Who is susceptible to online health misinformation? A test of four psychosocial hypotheses.

Objective: Health misinformation on social media threatens public health. One question that could lend insight into how and through whom misinformation spreads is whether certain people are susceptible to many types of health misinformation, regardless of the health topic at hand. This study provided an initial answer to this question and also tested four hypotheses concerning the psychosocial attributes of people who are susceptible to health misinformation: (1) deficits in knowledge or skill, (2) preexisting attitudes, (3) trust in health care and/or science, and (4) cognitive miserliness. Method: Participants in a national U.S. survey (N = 923) rated the perceived accuracy and influence of true and false social media posts about statin medications, cancer treatment, and the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine and then responded to individual difference and demographic questions. Results: Perceived accuracy of health misinformation was strongly correlated across statins, cancer, and the HPV vaccine (rs ≥ .70), indicating that individuals who are susceptible to misinformation about one of these topics are very likely to believe misinformation about the other topics as well. Misinformation susceptibility across all three topics was most strongly predicted by lower educational attainment and health literacy, distrust in the health care system, and positive attitudes toward alternative medicine. Conclusions: A person who is susceptible to online misinformation about one health topic may be susceptible to many types of health misinformation. Individuals who were more susceptible to health misinformation had less education and health literacy, less health care trust, and more positive attitudes toward alternative medicine. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

High Interrater Variability in Intraoperative Language Testing and Interpretation in Awake Brain Mapping Among Neurosurgeons or Neuropsychologists: An Emerging Need for Standardization.

OBJECTIVE: Brain mapping with direct electric stimulation is considered the gold standard for maximum safe resection of tumors affecting eloquent regions. However, no consensus exists in selection and interpretation of intraoperative testing for language and other cognitive domains. Our aim was to capture and statistically analyze variability in practices in intraoperative language testing among neurosurgeons and neuropsychologists in the United States, Europe, and the rest of the world. METHODS: An electronic questionnaire was developed by a multidisciplinary team at Queen Square, London, and distributed internationally through selected organized societies. The survey included 2 domains: terminology and common understanding of clinical deficits; and selection of intraoperative tests used per specific brain region. Participants were stratified by specialty, years of experience, and monthly caseload. Data were analyzed using Krippendorff α, Wilcoxon rank sum test, and Kruskal-Wallis analysis of variance. RESULTS: A total of 137 specialists participated. A low agreement was recorded for each of the 20 questions (Krippendorff α = -0.023 to 0.312). Further subgroup analysis revealed low interrater reliability independent of specialism (neurosurgeons, α = 0.013-0.318 compared with nonneurosurgeons, α = -0.021 to 0.398; P = 0.808) and years of experience (<1 years, α = -0.003 to 0.282; 2-5 years, α = 0.009-0.327; 6-10 years, α = 0.003-0.234; and >10 years, α = -0.003 to 0.372; P = 0.200). CONCLUSIONS: The current study documents high interrater variability, regardless of specialism and years of experience in the cohort of neurosurgeons and language specialists surveyed and may be applicable to a wider group of specialists, indicating the need to reduce interobserver, interinstitutional and interspecialty variability, reach consensus, and increase the validity, interpretation, and predictive power of intraoperative mapping.

Social support and psychosocial functioning in women after mastectomy.

OBJECTIVE: Social support has been reported as beneficial for the psychological functioning of people coping with a disease. The objective of this study was to verify whether levels of perceived social support are associated with psychosocial functioning in women who have had a mastectomy and whether specific types of social support are linked to specific indices of functioning. METHOD: Seventy women with a history of mastectomy completed questionnaires measuring their psychosocial functioning as related to their health status: Disease-Related Appraisal Scale, Acceptance of Life with the Disease Scale and Beck Depression Inventory. All participants also completed a measure of perceived social support (Disease-Related Social Support Scale). RESULTS: Women who reported higher levels of perceived social support revealed statistically significantly lower levels of depressive symptoms, higher appraisals of their disease in terms of challenge and value, and lower appraisals of their disease in terms of obstacle/loss. Women with greater social support also revealed higher levels of acceptance of life with the disease compared to those with less social support. Regression analyses showed that spiritual support was the type of support that significantly accounted for the variance in the majority of functioning indices. Some indices of functioning were also significantly accounted for by emotional and instrumental support. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE RESULTS: The process of psychological adjustment to a life-threatening disease such as breast cancer depends on multiple variables; however, social support, including spiritual support, seems to be one significant contributor to this process.

Orientações para empregadores, trabalhadores e pacientes dos serviços de psicologia: medidas de prevenção e controle da disseminação do SARS-COV-2 (COVID-19) / Guidelines for employers, workers and patients in psychology services: measures to prevent and control the spread of SARS-COV-2 (COVID-19)

Protocolos Específicos com Medidas de Prevenção e Controle da Disseminação do SARSCoV-2 (COVID-19) para os serviços relativos à saúde humana, e dá outras providências

Psycho social risks noted by oncology workers related to their quality of life.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the relation between occupational psychosocial risks and quality of life related to health, felt by workers who work in oncology and palliative care units in a region of Chile. METHOD: Cross-sectional analytical study of quantitative approach, in which 110 health workers participated. Research met the ethical requirements of E. Emanuel. RESULTS: Participants perceive greater exposure to psychosocial risks in the dimension of psychological demands and double presence. On the other hand, they see better results in the physical health component (𝒙: 76.72; SD 9.75) versus the mental health component (𝒙: 71.13; SD 6.38). In addition, there are relations with statistical significance, between psychosocial risks and quality of life related to Health (p≤0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that there the perception of psychosocial risks and quality of life are related, when considering the health of workers.

Psycho social risks noted by oncology workers related to their quality of life / Riscos psicossociais identificados por profissionais de oncologia associados à sua qualidade de vida / Riesgos psicosociales percibidos por trabajadores oncológicos asociados a su calidad de vida

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the relation between occupational psychosocial risks and quality of life related to health, felt by workers who work in oncology and palliative care units in a region of Chile. Method: Cross-sectional analytical study of quantitative approach, in which 110 health workers participated. Research met the ethical requirements of E. Emanuel. Results: Participants perceive greater exposure to psychosocial risks in the dimension of psychological demands and double presence. On the other hand, they see better results in the physical health component (��: 76.72; SD 9.75) versus the mental health component (��: 71.13; SD 6.38). In addition, there are relations with statistical significance, between psychosocial risks and quality of life related to Health (p≤0.05). Conclusions: This study shows that there the perception of psychosocial risks and quality of life are related, when considering the health of workers.

RESUMO Objetivo: Analisar a relação entre os riscos psicossociais do trabalho e a qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde, identificada por profissionais que atuam em unidades de oncologia e cuidados paliativos em uma região do Chile. Método: Estudo analítico transversal, de abordagem quantitativa, em que participaram 110 profissionais da Saúde. A pesquisa atendeu os requisitos éticos de E. Emanuel. Resultados: Os participantes identificam uma maior exposição a riscos psicossociais na dimensão de demandas psicológicas e presença dupla; por outro lado, notam melhores resultados no componente da saúde física (��: 76,72; DE 9,75) versus o componente da saúde mental (��:71,13; DE:6,38). Além disso, há conexão, com estatísticas significantes, entre os riscos psicossociais e a qualidade de vida relacionada à Saúde (p ≤0,05). Conclusões: O presente estudo permite afirmar que há uma conexão entre a percepção de riscos psicossociais e a qualidade de vida relacionada com a saúde dos profissionais.

RESUMEN Objetivo: analizar la relación entre riesgos psicosociales laborales y calidad de vida relacionada con salud, percibida por trabajadores que se desempeñan en unidades de oncología y cuidados paliativos de una región de Chile. Método: estudio analítico transversal de abordaje cuantitativo, en el cual participaron 110 trabajadores de salud. La investigación cumplió con los requisitos éticos de E. Emanuel. Resultados: los participantes perciben mayor exposición a riesgos psicosociales en la dimensión demandas psicológicas y doble presencia, por otra parte, perciben mejores resultados en el componente de salud física (��: 76,72; DE 9,75) versus el componente de salud mental (��:71,13; DE:6,38). Además, existen relaciones con significancia estadística, entre riesgos psicosocial y calidad de vida relacionada con Salud (p ≤0,05). Conclusiones: este estudio permite afirmar que hay una relación entre la percepción de riesgo psicosocial y calidad de vida relacionada con salud de los trabajadores.

Occupational therapists' perceptions of psychosocial strategies for clients with Parkinson's disease.

Psychological strategies are a promising adjunct to pharmacological treatment for symptoms, including depression and anxiety associated with Parkinson's disease. In this study, we investigated perceptions and reported behaviors of occupational therapists regarding the use of psychosocial strategies during their practice with clients with Parkinson's disease. The results of a cross-sectional online survey (n = 115 occupational therapists) demonstrated that the majority of participants (83%) reported using psychosocial strategies with their clients living with Parkinson's disease, with goal setting the most frequent. Almost all occupational therapists (99.1%) reported that it was moderately to extremely important to have knowledge about psychosocial strategies for practice with clients living with Parkinson's disease, and 96.5% rated it important to be able to offer these strategies in practice with their clients living with Parkinson's disease. The majority (91.3%) felt incorporating psychosocial strategies into their practice was moderately to extremely beneficial, and 93.9% reported that psychosocial strategies have a moderate-to-extremely positive effect on Parkinson's disease management outcomes. These findings have important implications for the education and training of occupational therapists working with clients living with Parkinson's disease to help ensure the best possible outcomes for people with Parkinson's disease.

The Hans Eysenck affair: Time to correct the scientific record.

The Journal of Health Psychology publishes here Dr Anthony Pelosi's analysis of questionable science by one of the world's best-known psychologists, the late Professor Hans J Eysenck. The provenance of a huge body of data produced by Eysenck and Ronald Grossarth-Maticek is highly controversial. In Open letters to King's College London and the British Psychological Society, this editor is requesting a thorough investigation of the facts together with retraction or correction of 61 publications. Academic institutions have a conflict of interest concerning allegations of misconduct, which is why I believe that the only way forward is to have a National Research Integrity Ombudsperson to investigate allegations.

Standards of Psychosocial Care for Parents of Children With Cancer.

Parents and caregivers of children with cancer are both resilient and deeply affected by the child's cancer. A systematic review of published research since 1995 identified 138 studies of moderate quality indicating that parent distress increases around diagnosis, then returns to normal levels. Post-traumatic symptoms are common. Distress may be impairing for vulnerable parents and may impact a child's coping and adjustment. Moderate quality evidence and expert consensus informed a strong recommendation for parents and caregivers to receive early and ongoing assessment of their mental health needs with access to appropriate interventions facilitated to optimize parent, child, and family well being.

Supporting Siblings as a Standard of Care in Pediatric Oncology.

In this study, evidence is provided for supporting siblings as a standard of care in pediatric oncology. Using Medline, PsycInfo, and CINAHL, a systematic search of articles published over the past two decades about siblings of children with cancer was conducted. A total of 125 articles, which were primarily descriptive studies, were evaluated by the four investigators using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) criteria. There is moderate-quality evidence, as well as support from community stakeholders, to justify a strong recommendation that siblings of children with cancer should be provided with psychosocial services and that parents and professionals are advised about how to meet siblings' needs.

Psychosocial Interventions and Therapeutic Support as a Standard of Care in Pediatric Oncology.

Research indicates that a subset of youths with childhood cancer and their parents will experience significant psychological distress throughout the course of their illness. Importantly, the existing literature indicates that psychosocial support is beneficial in decreasing symptoms of distress in these families. The aim of the current review is to determine the extent of the evidence to support a standard of psychosocial care for children and their families throughout the cancer trajectory; thus, we examined the research related to psychosocial outcomes in youth with cancer and their parents.

Communication, Documentation, and Training Standards in Pediatric Psychosocial Oncology.

As part of a larger effort to create standards for psychosocial care of children with cancer, we document consensus and evidence-based data on interprofessional communication, documentation, and training for professionals providing psycho-oncology services. Six databases were searched. Sixty-five articles and six guidelines and consensus-based documents were identified; 35 met inclusion criteria. Data support strong recommendations for standards of care in communication/collaboration, documentation of patient information, and training in pediatric psycho-oncology. These are areas where extensive research is unlikely to be conducted; however, professional expectations and qualifications may be further clarified and strengthened with time.

Assessment of Financial Burden as a Standard of Care in Pediatric Oncology.

Family financial hardship has emerged as a burden of pediatric cancer treatment with negative implications for family well-being. As part of an extensive project to create evidence-based standards for the psychosocial care of children with cancer, we performed a literature review of pediatric cancer-associated financial hardship utilizing six databases, and identified 24 publications for incorporation into this review. Financial hardship during childhood cancer was found to affect a significant proportion of the population and to negatively impact family well-being. Existing literature supports a strong recommendation for assessment of financial hardship as a component of comprehensive psychosocial care in pediatric oncology.

Providing Children and Adolescents Opportunities for Social Interaction as a Standard of Care in Pediatric Oncology.

Experiences with peers constitute an important aspect of socialization, and children and adolescents with cancer may experience reduced social interaction due to treatment. A literature review was conducted to investigate the evidence to support a standard of care evaluating these experiences. Sixty-four articles were reviewed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) criteria. Moderate quality of evidence suggest that social interaction can be beneficial to increase knowledge, decrease isolation, and improve adjustment and constitute an important, unmet need. The evidence supports a strong recommendation for youth with cancer to be provided opportunities for social interaction following a careful assessment of their unique characteristics and preferences.

Academic Continuity and School Reentry Support as a Standard of Care in Pediatric Oncology.

Clinicians agree that return to school after diagnosis promotes the positive adjustment of children and adolescents with cancer; however, the school reentry process can present challenges. The aim of this review was to critically evaluate the literature on school reentry support for youth with cancer. Seventeen publications were identified. School reentry services were well-received by families and educators; increased teacher and peer knowledge about childhood cancer; influenced peer and educator attitudes toward the patient; and improved communication and collaboration between patients/families, school, and the healthcare team. Evidence supports a strong recommendation for school reentry support for youth with cancer.

Psychosocial Follow-Up in Survivorship as a Standard of Care in Pediatric Oncology.

Childhood cancer survivors (CCS) have a high risk of medical late effects following cancer therapy. Psychosocial late effects are less often recognized. Many CCS do not receive long-term follow-up (LTFU) care, and those who do are rarely screened for psychosocial late effects. An interdisciplinary team conducted a systematic review of qualitative and quantitative studies to assess social, educational, vocational, psychological, and behavioral outcomes along with factors related to receipt of LTFU care. We propose that psychosocial screening be considered a standard of care in long-term follow-up care and that education be provided to promote the use LTFU care starting early in the treatment trajectory.

Palliative Care as a Standard of Care in Pediatric Oncology.

The study team conducted a systematic review of pediatric and adolescent palliative cancer care literature from 1995 to 2015 using four databases to inform development of a palliative care psychosocial standard. A total of 209 papers were reviewed with inclusion of 73 papers for final synthesis. Revealed topics of urgent consideration include the following: symptom assessment and intervention, direct patient report, effective communication, and shared decision-making. Standardization of palliative care assessments and interventions in pediatric oncology has the potential to foster improved quality of care across the cancer trajectory for children and adolescents with cancer and their family members.

Clinical perspective: Linking psychosocial care to the disease continuum in patients with multiple myeloma.

OBJECTIVE: A model of psychosocial care specific for patients with multiple myeloma and their caregivers has not yet been proposed. We sought to develop a model of care that considers the specific profile of this disease. METHOD: The authors, representing a multidisciplinary care team, met in December of 2012 to identify a model of psychosocial care for patients with multiple myeloma and their caregivers. This model was determined by consensus during the meeting and via total agreement following the meeting. The meeting was sponsored by Onyx Pharmaceuticals. RESULTS: The need for targeted psychosocial care for the multiple myeloma patient and caregiver throughout the disease process is essential to ensure quality of life and optimal treatment outcomes. We propose herein the first known model of care for the treatment of multiple myeloma that engages both the patient and their caregivers. SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS: Innovative partnerships between psychosocial providers and other entities such as pharmaceutical companies can maximize resources for comprehensive program development. This manuscript proposes a model of care that promotes active engagement in therapies for multiple myeloma while engaging the individual patient and their family caregivers. This treatment approach must be evidence based in terms of distress screening tools, comprehensive psychosocial assessments, and, most importantly, in the interventions and measurements of response that clinicians apply to this population.