Implementation During a Pandemic: Findings, Successes, and Lessons Learned from Community Grantees.

Funding communities through mini-grant programs builds community capacity by fostering leadership among community members, developing expertise in implementing evidence-based practices, and increasing trust in partnerships. The South Carolina Cancer Prevention and Control Research Network (SC-CPCRN) implemented the Community Health Intervention Program (CHIP) mini-grants initiative to address cancer-related health disparities among high-risk populations in rural areas of the state. One community-based organization and one faith-based organization were funded during the most recent call for proposals. The organizations implemented National Cancer Institute evidence-based strategies and programs focused on health and cancer screenings and physical activity and promotion of walking trails. Despite the potential for the COVID-19 pandemic to serve as a major barrier to implementation, grantees successfully recruited and engaged community members in evidence-based activities. These initiatives added material benefits to their local communities, including promotion of walking outdoors where it is less likely to contract the virus when socially distanced and provision of COVID-19 testing and vaccines along with other health and cancer screenings. Future mini-grants programs will benefit from learning from current grantees' flexibility in program implementation during a pandemic as well as their intentional approach to modifying program aspects as needed.

Next generation nurse scientists: A systems approach to engaging undergraduate students in research.

BACKGROUND: Nursing Doctor of Philosophy program enrollment has declined. Undergraduate nursing student (UGS) research engagement is associated with future graduate education, an essential element for building the nursing faculty pipeline. PURPOSE: (a) To describe the infrastructure and culture-enhancing resources and strategies associated with building UGS research engagement and (b) to evaluate UGS research engagement. METHODS: Guided by a socioecological systems model university and college documents, databases, and college of nursing survey results were used to identify approaches to, and outcomes of, engaging UGS in research. Descriptive statistics were calculated to illustrate 5-year UGS research engagement trends. FINDINGS: Resources and strategies included grant funding, research assistant funding, student research showcases, and faculty mentorship. UGS research 5-year engagement trends included (a) a 75% increase in the number of students mentored, (b) a 30% rise in funded research proposals, and (c) a 54% increase in paid research assistantships. DISCUSSION: Purposefully using existing resources, growing the college of nursing infrastructure, and cultivating a culture recognizing faculty contributions were approaches associated with increased UGS research engagement.

Differential Gene Expression in Erlotinib-Treated Fibroblasts.

BACKGROUND: Therapies targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) result in a painful rash, the most common and debilitating toxicity among patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who take EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy; however, predicting the development and the severity of the rash is difficult. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine how erlotinib-an EGFR TKI that NSCLC patients take to stop or slow tumor growth-altered the transcriptome of dermal fibroblasts. METHODS: Dermal fibroblasts (ATCC PCS-201-012) were seeded in cell culture flasks, grown under standard conditions, and transferred to cell culture dishes. Cells were treated once daily for 3 days with erlotinib 100 nM (n = 5), erlotinib 1 µM (n = 5), vehicle 1 µM (dimethyl sulfoxide) (n = 5), or no treatment (n = 5). Total RNA was extracted using a standard TRIzol method and hybridized using Affymetrix GeneChip Human Genome U133 Plus 2.0 arrays. Raw intensities generated from the arrays were normalized using a Robust Multiarray Average method and analyzed using analysis of variance in Limma R software. Differentially expressed genes were analyzed using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis to identify canonical or noncanonical signaling pathways enriched in this dataset. RESULTS: We selected genes for investigation based on their potential role in wound healing (AQP3), rash development (CCL2), fibroblast activation (PALLD), cancer and cancer progression (GDF-15, SLC7A11, MMP12, and DIRAS3), and cell cycle control (CDC6). We were able to validate four of these genes by both Western blot analysis and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (MMP12, CCL2, CDC6, and SLC7A11). DISCUSSION: If found predictive of rash in future studies using patient samples, our findings may help to identify those at risk for severe rash so that (a) the dose of EGFR TKI therapy may be adjusted; (b) additional treatments for the rash can be developed; and/or (c) precise, patient-centered interventions can be developed so that patients with cancer can better self-manage their rash and adhere to EGFR TKI treatment.

Targeted therapy use in adults with cancer ≥85 years of age.

PURPOSE: Assess patient- and clinical-related variables associated with targeted cancer treatments (TTs) for adults ≥85 years of age. RATIONALE: TTs have pathway-specific side effects that negatively affect QoL and medication adherence, which may reduce TT efficacy. Research has not focused on patients aged ≥85 years; therefore, the scope of TT use in this age group is not understood. METHODS: We conducted an electronic medical record review to identify individuals ≥85 years treated with TT. RESULTS: The sample (N = 295) was 53.5% male, 41% married/partnered, and 73.7% Caucasian. Common cancer types included breast (26.3%), prostate (31.3%), and leukemia (14.1%). Only one-third (n = 98) of the sample had TT side effects noted in their patient chart. CONCLUSIONS: Patients aged ≥85 years took similar TTs and experienced similar side effects as reported by research of younger patients; however, symptom experience was not well-reported.

Surviving with lung cancer: medication-taking and oral targeted therapy.

Oral epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors (EGFRIs) improve survival for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients; however, medication-taking implications are unknown. We used grounded theory to explore the process of medication-taking for NSCLC patients receiving oral EGFRIs. Thirty-two interviews were conducted for 13 participants purposively selected for gender, race/ethnicity, age, time in therapy, dose reductions, and therapy discontinuation and theoretically sampled for age and health insurance carrier. The study produced a grounded theory, Surviving with Lung Cancer, in which participants framed EGFRI therapy within recognition of NSCLC as a life-limiting illness without cure. Medication-taking was a "window" into participants' process of surviving with metastatic cancer that included deciding and preparing to take EGFRIs and treating lung cancer as a chronic condition. Our results contribute to understanding how NSCLC patients view themselves in the context of a life-limiting illness and support development of a theoretically-based intervention to improve medication-taking with EGFRIs.

Beyond Survival: A Scoping Review on the Sexual Health of Sexual and Gender Minority Women Following Curative Cancer Treatment.

INTRODUCTION: To explore the existing research on sexual health experiences of sexual and gender minority women (SGMW) post-curative cancer treatment. METHODOLOGY: This scoping review was guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for scoping reviews. Four articles that focused on sexual health experiences of SGMW post-curative cancer treatment were included. RESULTS: Four themes were identified: (a) sexual function; (b) sexual orientation and gender identity, including disclosure and health care provider reactions; (c) relationship dynamics, such as relationship status and the quality of romantic relationships; and (d) body image. DISCUSSIONS: The findings underscore substantial challenges faced by SGMW cancer survivors in achieving optimal sexual well-being, impacting their access to post-treatment care. This study advocates for more expansive research efforts involving diverse participant cohorts, extending beyond breast cancer, to gain deeper insights into these critical issues.

Perceptions of Sleep Quality, Fatigue, and Cognition Among Women Shift Workers.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the perceptions of sleep quality, levels of fatigue, and cognitive executive function in women shift workers. DESIGN: Qualitative, descriptive study of a sample of participants who participated in a cross-sectional, mixed-methods study. SETTING: Online focus groups. PARTICIPANTS: Women shift workers (N = 14) recruited from the southeastern United States. METHODS: Four focus groups were conducted using the Zoom online videoconferencing platform. Transcripts were coded inductively, and data were analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. RESULTS: Five major themes were developed from the data: Lots of Sleep Lost, Day Sleep Difficulties, Negative Consequences, Missing Out, and Not in My Own Thoughts. CONCLUSION: Shift work is associated with sleep loss, which has a negative impact on women's emotional, mental, and physical health. Further nursing science investigation into strategies to enable women to improve their sleep quality, sleep quantity, and social/domestic environment is warranted. Education to increase sleep knowledge and decrease accidents and errors that can result from insufficient sleep is vital.

Pretreatment predictors of short-term nonadherence to oral hormonal therapy for women with breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Adjuvant treatment with oral hormonal therapy improves clinical outcomes for breast cancer, but women have difficulty adhering to the 5-year regimen. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore pretreatment predictors of short-term nonadherence to oral hormonal therapy for women with early-stage breast cancer from the pretreatment assessment to 6 months after initiation of hormonal therapy. METHODS: A secondary analysis was performed using data collected from 198 women enrolled in one of two longitudinal studies. Nonadherence was defined as the percentage of prescribed doses of hormonal therapy not taken during the first 6 months of therapy measured using electronic medication event monitoring. Information on predictor variables was measured at pretreatment using self-report and medical record review. Linear regression analysis was performed to examine associations between predictor variables and 6-month nonadherence in a bivariate manner to first identify candidate predictors variables at p < .20 and then multivariately considering candidate predictors identified through stepwise and backward elimination regression methods. RESULTS: Participants were White (98.3%), well educated (M = 15.0; SD = 2.9 years of schooling), and on average, 59.1 years old (SD = 7.5 years old). Mean nonadherence was 11.3%. Stepwise and backward elimination modeling algorithms identified a similar set of predictors associated with 6-month nonadherence and explained 13.0% of the variance (adjusted R = .11, standard error of the estimate = 0.28). Ductal carcinoma in situ tumor type (p = .004) and higher weight concern scores (p = .003) were associated with nonadherence. DISCUSSION: The findings suggest that additional examinations of associations of tumor type and symptom burden with nonadherence are indicated.

Prevalence of Food Insecurity Among Cancer Survivors in the United States: A Scoping Review.

BACKGROUND: Medical financial hardship is an increasingly common consequence of cancer treatment and can lead to food insecurity. However, food security status is not routinely assessed in the health care setting, and the prevalence of food insecurity among cancer survivors is unknown. OBJECTIVE: This scoping review aimed to identify the prevalence of food insecurity among cancer survivors in the United States before the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Five databases (PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL [Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature], Web of Science, and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses) were systematically searched for articles that reported on food security status among US patients receiving active cancer treatment or longer-term cancer survivors and were published between January 2015 and December 2020. RESULTS: Among the 15 articles meeting the inclusion criteria, overall food insecurity prevalence ranged from 4.0% among women presenting to a gynecologic oncology clinic to 83.6% among patients at Federally Qualified Health Centers. Excluding studies focused specifically on Federally Qualified Health Center patients, prevalence of food insecurity ranged from 4.0% to 26.2%, which overlaps the food insecurity prevalence in the general US population during the same time period (range, 10.5% to 14.9%). Women were more likely than men to report being food insecure, and the prevalence of food insecurity was higher among Hispanic and Black patients compared with non-Hispanic White patients. CONCLUSIONS: Given significant heterogeneity in study populations and sample sizes, it was not possible to estimate an overall food insecurity prevalence among cancer survivors in the United States. Routine surveillance of food security status and other social determinants of health is needed to better detect and address these issues.

Examining provider perceptions and practices for comprehensive geriatric assessment among cancer survivors: a qualitative study with an implementation science focus.

Introduction: Cancer rates increase with age, and older cancer survivors have unique medical care needs, making assessment of health status and identification of appropriate supportive resources key to delivery of optimal cancer care. Comprehensive geriatric assessments (CGAs) help determine an older person's functional capabilities as cancer care providers plan treatment and follow-up care. Despite its proven utility, research on implementation of CGA is lacking. Methods: Guided by a qualitative description approach and through interviews with primary care providers and oncologists, our goal was to better understand barriers and facilitators of CGA use and identify training and support needs for implementation. Participants were identified through Cancer Prevention and Control Research Network partner listservs and a national cancer and aging organization. Potential interviewees, contacted via email, were provided with a description of the study purpose. Eight semi-structured interviews were conducted via Zoom, recorded, and transcribed verbatim by a professional transcription service. The interview guide explored providers' knowledge and use of CGAs. For codebook development, three representative transcripts were independently reviewed and coded by four team members. The interpretive process involved reflecting, transcribing, coding, and searching for and identifying themes. Results: Providers shared that, while it would be ideal to administer CGAs with all new patients, they were not always able to do this. Instead, they used brief screening tools or portions of CGAs, or both. There was variability in how CGA domains were assessed; however, all considered CGAs useful and they communicated with patients about their benefits. Identified facilitators of implementation included having clinic champions, an interdisciplinary care team to assist with implementation and referrals for intervention, and institutional resources and buy-in. Barriers noted included limited staff capacity and competing demands on time, provider inexperience, and misaligned institutional priorities. Discussion: Findings can guide solutions for improving the broader and more systematic use of CGAs in the care of older cancer patients. Uptake of processes like CGA to better identify those at risk of poor outcomes and intervening early to modify treatments are critical to maximize the health of the growing population of older cancer survivors living through and beyond their disease.