The influences of depression and loneliness on A1C among middle-aged and older adults with diabetes.

Even before increased social isolation associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, 43% of adults aged 60 and older reported experiencing loneliness. Depression and loneliness often co-exist and are significant issues faced by middle-aged as well as older adults because each condition is likely to worsen health outcomes. This study of middle-aged and older adults examined how depression and loneliness affect diabetes (DM) control (A1C levels). This study is a secondary analysis of data from the Midlife in the United States Refresher (MIDUS-R) survey, a national survey of adults aged 25-74 years. Correlation analyses were conducted, and a hierarchical logistic regression was estimated to predict A1C levels ≤7% (recommended goal) or >7 using 1) demographics and physical health (ethnicity, gender, education, age, and comorbidities), 2) family and friend support, and 3) depression and loneliness. The sample of 92 participants with DM and A1C data from the MIDUS-R had mean age = 57.37, were 51% male, 68% non-Hispanic White; 39.1% had A1C >7. The average level of depression was low (CES-D mean 9.42) and loneliness was moderate (UCLA scale mean 12.43). Loneliness was correlated with A1C (r= .26, p< .05); depressive symptoms (r= .71, p< .001), family and friends support (r= -.36, r= -.38, respectively, both p< .001). Only loneliness significantly predicted higher A1C levels. People with higher levels of loneliness had increased odds of having A1C >7 (OR = 1.18, p < .05) after controlling for depression and all other variables. Loneliness had a greater impact than depression on A1C level among persons with DM. Healthcare providers should assess patients for loneliness as well as depression and reduce adverse health impacts by referring to psychosocial support as needed.

Health status and Healthcare Access of Southeast Asian refugees in the United States: An integrative review.

OBJECTIVE: Since 2010, more than 527,000 refugees have resettled in the United States (US), most from Asia, fleeing war, violence, and persecution. However, there is little research that integrates findings about health among Southeast Asian refugees (SEAR). DESIGN: We conducted an integrative review of studies that examined health status, risk factors, and barriers to healthcare access among SEAR in the US. We synthesized findings of studies published from 1980, when the Refugee Act was enacted, to 2022 using five databases. We reviewed 20 articles and data were extracted into a table for synthesis. RESULTS: Participants were from Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Burma and the Thailand-Myanmar border. Hypertension (12%-64%), hypercholesterolemia (37%-39%), diabetes (0.6%-27%), heart disease (7%), bone and muscle problems (23%-50%), and chronic pain (8%-51%) were most common physical health problems; and PTSD (45%-86%) and depression (20%-80%) were the most common mental health problems. Trauma, resettlement stress, lack of community or religious engagement were associated with mental health problems. Language differences, transportation, and lack of health insurance were the most significant obstacles to receiving healthcare. CONCLUSION: SEAR experienced worse physical and mental health than the general US population. Different patterns of disease were identified depending on gender, time settled in the US, and ethnic group. Qualitative and longitudinal studies will elucidate refugees' experience and should guide interventions.

An integrative review of fatigue in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus: Implications for self-management and quality of life.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To synthesise empirical studies on factors related to fatigue and its impact on diabetes self-management (DSM) and quality of life (QOL) in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). BACKGROUND: Fatigue is commonly reported in people with T2DM, a chronic condition that is highly prevalent worldwide. However, a holistic understanding of the consequences and factors related to fatigue in adults with T2DM is not well synthesised. DESIGN: This integrative review used Whittemore and Knafl's methodology and was reported according to the Preferred Reporting for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and checklist. METHODS: The theory of unpleasant symptoms (TOUS) was used as a conceptual model to guide the review. The PubMed, PsychINFO and CINAHL databases were searched to identify studies that recruited adults with T2DM, were peer-reviewed, written in English and investigated fatigue as a primary or secondary outcome. Two investigators independently appraised the quality of the studies and extracted the data. RESULTS: Twenty-nine articles met the inclusion criteria: 23 observational studies, two randomised controlled trials, one quasi-experimental study and three qualitative studies. All articles were of high quality. Physiological (e.g. T2DM duration, complications and inflammatory biomarkers), psychological (e.g. diabetes distress, depression and sleep quality) and situational factors (e.g. race/ethnicity, education and social support) were related to fatigue. Studies reported fatigue as a barrier to physical activity, healthy eating behaviours and the physical aspect of QOL. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple factors are related to fatigue in adults with T2DM. Gaps in the literature include the multiple dimensions of fatigue, the effectiveness of interventions to alleviate fatigue and fatigue experiences in under-represented populations. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: This integrative review supports the complex origin of fatigue and its impact on adults with T2DM. Nurses should evaluate modifiable factors related to fatigue and provide support to help improve DSM and QOL in this population.

[Using the FOCUS Family Intervention in Caring for a Patient-Spouse Dyad With Advanced Colorectal Cancer].

The care-related burdens of the spouses of advanced cancer patients often impact negatively on their physical health, emotional well-being, social functioning, and quality of life. Thus, dyad interventions have been created to meet the demands of advanced cancer patients and their spouses. However, the application of dyadic care in clinical settings is currently rather limited in Taiwan. The present case study involved a patient with advanced colorectal cancer and malignant bowel obstruction whose disease-related demands had eroded the patient's physical, psychological, and spiritual health. The patient's condition placed overwhelming stress on the spouse, jeopardizing the relationship of the dyad. This article elaborates the implementation of the FOCUS program with the goal of helping the dyad achieve better disease adjustment through family involvement, optimistic attitude, effective coping, better symptom management, and uncertainty reduction. Through this delineated experience, the authors hope to help healthcare providers achieve a higher quality of care while caring for patient-family dyads with colorectal cancer.

Role of preoperative malnutrition and symptom severity in anorexia-cachexia-related quality of life in patients with operable pancreatic cancer.

PURPOSE: This study assessed the changes in malnutrition status, symptom severity, and anorexia-cachexia-related quality of life (QoL) before and after pancreatic surgery and identified significant factors associated with changes in anorexia-cachexia-related QoL in patients with operable pancreatic cancer. METHODS: In total, 76 patients with pancreatic cancer who were scheduled to undergo surgery were recruited from a medical center in northern Taiwan. The Mini Nutritional Assessment, Symptom Severity Scale, and Functional Assessment of Anorexia-Cachexia Therapy scale were used to assess the patients' nutritional status, symptom severity, and anorexia-cachexia-related QoL, respectively. Bioelectrical impedance analysis was performed using X-Scan Plus II to assess body composition. A generalized estimating equation approach was used to identify significant factors associated with anorexia-cachexia-related QoL. RESULTS: In total, 42.1% of the patients had malnutrition or were at risk of malnutrition before surgery. Preoperative malnutrition (ß = -3.857, p = .001) and higher early satiety (ß = -0.629, p = .005), insomnia (ß = -0.452, p = .025), and pain (ß = -0.779, p < .001) were associated with lower anorexia-cachexia-related QoL. CONCLUSION: Clinicians should actively assess the nutritional status of patients with pancreatic cancer before surgery and provide symptom cluster management interventions to improve nutrition, insomnia, and pain, which is crucial for enhancing patients' anorexia-cachexia-related QoL.

Impact of Fatigue and Its Influencing Factors on Diabetes Self-Management in Adults With Type 2 Diabetes: A Structural Equation Modeling Analysis.

PURPOSE: The purposes of this study were to (1) examine the relationships between fatigue, its influencing factors, and diabetes self-management and (2) test the mediation effects of fatigue on the link between the influencing factors and diabetes self-management in adults with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: This cross-sectional, correlational study was guided by the theory of unpleasant symptoms. Data were collected using structured questionnaires. Fatigue was measured by the Fatigue Symptom Inventory and the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory. Diabetes self-management was measured by the Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities. From March to July 2021, a convenience sample of 150 participants was recruited from 2 diabetes outpatient clinics of a regional hospital in Taiwan. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. RESULTS: A more recent diagnosis of diabetes, more depressive symptoms, and lower sleep quality were related to higher fatigue. Higher fatigue correlated with less performance in diabetes self-management. Fatigue mediated the relationship between depressive symptoms, sleep quality, and diabetes self-management. CONCLUSIONS: Fatigue had a mediating effect on the link between psychological influencing factors and diabetes self-management. Future development of fatigue interventions integrating depressive symptoms and sleep management will likely increase the performance of diabetes self-management and improve the health outcomes in adults with type 2 diabetes. The study tested the theory of unpleasant symptoms using empirical data and will assist in building theory-guided fatigue interventions to improve diabetes self-management in people with type 2 diabetes.

Determinants of Quality of Life in Individuals With a Dual Diagnosis of Resectable Pancreatic Cancer and Diabetes Mellitus.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the associations among clinical characteristics, fatigue, diabetes mellitus (DM) self-care activities, and quality of life (QOL) in individuals with resectable pancreatic cancer and DM. SAMPLE & SETTING: 57 individuals with resectable pancreatic cancer and DM from an outpatient pancreatic surgical department in Taiwan were included in the final analysis. METHODS & VARIABLES: A cross-sectional, correlational design was used. QOL, fatigue, and DM self-care were measured by the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer QOL Questionnaire-Core 30, the Fatigue Symptom Inventory, and the Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities. RESULTS: Participants who had a shorter duration of DM and higher levels of fatigue (including intensity, duration, and interference) reported lower QOL scores. Participants who performed more DM self-care activities and physical activity per week had higher QOL scores. Fatigue, DM self-care activities, and DM duration were significant factors related to QOL. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Shorter DM duration, increased fatigue, and fewer DM self-care activities were determinants of worse QOL in individuals with resectable pancreatic cancer and DM.

Fatigue, Pain, Sleep Difficulties, and Depressive Symptoms in Mexican Americans and Chinese Americans with Type 2 Diabetes.

Fatigue, pain, sleep difficulties, and depressive symptoms are common in people with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). However, most studies of diabetes symptoms are not conducted with Mexican- or Chinese Americans. We aim to compare the symptoms between the two ethnic groups and examine the predictors of fatigue. This is a secondary analysis of two datasets (72 Mexican Americans and 134 Chinese Americans with T2DM). The Theory of Unpleasant Symptoms guided variable selection. We used χ2 tests to compare symptoms (measured by the Illness Perception Questionnaire-Revised and CES-D) between the two ethnic groups, and logistic regression to predict fatigue. Compared to Chinese Americans, Mexican Americans reported more fatigue, sleep difficulties, and pain. Depressive symptoms (OR = 6.13, p < 0.001) and medium acculturation (OR = 2.45, p = 0.017) significantly predicted fatigue. The two ethnic groups demonstrated differences in symptoms. Fatigue and related symptoms should be further evaluated in Mexican- and Chinese Americans with T2DM.

Comparison of Fatigue and Quality of Life in Individuals With Pancreatogenic Diabetes After Total or Partial Pancreatectomy.

OBJECTIVES: To compare fatigue and quality of life (QOL) between individuals with pancreatogenic diabetes after total pancreatectomy (TP) and pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). SAMPLE & SETTING: 50 individuals (14 after TP and 36 after PD) were recruited from a pancreatic surgical outpatient department. A final sample of 39 matched individuals (13 after TP and 26 after PD) were included in the final analysis. METHODS & VARIABLES: A comparative cross-sectional approach was used. Variables were fatigue and QOL. The Fatigue Symptom Inventory and European Organisation for the Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality-of-Life Questionnaire-Core 30 were used. Data went through propensity score one-to-two matching. Generalized estimating equation was used to compare fatigue and QOL. RESULTS: The groups showed no statistically significant difference in fatigue intensity and overall QOL. The TP group had significantly longer fatigue duration, perceived higher interference of functioning, lower physical function, and a higher level of insomnia. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Future studies with a larger sample and longitudinal design will help identify the trajectory of fatigue and QOL in individuals with pancreatogenic diabetes post-TP and PD.

Cancer Prehabilitation Programs and Their Effects on Quality of Life

PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION: Cancer prehabilitation programs have been reported as effective means of improving quality of life (QOL) in people with cancer, but research is lacking. The aim of this systematic review is to explore the characteristics of cancer prehabilitation programs and their effects on QOL in people with cancer. LITERATURE SEARCH: A systematic review of databases (PubMed, MEDLINE®, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, CINAHL®, Scopus®) was performed using key terms. DATA EVALUTION: Data were extracted, and the Physiotherapy Evidence Database scale was used to assess the quality of the studies. SYNTHESIS: 12 randomized, controlled trials with a total of 839 people with cancer were included in this review. Of these, seven cancer prehabilitation programs focused on physical interventions, three focused on psychological interventions, and two focused on multimodal interventions. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Oncology nurses could provide various cancer prehabilitation programs to patients who decide to undergo cancer-related treatment. Additional research on this subject should involve careful consideration of QOL instruments and sample size when designing the intervention.