Patient and relative experiences of the ReSPECT process in the community: an interview-based study.

BACKGROUND: The Recommended Summary Plan for Emergency Care and Treatment (ReSPECT) was launched in the UK in 2016. ReSPECT is designed to facilitate meaningful discussions between healthcare professionals, patients, and their relatives about preferences for treatment in future emergencies; however, no study has investigated patients' and relatives' experiences of ReSPECT in the community. OBJECTIVES: To explore how patients and relatives in community settings experience the ReSPECT process and engage with the completed form. METHODS: Patients who had a ReSPECT form were identified through general practice surgeries in three areas in England; either patients or their relatives (where patients lacked capacity) were recruited. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, focusing on the participants' understandings and experiences of the ReSPECT process and form. Data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. RESULTS: Thirteen interviews took place (six with patients, four with relatives, three with patient and relative pairs). Four themes were developed: (1) ReSPECT records a patient's wishes, but is entangled in wider relationships; (2) healthcare professionals' framings of ReSPECT influence patients' and relatives' experiences; (3) patients and relatives perceive ReSPECT as a do-not-resuscitate or end-of-life form; (4) patients' and relatives' relationships with the ReSPECT form as a material object vary widely. Patients valued the opportunity to express their wishes and conceptualised ReSPECT as a process of caring for themselves and for their family members' emotional wellbeing. Participants who described their ReSPECT experiences positively said healthcare professionals clearly explained the ReSPECT process and form, allocated sufficient time for an open discussion of patients' preferences, and provided empathetic explanations of treatment recommendations. In cases where participants said healthcare professionals did not provide clear explanations or did not engage them in a conversation, experiences ranged from confusion about the form and how it would be used to lingering feelings of worry, upset, or being burdened with responsibility. CONCLUSIONS: When ReSPECT conversations involved an open discussion of patients' preferences, clear information about the ReSPECT process, and empathetic explanations of treatment recommendations, working with a healthcare professional to co-develop a record of treatment preferences and recommendations could be an empowering experience, providing patients and relatives with peace of mind.

Preparación psicológica para radioterapia en paciente con tumor en SNC: presentación de un caso / Psychological preparation for radiotherapy on a patient with a brain tumor: case report

Introducción: los meningiomas forman el 27% de los tumores de encéfalo en población adulta. La radioterapia es uno de los tratamientos para tumores primarios del SNC más efectivos, en el cual se administran altas dosis de radiación que destruye el ADN de las células cancerosas para detener su multiplicación o lentificar su crecimiento. Para este tratamiento es necesaria la inmovilización del paciente, que se asegura por medio de máscaras termoplásticas que fijan al paciente a la camilla del acelerador lineal. Este tipo de inmovilización ha representado una incidencia de ansiedad significativa previa al tratamiento y durante el mismo, puede causar niveles altos de estrés, miedo, malestar físico, dolor e incluso claustrofobia. Tomando en cuenta estos aspectos, como preparación psicológica para el tratamiento se sugiere ofrecer información clara previa y durante la simulación, identificar a los pacientes con niveles altos de ansiedad, y brindar estrategias cognitivas y conductuales para regular la misma. Objetivo: Describir un reporte de caso de preparación para radioterapia en SNC. Método: Se presenta el caso de una mujer de 61 años de edad que fue referida a psico-oncología con el objetivo de la preparación psicológica para radioterapia en SNC. El motivo de la referencia a psico-oncología fue evitar la sedación durante la radioterapia debido a los altos niveles de ansiedad que presentaba la paciente. Se realizaron dos sesiones de preparación psicológica en donde se incluyeron estrategias psicoeducativas, de desensibilización sistemática y respiración diafragmática. Resultados: La paciente disminuyó el reporte subjetivo de ansiedad, logró terminar las 25 sesiones de radioterapia sin necesidad de sedación. Conclusión: La preparación psicológica utilizada en esta paciente fue efectiva para disminuir ansiedad. Es importante realizar estudios aleatorizados y controlados para conocer realmente la efectividad.(AU)

Introduction:Meningiomas represent 27% of brain tumors in adults. Radiotherapy is one of the most frequent treatments for CNS tumors, in which high radiation doses destroy cancer cell’s DNA in order to stop their multiplication or to slow their growth. Patient’s inmovilization is necessary in this treatment, so he has to be attached to treatment bed with a thermogenic mask. This inmovilization has represented significant anxiety prior and during treatment, it can also represent a trigger for stress, fears, physical symptoms, pain and even claustrophobia. Considering this, a psychological preparation is suggested before radiotherapy. It is suggested o include clear information before and during simulation, and to identify patients with high levels of anxiety, and to deliver cognitive and behavioral strategies to regulate it. Aim: to describe a case report of a psychological preparation for CNS radiotherapy. Method: A case of a 61 year old woman who was referred to psycho-oncology service with the aim of psychological preparation for CNS radiation. The reason this patient was referred was to avoid sedation during treatment due to high levels of anxiety. Psychologic preparation consisted in two sessions that included psychoeducational, systematic desensibilization and diaphragmatic breathing strategies. Results: Subjective anxiety report was reduced with psychologic preparation, and the patient finished 25 sessions of radiotherapy without sedation. Conclusion: Psychological preparation in this patient was efective in anxiety reduction. It is important to design randomized controled studies in order to know the effectiveness of these strategies.(AU)

The efficacy and safety of ketamine for depression in patients with cancer: A systematic review / La eficacia y seguridad de la ketamina para la depresión en pacientes con cáncer: una revisión sistemática

Background: Management of depression in the oncology population includes supportive psychotherapeutic interventions with or without psychotropic medication, which take time to demonstrate effectiveness. Fast-acting interventions, like ketamine, can provide a rapid antidepressant effect; however, there has been limited research on effects of ketamine among cancer patients. The objective of this review is to provide an overview of research on the efficacy and safety of ketamine on depression in patients with cancer. Methods: We reviewed the published literature in MEDLINE® (via PubMed®), EMBASE, and Scopus from 1 January 1982 to 20 October 2022. We screened the retrieved abstracts against inclusion criteria and conducted a full‐text review of eligible studies. Following extraction of data from included studies, we used a framework analysis approach to summarize the evidence on using ketamine in patients with cancer. Results: All 5 included studies were randomized clinical trials conducted in inpatient settings in China. In all included studies ketamine was administered intravenously. Three studies used only racemic ketamine, and two studies used both S-ketamine and racemic ketamine. All included studies reported ketamine a tolerable and effective drug to control depression symptoms. Conclusion: Included studies showed administration of sub-anesthesia ketamine significantly improves postoperative depression among patients with cancer.(AU)

Fear, anxiety and depression in gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) patients in the Netherlands: Data from a cross-sectional multicenter study / Miedo, ansiedad y depresión en pacientes con tumores del estroma gastrointestinal (GIST) en los Países Bajos: datos de un estudio multicéntrico transversal

Background: This study aims to (1) investigate the prevalence of anxiety, depression and severe fear of cancer recurrence or progression in gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) patients treated in a curative or palliative setting, (2) compare their prevalence with a norm population, (3) identify factors associated with anxiety, depression and severe fear, and (4) study the impact of these psychological symptoms on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Methods: In a cross-sectional study, GIST patients completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Cancer Worry Scale, and EORTC QLQ-C30. Results: Of the 328 patients, 15% reported anxiety, 13% depression, and 43% had severe fear. Anxiety and depression levels were comparable between the norm population and patients in the curative setting, but significantly higher for patients in the palliative setting. Having other psychological symptoms was associated with anxiety, while current TKI treatment and anxiety were associated with depression. Severe fear was associated with age, female sex, palliative treatment setting, anxiety, and GIST-related concerns. Conclusion: GIST patients treated in a palliative setting are more prone to experience psychological symptoms, which can significantly impair their HRQoL. These symptoms deserve more attention in clinical practice, in which regular screening can be helpful, and appropriate interventions should be offered.(AU)

Responding Effectively to Disruptive Patient Behaviors: Beyond Behavior Contracts.

This Viewpoint discusses the use of behavior contracts with patients in response to increasing workplace violence in health care, and highlights the importance of building the evidence base for approaches to dealing with violent behaviors that are effective and just.

Evaluación del impacto emocional de la pandemia COVID-19 en pacientes en hemodiálisis: un estudio transversal analítico / Evaluation Of The Emotional Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Hemodialysis Patients: An Analytical Cross-Sectional Study

Antecedentes: Los pacientes en hemodiálisis padecen, debido a su diagnóstico y tratamiento, mayores niveles de ansiedad y depresión que la población general. El objetivo de esta investigación es conocer el impacto emocional generado por la COVID-19 en pacientes hemodializados. Método: Estudio transversal analítico en una muestra total de 88 pacientes mayores de 18 años que reciben hemodiálisis entre abril de 2021 y marzo de 2022. Se recogen variables sociodemográficas y clínicas incluyendo aquellas relacionadas con COVID-19. A todos los pacientes se les administran las escalas HADS y Kessler-10. Resultados: La puntuación media de la escala HADS-A fue de 5,3 (±3,732), de la HADS-D de 5,45 (±4,052) y de la Kessler-10 de 20,11(±7,499). Se observaron diferencias significativas entre aislados y no aislados en las escalas clínicas HADS-A (p=,002) y HADS-D (p=,005). Igualmente, aquellos pacientes con antecedentes psicopatológicos fueron significativamente más jóvenes (p=,014) y con una mayor puntuación en las escalas HADS-D (p=,016) y Kessler-10 (p=,035) que aquellos sin antecedentes. Conclusiones: No hubo asociación entre infección por COVID-19 y la clínica ansioso-depresiva en pacientes hemodializados. El aislamiento, en estos pacientes, no se asocia a la aparición de clínica psicopatológica, mientras que el hecho de haber presentado antecedentes psicopatológicos previos se asocia a su desarrollo.(AU)

Background: Hemodialysis patients suffer, due to their diagnosis and treatment, higher levels of anxiety and depression than the general population. The aim of this research is to know the emotional impact generated by COVID-19 in hemodialysis patients. Method: Analytical cross-sectional study in a total sample of 88 patients over 18 years of age receiving hemodialysis between April 2021 and March 2022. Sociodemographic and clinical variables including those related to COVID-19 are collected. All patients were administered the HADS and Kessler-10 scales. Results: The mean score of the HADS-A scale was 5.3(±3.732) of the HADS-D 5.45 (±4.052) and of the Kessler-10 20.11(±7.499). Significant differences were observed between isolated and non-isolated patients in the clinical scales HADS-A (p=.002) and HADS-D (p=.005). Likewise, those patients with a psychopathological history were significantly younger (p=.014) and scored higher on the HADS-D (p=.016) and Kessler-10 (p=.035) scales than those without a history. Conclusions: There was no association between COVID-19 infection and anxious-depressive symptoms in hemodialyzed patients. Isolation, in these patients, was not associated with the appearance of psychopathological symptoms, while the fact of having a previous history of psychopathology was associated with their development.(AU)

Distender o tempo e alinhavar o cuidado: o bordado inventado e a tecnologia da palavra / Stretching time and basting care: the invented embroidery and the word technology / Estirar el tiempo y hilvanar el cuidado: elbordado inventado y la tecnología de palabra

O projeto de pesquisa-intervenção As narrativas ficcionais e o cuidado à dor crônica atuou no Setor de Dor e Cuidados Paliativos de um hospital público, oferecendo-se como coadjuvante do cuidado em saúde. O Ateliê Jardim de Histórias foi um de seus dispositivos e propôs o bordado inventado como linhas de sustentação para um fazer compartilhado. No contexto latinoamericano, o bordar remete à transmissão transgeracional e a práticas políticas e processos de luta e luto no laço social. Este artigo propõe recuperar a história do bordado para além da perspectiva colonial e, a partir disso, a-bordar essa experiência da pesquisa-intervenção no hospital e suas possibilidades. Entende-se que o bordado inventado ressalta a dimensão de improviso e de criatividade dessa prática enquanto um suporte afetivo para a tessitura de narrativas, a partir da disposição de estar com o outro em torno de um fazer sem prescrições. (AU)

The research-intervention project Fictional narratives and chronic pain careacted in the Sector of Pain and Palliative Care of a public hospital, offering an adjunct to health care. The Garden of Stories Atelierwas one of its devices, which proposed the invented embroidery as threads of support for a shared work. In Latin America, embroidery refers to transgenerational transmission, and to political practices and processes of struggle and mourning in the social bond. This article aims to retrieve the history of embroidery beyond the colonial perspective and, from there, to approach this experience of research-intervention in the hospital and its possibilities. The invented embroidery is thought to emphasize the dimension of improvisation and creativity of this practice, as an affective support for the weaving of narratives, from the willingness to be together around an activity without prescriptions. (AU)

El proyecto de investigación-intervención Narrativas ficcionales y el cuidado al dolor crónicofuncionó en el Sector de Dolor y Cuidados Paliativos de un hospital público, ofreciéndose como complemento al cuidado en salud. El Taller Jardín de Historiasfue uno de sus dispositivos y propuso el bordado inventado como líneas de apoyo para una acción compartida. En latinoamerica, el bordado remite a la transmisión transgeneracional y a prácticas políticas y procesos de lucha y luto en el lazo social. Este artículo se propone recuperar la historia del bordado más allá de la perspectiva colonial y, desde allí, abordar esta experiencia de investigación-intervención en el hospital y sus posibilidades. Se entiende que el bordado inventado enfatiza la dimensión deimprovisación y creatividad de esta práctica como soporte afectivo para el tejido de narrativas, desde la voluntad de estar con el otro en torno a un hacer sin recetas. (AU)

Impacto psicológico del COVID-19 en los pacientes de Oncología Médica, Hemato Oncología y Oncología Radioterápica de un hospital público en España / Psychological impact of COVID-19 on Medical Oncology, Haemato-Oncology and Radiation Oncology patients at a public hospital in Spain

Objetivo: determinar el impacto psicológico del COVID-19 en los pacientes con cáncer y valorar las variables clínicas y sociodemográficas que influyen en este. Método: se evaluó mediante una metodología observacional, analítica y transversal (T1), el impacto psicológico de la pandemia en 88 pacientes con cáncer de los servicios de Oncología Médica (n=31), Oncología Radioterápica (n=31) y Hemato-Oncología (n=26) del Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre. Para ello se empleó la Escala Hospitalaria de Ansiedad y Depresión (HAD) y The Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PCL-5). Además, se evaluaron las variables sociodemográficas y clínicas empleando un cuestionario de elaboración propia. Resultados: no se hallaron diferencias significativas en la sintomatología presentada por los pacientes de los tres servicios. Del total de participantes, un 22,7%, un 13,6% y un 15,9% obtuvieron puntuaciones clínicas de ansiedad, depresión y estrés postraumático, respectivamente. Asimismo, se encontró una relación directa entre el miedo a contraer el virus y la sintomatología ansioso-depresiva y postraumática (p<0,001). También entre el miedo a contagiar el virus y la depresión (p=0,002) y el miedo a contagiarlo y la sintomatología ansiosa y postraumática (p<0,001). Conclusiones: a pesar de la elevada presencia de sintomatología ansioso-depresiva y postraumática en los participantes, los porcentajes hallados son parecidos a los obtenidos en estudios pre-pandémicos. Los pacientes con un mayor miedo a contraer/contagiar el virus presentaron mayores puntuaciones en la sintomatología clínica, indicando esto la relevancia de evaluar el miedo y la posibilidad de emplearlo como herramienta de cribado (AU)

Objective: Determine the psychological impact of COVID-19 in cancer patients and assess how clinical and socio-demographic variables contribute to it. Methods: this study uses an observational, analytical and cross-sectional methodology (T1) to explore the degree of psychological distress in 88 cancer patients from the Medical Oncology (n=31), Radiation Oncology (n=31) and Haemato-Oncology (n=26) units of the Hospital Universitario 12 Octubre in Madrid, Spain. Mental health was measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and The Postraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PCL-5). A self-elaborated questionnaire was also used to evaluate the effect of sociodemographic and clinical variables in mental health. Results: No significant differences were found in the symptoms presented by patients from the three different departments. 22.7%, 13.6% and 15.9% of the cancer patients surveyed obtained pathological scores for anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress, respectively. In addition, a direct correlation was found between fear of contracting COVID-19 and anxious, depressive and post-traumatic symptomatology (p<0.001). Also between fear of spreading the virus and depression (p=0,002) and fear of spreading it and anxiety and post-traumatic stress (p<0.001). Conclusions: Despite the high prevalence of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic symptoms that the patients showed, percentages are similar to those obtained in pre-pandemic studies. Respondents who were more afraid of contracting or spreading COVID-19 scored higher in the clinical symptoms, which highlights the importance of evaluating such fears and to use them as a screening tool (AU)

Impacto de la COVID-19 en el distrés, ansiedad, depresión y calidad de vida en pacientes con cáncer / Impact of COVID-19 on ditress, anxiety, depression and quality of life in cancer patients

La propagación del coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 por todo el mundo fue de manera rápida y sorprendente. A raíz de ello, se tomaron medidas y políticas de salud pública para evitar la infección y reducir el contagio, por lo que millones de personas se encontraron en situación de aislamiento o cuarentena. Esta pandemia y el confinamiento han tenido un impacto en la salud mental, bienestar psicológico y calidad de vida de las personas, principalmente en la de aquellas que presentan mayor vulnerabilidad al contagio y mayor riesgo de complicaciones como el caso de los enfermos de cáncer. Objetivo: Determinar las diferencias entre los niveles de distrés, ansiedad, depresión y calidad de vida de pacientes con cáncer antes (grupo pre-COVID) y durante (grupo COVID) la pandemia por COVID-19, tomando en cuenta la posible influencia de la variable sexo en los niveles de distrés, ansiedad, depresión y calidad de vida. Método: Se conformó una muestra de 339 participantes, de los cuales 147 formaron parte del grupo pre- COVID y 192 del grupo COVID. Los instrumentos utilizados fueron el Termómetro de Distrés (TD), la Escala Hospitalaria de Ansiedad y Depresión (HADS) y el Cuestionario de Calidad de Vida (QLQ-C30) de la Organización Europea para la Investigación y Tratamiento del Cáncer (EORTC). Resultados: Entre los principales hallazgos se obtuvo que el grupo covid presentó niveles significativamente más altos de distrés, ansiedad, depresión y en general, peores indicadores de calidad de vida que el grupo pre-Covid. Conclusión: Los resultados sugieren que los pacientes con cáncer ante pandemias requieren de mayor apoyo psicológico (AU)

Abstract. The SARS-CoV- 2 virus spread was extended all over the world so fast. Fallowing this were carried out in the public health attention some measures and politics to avoid the infection and reduce the contagion. Therefore, a million of people have been in isolation or in quarantine. This pandemic and confinement have had an impact in the mental and physic health and in the people life’s quality mainly those who are more vulnerable to catch the virus and have a great risk of complications such as the cancer patients. Aim: To determinate the differences between the levels of distress, anxiety, depression and quality of live of cancer patient before (pre-Covid group) and during (Covid group) the COVID-19 pandemic, considering the possible influence of the sex variable on the levels of distress, anxiety, depression and quality of life. Method: It was taken a sample of 339 patients, 147 of them were pre-covid group and 192 belonged to the covid group. We used instruments such as the Distress Thermometer (DT), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ-C30) of the European Organization Questionnaire for the Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC). Results: The main findings were that the Covid group had significantly higher levels of distress, anxiety, depression and, in general worse indicators of quality of life than the pre-Covid group. Conclusion: The results suggest that cancer patients in the face of pandemics require more psychological support (AU)

Current treatment options for cluster headache: limitations and the unmet need for better and specific treatments-a consensus article.

AIM: Treatment for cluster headache is currently based on a trial-and-error approach. The available preventive treatment is unspecific and based on few and small studies not adhering to modern standards. Therefore, the authors collaborated to discuss acute and preventive treatment in cluster headache, addressing the unmet need of safe and tolerable preventive medication from the perspectives of people with cluster headache and society, headache specialist and cardiologist. FINDINGS: The impact of cluster headache on personal life is substantial. Mean annual direct and indirect costs of cluster headache are more than 11,000 Euros per patient. For acute treatment, the main problems are treatment response, availability, costs and, for triptans, contraindications and the maximum use allowed. Intermediate treatment with steroids and greater occipital nerve blocks are effective but cannot be used continuously. Preventive treatment is sparsely studied and overall limited by relatively low efficacy and side effects. Neurostimulation is a relevant option for treatment-refractory chronic patients. From a cardiologist's perspective use of verapamil and triptans may be worrisome and regular follow-up is essential when using verapamil and lithium. CONCLUSION: We find that there is a great and unmet need to pursue novel and targeted preventive modalities to suppress the horrific pain attacks for people with cluster headache.

Supporting primary care through symptom checking artificial intelligence: a study of patient and physician attitudes in Italian general practice.

BACKGROUND: Rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) have led to the adoption of AI-driven symptom checkers in primary care. This study aimed to evaluate both patients' and physicians' attitudes towards these tools in Italian general practice settings, focusing on their perceived utility, user satisfaction, and potential challenges. METHODS: This feasibility study involved ten general practitioners (GPs) and patients visiting GP offices. The patients used a chatbot-based symptom checker before their medical visit and conducted anamnestic screening for COVID-19 and a medical history algorithm concerning the current medical problem. The entered data were forwarded to the GP as medical history aid. After the medical visit, both physicians and patients evaluated their respective symptoms. Additionally, physicians performed a final overall evaluation of the symptom checker after the conclusion of the practice phase. RESULTS: Most patients did not use symptom checkers. Overall, 49% of patients and 27% of physicians reported being rather or very satisfied with the symptom checker. The most frequent patient-reported reasons for satisfaction were ease of use, precise and comprehensive questions, perceived time-saving potential, and encouragement of self-reflection. Every other patient would consider at-home use of the symptom checker for the first appraisal of health problems to save time, reduce unnecessary visits, and/or as an aid for the physician. Patients' attitudes towards the symptom checker were not significantly associated with age, sex, or level of education. Most patients (75%) and physicians (84%) indicated that the symptom checker had no effect on the duration of the medical visit. Only a few participants found the use of the symptom checker to be disruptive to the medical visit or its quality. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest a positive reception of the symptom checker, albeit with differing focus between patients and physicians. With the potential to be integrated further into primary care, these tools require meticulous clinical guidance to maximize their benefits. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was not registered, as it did not include direct medical intervention on human participants.

Preoperative anxiety and need for support - A qualitative analysis in 1000 patients.

OBJECTIVES: Preoperative anxiety is prevalent, emotionally distressing for many patients, and can have harmful effects on postoperative outcomes. Despite its high prevalence, there has been little research on preoperative anxiety using qualitative methods. This study's main goal was to qualitatively examine factors that may contribute to preoperative anxiety in a large sample. METHODS: In a survey, a total of 1000 patients awaiting surgery were asked open questions i) about reasons which they associate with their preoperative anxiety and ii) which coping strategies they would prefer in addition to premedication. RESULTS: The qualitative analysis indicated five overarching domains, 16 themes, and 54 subthemes of preoperative anxiety. Intra- or postoperative complications was the most common theme regarding preoperative anxiety (n = 516). Personal conversation was the most frequently desired supportive measure in addition to premedication. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicated a considerable heterogeneity of reasons associated with preoperative anxiety based on an unbiased assessment in a large sample. The study further suggests that a personal conversation is a clinically important coping strategy in addition to premedication. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Providers should assess patients' preoperative anxiety and the resulting need for support individually to offer supportive measures adapted to the patients' needs.

Barriers and facilitators to integrating depression care in tuberculosis services in South Asia: a multi-country qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Depression is common among people with tuberculosis (TB). The condition is typically unrecognised or untreated despite available and effective treatments in most low- and middle-income countries. TB services in these countries are relatively well established, offering a potential opportunity to deliver integrated depression screening and care. However, there is limited evidence on how such integration could be achieved. This study aimed to understand the barriers and facilitators to integrate depression care in TB services. METHODS: We conducted nine workshops with 76 study participants, including people with TB, their carers, and health service providers in Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan, seeking views on integrating depression care into TB clinics. We used a deductive thematic approach to analyse the translated transcripts of audio recordings, contemporaneous notes made during workshops for Bangladesh and India and workshop reports for Pakistan. Using the SURE (Supporting the Use of Research Evidence) thematic framework, we extracted and categorised barriers and facilitators into various domains. RESULTS: Reported barriers to integrating depression care in TB services included lack of knowledge about depression amongst patients and the staff, financial burden, and associated stigma for people with TB and their carers. Government buy-in and understanding of how to identify and screen for depression screening were potential facilitators reported. Additionally, breaking through mental health stigma and providing the additional resources required to deliver this service (human resources and consultation time) were essential for integrating depression and TB care. CONCLUSIONS: Depression is a common condition found among people with TB, requiring early identification among people with TB. Integrating depression care into Tb services by health workers requires the availability of political support and the provision of resources.

Experiences of patients with chronic diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic in the North West province, South Africa.

BACKGROUND: Patients with chronic diseases (PWCDs) were severely affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, as they were prevented from making the necessary visits to health facilities for medical review and to collect their medication. The emergence of the health crisis and inadequate access to quality care affected chronic care management. The perspectives of PWCDs are not known, and therefore the research on which this paper is based sought to investigate the lived experiences of these patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A qualitative phenomenological design was used to obtain the lived experiences of PWCDs identified for participation in the study by means of purposive sampling. Patients' experiences were obtained during individual structured interviews, and a checklist was used to gather patient characteristics from their files. RESULTS: Three themes emerged from the study findings, namely poor healthcare services, the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic had devastating effects on PWCDs, in that they experienced barriers to accessing quality chronic care services and suffered psychological and financial difficulties that affected their health, life, needs and expectations. CONCLUSION: Policymakers should consider PWCDs when responding to a public health concern in the future.Contribution: The study findings may have an impact on future policies regulating the management of chronic diseases during epidemics, in order to improve patient health outcomes and satisfaction with healthcare services and the chronic care model based on the experiences of PWCDs.

Integrating one-to-one peer support into psycho-oncological care in Germany: multi-perspective, mixed-methods evaluation of the isPO onco-guide service.

PURPOSE: One-to-one peer supporters called isPO onco-guides (isPO OGs) are an integral part of the new German psycho-oncological form of care 'integrated, cross-sectoral Psycho-Oncology' (isPO), additionally to professional care. The isPO OGs are cancer survivors with experiential knowledge, offering information on local support services and answering questions 'all around cancer' to newly diagnosed cancer patients. We aimed to evaluate the isPO OG service from three perspectives: patients, isPO OGs, and professional service providers. METHODS: A mixed-methods approach was pursued. We conducted interviews and focus groups with the three person groups, and applied qualitative content analysis on the reported resources, processes and outcomes regarding the isPO OG service. Relations with patients' utilisation and isPO OGs' work satisfaction were identified with regression and correlation analyses of questionnaire and isPO care data. We compared isPO care networks (CN) with X2-tests or ANOVA. Qualitative and quantitative results were integrated during interpretation phase. RESULTS: Qualitatively, the three person groups agreed on the benefits of the isPO OG service. The implementation's maturity differed between the CN concerning established processes and resource availability. Attitudes of professional service providers appeared to be crucial for patients' utilisation of the isPO OG service. Quantitative results emphasised the differences between the CN. CONCLUSION: Beyond differences in the CN, the isPO OG service has two psychosocial benefits: providing relevant, reliable, and understandable information; and offering the encouraging example that surviving and living with cancer is possible. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was registered in the German Clinical Trials Register (No. DRKS00015326) on 30.10.2018.

COPD-Related Anxiety: A Systematic Review of Patient Perspectives.

Background: Anxiety in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is prevalent but often unidentified and therefore not adequately managed. Clinicians find it difficult to detect anxiety symptoms and to differentiate subclinical anxiety from anxiety disorders, because of the considerable overlap between symptoms of COPD and anxiety. Purpose: We synthesized existing qualitative research on patients' experiences of COPD-related anxiety with the purpose of gaining a richer understanding and proposing a model of the construct. Methods: Searches for qualitative studies of patients' experiences of COPD-related anxiety were conducted independently by two authors in the databases of PubMed (MEDLINE), CINAHL (EBSCO), and PsycInfo (APA). English-language studies including patients diagnosed with COPD were reviewed, and data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: A total of 41 studies were included in the review. Four themes related to COPD-related anxiety were identified: initial events; internal maintaining factors; external maintaining factors; and behavioral maintaining factors. Based on the identified four themes, a conceptual model of COPD-related anxiety from the patient perspective was developed. Conclusion: A conceptual model of COPD-related anxiety from the patient perspective is now available, with the potential to inform future attempts at improving identification and management of COPD-related anxiety. Future research should focus on the development of a COPD-specific anxiety questionnaire containing domains that are relevant from the patient perspective.

Patient and clinician perspectives of a remote monitoring program for COVID-19 and lessons for future programs.

COVID Watch is a remote patient monitoring program implemented during the pandemic to support home dwelling patients with COVID-19. The program conferred a large survival advantage. We conducted semi-structured interviews of 85 patients and clinicians using COVID Watch to understand how to design such programs even better. Patients and clinicians found COVID Watch to be comforting and beneficial, but both groups desired more clarity about the purpose and timing of enrollment and alternatives to text-messages to adapt to patients' preferences as these may have limited engagement and enrollment among marginalized patient populations. Because inclusiveness and equity are important elements of programmatic success, future programs will need flexible and multi-channel human-to-human communication pathways for complex clinical interactions or for patients who do not desire tech-first approaches.