Importance: Following treatment, breast cancer survivors face challenges participating in valued activities. Objective: To determine whether a telephone-based coaching rehabilitation intervention enhances activity participation in the year following breast cancer treatment. Design, Setting, and Participants: In this multisite, single-blind randomized clinical trial (Optimizing Functional Recovery of Breast Cancer Survivors), recruitment occurred between August 28, 2019, and April 30, 2022. Data collection was completed by April 1, 2023. Participants were recruited from 2 cancer centers (Dartmouth College and the University of Alabama at Birmingham) and via social media advertisements. Women aged 18 years or older who had completed primary treatment for stage I to III breast cancer within 1 year and reported participation restrictions were eligible to participate. Randomization was stratified by site, treatment, and time since treatment. Interventions: The intervention, delivered via telephone over 9 sessions, used behavioral activation and problem-solving principles to promote activity participation. The education-based attention control condition was delivered via telephone at matched intervals. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was participation, assessed using 5 measures, including Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) social participation-satisfaction measure. One individualized outcome allowed participants to specify activities for which they wanted to foster recovery. Outcomes were collected by telephone by blinded coordinators at baseline and at 8, 20, and 44 weeks. The individualized outcome was assessed at the first and last intervention and control session. Results: Among 1996 patients identified, 303 were eligible and enrolled. Of these, 284 women (94%; mean [SD] age, 56.1 [10.2] years) completed baseline assessments and were randomized, and 81% or more of each group completed the final assessment with no adverse events. Of those who completed the final assessment, 118 of 114 (82%) were in the intervention group, and 113 of 140 (81%) were attention control participants. Between-group differences were not statistically significant for the main measures of PROMIS satisfaction (week 20: Cohen d, 0.1 [95% CI, -0.09 to 0.29] and week 44: Cohen d, -0.08 [95% CI, -0.27 to 0.11]) and ability (week 20: Cohen d, 0.15 [95% CI, -0.06 to 0.37] and week 44: Cohen d, -0.08 [95% CI, -0.27 to 0.11]). On the individualized outcome, intervention participants reported significantly greater improvements in activity satisfaction (Cohen d, 0.76 [95% CI, 0.48-1.02]) and performance (Cohen d, 0.60 [95% CI, 0.32-0.87]). Conclusions and Relevance: In this randomized clinical trial, the intervention catalyzed greater improvements in self-selected activity participation and goal disengagement but did not otherwise accelerate recovery compared with the control condition. Future research should determine what intervention features may lead to the greatest reductions in participation restrictions and other measures that may detect functional recovery. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03915548.
Breast Neoplasms , Medicine , Female , Humans , Middle Aged , Recovery of Function , Single-Blind Method , Telephone , Adolescent , Young Adult , Adult , Aged
PURPOSE: To (1) describe the challenges identified by cancer survivors, healthcare providers, and employers related to work maintenance and optimization during and after cancer treatment and (2) identify strategies that can address those challenges. METHODS: We conducted content analysis of semi-structured interview data collected from cancer survivors, healthcare providers, and employers regarding workplace challenges that cancer survivors face and strategies to address them. Challenges and strategies were summarized according to whether they related to the cancer survivor, the work demands, or the work environment. RESULTS: Forty-five total participants identified challenges and strategies primarily related to the cancer survivor's signs and symptoms of treatment. Healthcare providers (n = 17) focused primarily on challenges and strategies related to the cancer survivor, while employers (n = 5) focused on the work environment-especially policies and procedures that facilitate time off work and the importance of bidirectional communication between cancer survivors and employers. Cancer survivors (n = 23) identified challenges and suggestions in all three categories, though they uniquely focused on challenges relating to work demands and adjustments to those demands that would facilitate employment maintenance. CONCLUSIONS: Efforts to address the many challenges that cancer survivors experience at work should include the views of cancer survivors, healthcare providers, and employers reflecting their respective domains of expertise in work demands, cancer survivors' medical care, and the work environment. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Survivors and healthcare providers are able to address many side effects that can create work challenges, but improved collaboration between survivors and employers may identify ways to modify work demands and environments to maximize employment maintenance.
The purpose of the present study was to conduct a process evaluation of intervention delivery for a randomized controlled trial (RCT) conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic (NCT03915548). The RCT tested the effects of a telephone-delivered behavioral intervention on changes in breast cancer survivors' satisfaction with social roles and activities, as compared to an attention control condition. This process evaluation examined (a) fidelity monitoring scores; (b) participants' perceived benefit ratings for gaining confidence, reducing distress, adjusting habits and routines, setting goals, and increasing exercise; and (c) field notes, email communications, and transcripts of coach supervision and debriefing sessions. The behavioral and attention control conditions were delivered with a high degree of fidelity (global quality rating score for the BA/PS condition was M = 4.6 (SD = 0.6) and M = 4.9 (SD = 0.3) for the attention control condition, where "5" is the highest rating). The behavioral intervention participants perceived greater benefits than the control participants pertaining to goal setting, t(248) = 5.73, p = <0.0001, adjusting habits and routines, t(248) = 2.94, p = 0.0036, and increasing exercise, t(248) = 4.66, p = <0.0001. Moreover, coaches' perceptions regarding the behavioral intervention's therapeutic aspects aligned with the study's a priori conceptual model including the use of a structured process to set small, observable goals and facilitate the independent use of problem-solving skills. However, coaches also noted that aspects of the attention control condition, including the perceived relevance of the educational content and opportunities for social support, may have made it more therapeutically potent than intended. The pandemic may have affected the activity goals behavioral intervention participants could set as well as augmented the relevancy of social support provided in both conditions.
COVID-19 , Cancer Survivors , Neoplasms , Humans , Survivorship , Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
Background: Older individuals surviving breast cancer often encounter cancer-related disability as a short-term or long-term effect of cancer and related treatment. Cancer rehabilitation interventions have the potential to prevent, mitigate, or remediate cancer-related disability. However, use of these services remains limited. Understanding the priorities and perspectives of older individuals surviving breast cancer is key to developing effective and implementable cancer rehabilitation interventions. This qualitative descriptive study examined individuals' preferred and valued methods of cancer rehabilitation intervention delivery. Methods: Using a qualitative descriptive design, older individuals surviving breast cancer (n=14) completed a single telephone-based semi-structure interview. Interviews explored survivors' preferences for cancer rehabilitation service delivery. Interview transcriptions were thematically analyzed. Open codes were inductively generated and reviewed for agreement by an independent reviewer. The codes were deductively organized. Differences were resolved through consensus meetings. Results: Findings revealed preferred intervention delivery characteristics for intervention setting, mode of delivery, format, and timing. Participants predominantly preferred interventions delivered in community-based settings, with both in-person and remote components. Participants also appeared to value one-on-one interventions and those delivered post-treatment. Survivors' overarching preferences were based on desire for patient-centric care, one-on-one therapist time, complex medical schedules, and financial concerns. Discussion: Study findings provide guidance on the modification of existing and creation of new cancer rehabilitation interventions addressing cancer-related disability in older individuals surviving breast cancer. Adoption of stakeholder-driven intervention delivery characteristics may improve value and acceptability of interventions. Future intervention research should incorporate and test these characteristics to ensure their effectiveness in real-world settings.
BACKGROUND: While evidence shows that occupational therapists can play a key role in the care of people with palliative care needs, more knowledge about effective occupational therapy interventions for this group is needed. AIM: To identify, organise and prioritise intervention components considered to be effective within occupational therapy for people with palliative care needs from the perspective of occupational therapy clinicians, managers and researchers. DESIGN: Group Concept Mapping utilising a mixed methods participatory approach. Using a focus prompt, participants brainstormed, sorted, labelled and rated generated statements about effective occupational therapy intervention components. Multidimensional scaling analysis and cluster analysis were conducted. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: Snowball recruitment was used to recruit participants. Participants included occupational therapists worldwide who were able to read and write in English and were working as clinicians, managers and/or researchers with occupational therapy interventions for people with palliative care needs. RESULTS: Seventy-two occupational therapists from 15 countries participated in the study representing Asia (n = 3, 20%), Europe (n = 8, 53%), Oceania (n = 2, 13%) and North America (n = 2, 13%). A total of 117 statements were identified and organised into five clusters: (1) being client-centred, (2) promoting occupational engagement to optimise quality of life, (3) involving the social and relational environment, (4) enabling occupations and (5) facilitating occupational adaptation. CONCLUSIONS: Five clusters of core occupational therapy intervention components were considered to be effective when supporting people with palliative care needs. Research should use this knowledge to inform future occupational therapy interventions for this group of people.
Hospice and Palliative Care Nursing , Occupational Therapy , Humans , Palliative Care/methods , Consensus , Quality of Life
BACKGROUND: Employment contributes to cancer survivors' quality of life, but this population faces a variety of challenges when working during and after treatment. Factors associated with work outcomes among cancer survivors include disease and treatment status, work environment, and social support. While effective employment interventions have been developed in other clinical contexts, existing interventions have demonstrated inconsistent effectiveness in supporting cancer survivors at work. We conducted this study as a preliminary step toward program development for employment support among survivors at a rural comprehensive cancer center. OBJECTIVE: We aimed (1) to identify supports and resources that stakeholders (cancer survivors, health care providers, and employers) suggest may help cancer survivors to maintain employment and (2) to describe stakeholders' views on the advantages and disadvantages of intervention delivery models that incorporate those supports and resources. METHODS: We conducted a descriptive study collecting qualitative data from individual interviews and focus groups. Participants included adult cancer survivors, health care providers, and employers living or working in the Vermont-New Hampshire catchment area of the Dartmouth Cancer Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire. We grouped interview participants' recommended supports and resources into 4 intervention delivery models, which ranged on a continuum from less to more intensive to deliver. We then asked focus group participants to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each of the 4 delivery models. RESULTS: Interview participants (n=45) included 23 cancer survivors, 17 health care providers, and 5 employers. Focus group participants (n=12) included 6 cancer survivors, 4 health care providers, and 2 employers. The four delivery models were (1) provision of educational materials, (2) individual consultation with cancer survivors, (3) joint consultation with both cancer survivors and their employers, and (4) peer support or advisory groups. Each participant type acknowledged the value of providing educational materials, which could be crafted to improve accommodation-related interactions between survivors and employers. Participants saw usefulness in individual consultation but expressed concern about the costs of program delivery and potential mismatches between consultant recommendations and the limits of what employers can provide. For joint consultation, employers liked being part of the solution and the possibility of enhanced communication. Potential drawbacks included additional logistical burden and its perceived generalizability to all types of workers and workplaces. Survivors and health care providers viewed the efficiency and potency of peer support as benefits of a peer advisory group but acknowledged the sensitivity of financial topics as a possible disadvantage of addressing work challenges in a group setting. CONCLUSIONS: The 3 participant groups identified both common and unique advantages and disadvantages of the 4 delivery models, reflecting varied barriers and facilitators to their potential implementation in practice. Theory-driven strategies to address implementation barriers should play a central role in further intervention development.
PURPOSE: To characterize delivery features and explore effectiveness of telehealth-based cancer rehabilitation interventions that address disability in adult cancer survivors. METHODS: A systematic review of electronic databases (CINAHL Plus, Cochrane Library: Database of Systematic Reviews, Embase, National Health Service's Health Technology Assessment, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science) was conducted in December 2019 and updated in April 2021. RESULTS: Searches identified 3,499 unique studies. Sixty-eight studies met inclusion criteria. There were 81 unique interventions across included studies. Interventions were primarily delivered post-treatment and lasted an average of 16.5 weeks (SD = 13.1). They were most frequently delivered using telephone calls (59%), administered delivered by nursing professionals (35%), and delivered in a one-on-one format (88%). Risk of bias of included studies was primarily moderate to high. Included studies captured 55 measures of disability. Only 54% of reported outcomes had data that allowed calculation of effect sizes ranging -3.58 to 15.66. CONCLUSIONS: The analyses suggest small effects of telehealth-based cancer interventions on disability, though the heterogeneity seen in the measurement of disability makes it hard to draw firm conclusions. Further research using more diverse samples, common measures of disability, and pragmatic study designs is needed to advance telehealth in cancer rehabilitation. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Telehealth-based cancer rehabilitation interventions have the potential to increase access to care designed to reduce disability across the cancer care continuum.
Cancer Survivors , Neoplasms , Telemedicine , Adult , Humans , Delivery of Health Care , State Medicine
The evidence base for interventions that support the employment goals of cancer survivors is growing but inconclusive. As the first step in initiating a community-engaged program of research aimed at developing and testing interventions to support the employment goals of cancer survivors, 23 cancer survivors, 17 healthcare providers, and 5 employers participated in individual interviews to elicit perceptions regarding local challenges and resources related to work maintenance and optimization within the context of cancer treatment. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. A thematic analysis was conducted to identify cross-cutting experiences that were voiced by all three types of participants. Three themes were found in the data: (1) the onus for identifying and articulating work-related issues is upon the cancer survivor; (2) the main support offered to cancer survivors involved time away from work and flexibility with scheduling work and treatment activities; and (3) participants voiced a lack of information regarding one or more aspects related to supporting employment goals of cancer survivors. Supportive resources designed for cancer survivors, employers, and/or healthcare providers are needed to help cancer survivors optimize their employment situations.
Cancer Survivors , Neoplasms , Employment , Health Personnel , Humans , Neoplasms/therapy , Workplace
PURPOSE: Many older breast cancer survivors experience long-term disability due to cancer and cancer-related treatments. However, less than 20% of older breast cancer survivors utilize cancer rehabilitation services to address cancer-related disability. Further understanding of survivor experiences may reveal strategies to improve uptake cancer rehabilitation services in the USA. METHODS: Older breast cancer survivors were recruited from university-based registries, previous breast cancer research studies at our institution, community support groups, and geriatric oncology clinics. Participants completed a brief online survey to capture demographic and clinical characteristics. Semi-structured telephone-based interviews were recorded, transcribed, and thematically analyzed. Interviews facilitated conversation about access to rehabilitation and indications for cancer rehabilitation. RESULTS: Participants (n = 14) were, on average, 71 years old, primarily White, and an average of 36.5 months post-diagnosis. Five participants had formally received rehabilitation for a cancer-related concern. Participants described seven factors that influenced utilization of cancer rehabilitation services: (1) emerging awareness of disability; (2) coping styles; (3) comparison of cancer experience with others; (4) provider interaction; (5) perceptions of cancer diagnosis; (6) social support; and (7) cost of rehabilitation. CONCLUSIONS: Older breast cancer survivors consider multiple factors when determining utilization of cancer rehabilitation services. Development of shared decision-making tools addressing the seven described factors may enhance communication and referral to cancer rehabilitation services. Intervention research should adopt frameworks that enhance healthcare accessibility to improve relevance of intervention content and delivery features for older breast cancer survivors.
Breast Neoplasms , Cancer Survivors , Aged , Community Support , Female , Humans , Qualitative Research , Survivors
OBJECTIVES: Pre-operative exercise may improve functional outcomes for lung cancer patients, but barriers associated with cost, resources, and burden make it challenging to deliver pre-operative exercise programs. The goal of this proof-of-concept study was to determine level of moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and change in aerobic capacity after participation in a home-based pre-operative exercise intervention. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighteen patients scheduled for surgery for suspected stage I-III lung cancer received an exercise prescription from their surgeon and wore a commercially-available device that tracked their daily MVPA throughout the pre-operative period. Descriptive statistics were used to calculate adherence to the exercise prescription. A one-sample t-test was used to explore change in aerobic capacity from baseline to the day of surgery. RESULTS: Participants exhibited a mean of 20.4 (sd = 46.2) minutes of MVPA per day during the pre-operative period. On average, the sample met the goal of 30 min of MVPA on 16.4% of the days during the pre-operative period. The mean distance achieved at baseline for the 6-min walk test was 456.7 m (sd = 72.9), which increased to 471.1 m (sd = 88.4) on the day of surgery. This equates to a mean improvement of 13.8 m (sd = 37.0), but this difference was not statistically different from zero (p = 0.14). Eight of the 17 participants (47%) demonstrated a clinically significant improvement of 14 m or more. CONCLUSION: A surgeon-delivered exercise prescription plus an activity tracker may promote clinically significant improvement in aerobic capacity and MVPA engagement among patients with lung cancer during the pre-operative period, but may need to be augmented with more contact with and support from practitioners over time to maximize benefits. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study protocol was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov prior to initiating participant recruitment (NCT03162718).
Exercise Therapy/methods , Exercise/statistics & numerical data , Lung Neoplasms/therapy , Patient Acceptance of Health Care/statistics & numerical data , Preoperative Care/methods , Aged , Exercise Therapy/statistics & numerical data , Female , Fitness Trackers , Humans , Lung Neoplasms/surgery , Male , Middle Aged , New Hampshire , Preoperative Period , Prescriptions , Surgeons
BACKGROUND: Virtual Learning Collaboratives (VLC), learning communities focused on a common purpose, are used frequently in healthcare settings to implement best practices. Yet, there is limited research testing the effectiveness of this approach compared to other implementation strategies. This study evaluates the effectiveness of a VLC compared to Technical Assistance (TA) among community oncology practices implementing ENABLE (Educate, Nurture, Advise, Before Life Ends), an evidence-based, early palliative care telehealth, psycho-educational intervention for patients with newly diagnosed advanced cancer and their caregivers. METHODS: Using Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance (RE-AIM) and Proctor's Implementation Outcomes Frameworks, this two-arm hybrid type-III cluster-randomized controlled trial (RCT) will compare two implementation strategies, VLC versus TA, among the 48 National Cancer Institute Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) practice clusters that have not historically provided palliative care to all patients with advanced cancer. Three cohorts of practice clusters will be randomized to the study arms. Each practice cluster will recruit 15-27 patients and a family caregiver to participate in ENABLE. The primary study outcome is ENABLE uptake (patient level), i.e., the proportion of eligible patients who complete the ENABLE program (receive a palliative care assessment and complete the six ENABLE sessions over 12 weeks). The secondary outcome is overall program implementation (practice cluster level), as measured by the General Organizational Index at baseline, 6, and 12 months. Exploratory aims assess patient and caregiver mood and quality of life outcomes at baseline, 12, and 24 weeks. Practice cluster randomization will seek to keep the proportion of rural practices, practice sizes, and minority patients seen within each practice balanced across the two study arms. DISCUSSION: This study will advance the field of implementation science by evaluating VLC effectiveness, a commonly used but understudied, implementation strategy. The study will advance the field of palliative care by building the capacity and infrastructure to implement an early palliative care program in community oncology practices. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov . NCT04062552; Pre-results. Registered: August 20, 2019. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04062552?term=NCT04062552&draw=2&rank=1.
Education, Distance , Neoplasms , Caregivers , Humans , Neoplasms/therapy , Palliative Care , Quality of Life , Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
Occupational therapy practitioners provide interventions to promote activity engagement to multiple clinical populations. They help clients develop restorative, adaptive, and compensatory skills to improve their performance in daily activities. The issue addressed in this article is that current clinical frameworks lack translation of learned skills to consistent everyday performance. There is a gap between what clients can do and what clients actually do in everyday life. Behavioral activation provides an explicit, structured, and practical approach that can translate capacity into long-term engagement. This article presents behavioral activation as a transdiagnostic approach that targets populations experiencing chronic illness to bridge the gap between what the client can do in therapy and what the client could do in everyday life. WHAT THIS ARTICLE ADDS: People with chronic illness have difficulty translating the skills learned in traditional practice settings to everyday life. Behavioral activation offers occupational therapy practitioners a practical structure to promote the translation of learned skills.
Occupational Therapy , Humans
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to explore the feasibility, acceptability and perceived utility of the provision of a wearable fitness device and an exercise prescription from a surgeon, prior to surgery for lung cancer. METHODS: A single-arm, pre-post feasibility study was conducted with 30 participants scheduled for surgery to treat stage I, II or III lung cancer. Participants were given a Garmin Vivoactive HR device and a prescription for 150 min of moderately to vigorous exercise per week. Participants completed assessments on four occasions and completed a semi-structured interview on two occasions. Descriptive statistics were used to assess the feasibility and acceptability of study procedures, including synchronising the Garmin device and engaging in study assessments. RESULTS: Seventy-nine per cent of enrolled participants completed the pre-operative study activities. Seventy-one per cent of enrolled participants successfully synchronised their device during the pre-operative period. Data were transmitted from the device to the study team for an average of 70% of the pre-operative days. CONCLUSION: This pilot study demonstrated the feasibility and acceptability of a pre-operative exercise program for patients scheduled to undergo surgery for lung cancer. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study protocol was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov prior to the initiation of participant recruitment (NCT03162718).
Exercise Therapy/methods , Fitness Trackers , Lung Neoplasms/surgery , Patient Acceptance of Health Care , Preoperative Exercise , Aged , Feasibility Studies , Female , Humans , Lung Neoplasms/pathology , Male , Middle Aged , Neoplasm Staging , Pilot Projects
PURPOSE: To evaluate the feasibility of brigade-style, multiphasic cancer screening in Honduras, exploring data from 3 screening events that each tested for multiple cancers on single occasions. METHODS: This series of 3 studies each used a single-arm, post-test-only design to explore the feasibility of implementing multiphasic, community-based cancer screening at the same rural location in 2013, 2016, and 2017. The 2013 event for women screened for 2 cancers (breast and cervix), and the 2016 event for women screened for 3 cancers (breast, cervix, and thyroid). The 2017 event for men screened for 5 cancers (skin, prostate, colorectal, oropharynx, and testes). RESULTS: Totals of 473 and 401 women participated in the 2013 and 2016 events, respectively, and 301 men participated in the 2017 event. Staffing for each event varied from 33 to 44 people and relied primarily on in-country medical students and local community members. High rates (mean, 88%) of compliance with referral for follow-up testing at clinics and primary care facilities were observed after the screening events. CONCLUSION: The multiphasic, community-based approach proved feasible for both women and men and resulted in high rates of compliance with follow-up testing. This approach appears highly replicable: it was conducted multiple times across the years with different screening targets, which could be further scaled elsewhere using the same technique.
Early Detection of Cancer , Neoplasms , Feasibility Studies , Female , Honduras/epidemiology , Humans , Male , Multiphasic Screening , Neoplasms/diagnosis , Neoplasms/epidemiology
INTRODUCTION: Many breast cancer survivors report an inability to fully participate in activities of daily living after completing cancer treatment. Reduced activity participation is linked to negative consequences for individuals (eg, depression, reduced quality of life) and society (reduced workforce participation). There is currently a lack of evidence-based interventions that directly foster cancer survivors' optimal participation in life roles and activities. Pilot study data suggest rehabilitation interventions based on behavioural activation (BA) and problem-solving treatment (PST) can facilitate post-treatment role resumption among breast cancer survivors. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This protocol describes a multisite randomised controlled trial comparing a 4-month long, nine-session BA and PST-informed rehabilitation intervention (BA/PS) against a time-matched, attention control condition. The overall objective is to assess the efficacy of BA/PS for enhancing breast cancer survivors' activity participation and quality of life over time. A total of 300 breast cancer survivors reporting participation restrictions after completing curative treatment for stage 1-3 breast cancer within the past year will be recruited across two sites (Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and University of Alabama at Birmingham). Assessments are collected on enrolment (T1) and 8 (T2), 20 (T3) and 44 (T4) weeks later. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Study procedures are approved by the Committee for the Protection of Human Subjects at Dartmouth College, acting as the single Institutional Review Board of record for both study sites (STUDY 00031380). Results of the study will be presented at national meetings and submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT03915548; Pre-results.
Activities of Daily Living , Breast Neoplasms , Cancer Survivors , Breast Neoplasms/therapy , Female , Humans , Quality of Life , Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
Purpose: To build consensus around an optimal patient-reported outcome measure of cancer symptoms and patient needs to facilitate patient-provider communication and trigger referrals to supportive services.Methods and materials: The Grid-Enabled Measures platform was used to crowdsource and facilitate collaboration to achieve consensus. Respondents were invited to nominate and independently rate the usefulness of measures that: (1) have been actively used at a healthcare institution, (2) have a multiple choice or yes/no type format, (3) are applicable to adults with cancer, (4) are patient-reported, and 5) have psychometric data if possible. Discussion boards within the GEM workspace allowed respondents to identify barriers to implementing patient assessment and referral systems.Results: 166 individuals from various disciplines from 25 organizations participated. Six instruments were nominated, and 553 rating surveys were submitted. The three most highly-rated overall instruments were the Distress Thermometer, the James Supportive Case Screening, and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General. Participants noted that wide-scale implementation of this process requires both identifying problems and providing clinicians with algorithms to facilitate appropriate referrals.Conclusions: Consensus reported three most highly-related measures as optimal for comprehensive screening and identification for referral by assessing multiple domains of functioning and quality of life.Implications for RehabilitationGaining consensus on the best patient reported outcome measures is an important step towards improving access to cancer rehabilitation services.A consensus agreed on several measures to use for cancer rehabilitation screening. Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General, National Comprehensive Cancer. Network Distress Thermometer and the James Instrument.The selected measures do not put undue burden on clinicians and patients.
Mass Screening , Quality of Life , Adult , Consensus , Humans , Referral and Consultation , Surveys and Questionnaires
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the feasibility of conducting a future full-scale trial to test the efficacy of an in-home occupational therapy intervention designed to reduce disability in older adult cancer survivors. METHOD: Participants reporting activity limitations during or after cancer treatment were enrolled in a Phase 1 pilot randomized controlled trial comparing the 6-wk intervention (n = 30) to usual care (n = 29). Descriptive data on retention rates were collected to assess feasibility of intervention and study procedures. Potential efficacy was explored through participants' self-reported disability, quality of life, activity level, and behavioral activation at 0, 8, and 16 wk after enrollment. RESULTS: Retention rates were high regarding completion of the intervention (90%) and outcome assessments (90% of usual-care participants and 80% of intervention participants). Outcomes consistently favored the intervention group, although group differences were small. CONCLUSION: The procedures were feasible to implement and acceptable to participants.
Occupational Therapy , Quality of Life , Aged , Cancer Survivors/statistics & numerical data , Humans , Occupational Therapy/methods , Outcome Assessment, Health Care
Participation refers to a state of health in which a person is able to fully engage in roles and life situations. Adults living with and beyond cancer often report persistent participation restrictions that affect their productivity and quality of life. The American Occupational Therapy Foundation convened a group of scientists from seven different disciplines in a Planning Grant Collective (PGC) to stimulate research to identify scalable ways to preserve and optimize participation among cancer survivors. Participants identified challenges, prioritized solutions, and generated novel research questions that move beyond symptom and impairment mitigation as outcomes to identify interventions that improve participation in roles and life situations. This article summarizes the PGC discussion and recommendations regarding three challenges: (a) the dynamic and multi-faceted nature of participation, (b) a need to integrate the concept of participation within the culture of oncology, and (c) identification of priority areas in which new lines of research regarding participation would be most impactful.
Cancer Survivors , Occupational Therapy , Activities of Daily Living , Humans , Quality of Life , Research Design
Evidence-based interventions often need to be adapted to maximize their implementation potential in low-to middle-income countries. A single-arm feasibility study was conducted to determine the feasibility and acceptability of a telephone-delivered, nurse-led, symptom management intervention for adults undergoing chemotherapy in Honduras. Over the course of 6 months, nurses engaged 25 patients undergoing chemotherapy in the intervention. Each participant received an average of 16.2 attempts to contact them for telephone sessions (SD = 8.0, range = 2-28). Collectively, the participants discussed 24 different types of symptoms. The most commonly discussed symptoms were pain (12%), nausea (7%), and constipation (5%). Qualitative and quantitative data were used to identify treatment manual modifications (i.e., adding content about different symptoms and addressing scheduling of treatment) and workplace modifications (i.e., dedicated nurse time and space) that are needed to optimize implementation of the intervention.
Drug Therapy/psychology , Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions/therapy , Neoplasms/drug therapy , Adult , Drug Therapy/methods , Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions/psychology , Feasibility Studies , Female , Honduras , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Neoplasms/psychology , Palliative Care/methods , Palliative Care/psychology , Palliative Care/standards
OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical and personal factors associated with work status, distress regarding work status, and the desire to resume employment and receive help to address work challenges reported by women living with advanced breast cancer. DESIGN: Descriptive statistics and univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to explore factors related to employment challenges in this secondary analysis of an existing dataset. SETTING: Participants were recruited from an outpatient oncology clinic specializing in breast cancer at a free-standing comprehensive cancer center. PARTICIPANTS: English-speaking women older than 18 years living with metastatic breast cancer with intact mental status and Karnofsky Performance Scale scores between 40 and 90 (N=163). INTERVENTION: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Dependent variables included (1) continued employment if working at the time of cancer diagnosis; (2) interest in resuming employment if working at the time of cancer diagnosis and now no longer working; (3) distress regarding vocational limitations; and (4) interest in receiving help to resume work. RESULTS: Seventy percent of the sample was working before their cancer diagnosis (n=114), yet only 21% (n=35) was working when surveyed. Lower functional status and higher symptom burden were strongly and consistently associated with lack of work retention, distress related to vocational role limitations, and desire for help in addressing limitations (all P values<.01). CONCLUSIONS: With more people living longer with metastatic cancer, there is a need to assess and support survivors' desire and capacity to maintain employment. Participants' reduced employment was strongly associated with potentially actionable clinical targets (ie, higher symptom burden and lower functional status) that fall within cancer rehabilitation's mission.
