Uncertainty and unmet care needs before and after surgery in patients with gastric cancer: A survey study.

Uncertainty and unmet care needs constantly change in patients with cancer. However, there is a lack of information regarding the changing pattern of these variables. This study aimed to examine the changes in uncertainty and unmet care needs at diagnosis and after surgery among patients with gastric cancer. In total, 86 individuals completed a self-reported questionnaire. Data were collected twice - to measure uncertainty and unmet care needs at cancer diagnosis (T1), and after surgery (T2) - and analyzed using descriptive analysis and a dependent t-test. Uncertainty was moderate at both periods but significantly higher at T1. Unmet care needs were highest in the information domain and lowest in the sexuality domain at both T1 and T2. Only the physical/daily living domain were significantly higher at T2, whereas the information, psychological, and patient care/support domains were significantly higher at T1. Different levels of uncertainty and unmet needs were identified at T1 and T2. Healthcare providers should assess changing unmet care needs at each stage of the cancer trajectory and provide related nursing care and information to this population, even immediately after diagnosis.

Calidad de vida relacionada con salud: instrumentos de medición para valoración de resultados en cirugía digestiva alta / Health-related quality of life. Measurement tools to assessing upper gastrointestinal surgery outcomes

Background: Since a while, clinicians and surgeons recently have recognized the desirability of Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) measure to inform their patients, even health authorities in respect of decision making in health and as a variable to be considered in clinical research. For this, there are multiple questionnaires (including self-administered) that are available for measuring this construct. In the field of upper gastrointestinal surgery, there are tools that have been generated and validated for this purpose (some of them generals and other specifics). The aim of this article is to describe specific measurement instruments to assess HRQOL in upper gastrointestinal surgery. Material and Methods: A search on engines Altavista, Google and Yahoo, in Ixquick and Copérnico metasearch and in the database "Documents in Information Science" (DoIS) was performed. The search strategy used the terms "Quality of Life", "Health-related quality of life", "HRQOL", "Outcome Assessment (Health Care)", "upper gastrointestinal surgery" and "digestive surgery". After locating articles, these were evaluated and a summary document of collected information was developed. Results: The search performed gave 23 instruments: related with upper gastrointestinal benign disease (10), with obesity and bariatric surgery (4), and related with digestive neoplasms (9). Conclusion: There is an interesting variety of instruments to measure HRQOL in upper gastrointestinal surgery. Knowing is a user support to both the development of everyday surgical practice, as for decision-making in health and as measurement instruments in clinical research.

Antecedentes: Desde hace un tiempo a esta parte, los clínicos y últimamente los cirujanos han reconocido la conveniencia de medir la calidad de vida relacionada con salud (CVRS) para informar a sus pacientes y a las autoridades sanitarias respecto de la toma de decisiones en salud y como variable a considerar en investigación clínica. Para ello, existen múltiples cuestionarios (incluso auto-administrados) que se encuentran disponibles para medir este constructo. En el ámbito de la cirugía digestiva alta, existen instrumentos que se han generado y validado con este propósito (algunos generales y otros de carácter específico). El objetivo de este artículo es describir instrumentos de medición específicos para valorar CVRS en cirugía digestiva alta. Material y Método: Se realizó una búsqueda en los motores Google y Yahoo; en los metabuscadores Ixquick y Copérnico; y en la base de datos "Documents in Information Science" (DoIS). En la estrategia de búsqueda, se utilizaron los términos "calidad de vida", "calidad de vida relacionada con salud", "CVRS", "cirugía digestiva alta" y "cirugía gastrointestinal". Una vez localizados los resúmenes de los artículos localizados, se evaluaron los documentos en extenso y se desarrolló un documento resumen de la información recolectada. Resultados: La búsqueda realizada arrojó un total de 23 instrumentos; algunos relacionados con enfermedades benignas del tubo digestivo alto (10), otros relacionados con obesidad y cirugía bariátrica (4); y otros concernientes a cáncer del tubo digestivo alto (9). Conclusión: Existe una variedad interesante de instrumentos para medir CVRS en cirugía digestiva alta. Conocerlos constituye una ayuda al usuario tanto para el desarrollo de su práctica quirúrgica cotidiana, la toma de decisiones en salud y como instrumentos de medición en investigación clínica.

System-based factors influencing intraoperative decision-making in rectal cancer by surgeons: an international assessment.

AIM: Sound surgical judgement is the goal of training and experience; however, system-based factors may also colour selection of options by a surgeon. We analysed potential organizational characteristics that might influence rectal cancer decision-making by an experienced surgeon. METHOD: One hundred and seventy-three international centres treating rectal cancer were invited to participate in a survey assessment of key treatment options for patients undergoing curative rectal-cancer surgery. The key organizational characteristics were analysed using multivariate methods for association with intra-operative surgical decision-making. RESULTS: The response rate was 71% (123 centres). Sphincter-saving surgery was more likely to be performed at university hospitals (OR=3.63, P=0.01) and by high-caseload surgeons (OR=2.77 P=0.05). A diverting stoma was performed more frequently in departments with clinical audits (OR=3.06, P=0.02), and a diverting stoma with coloanal anastomosis was more likely in European centres (OR=4.14, P=0.004). One-stage surgery was less likely where there was assessment by a multidisciplinary team (OR=0.24, P=0.02). Multivariate analysis showed that university hospital, clinical audit, European centre, multidisciplinary team and high caseload significantly impacted on surgical decision-making. CONCLUSION: Treatment variance of rectal cancer surgeons appears to be significantly influenced by organizational characteristics and complex team-based decision-making. System-based factors may need to be considered as a source of outcome variation that may impact on quality metrics.

The provision of nursing care for gay men with GI issues.

The holistic nursing care of the individual is a hallmark of high-quality care; this holistic approach means that the nurse will also have to take the sexuality of the person being cared for into account. This article promotes the notion of holism and, in particular, the care of one group of patients -- homosexual men. In this article the needs of the gay patient who has undergone GI surgery are discussed in respect to their sexuality. Key terms and concepts are considered. A therapeutic nurse-patient relationship can only be achieved if the needs of the patient are taken into account; the term that the patient chooses to use when identifying his individual sexuality must be respected. Stigma, discrimination and prejudice are unwanted results of a failure to respect an individual and should be avoided. There are several instances where stereotyping and myth may occur concerning the gay patient who has undergone GI surgery, and erroneous assumptions made about the patient can thwart the unique nurse-patient bond.

Behavioral and psychological factors in the assessment and treatment of obesity surgery patients.

OBJECTIVE: To provide evidence-based guidelines on the psychological and behavioral screening of weight loss surgery (WLS) candidates and the impact of psychosocial factors on behavior change after gastric bypass surgery. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: The members of the Behavioral and Psychological subgroup of the Multidisciplinary Care Task Group conducted searches of MEDLINE and PubMed for articles related to WLS, behavior changes, and mental health, including quality of life (QOL) and behavior modification. Pertinent abstracts and literature were reviewed for references. A total of 198 abstracts were identified; 17 papers were reviewed in detail. Search periods were from 1980 to 2004. RESULTS: We found a high incidence of depression, negative body image, eating disorders, and low QOL in severely obese patients. Our task subgroup recommended that all WLS candidates be evaluated by a licensed mental health care provider (i.e., psychiatrist, psychologist, or social worker), experienced in the treatment of severely obese patients and working within the context of a multidisciplinary care team. We also recommended development of pre- and postsurgical treatment plans that address psychosocial contraindications for WLS and potential barriers to postoperative success. DISCUSSION: The psychological consequences of obesity can range from lowered self-esteem to clinical depression. Rates of anxiety and depression are three to four times higher among obese individuals than among their leaner peers. A comprehensive multidisciplinary program that incorporates psychological and behavior change services can be of critical benefit in enhancing compliance, outcome, and QOL in WLS patients.