Are There Disparities in Surgical Treatment for Breast Cancer Patients with Prior Physical Disability A Path Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Cancer care for patients with prior physical disability has hardly been researched in clinical research, health services research, or special education. This article aims to compare the severity of disease and the surgical treatment of diagnosed breast cancer patients with and without prior physical disability. METHODS: A total of 4,194 patients with primary breast cancer who underwent surgery in a breast cancer center in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, participated in an annual postoperative postal survey, which was complemented by clinical data. Latent class analysis and logit path models were applied to study (1) differences in terms of UICC staging and local cancer treatment between patients with and without prior physical disability and (2) respective differences by disability severity. RESULTS: Patients with physical disability (n = 780; 18.7%) had a higher chance of receiving mastectomy compared to breast-conserving therapy, even after controlling for socioeconomic status and UICC staging. Disability severity is directly and indirectly associated with receiving a mastectomy. CONCLUSION: In light of the research gap on disability and cancer, this work indicates disparities in care for breast cancer patients with prior physical disability. Inequalities might be attributable to (1) unequal access to care, (2) individual preferences and difficulties, or (3) medical difficulties.

Effects of guided breathing on blood pressure and heart rate variability in hypertensive diabetic patients.

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to investigate medium-term effects of device-guided breathing on blood pressure (BP) and its capacity to improve the cardiovascular autonomic balance in hypertensive diabetic patients. This feasibility study was conceived as a proof-of-concept trial under real life conditions for justification of further investigations. METHODS: A randomized, controlled study (RCT) of the effects of device-guided slow breathing on top of usual care against usual care alone (including non-pharmacological and pharmacological treatment). The intervention included 12-min sessions of guided breathing performed daily for 8 weeks. Treatment effects were assessed with ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (24h ABPM) and with spectral analysis of short-term heart rate variability (HRV) obtained during standardized modified orthostatic load. Thirty-two subjects with diabetes and antihypertensive therapy were randomly assigned to both study groups. RESULTS: After 8 weeks of guided breathing, significant reductions were demonstrated in 24 h systolic BP (x±SEM: 126.1±3.0 vs 123.2±2.7 mmHg, p=0.01), and in 24 h pulse pressure (PP, 53.6±2.6 vs. 51.3±2.5 mmHg, p=0.01), whereas no significant impact in the control group was shown. The differences in treatment effects (delta mmHg, RESPeRATE® vs control) were significant only for PP (-2.3±0.8 vs +0.2±1.2 mmHg, p<0.05). Strong baseline dependence of treatment effects (delta systolic BP) was observed (p<0.01). Guided breathing showed a stronger treatment effect in terms of an increase in HRV, predominantly in low frequency band (p<0.03 vs. usual care). CONCLUSION: Even in well controlled hypertensive diabetic patients, guided breathing induced relevant effects on BP and HRV, finding which should be investigated further.

Effects of parental soothing behavior on stress levels of 2-8 year old children during voiding cystourethrograms by phase of procedure.

Using the example of a voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG), a painful radiological procedure, this study investigated whether parental soothing behavior (reassuring comments like "it's almost over" or "You're O.K." and soothing by "sh, sh") in one phase of the procedure influenced the child's distress in the following phase. The sample was comprised of 68 2-8 year-old children and the accompanying parent(s). Child and parental behavior during the VCUG was coded using a standardized rating scale (CAMPIS-R). Parental reassurance during the anticipatory phase significantly increased the child's distress of the following phase, while parental "sh, sh" significantly reduced it. Both parental behaviors showed no significant effect on the child's distress of the following phase when applied during the procedure itself. Results underline the importance of differentiating between anticipatory and procedural phases of the VCUG. Counselling methods for parents on more appropriate strategies to assist their children during procedural phases of the VCUG are necessary.

Comparing stress levels in children aged 2-8 years and in their accompanying parents during first-time versus repeated voiding cystourethrograms.

OBJECTIVES: Invasive procedures such as voiding cystourethrograms (VCUGs) cause distress in both children and their accompanying parents. The main purpose of this study was to examine whether stress levels in children and their parents differ during first-time and repeated VCUGs. The second objective was to examine the relationship between parental behavior (behavior promoting child coping and behavior promoting child distress), parental stress levels and child distress in first-time versus repeated VCUGs. METHODS: In a prospective study, the distress behavior of 31 children aged 2-8 years who were undergoing a repeated VCUG was examined. A second group of 31 children who were undergoing a VCUG for the first time served as a control sample. Child and parental behavior during the VCUG was coded by three independent observers using a standardized rating scale (CAMPIS-R, Blount et al.). Children reported on their stress levels using a faces scale; parents and radiologists rated the child's distress on a visual analog scale. Similarly, parents assessed their own stress levels on a visual analog scale. RESULTS: The stress levels of children undergoing a repeated VCUG do not differ from those of children undergoing a VCUG for the first time, but parental stress levels were significantly lower during repeated VCUGs. In both VCUG groups there was significant positive correlation between parental distress-promoting behavior and child distress, and between parental stress levels and child distress. Parental coping-promoting behavior showed no significant correlation with child distress or parental stress levels in either VCUG group. Parental stress levels and parental distress-promoting behavior correlated positively only for repeated VCUGs. Neither parental coping- nor distress-promoting behavior differed between first-time versus repeated VCUG groups. CONCLUSIONS: Repeated VCUGs and first-time VCUGs are both highly distressing procedures for children. Even though parental stress levels are lower during repeated VCUGs, spontaneous parental behavior proves to be ineffective or even counterproductive in reducing the child's distress. Further research into efficient counseling and training methods for parents and children undergoing VCUGs is required.