Are telephone consultations the future of the NHS? The outcomes and experiences of an NHS urological service in moving to telemedicine.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate urology patient satisfaction with telephone consultations during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: All patients who received a telephone appointment in a 1-month period were invited to complete a questionnaire. An adaption of the Telehealth Satisfaction Scale (TeSS) was used. Patient responses were compared based on type of clinic, age and gender. RESULTS: 119 questionnaires were completed. The majority of responses to the adapted TeSS (Q1-7) were graded as 'Excellent', ranging from 79 (66%) to 112 (94%). 'Agree' responses ranged from 92 (77%) to 117 (98%) for questions (Q8-12), indicating high satisfaction. Patients consulted in post radical prostatectomy and PSA surveillance clinics gave a significantly greater number of 'Excellent' or 'Agree' responses. Older age was associated with a significantly greater number of 'Agree' responses to one item only. Responses were not affected by gender. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates high overall satisfaction with the use of telephone consultations among urology patients. For some patients, telephone consultations are more suitable and may be utilised more frequently in the future. However, it is clear that in selected cases face-to-face consultations are required for safe, comprehensive clinical assessment.

How do I cope? Factors affecting mothers' abilities to cope with pediatric cancer.

The overall objective of this exploratory research was to examine the lived experiences of female caregivers of children with cancer during diagnosis, treatment, and the period thereafter. Specifically, the authors examined factors that affected mothers' abilities to cope with a diagnosis of cancer. The interviews were completed with 9 mothers of children who had been treated for pediatric cancer, in addition to 3 health care workers who provided care for families with children with cancer. From this process, a number of salient issues were identified, one of which was factors that assisted or hindered mothers' abilities to cope. The subthemes of this theme consisted of: (1) support; (2) faith, positive thinking, and hope; (3) taking care of self; (4) being fearful and protective--keeping family close; and (5) living life--during and after the diagnosis. This research enabled caregivers of children with cancer to express their experiences about provision of care and factors that affected their ability to cope. Health care professionals, particularly pediatric oncology nurses and social workers, are perfectly aligned to help families reduce or manage the turmoil in families that must cope with a diagnosis of pediatric cancer.

"I know this is bad for me, but...": a qualitative investigation of women with irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease: part II.

INTRODUCTION: Individuals with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) experience similar symptoms; however, individuals with IBD have alterations in their digestive tract and an increased probability of developing colorectal cancer, whereas individuals with IBS do not. Although not well documented within the literature, individuals with gastrointestinal (GI) disorders may engage in adverse behaviors regarding their intake of food, regardless of the fact that the "offending agents" have been identified. Further study into these negative behaviors is warranted for healthcare professionals to be provided with a better understanding of the behaviors that individuals with GI disorders knowingly engage in, despite the negative consequences. PURPOSE: The overall objective of this research was to explore the lived experience of women diagnosed with the GI disorders IBD and/or IBS, with an emphasis on the dietary patterns of the women before and after diagnosis. Specifically, this article examines the adverse behaviors that women engaged in with respect to the consumption of food, beverages, and medications. METHODS: Eight women diagnosed with IBD or IBS were recruited from a university campus in southwestern Ontario, Canada. Participants completed a background questionnaire, a 14-day food diary, and a semistructured interview consisting of 8 open-ended questions. RESULTS: Three major themes were identified: family and friend support, control, and adverse behaviors. The focus of this article, the theme of adverse behaviors, consisted of 2 major subthemes: dietary restrictions and issues with medication. All women engaged in adverse behaviors regarding their food intake and/or consumption of medications as related to food intake. CONCLUSIONS: Semistructured interviews with women diagnosed with IBD and IBS revealed that all women felt governed by their bowels to varying degrees. In addition, all women within this sample knowingly engaged in behaviors concerning food/beverages that had the potential to be detrimental to their conditions. A myriad of reasons were given for consuming foods/beverages. Implications for nursing practitioners are discussed.