Magnitude and determinants of excess total, age-specific and sex-specific all-cause mortality in 24 countries worldwide during 2020 and 2021: results on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic from the C-MOR project.

INTRODUCTION: To examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mortality, we estimated excess all-cause mortality in 24 countries for 2020 and 2021, overall and stratified by sex and age. METHODS: Total, age-specific and sex-specific weekly all-cause mortality was collected for 2015-2021 and excess mortality for 2020 and 2021 was calculated by comparing weekly 2020 and 2021 age-standardised mortality rates against expected mortality, estimated based on historical data (2015-2019), accounting for seasonality, and long-term and short-term trends. Age-specific weekly excess mortality was similarly calculated using crude mortality rates. The association of country and pandemic-related variables with excess mortality was investigated using simple and multilevel regression models. RESULTS: Excess cumulative mortality for both 2020 and 2021 was found in Austria, Brazil, Belgium, Cyprus, England and Wales, Estonia, France, Georgia, Greece, Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, Mauritius, Northern Ireland, Norway, Peru, Poland, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, and the USA. Australia and Denmark experienced excess mortality only in 2021. Mauritius demonstrated a statistically significant decrease in all-cause mortality during both years. Weekly incidence of COVID-19 was significantly positively associated with excess mortality for both years, but the positive association was attenuated in 2021 as percentage of the population fully vaccinated increased. Stringency index of control measures was positively and negatively associated with excess mortality in 2020 and 2021, respectively. CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence of substantial excess mortality in most countries investigated during the first 2 years of the pandemic and suggests that COVID-19 incidence, stringency of control measures and vaccination rates interacted in determining the magnitude of excess mortality.

Perceived Barriers Toward Patient-Reported Outcome Implementation in Cancer Care: An International Scoping Survey.

PURPOSE: Implementation of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) collection is an important priority in cancer care. We examined perceived barriers toward implementing PRO collection between centers with and without PRO infrastructure and administrators and nonadministrators. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a multinational survey of oncology practitioners on their perceived barriers to PRO implementations. Multivariable regression models evaluated for differences in perceived barriers to PRO implementation between groups, adjusted for demographic and institutional variables. RESULTS: Among 358 oncology practitioners representing six geographic regions, 31% worked at centers that did not have PRO infrastructure and 26% self-reported as administrators. Administrators were more likely to perceive concerns with liability issues (aOR, 2.00 [95% CI, 1.12 to 3.57]; P = .02) while having nonsignificant trend toward less likely perceiving concerns with disruption of workflow (aOR, 0.58 [95% CI, 0.32 to 1.03]; P = .06) and nonadherence of PRO reporting (aOR, 0.53 [95% CI, 0.26 to 1.08]; P = .08) as barriers. Respondents from centers without PRO infrastructure were more likely to perceive that not having access to a local PRO expert (aOR, 6.59 [95% CI, 3.81 to 11.42]; P < .001), being unsure how to apply PROs in clinical decisions (aOR, 4.20 [95% CI, 2.32 to 7.63]; P < .001), and being unsure about selecting PRO measures (aOR, 3.36 [95% CI, 2.00 to 5.66]; P < .001) as barriers. Heat map analyses identified the largest differences between participants from centers with and without PRO infrastructure in agreed-upon barriers were (1) not having a local PRO expert, (2) being unsure about selecting PRO measures, and (3) not recognizing the role of PROs at the institutional level. CONCLUSION: Perceived barriers toward PRO implementation differ between administrators and nonadministrators and practitioners at centers with and without PRO infrastructure. PRO implementation teams should consider as part of a comprehensive strategy including frontline clinicians and administrators and members with PRO experience within teams.

The effectiveness of oral bovine lactoferrin compared to iron supplementation in patients with a low hemoglobin profile: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

BACKGROUND: Patients with a low serum blood hemoglobin concentration suffer from a pathologic state that contributes significantly to morbidity and mortality figures worldwide. Oral iron supplementation, the most common method of treatment, is reported to have poor patient adherence, due to its unwanted side effects. Lactoferrin is a globular glycoprotein of the transferrin family that has shown promising results in patients with a low hemoglobin profile. This systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials explore its effect on blood hemoglobin compared to conventional iron preparations. METHODS: We followed the PRISMA Guidelines for reporting systematic reviews and meta-analyses. A systematic search was conducted in electronic databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, and Cochrane) from inception to June 2022. Meta-analysis was performed on studies where the primary outcome was the mean Hb concentration, comparing lactoferrin to ferrous sulfate subgroups. We assessed the methodological quality of the trials using the Jadad scoring scale. RESULTS: Nineteen trials published between 2006 and 2022 met the eligibility criteria. It has been found that the levels of Hb concentration in different populations with varying health conditions undergo a moderate to significant change after treatment with all types of trialed interventions, including both iron and lactoferrin treatment, in both the intervention group and the comparison group. Most of the studies report that LF showed a statistically significant increase in Hb concentration levels, compared to those in the iron group. The meta-analysis included seven trials comparing the effectiveness of lactoferrin to ferrous sulfate for patients with low Hb concentration. The analysis showed a statistically significant increase in Hb levels in the oral bovine lactoferrin group compared to ferrous sulfate (SMD -0.81, 95% CI: -1.21, -0.42, p < 0.0001, I2 = 95.8%, P heterogeneity < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Lactoferrin is an effective intervention at doses of 100-250 ng/day, for patients with a low Hb concentration. As a safer option and with high compliance evidence, lactoferrin can serve as an iron replacement treatment for patients who may be experiencing adverse side effects due to iron intake.

Cancer care pathways across seven countries in Europe: What are the current obstacles? And how can artificial intelligence help?

BACKGROUND: Cancer poses significant challenges for healthcare professionals across the disease pathway including cancer imaging. This study constitutes part of the user requirement definition of INCISIVE EU project. The project has been designed to explore the full potential of artificial intelligence (AI)-based technologies in cancer imaging to streamline diagnosis and management. The study aimed to map cancer care pathways (breast, prostate, colorectal and lung cancers) across INCISIVE partner countries, and identify bottle necks within these pathways. METHODS: Email interviews were conducted with ten oncology specialised healthcare professionals representing INCISIVE partner countries: Greece, Cyprus, Spain, Italy, Finland, the United Kingdom (UK) and Serbia. A purposive sampling strategy was employed for recruitment and data was collected between December 2020 and April 2021. Data was entered into Microsoft Excel spreadsheet to allow content examination and comparative analysis. RESULTS: The analysed pathways all shared a common characteristic: inequalities in relation to delays in cancer diagnosis and treatment. All the studied countries, except the UK, lacked official national data about diagnostic and therapeutic delays. Furthermore, a considerable variation was noted regarding the availability of imaging and diagnostic services across the seven countries. Several concerns were also noted for inefficiencies/inequalities with regards to national screening for the four investigated cancer types. CONCLUSIONS: Delays in cancer diagnosis and treatment are an ongoing challenge and a source for inequalities. It is important to have systematic reporting of diagnostic and therapeutic delays in all countries to allow the proper estimation of its magnitude and support needed to address it. Our findings also support the orientation of the current policies towards early detection and wide scale adoption and implementation of cancer screening, through research, innovation, and technology. Technologies involving AI can have a great potential to revolutionise cancer care delivery. POLICY SUMMARY: This study highlights the widespread delay in cancer diagnosis across Europe and supports the need for, systematic reporting of delays, improved availability of imaging services, and optimised national screening programs. The goal is to enhance cancer care delivery, encourage early detection, and implement research, innovation, and AI-based technologies for improved cancer imaging.

Effectiveness of an educational intervention to increase professional nurses' person-centred care competence in long-term care of older people-Quasi-experimental study.

BACKGROUND: Based on previous evidence person-centred care (PCC) as a quality indicator is important in long-term care (LTC) settings for older people. Effective ways to increase nurses' person-centred care competence are missing. AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness of a continuing education (CE) intervention named 'Person First-Please' (PFP) for improving nurses' PPC competence and its connection to PPC climate. METHODS: Quasi-experimental cluster design with intervention and control groups was carried out in LTC settings for older people. The intervention group (n = 77) received a 10-week CE intervention, with control group (n = 123) working as usual. The primary outcome was professional nurses' PCC competence. Secondary outcome was the PCC climate as perceived by nurses and, residents with their next of kin. Measurements were conducted pre-/post-intervention and after 6 weeks using the validated, Person-centred Care Competence scale and the Person-centred Care Climate questionnaire, staff and patient versions. Data was analysed with descriptive and inferential statistics. RESULTS: PCC competence was significantly increased in the intervention group and remained after 6 weeks of follow-up. PCC climate increased in the intervention group in total score and also in all sub-scales, across residents with their next of kin. The control group did not show any significant change. Comparisons of PCC competence and PCC climate in time between intervention and control groups confirmed that changes seen between groups were statistically significant in intervention group. LIMITATIONS: Measurements were self-assessments, which may have been affected by bias, especially in context of competence assessment. CONCLUSION: The intervention was effective in increasing professional nurses' PCC competence and on person-centred care climate in long-term care settings for older people.

Qualitative inquiry into the experience of suicide loss, aftereffects and coping strategies of suicide-bereaved Greek-speaking parents in Cyprus.

PURPOSE: Studies on suicide-bereaved parents are scarce in South European and Eastern Mediterranean countries. We explored the experiences of Greek-speaking suicide-bereaved parents in Cyprus, with emphasis on the interpretations of their child's suicide, its aftereffects and their coping strategies. METHODS: A qualitative methodology based on inductive content analysis of the interviews of ten mothers and two fathers was applied. RESULTS: The participants described their efforts to make sense of the senseless, reporting numerous interpretations of their child's suicide. Some participants had achieved to move on by trying to keep the remaining family together. Others felt detached from their social network. The different coping strategies and support systems described, reflected participants' efforts to escape from obsessive, enduring and deeply traumatizing thoughts about their child's suicide. The analysis mirrored participants' ultimate desire to find existential relief and serenity through the management of distressing reminders of their child's suicide, and alleviate the burden of their own negative self-judgement and the criticism of others. They sought physical and emotional comfort in the inner realm of their psyche, through spiritual and psychological coping processes. CONCLUSION: Further exploration is suggested about intervention planning aiming to strengthen effective coping strategies and external supportive resources in mourning parents.

Cancer care at the time of the fourth industrial revolution: an insight to healthcare professionals' perspectives on cancer care and artificial intelligence.

BACKGROUND: The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology in cancer care has gained unprecedented global attention over the past few decades. This has impacted the way that cancer care is practiced and delivered across settings. The purpose of this study was to explore the perspectives and experiences of healthcare professionals (HCPs) on cancer treatment and the need for AI. This study is a part of the INCISIVE European Union H2020 project's development of user requirements, which aims to fully explore the potential of AI-based cancer imaging technologies. METHODS: A mixed-methods research design was employed. HCPs participating in cancer care in the UK, Greece, Italy, Spain, Cyprus, and Serbia were first surveyed anonymously online. Twenty-seven HCPs then participated in semi-structured interviews. Appropriate statistical method was adopted to report the survey results by using SPSS. The interviews were audio recorded, verbatim transcribed, and then thematically analysed supported by NVIVO. RESULTS: The survey drew responses from 95 HCPs. The occurrence of diagnostic delay was reported by 56% (n = 28/50) for breast cancer, 64% (n = 27/42) for lung cancer, 76% (n = 34/45) for colorectal cancer and 42% (n = 16/38) for prostate cancer. A proportion of participants reported the occurrence of false positives in the accuracy of the current imaging techniques used: 64% (n = 32/50) reported this for breast cancer, 60% (n = 25/42) for lung cancer, 51% (n = 23/45) for colorectal cancer and 45% (n = 17/38) for prostate cancer. All participants agreed that the use of technology would enhance the care pathway for cancer patients. Despite the positive perspectives toward AI, certain limitations were also recorded. The majority (73%) of respondents (n = 69/95) reported they had never utilised technology in the care pathway which necessitates the need for education and training in the qualitative finding; compared to 27% (n = 26/95) who had and were still using it. Most, 89% of respondents (n = 85/95) said they would be opened to providing AI-based services in the future to improve medical imaging for cancer care. Interviews with HCPs revealed lack of widespread preparedness for AI in oncology, several barriers to introducing AI, and a need for education and training. Provision of AI training, increasing public awareness of AI, using evidence-based technology, and developing AI based interventions that will not replace HCPs were some of the recommendations. CONCLUSION: HCPs reported favourable opinions of AI-based cancer imaging technologies and noted a number of care pathway concerns where AI can be useful. For the future design and execution of the INCISIVE project and other comparable AI-based projects, the characteristics and recommendations offered in the current research can serve as a reference.

Changes in unmet care needs, social support and distress from initial diagnosis to post-surgery in patients with gynecological cancer: A longitudinal study.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to explore the changes in unmet care needs, perceived social support, and levels of distress experienced by newly diagnosed Greek patients with gynecological cancer during the phase after diagnosis and before surgical treatment (T0), and 4 months after surgical treatment at the first postoperative follow-up visit (T1). METHODS: This was a prospective, longitudinal, descriptive study based on the framework of stress and coping theory. The Needs Evaluation Questionnaire, Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21), Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), and a demographic and clinical data questionnaire were distributed to a convenience sample of 86 patients. RESULTS: A convenience sample of 86 patients newly diagnoised with gynecological cancer participated in the study. The mean age of the participants was 60.7 years (SD = 10.9 years) while 57.6% of them were married. Overall, patients' needs and social support had significantly decreased at T1 compared to T0 (p = 0.005 and p = 0.029, respectively). DASS-21 subscale scores did not change significantly at T1, whereas anxiety levels were significantly lower at follow-up (p = 0.048). Changes in anxiety levels were associated with changes in needs related to family (p < 0.001), need for assistance/care (p = 0.013) and support (p = 0.004), and total needs (p = 0.004). CONCLUSION: The phase following cancer diagnosis and awaiting surgery is a high-risk period for the mental health of women with gynecological cancer, and one that requires special attention from healthcare professionals. By identifying unmet needs, addressing anxiety and providing appropriate social support, healthcare professional can contribute significantly to improving patients' quality of life throughout their cancer journey.

A review of growth and development of oncology nursing in six European countries.

Oncology nursing consists of a branch of nursing specialised in the care of people affected by cancer. Despite its essential contribution in the field of oncology, there is lack or poor recognition as a specialty across Europe. The aim of this paper is to review the development and growth of oncology nursing in 6 diverse countries in Europe. The paper has been developed by drawing on the relevant national and European literature (e.g., in local language and English language) available in the participating countries. European and international literature has been used complementarily to contextualised the findings to the wider field of cancer nursing across the world. Furthermore, this literature has been utilised to demonstrate how the implications of the paper's outcomes can be relevant to other cancer nursing contexts. The paper discusses the pathways of the development and growth of oncology nursing in France, Cyprus, UK, Croatia, Norway, and Spain. This paper will further contribute to raising the awareness on the extent and level of contribution that oncology nurses are making to improve cancer care on a global scale. This also needs to be in accordance to the policy frameworks on a national, European and global context so that the recognition of the vital contribution of oncology nurses is complemented with its full recognition as a distinct specialty.

Leadership and Intention to Leave Among Public Health Sector Physicians in Cyprus: A National Cross-Sectional Study.

Physician shortage is a major concern in many health care systems globally, while healthcare leadership constitutes one of the most vital factors within human resource management. Our study examined the relationship between managers' leadership styles and physicians' intent to leave their current position. In this cross-sectional national survey, questionnaires were distributed to all physicians working in the public health sector of Cyprus. Most demographic characteristics evaluated by chi-square or Mann-Whitney test, were statistically significantly different between those who intended to leave their job and those who did not. The results of our study demonstrated that transformational leadership has a positive influence on retention of physicians in public hospitals, while non leadership infers a negative influence. Developing leadership skills in physician supervisors is of a great importance for organizations to make a large impact on health professionals' retention and overall performance.

Organisational commitment, job satisfaction and intention to leave among physicians in the public health sector of Cyprus: a cross-sectional survey.

OBJECTIVES: Organisational commitment, job satisfaction and intention to leave constitute important characteristics of health professionals' employment status. Our study aimed at investigating the level of organisational commitment, job satisfaction in association with intention to leave among physicians. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SETTING: A survey was conducted using self-administered questionnaires (the Organizational Commitment Questionnaire and the Job Satisfaction Survey) among all physicians working in the public health sector of Cyprus (October 2016-January 2017). PARTICIPANTS: Out of 690 physicians working in the public health sector who received an invitation to participate, 511 completed the survey and 9 were excluded. Therefore, 502 physicians were included in the final analysis (response rate 73%). A total of 188 cases were excluded because they were undetermined with respect to their intention to leave and a total of 75 cases were excluded from the regression analysis due to missing values on at least one variable or due to having values considered as outliers. Therefore, a total of 239 physicians (120 men and 119 women) were included in the current analysis. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Physicians' intention to leave. RESULTS: A considerably large percentage of physicians (72.8%) working in the public hospitals and healthcare centres of Cyprus reported their intention to leave their job. Moreover, the majority of employees in public hospitals (78.4%) intended to leave their job, while only 21.6% of employees in health centres reported an intention to leave (p<0.001). The study also confirmed that organisational commitment and job satisfaction were negatively correlated with intention to leave. In addition, the results of this study demonstrate that certain demographics also influence physicians' intention to leave including age, gender and medical specialisation. CONCLUSIONS: Certain physicians' demographics, organisational commitment and job satisfaction constitute important parameters influencing physicians' intention to leave their job.

Radioligand therapies in cancer: mapping the educational landscape in Europe.

AIM: We performed a systematic survey to assess the existing gaps in Europe in multidisciplinary education for integration of radioligand therapy (RLT) into cancer care and to obtain detailed information on the current limitations and key contents relevant. METHODS: A high-quality questionnaire, with emphasis on survey scales, formulation, and validity of the different items, was designed. An expert validation process was undertaken. The survey was circulated among medical specialties involved in cancer treatment, universities, and nursing organizations. Questionnaires (156) were distributed, and 95 responses received. RESULTS: Sevety-eight percent of medical societies indicated that training in RLT was very important and 12% important. Eighty-eight percent indicated that their specialty training program included RLT. Twenty-six percent were satisfied with the existing structure of training in RLTs. Ninety-four percent indicated that the existing training is based on theory and hands-on experience. Main identified limitations were lack of centers ready to train and of personnel available for teaching. Sixty-five percent indicated that national programs could be expanded. Fifty percent of consulted universities indicated partial or scarce presence of RLT contents in their teaching programs. In 26% of the cases, the students do not have the chance to visit a RLT facility. A large majority of the universities are interested in further expansion of RLT contents in their curriculums. Nursing organizations almost never (44.4%) or occasionally (33.3%) include RLT contents in the education of nurses and technologists. Hands-on experience is almost never (38%) and sometimes (38%) offered. However, 67% of centers indicated high interest in expanding RLT contents. CONCLUSION: Centers involved recognize the importance of the training and indicate a need for inclusion of additional clinical content, imaging analysis, and interpretation as well as extended hands-on training. A concerted effort to adapt current programs and a shift towards multidisciplinary training programs is necessary for proper education in RLT in Europe.

Big Data, Machine Learning, and Artificial Intelligence to Advance Cancer Care: Opportunities and Challenges.

OBJECTIVES: The rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI), big data, and machine learning (ML) technologies hold promise for personalized, equitable cancer care and improved health outcomes within the context of cancer and beyond. Furthermore, integrating these technologies into cancer research has been effective in addressing many of the challenges for cancer control and cure. This can be achieved through the insights generated from massive amounts of data, in ways that can help inform decisions, interventions, and precision cancer care. AI, big data, and ML technologies offer, either in isolation or in combination, unconventional pathways that facilitate the better understanding and management of cancer and its impact on the person. The value of AI, big data, and ML technologies has been acknowledged and integrated within the Cancer Moonshot program in the U.S. and the EU Beating Cancer Plan in Europe. DATA SOURCES: Relevant studies on the topic have formed the basis for this article. CONCLUSION: In a shifting health care environment where cancer care is becoming more complex and demanding, big data and AI technologies can act as a vehicle to facilitating the care continuum. An increasing body of literature demonstrates their impactful contributions in areas such as treatment and diagnosis. These technologies, however, create additional requirements from health care professionals in terms of capacity and preparedness to integrate them effectively and efficiently in clinical practice. Therefore, there is an increasing need for investment and training in oncology to combat and overcome some of the challenges posed by cancer control. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: AI, big data, and ML are increasingly integrated in various aspects of health care. As a result, health care professionals, including nurses, will need to adjust in an ever-changing practice environment where these technologies have potential applications in clinical settings to improve risk stratification, early detection, and surveillance management of cancer patients.

Burnout, coping and resilience of the cancer care workforce during the SARS-CoV-2: A multinational cross-sectional study.

PURPOSE: Over the past year, the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has significantly increased the demand placed on health care professionals around the world. The already complex cancer care has been complicated further by the restructuring of services (e.g., working processes, treatment allocation). This study was designed to explore the level of burnout, coping and resilience of the cancer care workforce during SARS-CoV-2. METHODS: Cross-sectional, multinational study undertaken between March-May 2021. In total 271 healthcare professionals were recruited in the study. These were specialized and/or working in the oncology sector from around the globe. Data were collected with an online survey with the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, Brief-COPE (Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced) Scale and The Maslach 's Burnout Inventory. RESULTS: The majority of the participants were cancer nurses followed by oncologists. The mean overall Burnout score was 64.86 (SD 17.15), the overall COPE score was 31.72 (SD 12.39) and the overall Resilience score was 69.48 (SD 12.4). Positive correlations were found between the COPE dimensions and the burnout overall score (0.316, 0.388, 0.398). The burnout overall score was negatively correlated with the resilience score (p -0.126). CONCLUSION: The findings showed significand levels of burnout, diminished coping abilities and reduced resilience among cancer care professionals. This study emphasizes the need for a timely and appropriate preparation of the healthcare systems to better support cancer care professionals in the event of a new SARS-CoV-2 healthcare emergency.

Healthcare professionals' perceptions of psychosocial support for family members in palliative care inpatient units-A qualitative descriptive study.

AIM: This study aimed to describe the psychosocial support healthcare professionals in specialist palliative inpatient units provide to family members of palliative care patients. DESIGN: A qualitative descriptive design. METHOD: The data were collected with focus group interviews and analysed with inductive content analysis. RESULTS: Altogether, 48 healthcare professionals, including physicians, registered nurses and practical nurses, participated in the study. Information sharing was recognised as an essential element of support. Methods to improve support of family members included an opportunity to allocate recourses to the families, systematic support and strengthening healthcare professionals' competence in family care. The healthcare professionals describe their perceptions of psychosocial support for family members primarily through patient care and the patient's situation rather than family needs. Direct support for the family members is realised principally by information sharing and conversations. Healthcare professionals express their opportunities to implement support focusing on family members' needs restricted by reason of organisational resources. The information can be used when developing and improving family care in palliative care context to recognise the most relevant needs from healthcare professionals' perspective and also when implementing healthcare professionals' education and training.

Theoretical Frameworks of Leadership in Nursing: Critical Reflections.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this article is to present a comprehensive view on the topic of nursing leadership discussing the theoretical frameworks that underpin its manifestation, the leadership styles in nursing, the overall landscape in nursing leadership including the context where leadership is being practiced, and finally looking at the educational pathways for building leadership capacity and sustainability DATA SOURCES: Relevant studies on the topic as well professional associations, national and international organizations' evidence have formed the basis for this article. CONCLUSION: The role of the nurse leaders is complex and demanding within the context of health care. Its value has been increasingly drawing the attention of national and international organizations. The nurse leader is performing tasks within rapidly shifting environments that require constant changes to best address the organizational goals but remain true to the values and perspectives envisioned by the nursing profession. Through the implementation of corresponding competency frameworks, the capacity and preparedness of nurse leaders can be cultivated ideally in a multidisciplinary context. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Nurse leaders are increasingly assuming positions of authority across the structures of health care organizations. There is need to timely and appropriately increase the preparedness of nurse leaders to assume and sustain these challenging and dynamic roles.

European Groundshot-addressing Europe's cancer research challenges: a Lancet Oncology Commission.

Cancer research is a crucial pillar for countries to deliver more affordable, higher quality, and more equitable cancer care. Patients treated in research-active hospitals have better outcomes than patients who are not treated in these settings. However, cancer in Europe is at a crossroads. Cancer was already a leading cause of premature death before the COVID-19 pandemic, and the disastrous effects of the pandemic on early diagnosis and treatment will probably set back cancer outcomes in Europe by almost a decade. Recognising the pivotal importance of research not just to mitigate the pandemic today, but to build better European cancer services and systems for patients tomorrow, the Lancet Oncology European Groundshot Commission on cancer research brings together a wide range of experts, together with detailed new data on cancer research activity across Europe during the past 12 years. We have deployed this knowledge to help inform Europe's Beating Cancer Plan and the EU Cancer Mission, and to set out an evidence-driven, patient-centred cancer research roadmap for Europe. The high-resolution cancer research data we have generated show current activities, captured through different metrics, including by region, disease burden, research domain, and effect on outcomes. We have also included granular data on research collaboration, gender of researchers, and research funding. The inclusion of granular data has facilitated the identification of areas that are perhaps overemphasised in current cancer research in Europe, while also highlighting domains that are underserved. Our detailed data emphasise the need for more information-driven and data-driven cancer research strategies and planning going forward. A particular focus must be on central and eastern Europe, because our findings emphasise the widening gap in cancer research activity, and capacity and outcomes, compared with the rest of Europe. Citizens and patients, no matter where they are, must benefit from advances in cancer research. This Commission also highlights that the narrow focus on discovery science and biopharmaceutical research in Europe needs to be widened to include such areas as prevention and early diagnosis; treatment modalities such as radiotherapy and surgery; and a larger concentration on developing a research and innovation strategy for the 20 million Europeans living beyond a cancer diagnosis. Our data highlight the important role of comprehensive cancer centres in driving the European cancer research agenda. Crucial to a functioning cancer research strategy and its translation into patient benefit is the need for a greater emphasis on health policy and systems research, including implementation science, so that the innovative technological outputs from cancer research have a clear pathway to delivery. This European cancer research Commission has identified 12 key recommendations within a call to action to reimagine cancer research and its implementation in Europe. We hope this call to action will help to achieve our ambitious 70:35 target: 70% average 10-year survival for all European cancer patients by 2035.

A caring and living environment that supports the spirituality of older people with dementia: A hermeneutic phenomenological study.

INTRODUCTION: Meeting spiritual needs is an important part of the quality of nursing for older people living with dementia. The spirituality-supportive caring and living environment has rarely been studied, even though the environment plays an important role in supporting the well-being of older people with dementia. AIM: To further understanding about the spirituality-supportive elements of a caring and living environment from the perspective of older people with dementia and their family members. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: We adapted hermeneutic phenomenology as a philosophical background and methodological approach in this study. After receiving the approval of the researcher's University Ethics Committee, a purposive sample of ten older people with dementia and their nine family members, in home care and long-term care settings in Southern Finland were recruited for interviews. METHODS: An interview-based study was conducted using photography to collect the data. The in-depth interviews were conducted in dyads between September 2017 and March 2020 and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was used to interpret the data. RESULTS: Spirituality was seen as a continuum within human life, manifested through the environment even if older people with dementia were unable to express themselves. The spirituality experiences of the participants within the caring and living environment were summarized into three themes: "Where do I belong?", "What remains of me in the world?" and "Where am I going?" The older people, their family members and other people involved in their care provided a caring and living environment that supported spirituality with opportunities to seek answers to these questions through to the meaning of their life. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: This hermeneutic phenomenological study provides a new insight into the environment that supports the spirituality of older people with dementia. The elements of caring and living environment can remind older people with dementia of what supports their own way of thinking about spirituality and brings meaning to their life. Therefore, spirituality is worth of considering when planning a caring and living environment that supports what is important to the personhood of older people with dementia. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: Spirituality is worth of considering when planning a caring and living environment that supports what is important to the personhood of older people with dementia.