Life after prostate cancer treatment: a mixed methods study of the experiences of men with sexual dysfunction and their partners.

BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer in men and sexual dysfunction is the most frequently reported long-term side effect of prostate cancer surgery or radiation. The aim of this study was to examine the experiences of men with sexual dysfunction and their partners following prostate cancer treatment. METHODS: Men with sexual dysfunction from either surgical removal or radiation therapy 1-5 years after treatment were interviewed, as well as their partners. A mixed method design was used to determine the lived experience of men with sexual dysfunction. Open-ended questions guided the interviews. RESULTS: Twenty seven men completed the study with a mean age of 61 years (SD = 8.0; range = 44-77 years). Nine partners also participated. The majority of men (92.6%) had surgery. The average time from treatment to the interview was 23.5 months (SD = 11.7). Themes were frustration with sexual dysfunction, importance of support and understanding from others, depression and anxiety related to sexual dysfunction, importance of intimacy with partner, factors that impact treatment satisfaction, and education and comprehensive information about sex. CONCLUSIONS: Prostate cancer survivors and partners need accurate information about sexual side effects before during and after treatment. Men and partners required individualized help and guidance to manage sexual dysfunction. Support and understanding from partners, family, and others was also identified as an important aspect of healing and adjustment after prostate cancer treatment. Prostate cancer education/support groups played a key role in helping men and partners gain advocacy, education, and support. Psychological problems such as depression and anxiety need to be identified and addressed in men after prostate cancer treatment. Men and partners need assistance in understanding and navigating their way through intimacy to move forward with connectedness in their relationship. Satisfaction with treatment and with providers is dependent on patient education and understanding of all aspects of prostate cancer treatment including sexual side effects and incontinence.

Sexual Dysfunction and Intimacy for Ostomates.

Sex and intimacy presents special challenges for the ostomate. Since some colorectal surgery patients will require either temporary or permanent stomas, intimacy and sexuality is a common issue for ostomates. In addition to the stoma, nerve damage, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy are often used in conjunction with stoma creation for cancer patients, thereby adding physiological dysfunction to the personal psychological impact of the stoma, leading to sexual dysfunction. The purpose of this paper is to describe the prevalence, etiology, and the most common types of sexual dysfunction in men and women after colorectal surgery and particularly those patients with stomas. In addition, treatment strategies for sexual dysfunction will also be described.

Gum chewing and gastrointestinal function following caesarean delivery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The aims of this systematic review and meta-analysis were to summarise current knowledge regarding gum chewing intervention for activation of the gastrointestinal (GI) system following caesarean delivery. BACKGROUND: GI symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and defecatory difficulties are bothersome for women following a caesarean delivery. There is category A recommendation to not withhold oral intake postoperatively. However, current practice guidelines vary widely on time to initiate oral feeding post caesarean delivery, and additional research is needed. Gum chewing has been shown to stimulate the GI system in other postoperative patient populations. DESIGN: A systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS: An electronic review was undertaken using the following resources: PubMed (Medline), CINAHL, EMBASE and ClinicalTrials.gov databases. Key words used in various combinations included cesarean section; cesarean delivery; postoperative chewing gum; bowel movement; bowel function and complications. RESULTS: A total of 171 articles were found of which 166 were excluded: 157 were duplicates and the remainder did not meet the inclusion criteria. Five randomised control trials were included in the meta-analysis, focusing on gum chewing as an intervention as compared with a nongum chewing intervention, with a total of 846 participants. Compared with the nongum chewing group, gum chewing showed a beneficial impact on the major outcomes of digestive system activation, including bowel sound, gas passage and defecation. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis supports the effectiveness of gum chewing post caesarean delivery as a noninvasive/nonpharmacological intervention for reactivation of bowel movement. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Gum chewing in the immediate postoperative period following caesarean delivery may provide a socially acceptable, low-cost and safe intervention to reduce postcaesarean delivery GI complications and restore GI function.

Reducing Disparities in Postpartum Care Utilization: Development of a Clinical Risk Assessment Tool.

INTRODUCTION: Patients receiving care at Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) have low postpartum care attendance. Perinatal morbidity and mortality disproportionately affect patients with low-income and are potentially preventable. The purpose of this study was to develop a clinical decision support tool to identify FQHC patients less likely to return for postpartum care. To accomplish this purpose, we evaluated established predictors and novel risk factors in our patient population. METHODS: This is a retrospective, secondary data analysis of 50,022 patients who received prenatal care past 24 weeks' gestation in FQHCs between 2012 and 2017. The postpartum visit was defined using Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set measures as early care (birth to 21 days) and later care (21-84 days). Anderson's Behavioral Model for Access to Healthcare guided inclusion of potentially predictive factors. We stratified data by postpartum care attendance, and a final predictive model was selected by model fit statistics and clinical relevance. RESULTS: In our sample, 64% of birthing persons attended postpartum care at FQHCs. Of those who returned for care, 38% returned within 21 days postbirth and 62% returned between 21 and 84 days, with 28% returning for both early and later care. Predictors for postpartum care attendance included maternal age, parity, gestational age at first visit, and number of prenatal care visits. A clinical decision support tool for identifying patients less likely to return for care was created. DISCUSSION: An easy to implement clinical decision support tool can help identify FQHC patients at risk for postpartum nonattendance. Future interventions to improve adequacy of prenatal care can encourage early entry into prenatal care and sufficient prenatal visits. These efforts may improve postpartum care attendance and maternal health.

Promoting REproductive Planning And REadiness in Diabetes (PREPARED) Study protocol: a clinic-randomised controlled trial testing a technology-based strategy to promote preconception care for women with type 2 diabetes.

INTRODUCTION: Women with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) are more likely to experience adverse reproductive outcomes, yet preconception care can significantly reduce these risks. For women with T2DM, preconception care includes reproductive planning and patient education on: (1) the importance of achieving glycaemic control before pregnancy, (2) using effective contraception until pregnancy is desired, (3) discontinuing teratogenic medications if pregnancy could occur, (4) taking folic acid, and (5) managing cardiovascular and other risks. Despite its importance, few women with T2DM receive recommended preconception care. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We are conducting a two-arm, clinic-randomised trial at 51 primary care practices in Chicago, Illinois to evaluate a technology-based strategy to 'hardwire' preconception care for women of reproductive age with T2DM (the PREPARED (Promoting REproductive Planning And REadiness in Diabetes) strategy) versus usual care. PREPARED leverages electronic health record (EHR) technology before and during primary care visits to: (1) promote medication safety, (2) prompt preconception counselling and reproductive planning, and (3) deliver patient-friendly educational tools to reinforce counselling. Post-visit, text messaging is used to: (4) encourage healthy lifestyle behaviours. English and Spanish-speaking women, aged 18-44 years, with T2DM will be enrolled (N=840; n=420 per arm) and will receive either PREPARED or usual care based on their clinic's assignment. Data will be collected from patient interviews and the EHR. Outcomes include haemoglobin A1c (primary), reproductive knowledge and self-management behaviours. We will use generalised linear mixed-effects models (GLMMs) to evaluate the impact of PREPARED on these outcomes. GLMMs will include a fixed effect for treatment assignment (PREPARED vs usual care) and random clinic effects. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study was approved by the Northwestern University Institutional Review Board (STU00214604). Study results will be published in journals with summaries shared online and with participants upon request. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ClinicalTrials.gov Registry (NCT04976881).

Risk of breastfeeding cessation among low-income women, infants, and children: a discrete time survival analysis.

BACKGROUND: Women who receive services from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) often stop breastfeeding earlier than recommended. Little is known about maternal background and intrapersonal variables that predict the timing of breastfeeding cessation over the 12-month postpartum period. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to identify the maternal background and intrapersonal predictors associated with the timing of breastfeeding cessation in WIC participants over the course of the 12-month postpartum period. METHOD: Existing longitudinal survey and administrative data from low-income breastfeeding WIC recipients (n = 309) were analyzed using discrete time survival analysis. Risk of breastfeeding cessation was the outcome, and self-reported items were used to derive predictor variables that corresponded to the background and intrapersonal variables of the Interaction Model of Client Health Behavior. RESULTS: Rates of breastfeeding were low (31% at 6 months and 6% at 12 months). In the best fitting discrete time survival analysis model, women who were older and of Mexican ethnicity, who had previous breastfeeding experience, and who had breastfeeding support from family or friends were at lowest risk for breastfeeding cessation at each monthly interval. DISCUSSION: Breastfeeding duration rates were lower than Healthy People 2020 benchmarks of 61% at 6 months and 34% at 12 months. Clinicians and researchers can use the findings from this study to develop interventions that are targeted to periods of greatest risk of premature breastfeeding cessation to prolong breastfeeding duration in this vulnerable population.

Predicting Postpartum Transition to Primary Care in Community Health Centers.

INTRODUCTION: Although the transition to primary care after routine postpartum care has been recommended to mitigate adverse maternal outcomes, little is known about real-world transition patterns. The objective of this study was to describe the patterns and predictors of transition in a postpartum cohort receiving care at federally qualified health centers and a subcohort of clinically high-risk patients. METHODS: Electronic health record data collected between 2017 and 2019 were analyzed in 2021 for unadjusted analyses and multivariable regression models for both the full and high-risk cohorts. The primary outcome was completion of a primary care visit within 6 months of delivery. Primary predictors in both cohorts were insurance loss, postpartum visit, first-trimester visit, and medical visit within the year prepregnancy; for the full cohort, high-risk status was also studied. RESULTS: The full cohort (N=7,926) analysis showed that 17.3% completed a primary care visit. In unadjusted and adjusted analysis, all 5 predictors were significantly associated with primary care visit completion; 25.0% of high-risk patients completed a primary care visit, and patients who lost insurance had 66% lower odds of primary care visit completion (95% CI=0.24, 0.48). In unadjusted and adjusted analysis for the high-risk cohort (n=1,956, 24.7% of full cohort), all predictors except postpartum visit were significantly associated with primary care visit completion. CONCLUSIONS: Postpartum patients at federally qualified health centers transitioned to primary care at low rates; insurance loss was one significant barrier to care. Strategies to increase continuity, including improving insurance access, should be studied. Future research is needed to study structural inequity, the impact of primary care on maternal outcomes, and patient experience.

Yoga for Women With Urgency Urinary Incontinence: A Pilot Study.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of a gentle yoga program for women with urgency urinary incontinence (UUI). Also, these preliminary data can evaluate if yoga improves symptom burden, quality of life, and inflammatory biomarkers for women with UUI. METHODS: This prospective nonrandomized single-arm pilot study evaluated the effectiveness of a twice-weekly, 8-week gentle yoga intervention to reduce UUI symptom burden. Changes in symptom burden were measured using the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory 20. Secondary measures included quality of life, depressive symptoms, sleep, stress, anxiety, and inflammatory biomarkers. Outcomes were evaluated with paired t testing. RESULTS: Twelve women completed the yoga intervention with no adverse outcomes noted. Urgency symptom burden was significantly improved after the intervention (P = 0.01), and women reported an increase in quality of life (P = 0.04) after the yoga intervention. Following the yoga intervention, the majority of women reported symptoms as "much better" (n = 4 [33%]) and "a little better" (n = 5 [42%]), with 3 women (25%) reporting "no change." Women also reported significant reduction in depressive symptoms (P = 0.03) and better quality of sleep (P = 0.03). No significant changes were found in anxiety or stress perception. Plasma levels of the inflammatory biomarker tumor necrosis factor α were reduced after yoga intervention (P = 0.009); however, no significant postyoga changes were found for interleukin 6 or C-reactive protein. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides preliminary evidence that yoga is a feasible complementary therapy that reduces incontinence symptom burden, along with improving quality of life, depressive symptoms, and sleep quality. Additionally, yoga may lower inflammatory biomarkers associated with incontinence.

Musculoskeletal Pelvic Pain and Sexual Function in the First Year After Childbirth.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize sexual function in women with and without musculoskeletal pelvic pain during the first year after childbirth. DESIGN: Cross-sectional descriptive study. SETTING: Outpatient women's health clinic in a Midwestern U.S. academic medical center. PARTICIPANTS: Women who gave birth to singleton infants within the past year. METHODS: Women were recruited from various outpatient settings. We obtained baseline demographic variables and used selected components from the Wilson and Cleary Health-Related Quality of Life model. Participants completed questionnaires related to sexual health, pain symptoms, and general quality of life. They were asked to indicate their pain on a pain diagram and to quantify it with the use of a numeric rating scale (NRS). Examiners used validated examination techniques to assess pelvic floor muscle tenderness, strength, and pelvic girdle pain. Participants who reported pelvic pain and had at least one positive physical examination finding were classified in the pain group. RESULTS: Forty-five participants completed the study, and 20 participants were in the pain group. Most participants with pain had pelvic girdle pain (n = 15) and pelvic floor myofascial pain (n = 20). Participants with pain reported less sexual satisfaction (t[43] = 2.84, p = .007) and reduced quality of life (t[36] = 5.25, p < .001) compared with participants without pain. CONCLUSION: Participants who experienced musculoskeletal pelvic pain in the first year after childbirth were significantly more likely to report problems with sexual function compared with their counterparts without pain.

"Maybe black girls do yoga": A focus group study with predominantly low-income African-American women.

OBJECTIVE: To explore African American (AA) women's use of mind-body therapies, such as yoga and mindfulness, and factors that impact their experiences, observations and opinions. DESIGN: Focus groups were conducted to better understand how AA women perceive mind-body therapies and how to best bring these interventions into their community. Interviews were audiotaped and transcribed. SETTING: The urban Midwest. OUTCOME MEASURES: In addition to qualitative outcomes, descriptive measures included the Perceived Stressor Scale, Beliefs About Yoga Scale, and Determinants of Meditation Practice Inventory (DOMPI). RESULTS: Twenty-two, predominantly low-income (75% reported income <$50,000) and single (82%) women participated in three age stratified focus groups (18-34 years, 35-65 years, 66 years and older). Participants acknowledged life stress and shared common coping mechanisms. They recognized that yoga and mindfulness could be beneficial and discussed barriers to practice (including personal and structural). Younger women reported more time constraints as barriers, middle aged women had more experience with yoga, and older women identified the spiritual component to yoga/mindfulness as potentially conflicting with current coping strategies. Participants suggested ways to share mind-body therapies within the AA community along with solutions for engagement. CONCLUSIONS: AA women acknowledged stress in their lives and recognized the need for additional coping measures. Although women reported interest in yoga/mindfulness they identified barriers, including limited access to convenient classes, and offered suggestions for bringing yoga and mindfulness to their communities.

Triathlete Risk of Pelvic Floor Disorders, Pelvic Girdle Pain, and Female Athlete Triad.

OBJECTIVES: Our primary objective was to describe the prevalence of pelvic floor disorders (PFDs), pelvic girdle pain (PGP), and the female athlete triad (disordered eating, menstrual irregularities, and osteoporosis) in a female triathlete population. We also evaluated for an association between these conditions. METHODS: We administered an online survey to women who self-identified as female triathletes. Using validated questionnaires, Epidemiology of Prolapse and Incontinence Questionnaire and Pelvic Girdle Questionnaire, along with the female athlete triad questionnaire, we identified the prevalence of PFDs, PGP, and female athlete triad in this specific population. Demographic and exercise intensity were also queried to characterize these female triathletes. RESULTS: Three hundred eleven female triathletes responded to the Internet survey. There was a significant prevalence of PFDs with stress urinary incontinence and anal incontinence symptoms being most common (37.4% and 28%, respectively). Urgency urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse were less common (16% and 5%, respectively). Stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse were more common in parous triathletes (P = 0.001, P = 0.05). Pelvic girdle pain was noted in 18% of these triathletes but was not disabling. Twenty-four percent of participants screened positive for at least 1 arm of the female athlete triad. No association was found between the female athlete triad and PFDs. CONCLUSIONS: Pelvic floor disorders are common and bothersome in female triathletes. Pelvic girdle pain, while present, does not limit these athletes from their training. These female triathletes may be at risk for the female athlete triad. Female triathletes may be at risk for both metabolic and PFDs and should be screened when identified.

Quality of life in women who use pessaries for longer than 12 months.

OBJECTIVES: Pessaries are an effective treatment for pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence; however, few data exist describing long-term pessary use. Our aim was to describe symptom bother and quality of life (QoL) in women using pessaries for urinary incontinence and/or prolapse for at least 12 months. METHODS: Consecutive women who met inclusion criteria were approached for this observational cross-sectional study. Wilson and Cleary's Health-Related Quality of Life Model guided the inclusion of biologic, functional, and individual factors that impact the health-related QoL. Consenting participants completed a generalized QoL index, the Center for Epidemiologic Depression Symptoms, Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey, and condition-specific measures; the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory (PFDI-20-SF) and the Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire. RESULTS: Fifty-six women, mean age 74.4 years (range, 47-89 years), completed the survey. Mean length of time for pessary use was 4.5 years (1-15 years). Most of the women (n = 31, 55.4%) returned to the clinic for pessary care every 3 months. There was no difference in generalized QoL nor condition-specific total PFDI-20 in women performing self-care versus routine follow-up. Almost one third (29%) of participants reported complications related to pessary use (eg, vaginal erosion), and 41%were considering surgical repair in the near future. Women who were considering surgery had higher PFDI-20 scores relating to more bothersome prolapse symptoms than those not considering surgery (Pelvic Organ Prolapse Distress Inventory 6, 33.91 vs 24.73, P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Pessaries can be used to control pelvic floor symptoms for extended periods. Complication rates in this study were lower than previously reported, even in women not doing self-care. Not surprisingly, women considering surgical intervention reported greater symptom bother despite pessary use.

DNP and PhD Collaboration: Bringing Together Practice and Research Expertise as Predegree and Postdegree Scholars.

A deliberate course of predegree intraprofessional DNP and PhD student collaboration can yield relationships that will facilitate postdegree teamwork. Working together, DNP-prepared nurses can use their practice expertise, and PhD-prepared nurses can use their research expertise to improve and change health care. This article presents 3 contexts in which predegree collaboration can occur between DNP and PhD students. Postdegree DNP and PhD collaboration can occur in 2 contexts.

Yoga: a biobehavioral approach to reduce symptom distress in women with urge urinary incontinence.

Urge urinary incontinence is a debilitating chronic condition that poses challenges for affected women and the clinicians who care for them. Multicomponent behavioral therapies have shown promise in allowing women to manage their symptoms. New evidence suggests an underlying pathophysiologic inflammatory process for urge urinary incontinence, and complementary therapies that address the psychoneuroimmunology component may improve the health and quality of life for the millions of women with this condition. Yoga, a mind-body therapy, has been shown to reduce inflammation and may help improve symptoms of urge urinary incontinence. More research is necessary to demonstrate the effectiveness of yoga to reduce urge urinary incontinence symptom burden and improve quality of life.

Predictors of breastfeeding exclusivity in a WIC sample.

OBJECTIVE: To examine predictors of breastfeeding exclusivity in low-income women who received services from a Chicago area clinic of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC). DESIGN: A secondary data analysis of existing clinical and administrative data. SETTING: An urban community health center serving low-income families. PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred and thirty-five (235) low-income women who initiated breastfeeding and received WIC services. METHODS: Logistic regression models were fit to existing prenatal and postpartum data to determine predictors of breastfeeding exclusivity during the immediate postpartum period. RESULTS: Only 23% of the sample breastfed exclusively. Women who received first-trimester prenatal care were more likely to exclusively breastfeed than women who entered prenatal care in later trimesters (OR = 2.02, p ≤ 0.05). Women who declared intentions prenatally to exclusively breastfeed were more likely to exclusively breastfeed than women who did not intend to breastfeed (OR = 3.85, p ≤ 0.001). Overweight/obese women were less likely to exclusively breastfeed than normal/underweight women (OR = 0.50, p ≤ 0.05). CONCLUSION: Findings from this study can be used to develop tailored interventions to promote breastfeeding exclusivity among low-income WIC recipients.

Knowledge and perceptions of pelvic floor disorders among african american and latina women.

OBJECTIVE: : The objective of this study was to explore knowledge, barriers to seeking sociocultural perceptions of pelvic floor disorders (PFDs) among African American (AA) and Latina (LA) community-dwelling women. METHODS: : Thirty-two women participated in 4 focus groups. The sample included AA and LA women aged 24 to 77 years. Focus groups were stratified by age and race/ethnicity. Discussion questions included knowledge of and related health needs and barriers to seeking care with respect to PFDs, urinary incontinence, and pelvic organ prolapse. Demographics and basic knowledge and experience with PFDs were also captured by survey. RESULTS: : Several significant themes emerged from the data. AA and LA women had general misconceptions about PFDs and were unaware of PFDs causes, symptoms, and available treatments. Women were eager to receive more information, particularly prevention information that could be shared with their daughters. A major barrier to seeking care was the pattern of placing family demands before their own health needs. CONCLUSIONS: : Findings suggest that there is a gap in information on PFDs among AA and LA women, yet a demand for information exists. Sociocultural perspectives discerned from focus group with AA and LA women can be used to tailor educational information and materials on PFDs. Findings may increase health provider awareness of the unique sociocultural barriers to seeking care for AA and LA women and improve patient education on PFDs.