From Treatment to Recovery: Gynecological Survivors' and Caregivers' Perspectives About the Usability of an Educational Resource.

The objective of this study was to understand gynecological cancer (GC) survivors' and their informal caregivers' perceptions about the usability of an educational resource to support their transition from primary cancer treatment into surveillance and/or recovery. After developing an empirical- and experiential-informed educational resource, we used a semi-structured questioning process to understand GC survivors and their caregivers' perceptions about its usability. Data were collected via online focus groups or 1:1 interviews that were audio recorded and transcribed. We used thematic analysis to analyze the data. Ten participants who were survivors or informal caregivers of cervical, ovarian, or uterine/endometrial cancer participated in two rounds of data collection. We grouped qualitative data into two themes: (1) reputable, relevant, and accessible education reduces uncertainty and promotes connection, and (2) individualized delivery of education provided by trusted cancer clinicians. The transition from treatment to surveillance is a challenging time for which reputable, relevant, and accessible educational resources are useful to facilitate an understanding about and self-management of survivorship-related concerns. Survivors and caregivers look to clinicians to provide reputable education to address their needs. This education should be diverse in content and referred to repeatedly throughout the cancer trajectory.

Developing an educational resource for gynecological cancer survivors and their caregivers: A methods and experience paper.

Building upon the need for greater education, identified by gynecological cancer survivors and their caregivers, the objective of this paper is to describe our patient-clinician-researcher partnership to develop an evidence- and experiential-based educational resource. We engaged in five phases using multiple research methods: 1) assembling the essential expertise, 2) reviewing the literature, 3) drafting the resource, 4) testing the resource, and 5) disseminating the resource. Our diverse partnership provided expertise toward multiple research methods that produced results useful for each successive phase. This combination - a diverse partnership and multiple research methods - resulted in a useful resource to fulfill a gap identified by knowledge users. The combined features described in our paper fill a procedural gap for clinicians and researchers intending to develop educational resources that are empirically and experientially founded.

The needs of gynecological cancer survivors at the end of primary treatment: A scoping review and proposed model to guide clinical discussions.

OBJECTIVE: Gynecological cancer (GC) survivors have unmet needs when they complete primary cancer treatment. Despite this, no known research has summarized these needs and survivors' suggestions to address them. We conducted a scoping review to fill these gaps and develop a model useful to guide clinical discussions and/or interventions. METHODS: English, full length, and accessible primary studies describing the needs of GC survivors were included. No restrictions on date nor country of publication were applied. Two reviewers screened and extracted data, which was verified by a third reviewer. RESULTS: Seventy-one studies met the inclusion criteria for data extraction. Results were thematically grouped into seven dimensions: physical needs, sexuality-related concerns, altered self-image, psychological wellbeing, social support needs, supporting the return to work, and healthcare challenges and preferences. After consulting with a stakeholder group (a GC survivor, clinicians, and researchers), the dimensions were summarized into a proposed model to guide clinical assessments and/or interventions. CONCLUSION: Results illuminate the diverse needs of GC survivors as they complete primary cancer treatment and their recommendations for care to meet these needs. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The resulting model can be used to guide assessments, discussions and/or interventions to optimally prepare GC survivors for transition out of primary cancer treatment.

Obituary.

Doreen McCullough OBE, who has died aged 90, was one of Northern Ireland's best known and most successful nurses.