Self-management goals of cancer survivors with an ostomy.

OBJECTIVES: Ostomies due to cancer surgery impose complex and enduring care challenges that necessitate cancer survivors" self-management. The objective of this analysis is to evaluate ostomates' self- management goals using a qualitative approach. METHODS: A multi-site randomized controlled trial testing the Ostomy Self-Management Training program (OSMT) was delivered via telehealth to a group of cancer survivors with an ostomy randomized to either the OSMT program with goal setting or usual care (UC), without goal setting. Goals were classified by type and frequency according to a modified City of Hope Health-Related Quality of Life framework (physical, psychological, social, spiritual, ostomy-specific, and healthcare quality domains), using a directed and systematic content analysis approach. RESULTS: The 524 self-management goals analyzed by domain frequencies physical (29.4%), ostomy specific (29.0%) and social well-being (25.0%) were predominant. Managing other health issues (7.6%), psychological issues (6.0%), and spiritual well-being issues (3.0%) were next. Common self-management themes were ostomy care independence (87.5%), handling cancer-related issues (62.5%), achieving acceptance (56.2%), resuming physical activity (43.0%), and maintaining fluid/diet balance (43.0%). DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: Goal-setting offers insights into self-management concerns of cancer survivors with ostomies. Results demonstrate the broad aspects of self-management ostomates face. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Self-management training with patient goal-setting may be used to help ostomates with cancer and their health care providers identify areas for needed education and support.

Cancer survivors' greatest challenges of living with an ostomy: findings from the Ostomy Self-Management Telehealth (OSMT) randomized trial.

OBJECTIVES: An ostomy results in lifelong quality of life changes for a cancer survivor. We describe the greatest challenges reported from a randomized trial of cancer survivors with stomas (ostomies). METHODS: Cancer survivors with ostomies participating in a multi-site randomized prospective trial of an Ostomy Self-Management Telehealth (OSMT) program versus usual care (UC) were surveyed at six months post accrual. An open-ended question requested greatest challenges after ostomy surgery. Quantitative descriptive and qualitative analyses were used to examine greatest challenges reported. RESULTS: A total of 118 trial participants identified greatest challenges with 55 in the OSMT and 63 in the UC. Six conceptual domains were used to code comments-physical, psychological, social, and spiritual quality of life; ostomy-specific issues, and healthcare issues. The OSMT contributed 187 comments, and UC contributed 235 comments. Ostomy specific issues and social well-being had the most comments overall with UC contributing more comments in all domains except physical well-being. Word Clouds revealed post-operative and treatment-related issues and going out in public as the most common challenges in both groups. Word Clouds compared types of ostomies revealing bowel function challenges (colostomy group), difficulties going out in public (ileostomy group), and positive support (urostomy group). CONCLUSIONS: Fewer challenges submitted by the OSMT group provide the beginning evidence of the OSMT program impact. Dominant challenges across both groups were social well-being and ostomy care. Challenges varied by type of ostomy. Findings support long-term care and support for all cancer survivors with ostomies. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT02974634.

Ostomy telehealth for cancer survivors: Design of the Ostomy Self-management Training (OSMT) randomized trial.

PURPOSE: An ostomy adversely affects health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in a diverse population of cancer survivors and their caregivers. Hit-or-miss ostomy care, nurse counseling, and community referral have been the primary modes of self-management education and support in the peri-operative setting. Few evidence-based, systematic ostomy self-management programs are available to ensure optimal post-operative care. This paper describes the study design of a telehealth-based Ostomy Self-management Training (OSMT) program for cancer survivors and their caregivers. METHODS: The study is a three-year, randomized trial that tests the effectiveness of the OSMT program on survivor activation, self-efficacy, and HRQOL. The intervention integrates goal setting and problem-solving approaches to enhance survivor activation and self-efficacy to carry out ostomy care. The curriculum is delivered via four group sessions administered by trained ostomy certified nurses (WOCNs) and peer ostomates. An additional session is offered to caregivers to address their needs in relation to ostomy care. Telehealth approaches through videoconferencing are used to enhance program delivery to participants in three different geographic areas across two time zones. Participants join sessions via real-time videoconferencing from their homes. CONCLUSIONS: The OSMT program has high potential to make a positive impact on the unique physical, psychological, social, and spiritual needs of cancer survivors living with a permanent ostomy. The study design, process, and telehealth approach contributes to the success of future dissemination efforts of the intervention into diverse clinical and community settings.

Advancement in antithrombotics for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation.

The focus of this review is the evolving field of antithrombotic drug therapy for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). The current standard of therapy includes warfarin, acenocoumarol and phenprocoumon which have proven efficacy by reducing stroke by 68% against placebo. However, a narrow therapeutic index, wide variation in metabolism, and numerous food and drug interactions have limited their clinical application to only 50% of the indicated population. Newer agents such as direct thrombin inhibitors, factor Xa inhibitors, factor IX inhibitors, tissue factor inhibitors and a novel vitamin K antagonist are being developed to overcome the limitations of current agents. The direct thrombin inhibitor dabigatran is farthest along in development. Further clinical trial testing, and eventual incorporation into clinical practice will depend on safety, efficacy and cost. Development of a novel vitamin K antagonist with better INR control will challenge the newer mechanistic agents in their quest to replace the existing vitamin K antagonists. Till then, the large unfilled gap to replace conventional agents remains open. This review will assess all these agents, and compare their mechanism of action, stage of development and pharmacologic profile.