public not-for-profit hospital setting. Guideline awareness was generally low with nurses most familiar with ASCO (46%) and MASCC/ESMO (40%) guidelines; individual institution guidelines were most commonly used (47%). Key discrepancies between reported antiemetic use and guideline recommendations in the highly emetogenic chemotherapy (HEC) setting were underutilization of the recommended NK1RA + 5-HT3RA + steroid combination on day 1 (55%) and high use of 5-HT3RAs (50%) on days 2-5 when a steroid (63% use) should be used. Metoclopramide use was high in both HEC and moderately emetogenic settings, with ~ 30% and ~ 50% reporting use on day 1 and days 2-5, respectively. The most common reported barrier to use of guideline-recommended agents was physician preference (40%). The most common challenges in managing CINV were "controlling nausea/vomiting in the delayed phase" (64%) and "reducing the impact of CINV on patients' quality-of-life" (61%). CONCLUSIONS: This survey highlights opportunities to improve utilization of guideline-recommended antiemetics, thereby optimizing prevention of CINV and QoL for patients receiving emetogenic chemotherapy.

Development and content validation of the Telenursing Interaction and Satisfaction Questionnaire (TISQ).

BACKGROUND: Caller satisfaction with telephone advice nursing (TAN) is generally high, and the interaction is essential. However, a valid questionnaire exploring caller satisfaction in TAN with focus on perceived interaction is lacking. OBJECTIVE: To develop and assess content validity and test-retest reliability of a theoretically anchored questionnaire, the Telenursing Interaction and Satisfaction Questionnaire (TISQ), that explores caller satisfaction in TAN by focusing on perceived interaction between the caller and the telenurse. METHODS: The study was performed in three stages. First, variables relevant for patient satisfaction in health care were identified through a literature search. Variables were then structured according to the Interaction Model of Client Health Behavior (IMCHB), which provided theoretical guidance. Items relevant for a TAN context were developed through consensus discussions. Then, evaluation and refinement were performed through cognitive interviews with callers and expert ratings of the Content Validity Index (CVI). Finally, test-retest reliability of items was evaluated in a sample of 109 individuals using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). RESULTS: The TISQ consists of 60 items. Twenty items cover perceived interaction in terms of health information, affective support, decisional control and professional/technical competence. Five items cover satisfaction with interaction and five items overall satisfaction. Remaining items reflect singularity of the caller and descriptive items of the call. The TISQ was found to exhibit good content validity, and test-retest reliability was moderate to good (ICC = 0.39-0.84). CONCLUSIONS: The items in the TISQ form a comprehensive and theoretically anchored questionnaire with satisfactory content validity and test-retest reliability.

Design of a randomized controlled trial of physical training and cancer (Phys-Can) - the impact of exercise intensity on cancer related fatigue, quality of life and disease outcome.

BACKGROUND: Cancer-related fatigue is a common problem in persons with cancer, influencing health-related quality of life and causing a considerable challenge to society. Current evidence supports the beneficial effects of physical exercise in reducing fatigue, but the results across studies are not consistent, especially in terms of exercise intensity. It is also unclear whether use of behaviour change techniques can further increase exercise adherence and maintain physical activity behaviour. This study will investigate whether exercise intensity affects fatigue and health related quality of life in persons undergoing adjuvant cancer treatment. In addition, to examine effects of exercise intensity on mood disturbance, adherence to oncological treatment, adverse effects from treatment, activities of daily living after treatment completion and return to work, and behaviour change techniques effect on exercise adherence. We will also investigate whether exercise intensity influences inflammatory markers and cytokines, and whether gene expressions following training serve as mediators for the effects of exercise on fatigue and health related quality of life. METHODS/DESIGN: Six hundred newly diagnosed persons with breast, colorectal or prostate cancer undergoing adjuvant therapy will be randomized in a 2 × 2 factorial design to following conditions; A) individually tailored low-to-moderate intensity exercise with or without behaviour change techniques or B) individually tailored high intensity exercise with or without behaviour change techniques. The training consists of both resistance and endurance exercise sessions under the guidance of trained coaches. The primary outcomes, fatigue and health related quality of life, are measured by self-reports. Secondary outcomes include fitness, mood disturbance, adherence to the cancer treatment, adverse effects, return to activities of daily living after completed treatment, return to work as well as inflammatory markers, cytokines and gene expression. DISCUSSION: The study will contribute to our understanding of the value of exercise and exercise intensity in reducing fatigue and improving health related quality of life and, potentially, clinical outcomes. The value of behaviour change techniques in terms of adherence to and maintenance of physical exercise behaviour in persons with cancer will be evaluated. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT02473003 , October, 2014.

Health care as perceived by persons with inflammatory bowel disease - a focus group study.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to explore the perceptions of health care among persons living with inflammatory bowel disease. BACKGROUND: The quality of care plays an important role in the life of persons with a chronic disease. To define what persons with inflammatory bowel disease perceive as high-quality care, greater focus must be placed on the individual's own perspective of living with the condition. DESIGN: A qualitative exploratory study was conducted based on focus groups. METHODS: Five focus groups were conducted with adult persons living with inflammatory bowel disease, 14 men and 12 women aged 19-76 years. The interviews were performed between January-June 2014. RESULTS: The perceptions of health care from the perspective of persons living with inflammatory bowel disease were summarised in two categories: 'professional attitudes of healthcare staff' and 'structure of the healthcare organisation'. Persons with inflammatory bowel disease want to be encountered with respect, experience trust and obtain information at the right time. They also expect shared decision-making, communication and to encounter competent healthcare professionals. Furthermore, the expectations on and perceptions of the structure of the healthcare organisation comprise access to care, accommodation, continuity of care, as well as the pros and cons of specialised care. CONCLUSION: The findings show the importance of establishing a respectful and trusting relationship, facilitating healthcare staff and persons with inflammatory bowel disease to work as a team in fulfilling individual care needs - but there is room for improvement in terms of quality of care. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: A person-centred approach, which places the individual and her/his family at the centre, considering them experts on their own health and enabling them to collaborate with healthcare staff, seems important to reach a high-quality healthcare organisation for patients with Inflammatory bowel disease.

Critical Situations in Daily Life as Experienced by Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis, collectively known as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), are chronic and have a fluctuating clinical course that impacts daily life. Daily life with a chronic disease involves thinking and worrying about the limitations that chronic disease causes. Knowledge about how patients who suffer from IBD manage critical incidents in daily life is lacking. The aim of the study was to describe how patients living with IBD experience critical incidents in daily life in relation to their disease and symptoms. Thirty adult patients were interviewed focusing on critical incidents in daily life. Data were analyzed using the critical incident technique. The study comprised 224 critical incidents and was grouped into 21 subcategories and 5 categories: losing bowel control, having a body that smells, being unable to meet own and others' expectations, not being believed or seen, and experiencing frustration due to side effects and ineffective treatment. These categories formed one main area describing the overall result "The bowels rule life." The uncertain nature of IBD created critical incidents in which the bowel ruled life, causing patients to avoid social interaction. It also placed considerable demands on the family and sometimes had a negative effect on the afflicted person's career.

Improvement of communication and interpersonal competence in telenursing--development of a self-assessment tool.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to develop a self-assessment tool aiming to raise telenurses' awareness of their communication and interpersonal competence, and highlight areas in need of improvement. BACKGROUND: Several studies have revealed the need for development of communication competence in telenursing. Structured analyses of conversations with patients/callers, is one way to increase telenurses' awareness of their unique communication and interpersonal competence. DESIGN: Instrument development, Validation assessment using the method Content Validity Index. METHOD: The process to determine content validity was done in two stages; the development stage and the assessment stage. The development stage started with a literature search. The assessment stage was separated into two phases, assessment by an expert group and assessment and test by telenurses. The telenurses also participated in consensus discussions. RESULTS: A telenursing self-assessment tool with 58 items was developed. The items were sorted into five sections according to the nursing process. CONCLUSION: This study describes the thorough development process of the telenursing self-assessment tool to be used by telenurses in order to become aware of their unique communication and interpersonal competence when analysing their own conversations with patients/callers. As a formative tool it is meant to provide self-direction, feedback and coaching, and create learning opportunities. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The self-assessment tool helps the telenurse to follow the nursing process, to be patient-centred, and it is meant to provide self-direction, feedback, and coaching, as well as create learning opportunities. The tool can contribute to the development of communication and interpersonal competence in telephone advice nursing. Further development of the tool may provide an objective scoring instrument for evaluating communication training and education in the field.

Prophylactic training for the prevention of radiotherapy-induced trismus - a randomised study.

BACKGROUND: Radiotherapy-induced trismus (RTIT) is a debilitating condition without any proven effective treatment. This study investigates the effectiveness of prophylactic training to prevent RTIT during and up to 12 months after completed RT in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC), also investigating the incidence of RTIT. METHODS: Sixty-six consecutive patients from two RT clinics in Sweden were randomised into one of two groups: training with TheraBite(®) Jaw Motion Rehabilitation System(™) or a control group. Maximum interincisal openings (MIO) were recorded at baseline and once a week during treatment, three, six and 12 months after completed RT. Training frequency was recorded by patients in a log book. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in MIO between the intervention and control groups at any of the measurement points. Patients in both groups maintained their normal variation in MIO at 12 months after completed RT. A small group of patients in the control group had a 17% mean decrease in MIO by week 6 compared to baseline and improved their MIO by using the training programme. There was a significant mean difference in MIO from baseline to week 6 (3 mm, p = 0.018), and month 6 (2.7 mm, p = 0.040), for patients receiving 3D conformal radiotherapy. There was a significant difference in MIO between patients treated with RT and concurrent chemotherapy compared to patients with RT only at 12 months (p = 0.033). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with HNC undergoing high dose RT do not need to be burdened with an intense prophylactic training programme during RT and up to 12 months after completed RT. MIO measurements during RT and up to 12 months after completed RT are recommended to identify a small risk group who are an exception and may need a training programme.

Symptom prevalence, frequency, severity, and distress during chemotherapy for patients with colorectal cancer.

PURPOSE: Early detection and improvements in treatment have increased survival after colorectal cancer (CRC), but studies investigating the multidimensional nature of treatment-related symptoms are rare. The aim of this study was therefore to describe the prevalence, frequency, and severity of symptoms and the distress they cause during the early treatment of patients with CRC undergoing chemotherapy. METHODS: Consecutive outpatients were asked to rate their symptoms during cycle 2 or 3 of chemotherapy, using the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale. RESULTS: A total of 104 patients, 58 men and 46 women, evaluated their symptoms of the preceding week at one point during the treatment. The mean number of symptoms was 10.3 (SD, 7.7; range, 0-32). Highly prevalent symptoms were numbness/tingling in the hands/feet (64 %), lack of energy (62 %), feeling drowsy (49 %), and nausea (45 %). Symptoms with the highest scores for frequency, severity, and distress were lack of energy followed by difficulty in sleeping and numbness in the hands/feet. Lack of energy was noted as occurring almost constantly by 26 % and was rated as being severe or very severe by 12 % and as quite distressing or very distressing by 15 %. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that patients with CRC receiving chemotherapy experience several distressing symptoms early in the treatment phase. In order to provide symptom control, oncology staff should consider evaluating the patient's symptoms early during treatment and plan adequate measures to minimize the impact of treatment-induced toxicity.

What do patients need to know? Living with inflammatory bowel disease.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To explore the need for knowledge as expressed by patients diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease. BACKGROUND: Inflammatory bowel disease has a major impact on physical and emotional well-being, placing considerable demands on patients' management of daily activities. Although inflammatory bowel disease patients' level of knowledge about their disease has been previously studied, it is necessary to learn more about their self-expressed needs. DESIGN: The study was designed to explore patients' need for knowledge; therefore, an inductive method was chosen. METHODS: Thirty patients with inflammatory bowel disease were interviewed. Content analysis was used to describe their need for knowledge. RESULTS: The analysis generated three categories and eight subcategories: (1) knowledge related to the course of the disease (subcategories: understanding causal relationships between symptoms and the disease, complications related to the disease and understanding treatment), (2) knowledge related to managing everyday life (subcategories: behaviour that enhances well-being and managing social life) and (3) difficulty understanding and assimilating information (subcategories: shifting knowledge needs, help to understand information and reasons for wanting or not wanting knowledge). CONCLUSION: Knowledge needs were related to what to expect when living with inflammatory bowel disease in order to manage everyday life. There was a great variation in the need for knowledge, which was greatest immediately following diagnosis and during relapse. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: It is important for healthcare providers to ascertain the patients' individual knowledge needs and together with them formulate an individual care plan that gives the patient the necessary knowledge to manage their health and social life.

Interaction between telenurses and callers - A deductive analysis of content and timing in telephone nursing calls.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the content and timing of verbal interaction between telephone nurses and callers, and to suggest areas for improvement. METHODS: Transcribed telephone conversations (n = 30) to a national nurse-led advisory service were analyzed using deductive content analysis. Categorization of data was based on components of interaction in the Interaction Model of Client Heath Behavior (IMCHB): health information, affective support, decisional control, and professional-technical competencies. The content was described both quantitatively, based on word count, and qualitatively, using descriptions and exemplars. Transcripts were also coded according to five phases in the conversation process: opening, listening, analyzing, motivating, and ending. The distribution of interaction components among phases was explored. RESULTS: Interaction primarily focused on health information, particularly during the listening and analyzing phases. Telenurses based their advice on medical facts and guided callers through the conversation process. Callers' emotions and reflections on advice were rarely discussed. CONCLUSIONS: Health information dominate conversations. Interaction can be further developed, particularly with respect to acknowledging callers' emotional responses, their reactions to advice, and ensuring clarity in exchange of health information. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Findings offer valuable guidance for future development of interaction in telenursing.