Interventions to Address Cancer-Related Cognitive Impairment (2018-2022).

Systematic review briefs provide a summary of the findings from systematic reviews evaluated in conjunction with the American Occupational Therapy Association's Evidence-Based Practice Program. Each systematic review brief summarizes the evidence on a theme related to a systematic review topic. This systematic review brief presents findings related to cancer-related cognitive impairment in adults living with and beyond cancer.

Supporting Physical Activity in Adults Living With and Beyond Cancer (2018-2022).

Systematic review briefs provide a summary of the findings from systematic reviews evaluated in conjunction with the American Occupational Therapy Association's Evidence-Based Practice Program. Each systematic review brief summarizes the evidence on a theme related to a systematic review topic. This systematic review brief presents findings from the systematic review on the effectiveness of interventions addressing physical activity in adults living with and beyond cancer.

Cancer-Related Fatigue (2018-2022).

Systematic review briefs provide a summary of the findings from systematic reviews evaluated in conjunction with the American Occupational Therapy Association's Evidence-Based Practice Program. Each systematic review brief summarizes the evidence on a theme related to a systematic review topic. This systematic review brief presents findings related to interventions addressing cancer-related fatigue in adults living with and beyond cancer.

Current Trends in Occupational Therapy for Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivors: A Scoping Review.

Adolescent and young adult cancer survivors experience barriers to occupational participation following cancer treatment. This article aims to identify the scope of occupational therapy evidence for adolescent and young adult cancer survivors. A scoping review of articles cited in CINAHL Complete, MEDLINE (EBSCO), Academic Search Complete, APA PsycINFO, and PubMed was performed. The initial search yielded 391 articles, with eight publications included in the final review. Results revealed a significant lack of age-specific occupational therapy-based resources for adolescent and young adult cancer survivors. Evidence supports the use of self-management, physical activity, therapeutic exercise, activities of daily living training and adaptation, and app-based coaching to improve client outcomes. Further research is required to determine the effectiveness of occupational therapy services, as well as to establish evidence-based guidelines for practice.

Pretransplantation Cognitive Dysfunction in Advanced-Age Hematologic Cancers: Predictors and Associated Outcomes.

Patients presenting for treatment of hematologic cancers may be at increased risk for cognitive dysfunction before allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) due to advanced age, previous chemotherapy treatment, deconditioning, and fatigue. Cognitive dysfunction may affect treatment decision making, ability to recall or follow post-HSCT treatment recommendations and overall survival (OS). A total of 448 patients admitted for HSCT between 2011 and 2014 were administered the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) by occupational therapists during admission before transplantation, and 260 were reassessed following transplantation and before discharge. We examined select predictor variables, including age, Karnofsky Performance Status, sex, disease type, psychotropic medications, and select outcome variables, including OS, and nonrelapse mortality (NRM). Before transplantation, 36.4% of patients met criteria for cognitive dysfunction. Age was found to be a significant predictor, along with disease type (myelodysplastic syndrome [MDS], myeloproliferative disorder [MPD]). No significant association was found between cognitive dysfunction and OS or NRM. Longitudinal analysis from pretransplantation to post-transplantation indicated significant decline following HSCT. Notably, one-third of the study cohort showed cognitive dysfunction at hospital discharge. A significant proportion of HSCT candidates present with cognitive dysfunction, with older patients and those diagnosed with MDS and MPD at greatest risk in this cohort. Attention to cognitive dysfunction before transplantation may alert the treatment team to high-risk cases that require increased oversight, inclusion by caregivers, and referral to occupational therapy at discharge. Longitudinal follow-up studies are needed to clarify the specific effect of HSCT on cognitive dysfunction and the impact of cognitive dysfunction on transplantation outcomes.

A pilot survey of ventilated cancer patients' perspectives and recollections of early mobility in the intensive care unit.

PURPOSE: To determine the level of recall, satisfaction, and perceived benefits of early mobility (EM) among ventilated cancer patients after extubation in the intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: A survey of patients' perceptions and recollections of EM was administered within 72 h of extubation. Data on recall of EM participation, activities achieved, adequacy of staffing and rest periods, strength to participate, activity level of difficulty, satisfaction with staff instructions, breathing management, and overall rating of the experience were analyzed. The Confusion Assessment Method for ICU (CAM-ICU) was used for delirium screening. RESULTS: Fifty-four patients comprised the study group. Nearly 90% reported satisfaction with instructions, staffing, rest periods, and breathing management during EM. Participants indicated that EM maintained their strength (67%) and gave them control over their recovery (61%); a minority felt optimistic (37%) and safe (22%). Patients who achieved more sessions and "out-of-bed" exercises had better recall of actual activities compared with those who exercised in bed. Overall, patients with CAM-ICU-positive results (33%) performed less physical and occupational therapy exercises. CONCLUSIONS: Ventilated cancer patients reported an overall positive EM experience, but factual memory impairment of EM activities was common. These findings highlight the needs and the importance of shaping strategies to deliver a more patient focused EM experience.

Occupational Therapy for Adults With Cancer: Why It Matters.

Adults with cancer may be at risk for limitations in functional status and quality of life (QOL). Occupational therapy is a supportive service with the specific mission to help people functionally engage in life as safely and independently as possible with the primary goal of improving QOL. Unfortunately, for people with cancer, occupational therapy remains underused. The overall purpose of this review is to provide an understanding of what occupational therapy is and its relevance to patients with cancer, highlight the reasons to refer, and, last, provide general advice on how to access services.

The Impact of Marijuana Legalization on Adolescent Use, Consequences, and Perceived Risk.

BACKGROUND: Currently, only four states have legalized recreational marijuana use for adults over 21 years of age. Therefore, little is known about the influence that legalization will have on adolescent marijuana use. OBJECTIVES: This study examines how marijuana legalization has impacted the frequency and consequences of adolescent use in a sample of participants in a school-based, substance use intervention. We hypothesized that adolescents enrolled in the intervention in years after marijuana legalization would present with more problematic use compared to those enrolled prior, and that changes in the perceived risk of marijuana would be a mechanism of problematic use. METHODS: Participants were 262 students enrolled in a school-based substance use intervention in 2010 to 2015. The Customary Drinking and Drug Use Record, Alcohol and Drug Use Consequences Questionnaire, and a decisional balance matrix were used to assess marijuana frequency, negative consequences, and perceived risk of use. A mediation model was used to test the degree to which marijuana legalization may lead to increased frequency and consequences of use through perceived risk. RESULTS: Findings indicated a significantly positive correlation between marijuana-related consequences and perceived risk post legalization. Despite relatively equal use between both groups, adolescents in the legalization group experienced higher levels of perceived risk and increased negative consequences. CONCLUSIONS/IMPORTANCE: Due to the rising legalization status of marijuana in the United States, it is imperative that psychoeducation is provided to adults and adolescents about the consequences of underage marijuana use.

A Descriptive Report of Early Mobilization for Critically Ill Ventilated Patients with Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Early mobilization protocols have been successfully implemented to improve function in critically ill patients; however, no study has focused on the oncology population. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the feasibility of early mobilization and describe the rehabilitation interventions and discharge outcomes in a cohort of critically ill patients with cancer. DESIGN: Retrospective review. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of patients with cancer who participated in occupational and physical therapy while on mechanical ventilation utilizing an institutional early mobilization protocol from June 2010 - July 2011, was completed. Demographic and clinical variables were abstracted, as well as occupational and physical therapy interventions. RESULTS: A cohort of 42 cancer patients on mechanical ventilation in the mixed medical/surgical intensive care unit of a comprehensive cancer center received early mobilization during the study period. The majority of participants demonstrated improved cognitive and functional status from the intensive care unit to hospital discharge. There were no reported adverse events during the occupational and physical therapy sessions. Among the 30 hospital survivors, 53% required continued rehabilitation services in their home environment and 40% were transferred to a rehabilitation facility. LIMITATIONS: Due to the small sample size, these findings are not generalizable to all critically ill cancer patients. There was no post-acute care follow-up of cognitive and physical functional performance. CONCLUSION: Early mobilization appears feasible in addressing the cognitive and functional needs of oncology patients in the intensive care unit.

The Effectiveness of a School-Based Intervention for Adolescents in Reducing Disparities in the Negative Consequences of Substance Use Among Ethnic Groups.

Ethnic minority youth are disproportionately affected by substance use-related consequences, which may be best understood through a social ecological lens. Differences in psychosocial consequences between ethnic majority and minority groups are likely due to underlying social and environmental factors. The current longitudinal study examined the outcomes of a school-based motivational enhancement treatment intervention in reducing disparities in substance use consequences experienced by some ethnic minority groups with both between and within-subjects differences. Students were referred to the intervention through school personnel and participated in a four-session intervention targeting alcohol and drug use. Participants included 122 youth aged 13-19 years. Participants were grouped by ethnicity and likelihood of disparate negative consequences of substance use. African American/Hispanic/Multiethnic youth formed one group, and youth identifying as White or Asian formed a second group. We hypothesized that (1) there would be significant disparities in psychosocial, serious problem behavior, and school-based consequences of substance use between White/Asian students compared to African American/Hispanic/Multiethnic students at baseline; (2) physical dependence consequences would not be disparate at baseline; and (3) overall disparities would be reduced at post-treatment follow-up. Results indicated that African American/Hispanic/Multiethnic adolescents demonstrated statistically significant disparate consequences at baseline, except for physical dependency consequences. Lastly, significant reductions in disparities were evidenced between groups over time. Our findings highlight the efficacy of utilizing school-based substance use interventions in decreasing ethnic health disparities in substance use consequences.

READY or Not: Findings From a School-Based MI Intervention for Adolescent Substance Use.

We aimed to examine the impact of a school-based Motivational Interviewing (MI) intervention, Project READY, on reducing adolescent substance use. We randomly assigned students (N = 244) to receive the intervention immediately (READY First) or to be in a waitlist control group (WLC). Those in WLC received the intervention once those in READY First had completed the intervention. Our hypotheses were: (1) adolescents in READY First would make greater initial reductions in their alcohol and marijuana use compared to adolescents assigned to WLC, (2) adolescents in READY First would make greater initial reductions in their alcohol and marijuana-related consequences compared to adolescents assigned to WLC, and (3) upon completing treatment, adolescents assigned to WLC would yield substance-related outcomes comparable to their peers in the READY First group. We found that those in READY First made greater initial decreases in their marijuana use and substance-related consequences upon completing treatment than participants in WLC, during the first phase of the study. Once both groups had completed the active intervention, those in the WLC had comparable marijuana use to those in READY First. At enrollment, daily marijuana users were equally represented in both groups. Post-treatment, significantly fewer participants reported daily marijuana use in the READY First group, prior to treatment initiation for WLC. Comparable reductions were observed once WLC began treatment. Those in WLC were observed to make reductions in their alcohol use at the same rate as those in READY First, prior to treatment initiation. Participants were not observed to make differential reductions in alcohol use based on group assignment. The findings from this study support the effectiveness of school-based MI interventions for adolescent marijuana use and provide evidence that MI is a critical and effective component within such interventions.