Palliative Care Practices and Knowledge of Home Care Nurses in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Palliative Care (PC) is an interdisciplinary specialty focused on relieving symptoms and optimizing quality of life for people living with serious illnesses and their families. A great need for PC exists in Saudi Arabia due to its aging population and prevalence of cancer and other chronic diseases. Home healthcare can make PC more accessible to patients, but clinicians must be equipped with the PC knowledge and skills to perform their roles. This study was a descriptive, correlational examination of PC practices and knowledge of home care nurses recruited from military hospitals in Saudi Arabia. We surveyed participants using the Palliative Care Quiz for Nursing (PCQN) and the Modified Global Home Health Nursing Care Assessment Questionnaire. The mean PCQN score was 8.40, indicating low levels of PC knowledge. A nurses' demographic and physical, spiritual, religious, cultural, linguistic, ethical, and legal aspects of care revealed significant associations. Given the low levels of PC knowledge and skills, we recommend focusing on education, training, and research. Universities should review their curriculum to ensure PC content. Hospitals should provide training programs focused on all aspects of PC, specifically emotional and spiritual, without limiting training to physical aspects of care. Future research is also needed to inform policy in this area.

Role of Uncertainty in Illness and Coping Strategies in Advance Directive Completion in Patients With End-stage Liver Disease.

OBJECTIVE: We examined the associations among advance directives (ADs) completion, coping, uncertainty in illness, and optimism and pessimism in patients with end-stage liver disease (ESLD). BACKGROUND: Although associations among ADs, coping, and uncertainty have been studied in patients with other life-limiting illnesses, these concepts have not been studied together in patients with ESLD. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients were recruited at 2 health care institutions as part of a larger prospective study. They were enrolled if they had a diagnosis of nonhepatocellular carcinoma ESLD, Sodium Model for End-Stage Liver Disease ≥15, and no prior history of liver transplantation. Uncertainty, coping, optimism, and pessimism were assessed using the Uncertainty in Illness Scale for Adults, Revised Ways of Coping Checklist, and Life Orientation Test-revised. AD documentation at the time of study enrollment was retrospectively extracted from patient medical records. RESULTS: In the sample [N = 181; median age = 57 y, 115 (64%) males], male sex [odds ratio (OR) = 4.66; 95% CI: 1.53, 14.17], being listed or under evaluation for liver transplantation (OR = 3.09; 95% CI: 1.10, 8.67), greater Sodium Model for End-Stage Liver Disease scores (OR = 1.10; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.20), and greater uncertainty (OR = 1.04; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.07) were positively associated with AD documentation. Higher coping avoidance was negatively associated with AD documentation (OR = 0.915; 95% CI: 0.840, 0.997). CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians should consider the role of uncertainty and coping measures to improve patient-specific advance care planning conversations and expand opportunities for all patients with ESLD to file an AD, especially women and patients not listed or under evaluation for transplantation.

Maternal depression, parenting, and child psychological outcomes in the context of maternal pain.

Parental chronic pain is associated with adverse outcomes in children, but the mechanisms of transmission are largely untested. Mothers with chronic pain (N = 400, Mage = 40.3 years, 90.5% White) and their children (Mage = 10.33 years, 83.3% White, 50.2% female) were recruited in 2016-2018 to test longitudinal pathways of risk transmission from maternal chronic pain to children's psychological symptoms, examining roles of parenting, maternal depression, and child distress tolerance. Maternal pain was associated with positive (ß = .28) and pain-specific (ß = .10) parenting behaviors. Maternal depression was associated with lower child distress tolerance (ß = -.03), which was associated with greater child psychological symptoms (ß = -.62). Parenting and maternal pain were not prospectively associated with child outcomes. When considering the dual-generational impacts of chronic pain, physical and psychological functioning should be examined.

Can strength training or tai ji quan training reduce frailty in postmenopausal women treated with chemotherapy? A secondary data analysis of the GET FIT trial.

PURPOSE: To determine whether strength training or tai ji quan can reduce frailty in older, postmenopausal women treated with chemotherapy for cancer. METHODS: We conducted a secondary data analysis from a 3-arm, single-blind, randomized controlled trial where older (50-75 years), postmenopausal women cancer survivors were randomized to supervised group exercise programs: tai ji quan, strength training, or stretching control for 6 months. We assessed frailty using a 4-criteria model consisting of weakness, fatigue, inactivity, and slowness. Using logistic regression, we determined whether the frailty phenotype (pre-frailty or frailty) decreased post-intervention, how many and which frailty criteria decreased, and what characteristics identified women most likely to reduce frailty. RESULTS: Data from 386 women who completed baseline and 6-month testing were used (mean age of 62.0 ± 6.4 years). The odds of reducing overall frailty over 6 months were significantly higher in the strength training group compared to controls (OR [95%CI] 1.86 [1.09, 3.17]) but not for tai ji quan (1.44 [0.84, 2.50]). Both strength training (OR 1.99 [1.10, 3.65]) and tai ji quan (OR 2.10 [1.16, 3.84]) led to significantly higher odds of reducing ≥ 1 frailty criterion compared to controls. Strength training led to a three-fold reduction in inactivity (p < 0.01) and tai ji quan to a two-fold reduction in fatigue (p = 0.08) versus control. Higher baseline BMI, comorbidity score, and frailty status characterized women were more likely to reduce frailty than other women. CONCLUSIONS: Strength training appears superior to tai ji quan and stretching with respect to reducing overall frailty phenotype among postmenopausal women treated with chemotherapy for cancer, but tai ji quan favorably reduced the number of frailty criteria. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: GET FIT was registered as a clinical trial in clinicaltrials.gov: NCT01635413. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Supervised, group exercise training that emphasizes strength training and/or tai ji quan may help combat accelerated aging and reduce frailty after cancer treatment.

Informal Family Care Partner Well-Being Is Diminished in End-Stage Liver Disease.

BACKGROUND: Chronic liver disease is a significant global neglected public health problem. End-stage liver disease is associated with substantial symptom complexity, disability, and care needs that require assistance from informal family care partners. Research on these care partners' caregiver burden or strain, symptoms, and quality of life is sparse and has not focused on these variables as co-occurring or in the context of the quality of the relationship care partners have with the patients. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to provide a collective presentation of patterns and determinants of well-being as measured by caregiver strain, depression, sleep, and quality of life in a cohort of informal family care partners for adult outpatients with end-stage liver disease. METHODS: Care partners (age > 18 years) were recruited from two liver clinics within two tertiary health care systems and invited to complete a cross-sectional survey. They completed the Multidimensional Caregiver Strain Index, Patient Health Questionnaire, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Short Form Health Survey, and Mutuality Scale. Descriptive statistics and latent class mixture modeling were used to analyze these data. RESULTS: The sample was predominantly female and White. The well-being of care partners was diminished. Three distinct classes of well-being were identified: mildly diminished (53.2%), moderately diminished (39.0%), and severely diminished (7.8%). Those at greater risk of worse well-being were younger, spouses, and had poorer relationship quality with the patients. DISCUSSION: To improve the well-being of care partners in moderately and severely diminished classes, assessing and addressing caregiver strain and co-occurring symptoms is essential. Addressing this strain and symptoms has the potential to maintain or optimize care partners' ability to provide care to patients. Future researchers should include longitudinal and dyadic studies to examine how patients' disease progression and symptoms may affect family care partners well-being and vice versa.

Assessment of Mobility Trajectories Using Wearable Inertial Sensors During Autologous Hematopoietic Cell Transplant.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to characterize mobility patterns using wearable inertial sensors and serial assessment across autologous hematopoietic cell transplant (autoHCT) and investigate the relation between mobility and perceived function in patients with hematologic cancer. DESIGN: Prospective longitudinal study. SETTING: Hospital adult transplant clinic followed by discharge. PARTICIPANTS: 78 patients with hematological cancer receiving autoHCT. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Mobility was measured across 3 clinical phases (pretransplant, pre-engraftment, and post-engraftment) in using inertial sensors worn during prescribed performance tests in the hospital. Perceived function was assessed using validated provider-reported (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group [ECOG] Performance Status Scale) and patient-reported [European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire [EORTC QLQ-C30]) measures. Trajectories of 5 selected mobility characteristics (turn duration, gait speed, stride time variability, double support time, and heel strike angle) across the clinical phases were also evaluated using piecewise linear mixed-effects models. RESULTS: Using Principal Components Analysis, 4 mobility patterns were identified pretransplant: Gait Limitation, Sagittal Sway, Coronal Sway, and Balance Control. Gait Limitation measured pretransplant was significantly inversely associated with perceived function reported by the provider- (ß = -0.11; 95% CI: -0.19, -0.02) and patient- (ß = -4.85; 95% CI: -7.72, -1.99) post-engraftment in age-adjusted linear regression models. Mobility characteristics demonstrated immediate declines early pre-engraftment with stabilization by late pre-engraftment. CONCLUSION: Patients with hematological cancer experiencing gait limitations pretransplant are likely to have worse perceived function post-engraftment. Mobility declines in early phases post-transplant and may not fully recover, indicating an opportunity for timely rehabilitation referrals. Wearable inertial sensors can be used to identify early mobility problems and patients who may be at risk for future functional decline who may be candidates for early physical rehabilitation.

Incorporating reproductive system history data into cardiovascular nursing research to advance women's health.

The lack of sex-specific variables, such as reproductive system history (RSH), in cardiovascular research studies is a missed opportunity to address the cardiovascular disease (CVD) burden, especially among women who face sex-specific risks of developing CVD. Collecting RSH data from women enrolled in research studies is an important step towards improving women's cardiovascular health. In this paper, we describe two approaches to collecting RSH in CVD research: extracting RSH from the medical record and participant self-report of RSH. We provide specific examples from our own research and address common data management and statistical analysis problems when dealing with RSH data in research.

How people decide who is correct when groups of scientists disagree.

Uncertainty that arises from disputes among scientists seems to foster public skepticism or noncompliance. Communication of potential cues to the relative performance of contending scientists might affect judgments of which position is likely more valid. We used actual scientific disputes-the nature of dark matter, sea level rise under climate change, and benefits and risks of marijuana-to assess Americans' responses (n = 3150). Seven cues-replication, information quality, the majority position, degree source, experience, reference group support, and employer-were presented three cues at a time in a planned-missingness design. The most influential cues were majority vote, replication, information quality, and experience. Several potential moderators-topical engagement, prior attitudes, knowledge of science, and attitudes toward science-lacked even small effects on choice, but cues had the strongest effects for dark matter and weakest effects for marijuana, and general mistrust of scientists moderately attenuated top cues' effects. Risk communicators can take these influential cues into account in understanding how laypeople respond to scientific disputes, and improving communication about such disputes.

Identifying trajectories and predictors of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy symptoms, physical functioning, and falls across treatment and recovery in adults treated with neurotoxic chemotherapy: the PATTERN observational study protocol (NCT05790538).

BACKGROUND: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a debilitating and dose-limiting side effect of systemic cancer therapy. In many cancer survivors, CIPN persists after treatment ends and is associated with functional impairments, abnormal gait patterns, falls, and diminished quality of life. However, little is known regarding which patients are most likely to develop CIPN symptoms that impair mobility and increase fall risk, when this risk develops, or the optimal timing of early intervention efforts to mitigate the impact of CIPN on functioning and fall risk. This study will address these knowledge gaps by (1) characterizing trajectories of symptoms, functioning, and falls before, during, and after treatment in adults prescribed neurotoxic chemotherapy for cancer; and (2) determining the simplest set of predictors for identifying individuals at risk for CIPN-related functional decline and falls. METHODS: We will enroll 200 participants into a prospective, observational study before initiating chemotherapy and up to 1 year after completing chemotherapy. Eligible participants are aged 40-85 years, diagnosed with stage I-III cancer, and scheduled to receive neurotoxic chemotherapy. We perform objective assessments of vibratory and touch sensation (biothesiometry, tuning fork, monofilament tests), standing and dynamic balance (quiet stance, Timed-Up-and-Go tests), and upper and lower extremity strength (handgrip dynamometry, 5-time repeated chair stand test) in the clinic at baseline, every 4-6 weeks during chemotherapy, and quarterly for 1 year post-chemotherapy. Participants wear devices that passively and continuously measure daily gait quality and physical activity for 1 week after each objective assessment and self-report symptoms (CIPN, insomnia, fatigue, dizziness, pain, cognition, anxiety, and depressive symptoms) and falls via weekly electronic surveys. We will use structural equation modeling, including growth mixture modeling, to examine patterns in trajectories of changes in symptoms, functioning, and falls associated with neurotoxic chemotherapy and then search for distinct risk profiles for CIPN. DISCUSSION: Identifying simple, early predictors of functional decline and fall risk in adults with cancer receiving neurotoxic chemotherapy will help identify individuals who would benefit from early and targeted interventions to prevent CIPN-related falls and disability. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was retrospectively registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05790538) on 3/30/2023.

Rural libraries implementing walking groups or walking groups plus civic engagement for walkability in rural communities: a comparative effectiveness trial study protocol.

BACKGROUND: Rural residents generally lack adequate physical activity to benefit health and reduce disparities in chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and certain cancers. The Socioecological Model describes physical activity as involving a dynamic and reciprocal interaction between individual, social, and community factors. Community group-based walking programs and civic engagement interventions aimed at enhancing physical activity have been successful in rural communities but have not targeted all three socioecological levels. Public libraries can act as innovative public health partners in rural communities. However, challenges remain because rural libraries often lack the capacity to implement evidence-based health promotion programming. The goals of this study are (1) build the capacity for rural libraries to implement evidence-based health promotion programs, (2) compare changes in physical activity between a group-based walking program and a combined group-based walking and civic engagement program with rural residents, and (3) conduct an implementation evaluation. METHODS: We will conduct a comparative effectiveness study of a group-based walking (standard approach) versus a group-based walking plus civic engagement program (combined approach) aimed at enhancing walkability to increase physical activity among rural adults. Key mediators between the program effects and change in outcomes will also be identified. Finally, we will evaluate program implementation, conduct a cost effectiveness evaluation, and use a positive deviance analysis to understand experiences of high and low changers on key outcomes. Twenty towns will be matched and randomized to one of the two conditions and our aim is to enroll a total of 350-400 rural residents (15-20 per town). Study outcomes will be assessed at baseline, and 6, 12, and 24 months. DISCUSSION: This study will build the capacity of rural libraries to implement evidence-based walking programs as well as other health promotion programs in their communities. The study results will answer questions regarding the relative effectiveness and cost effectiveness of two multilevel physical activity interventions targeting rural communities. We will learn what works and how these multilevel interventions can be implemented in rural populations. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05677906.

Motivational Interviewing for Fall Prevention (MI-FP) pilot study: Older Adults' readiness to participate in fall prevention.

Older adults' readiness to participate in fall prevention behaviors is largely unknown. We evaluated the feasibility of recruitment for a fall prevention intervention and participants' readiness to participate in fall prevention activities. Patients ≥ 65 years at high fall risk were recruited. Feasibility of recruitment was assessed by reaching the goal sample size (200), and recruitment rate (50%). Surveys assessed participants' readiness to participate in fall prevention activities (confidence to manage fall risks [0-10 scale; 10 most confident] and adherence to fall prevention recommendations). We recruited 200 patients (46.3% of eligible patients), and 185 completed surveys. Participants reported high confidence (range 7.48 to 8.23) in addressing their risks. Their adherence to clinician recommendations was mixed (36.4% to 90.5%). We nearly met our recruitment goals, and found that older adults are confident to address their fall risks, but do not consistently engage in fall prevention recommendations.

Can strength training or tai ji quan training reduce frailty in postmenopausal women treated with chemotherapy? A secondary data analysis of the GET FIT trial.

Purpose: To determine whether strength training or tai ji quan can reduce frailty in older, postmenopausal women treated with chemotherapy for cancer. Methods: We conducted a secondary data analysis from a 3-arm, single-blind, randomized controlled trial where older (50+ years), postmenopausal women cancer survivors were randomized to supervised group exercise programs: tai ji quan, strength training, or stretching control for 6 months. We assessed frailty using a 4-criteria model consisting of weakness, fatigue, inactivity, and slowness. Using logistic regression, we determined whether the frailty phenotype (pre-frailty or frailty) decreased post-intervention, how many and which frailty criteria decreased, and what characteristics identified women most likely to reduce frailty. Results: Data from 386 women who completed baseline and 6-month testing were used (mean age of 62.0 ± 6.4 years). The odds of improving overall frailty phenotype over 6 months was significantly higher in the strength training group compared to controls (OR [95%CI]: 1.86 [1.09, 3.17]), but not for for tai ji quan (1.44 [0.84, 2.50]). Both strength training (OR 1.99 [1.10, 3.65]) and tai ji quan (OR 2.10 [1.16, 3.84]) led to significantly higher odds of reducing ≥1 frailty criterion compared to controls. Strength training led to a three-fold reduction in inactivity (p <0.01), and tai ji quan to a two-fold reduction in fatigue (p=0.08) versus control. Higher baseline BMI, comorbidity score, and frailty status characterized women more likely to reduce frailty than other women. Conclusions: Strength training appears superior to tai ji quan and stretching with respect to reducing overall frailty phenotype among postmenopausal women treated with chemotherapy for cancer, but tai ji quan favorably impacted the number of frailty criteria. Implications for Cancer Survivors: Supervised, group exercise training that emphasizes strength training and/or tai ji quan may help combat accelerated aging and reduce frailty after cancer treatment.

Are Physical and Depressive Symptoms Different Between Women and Men With Heart Failure?: An Exploration Using Two Analytic Techniques.

BACKGROUND: Adults with heart failure (HF) experience a constellation of symptoms; however, understanding of gender differences in HF symptoms remain elusive. The aim of this study was to determine whether there are gender differences in physical and depressive symptoms and symptom patterns in HF using 2 different analytic techniques. METHODS: We performed a secondary analysis of combined data from 6 studies of adults with HF. Physical symptoms were measured with the HF Somatic Perception Scale, and depressive symptoms were measured with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. First, we performed propensity matching with the nearest neighbor to examine the average treatment effect for HF Somatic Perception Scale and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 in the matched sample of women and men. Next, we used the entire data set in a latent class mixture model to determine patterns of symptoms. Finally, we calculated predictors of class membership with multinomial logistic regression. RESULTS: The sample (n = 524, 86.5% systolic HF) was 37% women with a mean age of 58.3 ± 13.9 years and mean number of years with HF of 6.9 ± 6.9. Three hundred sixty-six participants were matched on propensity scores; there were no significant gender differences in symptom scores between matched women (n = 183) and men (n = 183). Among all 524 participants, 4 distinct latent classes of symptom patterns indicate that many patients with HF are fatigued, some have more depressive symptoms, and others have significantly more edema or cough. Gender did not predict membership to any symptom pattern. CONCLUSIONS: There were significant gender differences in sociodemographics, health behaviors, and clinical characteristics, but not HF symptoms or symptom patterns, using either analytic technique.

Career Intention of Baccalaureate Student Nurses: Understanding the Barriers, Enablers, and Predictors Toward Public/Community Health Nursing.

AIM: This study had two aims: to determine initial career intention of nursing students and to assess whether nursing education variables predict career intentions toward public health/community health nursing. BACKGROUND: Nursing graduates are expected to be prepared to work in community settings. However, there is uncertainty in whether students are attracted to these settings and whether nursing education is impactful in shaping career intention. METHOD: A cross-sectional survey targeted baccalaureate and accelerated students across Oregon. Analyses utilized descriptive statistics and multiple regression. RESULTS: Students reported most interest in acute care. Didactic and clinical learning were not related to intention to pursue a public health/community health career. The strongest predictor was career intention when starting nursing school. CONCLUSION: Students enter nursing school with largely fixed intentions. Educators need to develop greater prenursing outreach and understanding of the drivers toward public and community health to build curricula and passion for this area of nursing.

Prediction of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Diagnosis Using Brief, Low-Cost Clinical Measures: A Competitive Model Evaluation.

Proper diagnosis of ADHD is costly, requiring in-depth evaluation via interview, multi-informant and observational assessment, and scrutiny of possible other conditions. The increasing availability of data may allow the development of machine-learning algorithms capable of accurate diagnostic predictions using low-cost measures to supplement human decision-making. We report on the performance of multiple classification methods used to predict a clinician-consensus ADHD diagnosis. Methods ranged from fairly simple (e.g., logistic regression) to more complex (e.g., random forest), while emphasizing a multi-stage Bayesian approach. Classifiers were evaluated in two large (N>1000), independent cohorts. The multi-stage Bayesian classifier provides an intuitive approach consistent with clinical workflows, and was able to predict expert consensus ADHD diagnosis with high accuracy (>86%)-though not significantly better than other methods. Results suggest that parent and teacher surveys are sufficient for high-confidence classifications in the vast majority of cases, while an important minority require additional evaluation for accurate diagnosis.

GET FIT: A Randomized Clinical Trial of Tai Ji Quan Versus Strength Training for Fall Prevention After Chemotherapy in Older, Postmenopausal Women Cancer Survivors.

PURPOSE: To compare the efficacy of tai ji quan versus strength training to prevent falls after chemotherapy in older, postmenopaual women. METHODS: We conducted a three-arm, single-blind, randomized controlled trial where older (50+ years), postmenopausal women cancer survivors participated in one of three supervised group exercise programs (tai ji quan, strength training, or stretching control) twice weekly for 6 months and were followed up 6 months after training stopped. The primary outcome was the incidence of falls. Secondary outcomes included fall-related injuries, leg strength (1 repetition maximum; kg), and balance (sensory organization [equilibrium score] and limits of stability [LOS; %] tests). RESULTS: Four hundred sixty-two women were enrolled (mean age, 62 ± 6.3 years). Retention was 93%, and adherence averaged 72.9%. In primary analysis, there was no difference in the incidence of falls between groups after 6 months of training, nor during 6-month follow-up. A post hoc analysis detected a significantly reduced incidence of fall-related injuries within the tai ji quan group over the first 6 months, dropping from 4.3 falls per 100 person-months (95% CI, 2.9 to 5.6) at baseline to 2.4 falls per person-months (95% CI, 1.2 to 3.5). No significant changes occurred during 6-month follow-up. Over the intervention period, leg strength significantly improved in the strength group and balance (LOS) improved in the tai ji quan group, compared with controls (P < .05). CONCLUSION: We found no significant reduction in falls for tai ji quan or strength training relative to stretching control in postmenopausal women treated with chemotherapy.

Patient-Reported Symptom and Health-Related Quality-of-Life Validation and Responsiveness During the First 6 Months of Treatment for Mycobacterium avium Complex Pulmonary Disease.

BACKGROUND: Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), predominately Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC), cause chronic pulmonary disease. Improvements in symptoms and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) are important treatment outcomes, but no validated patient-reported outcome (PRO) measure exists. RESEARCH QUESTION: What are the validity and responsiveness of the Quality of Life-Bronchiectasis (QOL-B) questionnaire respiratory symptoms scale and key HRQoL measures during the first 6 months of MAC pulmonary disease (MAC-PD) treatment? STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Comparison of Two- vs Three-antibiotic Therapy for Pulmonary Mycobacterium Avium Complex Disease (MAC2v3) is an ongoing randomized, multisite pragmatic clinical trial. Patients with MAC-PD were randomized to azithromycin-based two-drug or three-drug therapy; treatment groups were combined for this analysis. PROs were measured at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. The QOL-B respiratory symptoms, vitality, physical functioning, health perceptions, and NTM symptom domain scores (on a scale of 0-100, with 100 being best) were analyzed separately. We performed psychometric and descriptive analyses in the population enrolled as of the time of analysis and calculated the minimal important difference (MID) using distribution-based methods. Finally, we evaluated responsiveness using paired t tests and latent growth curve analysis in the subset with longitudinal surveys completed by the time of analysis. RESULTS: The baseline population included 228 patients, of whom 144 had completed longitudinal surveys. Patients predominately were female (82%) and had bronchiectasis (88%); 50% were 70 years of age or older. The respiratory symptoms domain showed good psychometric properties (no floor or ceiling effects; Cronbach's α, 0.85) and an MID of 6.4 to 6.9. Vitality and health perceptions domain scores performed similarly. Respiratory symptoms domain scores improved by 7.8 points (P < .0001) and 7.5 points (P < .0001), and the physical functioning domain score improved by 4.6 points (P < .003) and 4.2 points (P = .01) at 3 and 6 months, respectively. Latent growth curve analysis confirmed a nonlinear, statistically significant improvement in respiratory symptoms and physical functioning domain scores by 3 months. INTERPRETATION: The QOL-B respiratory symptoms and physical functioning scales exhibited good psychometric properties in patients with MAC-PD. Respiratory symptoms scores improved beyond the MID by 3 months after treatment initiation. TRIAL REGISTRY: ClinicalTrials.gov; No.: NCT03672630; URL: www. CLINICALTRIALS: gov.

Associations between perceptions of relationship quality and markers of inflammation and insulin resistance among couples coping with cancer.

Among married couples living with breast and prostate cancer, positive perceptions of relationship quality by both survivors and their spouses were associated with lower inflammation or insulin resistance in their partner. Our data support evidence that health within couples is both interdependent and transactional and suggests that one member's perception of the relationship is associated with biologic changes in one's partner, leading to better physical health of the couple. These findings may provide a biologic underpinning to observations of an inverse relationship between relational satisfaction and overall mortality and underscore the need for a dyadic approach to health. PURPOSE: Couples' health and health behaviors are intertwined, where the health of one partner can influence the health of the other but the biologic underpinnings are not known. We examined the associations between relational health and markers of inflammation and insulin resistance in couples coping with breast or prostate cancer. METHODS: Participants (90 cancer survivor-spouse dyads) completed self-report measures of relational health including Dyadic Adjustment Scale-7 (relationship quality), Dyadic Coping Inventory (communication), and shared physical activity, as well as Community Health Activities Model Program for Seniors (individual physical activity). Inflammation (C-reactive protein (CRP)) and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were measured in serum samples. Structural equation modeling including demographic and clinical covariate controls was used to estimate separate actor and partner effects of relationship quality, communication, and physical activity on CRP and HOMA-IR. RESULTS: Participants were aged 63.1 ± 10.4 years with an average relationship duration of 30.0 ± 1.1 years. Higher survivor perceived relationship quality was associated with lower spouse CRP (b = - 0.07; 95%CI: - 0.13, - 0.01), whereas higher spouse perceived relationship quality was associated with lower survivor HOMA-IR (b = - 0.07; 95%CI: - 0.13, - 0.03). There were no other significant actor or partner effects observed. CONCLUSIONS: Among cancer survivor-spouse dyads, how one member of the couple perceives the quality of the relationship impacts disease biomarkers in the other, providing preliminary evidence for biological linkage between relational health and chronic disease risk. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Relationship quality may positively influence biomarkers of inflammation and insulin resistance in couples coping with breast and prostate cancer. Dyadic approaches to optimize survivorship health may be warranted. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03630354, 08/14/2018; Open Science Framework ( https://bit.ly/3S4rUtJ ).

Dissertation Topics in Nursing.

BACKGROUND: Few quantitative studies have documented the types of research topics most commonly employed by nursing PhD students and whether they differ by program delivery (in-person vs. online/hybrid programs). OBJECTIVES: We examined a large set of publicly available PhD dissertation abstracts to (a) describe the relative prevalence of different research topics and methods and (b) test whether the primary topics and methods used differed between online or hybrid and in-person PhD programs. A secondary goal was to introduce the reader to modern text-mining approaches to generate insights from a document corpus. METHODS: Our database consisted of 2,027 dissertation abstracts published between 2015 and 2019. We used a structural topic modeling text-mining approach to explore PhD students' research topics and methods in United States-based doctoral nursing programs. RESULTS: We identified 24 different research topics representing a wide range of research activities. Most of the research topics identified did not differ in prevalence between online/hybrid and in-person programs. However, online/hybrid programs were more likely to engage students in research focused on nursing education, professional development, work environment, simulation, and qualitative analysis. Pediatrics, sleep science, older adults and aging, and chronic disease management were more prevalent topics in in-person-only programs. DISCUSSION: The range of topics identified highlights the breadth of research nursing PhD students' conduct. Both in-person and online/hybrid programs offer a range of research opportunities, although we did observe some differences in topic prevalence. These differences could be due to the nature of some types of research (e.g., research that requires an in-person presence) or differences in research intensity between programs (e.g., amount of grant funding or proximity to a medical center). Future research should explore why research topic prevalence may vary by program delivery. We hope that this text-mining application serves as an illustrative example for researchers considering how to draw inferences from large sets of text documents. We are particularly interested in seeing future work that might combine traditional qualitative approaches and large-scale text mining to leverage the advantages of each.