Vínculos entre psicooncología y enfermería en el cuidado continuo de personas con cáncer de próstata / Links between Psycho-Oncology and Nursing in the Ongoing Care of Individuals with Prostate Cancer

Introducción: La enfermería en oncología ocupa un lugar preponderante dentro del equipo multidisciplinar, y el concepto de cuidado va más allá de actividades técnicas, donde toda relación terapéutica implica, de modo necesario, un proceso de relación interpersonal, para lo cual se deben desarrollar habilidades y destrezas comunicativas. Objetivo: Analizar los vínculos entre la psicooncología y la enfermería en el cuidado continuo de personas con cáncer de próstata. Métodos: Revisión bibliográfica sistemática de artículos publicados desde 2011 hasta 2020 en las bases de datos SciELO, Google académico y Dialnet. Se elaboró la pregunta guía a través del acrónimo PICo. La estrategia de búsqueda se realizó mediante los descriptores en Ciencias de la Salud (DeCS) "Psicooncología", "Enfermería", "Cuidados continuos", "Neoplasia de la próstata" y "Enfermedades crónicas" con los operadores booleanos AND y OR. Se utilizó el diagrama de flujo (PRISMA). Se accedió a interpretar los referentes teóricos y organización del conocimiento en las 16 bibliografías seleccionadas. Conclusiones: La revisión realizada permitió enfatizar la importancia de integrar técnicas y habilidades de la psicooncología, sus beneficios y aplicación desde las perspectivas de enfermería, con el propósito de favorecer el bienestar biopsicosocial de la persona con cáncer de próstata(AU)

Introduction: Nursing in oncology occupies a preponderant place within the multidisciplinary team, and the concept of care goes beyond technical activities, any therapeutic relationship necessarily implies an interpersonal relationship process, for which skills and communication skills must be developed. Objective: To analyze the links between psycho-oncology and nursing in the continuous care of individuals with prostate cancer. Methods: We develop a systematic bibliographic review of articles published from 2011 to 2020 in the SciELO, Google academic and Dialnet databases. The guiding question was developed through the acronym PICo. The search strategy was carried out using the Health Sciences (DeCS) descriptors "Psychooncology", "Nursing", "Continuous care", "Prostate neoplasia" and "Chronic diseases" with the Boolean operators AND and OR. PRISMA flow chart was used. It was agreed to interpret the theoretical references and organization of knowledge in the 16 selected bibliographies. Conclusions: The review carried out made it possible to emphasize the importance of integrating techniques and skills of psycho-oncology, their benefits and application from the nursing perspectives, with the purpose of favoring the bio psychosocial well-being of the person with prostate cancer(AU)

Effect of an Oncology Nurse-Led Primary Palliative Care Intervention on Patients With Advanced Cancer: The CONNECT Cluster Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Guidelines recommend early specialty palliative care for all patients with advanced cancer, but most patients lack access to such services. Objective: To assess the effect of CONNECT (Care Management by Oncology Nurses to Address Supportive Care Needs), a primary palliative care intervention delivered by oncology nurses, on patient outcomes. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cluster randomized clinical trial of the CONNECT intervention vs standard care was conducted from July 25, 2016, to October 6, 2020. Participants were adult patients with metastatic solid tumors who were undergoing oncological care and for whom an oncologist would agree with the statement "would not be surprised if the patient died in the next year." The trial was conducted at 17 community oncology practices in western Pennsylvania. Data analyses adhered to the intention-to-treat principle. Interventions: The CONNECT intervention included 3 monthly visits with an existing infusion room nurse who was trained to address symptoms, provide emotional support, engage in advance care planning, and coordinate care. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was quality of life. At baseline and 3 months, participants completed assessments of quality of life (Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Palliative care: score range, 0-184, with higher scores indicating better quality of life), symptom burden (Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale: score range, 0-90, with higher scores indicating greater symptom burden), and mood symptoms (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale [HADS]: score range, 0-21, with higher scores indicating substantial anxiety and depression). Linear mixed-effects models were used to estimate adjusted mean differences in 3-month outcomes. Preplanned, intensity-adjusted analyses were conducted. Results: A total of 672 patients were enrolled (mean [SD] age, 69.3 [10.2] years; 360 women [53.6%]). The mean (SD) number of CONNECT visits completed was 2.2 (1.0). At 3 months, no difference in mean (SD) quality-of-life score was found between the CONNECT and standard care groups (130.7 [28.2] vs 134.1 [28.1]; adjusted mean difference, 1.20; 95% CI, -2.75 to 5.15; P = .55). Similarly, there was no difference between groups in 3-month mean (SD) symptom burden (23.2 [16.6] vs 24.0 [16.1]; adjusted mean difference, -2.64; 95% CI, -5.85 to 0.58; P = .11) or mood symptoms (HADS depression subscale score: 5.1 [3.4] vs 4.8 [3.7], adjusted mean difference, -0.08 [95% CI, -0.71 to 0.57], P = .82; HADS anxiety subscale score: 5.7 [3.9] vs 5.4 [4.2], adjusted mean difference, -0.31 [95% CI, -0.96 to 0.33], P = .34). Intensity-adjusted analyses revealed a larger estimated treatment effect for patients who received a full dose (3 visits) of the CONNECT intervention. Conclusions and Relevance: This cluster randomized clinical trial found that a primary palliative care intervention that was delivered by oncology nurses did not improve patient-reported outcomes at 3 months. Primary palliative care interventions with a higher dose intensity may be beneficial for most patients with advanced cancer who lack access to palliative care specialists. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02712229.

What Lessons Did I Learn From My Experience With Cancer and COVID-19 During the Pandemic?

As a nursing student back in the late 1970s, I thought I would not work in oncology because it hit too close to home; my mother, my grandmother, my grandfather, and a college friend had all had cancer. Working with patients with cancer would bring up too many memories and worries to which I would never subject myself.

Impactos del cuidado de personas con cáncer en la vida del cuidador y la dinámica familiar / Impacts of Caring for Persons with Cancer on the Caregiver and Family Dynamics

Introducción: La existencia de un paciente con cáncer en el seno de la familia implica varios retos y conduce a una necesidad de reorganización de toda la familia para la prestación de cuidados a este individuo, dejando, a veces, de cuidar de sí mismo, generando nuevas demandas a menudo descuidadas. Objetivo: Comprender, desde la perspectiva de los familiares cuidadores, cómo el proceso de cuidar de la persona con cáncer impacta en la vida del cuidador y la dinámica familiar. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo y exploratorio, con enfoque cualitativo realizado con los familiares cuidadores de personas con cáncer de la ciudad de Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brasil, desde diciembre de 2016 hasta enero de 2017. La recopilación de datos se realizó con 7 cuidadores familiares, por medio de una guía con preguntas abiertas, estructurada sobre la base de la escala de Zarit, que se interrumpió cuando hubo la saturación de los datos. El análisis se realizó mediante la técnica de análisis de contenido. Resultados: Los familiares cuidadores mostraron alteraciones en las necesidades humanas básicas relacionadas con los dominios: psicobiológico, psicosocial y psicoespiritual. Tales aspectos orientan las acciones de los profesionales de salud y validan la importancia de una asistencia holística y humanitaria para el cuidador, que también necesita de cuidados. Conclusiones: Los profesionales de enfermería deben actuar en la planificación de acciones que se centran en el apoyo educativo, psicológico, humanizado, empático e integral y en la promoción de la salud, agregados al plan de atención el núcleo familiar, a fin de minimizar el desgaste físico, psicológico y social del cuidador(AU)

Introduction: The existence of a cancer patient within any family implies several challenges and leads to a necessity for reorganization of the whole family in order to provide care for this individual, sometimes ceasing to take care of themselves and generating new demands, often neglected. Objective: To understand, from the perspective of family caregivers, how the process of caring for the person with cancer impacts the caregiver's life and family dynamics. Methods: Descriptive and exploratory study, with a qualitative approach, carried out, from December 2016 to January 2017, with family caregivers of people with cancer, in Viçosa City, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Data collection was carried out with seven family caregivers, using a guide with open questions and structured on the basis of the Zarit scale, which was interrupted when the data was saturated. The analysis was carried out using the content analysis technique. Results: Family caregivers showed alterations in basic human needs related to the psychobiological, psychosocial and psychospiritual domains. Such aspects guide the actions of health professionals and validate the importance of holistic and humanitarian assistance for the caregiver, who also needs care. Conclusions: Nursing professionals must act in planning actions that focus on educational, psychological, humanized, empathic and comprehensive support and health promotion, added to the family nucleus care plan, in order to minimize the physical, psychological and social exhaustion of the caregiver(AU)

Cross-Sectional Study of the Effects of Job Burnout on Immune Function in 105 Female Oncology Nurses at a Tertiary Oncology Hospital.

BACKGROUND Nurses who work in hospitals experience a high level of burnout and the relationship between immune variables and burnout syndrome has yet to be elucidated. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of job burnout on immune function in female oncology nurses in a tertiary oncology hospital in Guangxi, China. The aspects of the human immune system evaluated were humoral and cellular immunity and complement components 3 (C3) and 4 (C4). MATERIAL AND METHODS We administered the Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey (MBI-GS), which includes scales for emotional exhaustion, depersonalization (DP), and personal accomplishment (PA), to measure variables related to immune function in 105 female nurses in a tertiary oncology hospital in Guangxi, China. Levels of humoral immunity and C3 and C4 were detected with immune turbidimetry. Cellular immunity was assessed with indirect immunofluorescence. RESULTS A Spearman rank correlation analysis revealed that levels of C3, C4, and CD4- and CD8-positive T cells were significantly associated with burnout symptoms (P<0.05, P<0.01, and P<0.05, respectively). Furthermore, there was a correlation between demographic data and humoral and cellular immunity (both P<0.05). Multivariable linear regression analysis showed that C4 levels were closely related to DP (P<0.05) and that CD4 and CD8 levels were closely related to PA (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that DP and PA have an impact on immune function, and that timely psychological and behavioral interventions can be used to reduce the degree of job burnout among nurses and regulate their immunity, thus enabling them to better serve patients.

Sleep-Wake Disturbances in Oncology.

Sleep-wake disturbances are common in patients with cancer. Despite the high prevalence of altered sleep patterns in oncology settings, there remains a gap in consistent assessment of sleep, leading to an underrecognized and undertreated condition. Provider failure in addressing sleep-wake disturbances can result in chronic issues with insomnia and has a negative impact on quality of life and cancer survivorship. Often sleep-wake disturbances present in symptom "clusters" including, anxiety, depression, and fatigue, which adds to the complexity of managing sleep disorders in oncology. Aggressive management strategies for managing underlying symptom burden from disease or medications effects is a priority.

Efectividad de intervención enfermera en capacidad de adaptación-afrontamiento de cuidadores de operados de cáncer cerebral con cambios conductuales / Effectiveness of a Nursing Intervention regarding the Adaptation-Coping Capacity of Caregivers of Patients Operated on for Bran Tumor with Behavioral Changes

Introducción: Es alta la incidencia de familiares cuidadores de operados de cáncer cerebral con trastornos conductuales que no tienen adecuada adaptación-afrontamiento, requiriendo de la intervención enfermera. Objetivo: Evaluar la efectividad de una intervención de Enfermería en la capacidad de adaptación y afrontamiento de familiares cuidadores de adolescentes y jóvenes operados de cáncer cerebral con cambios conductuales. Métodos: Estudio preexperimental con pretest postest, en el Hospital Universitario "Faustino Pérez Hernández", Matanzas, Cuba, durante 2018. Universo de 93 familiares cuidadores. Información obtenida de la variable capacidad de adaptación-afrontamiento, con Escala ECAPS, la intervención de enfermería se sustentó en los cuatro modos adaptativos de la teoría de Callista Roy. La información se procesó con distribuciones de frecuencias absolutas, porcentaje, media, desviación típica, varianza, valor mínimo y máximo, la asociación entre variables se obtuvo con la prueba no paramétrica de Wilcoxon. con regla de decisión: Si p ≤ 0.05 se rechaza Ho. Resultados: La capacidad de adaptación-afrontamiento de familiares cuidadores de operados de cáncer cerebral con cambios conductuales cambió entre las mediciones efectuadas antes y después de la intervención de enfermería basada en la teoría de Roy. (z=-8,391, p < 0,05) Conclusiones: La intervención de enfermería basada en el modelo de adaptación de Callista Roy fue efectiva en la capacidad de adaptación y afrontamiento de familiares cuidadores de adolescentes y jóvenes operados de cáncer cerebral con cambios conductuales(AU)

Introduction: There is a high incidence of family caregivers of patients operated on for brain tumor with behavioral disorders who do not manifest satisfactory adaptation or coping, therefore requiring nursing intervention. Objective: To assess the effectiveness of a nursing intervention in adaptation and coping capacity of family caregivers of adolescents and young people operated on for brain tumor with behavioral changes. Methods: Pre-experimental study with pre- and post-test carried out, during 2018, at Faustino Pérez Hernández University Hospital of Matanzas, Cuba. The universe was 93 family caregivers. The information was obtained from the variable adaptation-coping capacity, using the Coping and Adaptation Processing Scale (CAPS); the nursing intervention was based on the four modes of adaptation defined within Callista Roy's theory. The information was processed using distributions of absolute frequencies, percentage, mean, standard deviation, variance, minimum and maximum values. The association between variables was obtained using the non-parametric Wilcoxon test, under the decision rule If P ≤ 0.05, then Ho is rejected. Results: The adaptation-coping capacity of family caregivers of patients operated on for brain tumor with behavioral changes was different between the measurements made before and after the nursing intervention based on Roy's theory (z=-8.391, P < 0.05) Conclusions: The nursing intervention based on Callista Roy's adaptation model was effective with regard to the adaptation and coping capacity of family caregivers of adolescents and young people operated on for brain tumor with behavioral changes(AU)

Cuidados continuos y estado de salud en el adulto mayor con cáncer de próstata / Continuous Cares and Health Status in the Elderly with Prostate Cancer

Introducción: El proceso de envejecimiento trae consigo cambios fisiológicos en las esferas orgánica y mental, que predisponen eventos fisiopatológicos, entre ellos el cáncer, entidad con repercusión significativa en el estado de salud del adulto mayor. Objetivo: Destacar la necesidad de los cuidados continuos para potenciar el estado de salud en el adulto mayor con cáncer de próstata. Métodos: Se confeccionó una comunicación breve a partir de un estudio preliminar con enfoque descriptivo de corte transversal, desde junio 2019 hasta febrero 2020, en el Hospital de Oncología María Curie, Camagüey, Cuba, donde se aplicó una encuesta sobre el nivel información de los cuidados continuos en oncología y los componentes de las teorías de Sor Callista Roy y Kristen M. Swanson en 16 enfermeros(as) participantes en el proyecto. Se ejecutó valoración del estado de salud, utilizando los instrumentos (Índice de Katz y escala de Lawton) en 34 adultos mayores con cáncer de próstata. Resultados: Fueron descritos niveles de información, mínimo aceptable e inaceptable en el personal encuestado. La valoración integral al adulto mayor con cáncer de próstata permitió conocer expresiones de dependencia a las actividades de la vida diaria e instrumentada. Conclusión: El estudio favoreció la preparación integral del personal de enfermería en la atención continuada del paciente oncológico. Además facilitó pautas que fortalecen la utilidad de la valoración integral para el proceso de los cuidados continuos del adulto mayor con cáncer de próstata, que permitan preservar conductas generadoras de salud biopsicosocial y potenciar su estado de salud(AU)

Introduction: The aging process brings about physiological changes, both organically and mentally, that may be the cause for pathophysiological events, including cancer, an entity with significant repercussions on the health status of the elderlies. Objective: To highlight the need for continuous care to enhance the health status of the elderlies with prostate cancer. Methods: A brief communication was made from a preliminary study with a descriptive cross-sectional approach, from June 2019 to February 2020, at María Curie Oncology Hospital, in Camagüey, Cuba, where a survey about the information level of continuous care in oncology and the components of the theories of Sister Callista Roy and Kristen M. Swanson was applied in sixteen nurses who participated in the project. Health status assessment was carried out, using the Katz index and Lawton scale in 34 older adults with prostate cancer. Results: Minimum ally acceptable and unacceptable levels of information were described in the surveyed personnel. The comprehensive assessment of the elderlies with prostate cancer allowed us to know expressions of dependence on the activities of daily and instrumented life. Conclusion: The study favored the comprehensive training of the nursing staff regarding ongoing care of cancer patients. In addition, it provided guidelines that strengthen the usefulness of comprehensive assessment for the process of continuous care of the elderlies with prostate cancer, so that these guidelines allow preserving behaviors that generate biopsychosocial health and enhance their health status(AU)

A moment just for me - parents' experiences of an intervention for person-centred information in paediatric oncology.

PURPOSE: Information can help parents of children with cancer by reducing uncertainty and giving them a sense of control in a chaotic situation. Although providing information to parents is a core activity of paediatric oncology nursing, few studies focus on interventions for informing parents. Thus, the aim of this study is to evaluate parents' experiences after participating in a person-centred information intervention for parents of children with cancer. METHOD: This study is part of a process evaluation of a person-centred informational intervention in paediatric oncology for patients' parents. Qualitative semi-structured interviews with 13 parents who had taken part in the intervention were analysed using qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: An opening for healing emerged as the overarching theme, consisting of three categories. Gaining a deeper understanding of the entire situation describes how parents benefitted from processing current topics and moving forward by learning. Caring reflections in a safe space describes how parents appreciated having a moment just for themselves and feeling better by venting their feelings. Meeting a competent and compassionate nurse describes how parents experienced trust and being listened to. CONCLUSION: Having individual information meetings integrated as a primary nursing responsibility, mediated by competent and compassionate nurses also responsible for the care of the child, could enhance person-centred care and individualise parental education.

Using Cognitive Interviewing to Design Interventions for Implementation in Oncology Settings.

BACKGROUND: Implementation of effective interventions into clinical practice is slow, in large part, because researchers do not sufficiently attend to the realities of nurses who implement interventions. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to provide an exemplar of how cognitive interviewing-an important and underused method for developing nursing research-can be used to design survey items and assess multilevel implementation factors. METHODS: We utilized the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research to create a survey to assess factors that influence how oncology nurses deliver physical activity interventions. Two rounds of cognitive interviews were conducted with five purposively selected oncology nurses to assess survey items' clarity and effectiveness at eliciting desired information. We used a cognitive interviewing coding scheme to code data and revise unclear items. Participants completed the revised survey online and underwent a second interview to provide additional feedback. RESULTS: Seven important changes were made to the survey: how to assess nurses' perceptions of other nurses' beliefs and practices; language to capture data relating to nursing leadership and administration; increased detail to assess factors related to nurses' workplaces; language related to capturing factors related to policy; language to capture data related to equity, disparities, and cultural tailoring; terms replacement with language used by nurses; and strategy to capture data about nurses' knowledge of national physical activity recommendations for cancer survivors. DISCUSSION: Cognitive interviewing can be applied to develop survey items that capture real-world experiences and perspectives of practicing nurses. This is an essential step in developing nursing interventions that are ready to be implemented and increasing the uptake of evidence-based nursing care. Cognitive interviewing can be used across nursing settings, populations, and interventions to develop understandings of attitudes, attributes, characteristics, and perceptions for a variety of nursing interventions.

Predictors of Chemotherapy Safe-Handling Precautions and Knowledge Among a Sample of Jordanian Oncology Nurses: A Model-Building Approach.

BACKGROUND: There are adverse side effects associated with handling chemotherapy; however, using safe-handling precautions can minimize or prevent these potential effects. Despite availability of international guidelines for chemotherapy handling, adherence to precautions is below expectations. This study examined knowledge of safe-handling precautions among a sample of oncology nurses in Jordon. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was employed that included a convenience sample of 153 oncology nurses. Oncology nurses from two hospitals completed the Chemotherapy Handling Questionnaire. Descriptive analysis, Spearman rank correlation coefficients, and regression analyses were performed to determine the predictors of precaution use when handling hazardous drugs among participants. FINDINGS: We observed that age, number of patients for whom the worker administered chemotherapy per day, the number of patients receiving chemotherapy per day in the participant's work unit, nurses' knowledge about safe-handling precautions, perceived risk, perceived barriers, self-efficacy, organization influence/workplace safety climate, conflict of interest, and interpersonal influences were predictors of use of safe-handling precautions (adjusted R2 = .66, p < .001). CONCLUSION/APPLICATION FOR PRACTICE: Several predictors for using safe-handling precautions were identified. Clinically, chemotherapy handling procedures should be evaluated frequently to identify barriers to safe practices and to improve worker safety.

Efecto de una intervención educativa para cuidadores familiares de personas con cáncer en cirugía / Effect of an educational intervention for family caregivers of individuals with cancer in surgery

OBJETIVO: Evaluar el efecto de una intervención educativa en cuidadores familiares de adultos con cáncer que se encuentran en postoperatorio de cirugía oncológica, para fortalecer la competencia de cuidado en el hogar y disminuir la sobrecarga. MÉTODO: Se trata de un abordaje cuantitativo cuasi-experimental con grupo de intervención y grupo control; se incluyeron 290 cuidadores familiares de pacientes intervenidos por cirugía, se aplicó la intervención educativa desde el ingreso hasta seis semanas después del egreso, se realizó medición antes y después de la competencia para el cuidado en el hogar y de la sobrecarga de cuidado. RESULTADOS: En el grupo intervenido se obtuvo impacto positivo y estadísticamente significativo en la competencia para el cuidado en el hogar y disminución de sobrecarga. CONCLUSIONES: La intervención educativa es una estrategia que aumenta la competencia para cuidar en el hogar, y disminuye la sobrecarga en cuidadores de personas con cáncer sometidos a cirugía

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of an educational intervention on family caregivers of adults with cancer who are in the postoperative period of oncological surgery, to strengthen the competence of home care and reduce overload. METHOD: This was a quasi-experimental quantitative approach with intervention group and control group; 290 family caregivers of patients undergoing surgery were included, educational intervention was applied from admission to six weeks after discharge, measurement was made before and after competence for home care and care overload. RESULTS: In the group intervened, a positive and statistically significant impact was obtained in the competence for home care and decreased overload. CONCLUSIONS: The educational intervention is a strategy that increases skills for care at home, and reduces the burden on caregivers of people with cancer undergoing surgery

Health services research in colorectal cancer: a quasi-experimental interventional pilot study on in- and outpatient oncology.

INTRODUCTION: Due to frequent treatment side effects and weight loss, colorectal cancer patients require oncologic care and nutritional counseling both during and after hospitalization. The current study evaluated differences in discharge and side effects management and nutritional behavior between colorectal cancer patients of a control group without systematic counseling and of an intervention group with access to structured in- and outpatient oncology nurse and nutritional counseling. METHODS: The presented explorative, quantitative, single-center, interventional pilot study is a health services research project with a quasi-experimental design. Using a self-designed standardized questionnaire, data were collected from the control group (n = 75) before and from the intervention group (n = 114) after the introduction of in- and outpatient oncology nurse and structured systematic nutritional counseling. The in- and outpatient counseling services were developed and evaluated in the form of a structured nurse-led counseling concept. RESULTS: Intervention group patients profited significantly from inpatient oncology nurse counseling in seven different areas of discharge management. No differences were observed concerning patient-reported general and gastrointestinal side effects except for xerostomia and dysphagia, but of the patients participating in both in- and outpatient oncology nurse counseling, 90.0% were better able to cope with general side effects of treatment. Patients with in- and outpatient structured systematic nutritional counseling more frequently received nutritional information (p = 0.001), were better at gauging food intolerances (p = 0.023), and followed the dietician's advice in cases of gastrointestinal side effects significantly more often (p = 0.003) than control patients. Counselor-reported outcomes concerning gastrointestinal side effects showed improvement in most of the patients taking part in systematic in- and outpatient nutritional counseling, except for weight loss in 4 patients. CONCLUSION: In- and outpatient counseling in discharge and side effects management and nutrition improve the outcomes of colorectal cancer patients. Outpatient counseling should be further developed and evaluated in future studies.

A COVID-19 screening tool for oncology telephone triage.

PURPOSE: Symptoms associated with COVID-19 infection have made the assessment and triage of cancer patients extremely complicated. The purpose of this paper is to describe the development and implementation of a COVID-19 screening tool for oncology telephone triage. METHODS: An Ambulatory Oncology Clinical Nurse Educator and three faculty members worked on the development of an oncology specific triage tool based on the challenges that oncology nurses were having with the generic COVID triage tool. A thorough search of the published literature, as well as pertinent websites, verified that no screening tool for oncology patients was available. RESULTS: The screening tool met a number of essential criteria: (1) simple and easy to use, (2) included the most common signs and symptoms as knowledge of COVID-19 infection changed, (3) was congruent with the overall screening procedures of the medical center, (4) included questions about risk factors for and environmental exposures related to COVID-19, and (5) assessed patient's current cancer history and treatment status. Over a period of 3 weeks, the content and specific questions on the tool were modified based on information obtained from a variety of sources and feedback from the triage nurses. CONCLUSION: Within 1 month, the tool was developed and implemented in clinical practice. Oncology clinicians can modify this tool to triage patients as well as to screen patients in a variety of outpatient settings (e.g., chemotherapy infusion units, radiation therapy departments). The tool will require updates and modifications based on available resources and individual health care organizations' policies and procedures.

Uso e efetividade de terapias tópicas no tratamento de radiodermatites: revisão integrativa / Use and affectiveness of topical therapies in radiodermatitis treatment: integrative review / Uso y efectividad de terapias tópicas en el tratamiento de radiodermatitis: revisión integrativa

Objetivo: descrever, a luz da pesquisa bibliográfica, o uso das terapias tópicas no tratamento de radiodermatites. Método: revisão integrativa de ensaios clínicos randomizados nas bases de dados: MEDLINE, LILACS, biblioteca COCHRANE, CINAHL e EMBASE. Após observância dos critérios de inclusão, encontrou-se 1.289 estudos, dos quais, após etapas de exclusão resultaram em 10 estudos. Resultados: foram expostos em categorias num quadro síntese incluindo: dados do estudo, participantes da pesquisa, tipo de terapia tópica utilizada; indicações, contraindicações e resultados. Conclusão: encontraram-se lacunas nos estudos e estas necessitam de investigação. Sugerem-se novos ensaios experimentais a fim de trazer respostas quanto aos tipos de terapias tópicas mais efetivas em radiodermatites, o que trará melhores condições de tratamento e assegurará ao enfermeiro uma assistência de qualidade e ao cliente oncológico uma melhor qualidade de vida

Objective: to describe, in the light of bibliographic research, the use of topical therapies in the treatment of radiodermatitis. Method: integrative review of randomized clinical trials in the databases: MEDLINE, LILACS, COCHRANE, CINAHL and EMBASE. After observing the inclusion criteria, there were 1,289 studies, of which, following exclusion stages, resulted in 10 studies. Results: they were presented in categories in a summary table including: study data, research participants, type of topical therapy used; indications, contraindications and results. Conclusion: gaps have been found in the studies and these need investigation. New experimental trials are suggested in order to provide answers regarding the types of topical therapies more effective in radiodermatites, which will bring better treatment conditions and will ensure the quality of care and the oncological client a better quality of life

Objetivo: describir, a la luz de la investigación bibliográfica, el uso de las terapias tópicas en el tratamiento de radiodermatitis. Método: revisión integrativa de ensayos clínicos aleatorizados en las bases de datos: MEDLINE, LILACS, biblioteca COCHRANE, CINAHL y EMBASE. Después de la observancia de los criterios de inclusión, se encontraron 1.289 estudios, de los cuales, después de etapas de exclusión resultaron en 10 estudios. Resultados: fueron expuestos en categorías en un cuadro síntesis incluyendo: datos del estudio, participantes de la investigación, tipo de terapia tópica utilizada; indicaciones, contraindicaciones y resultados. Conclusión: se ha encontrado lagunas en los estudios y éstas necesitan investigación. Se sugieren nuevos ensayos experimentales a fin de traer respuestas en cuanto a los tipos de terapias tópicas más efectivas en radiodermatitis, lo que traerá mejores condiciones de tratamiento y asegurará al enfermero una asistencia de calidad y al cliente oncológico una mejor calidad de vida

How to Develop Statistical Predictive Risk Models in Oncology Nursing to Enhance Psychosocial and Supportive Care.

OBJECTIVES: Predictive risk models are advocated in psychosocial oncology practice to provide timely and appropriate support to those likely to experience the emotional and psychological consequences of cancer and its treatments. New digital technologies mean that large scale and routine data collection are becoming part of everyday clinical practice. Using these data to try to identify those at greatest risk for late psychosocial effects of cancer is an attractive proposition in a climate of unmet need and limited resource. In this paper, we present a framework to support the development of high-quality predictive risk models in psychosocial and supportive oncology. The aim is to provide awareness and increase accessibility of best practice literature to support researchers in psychosocial and supportive care to undertake a structured evidence-based approach. DATA SOURCES: Statistical prediction risk model publications. CONCLUSION: In statistical modeling and data science different approaches are needed if the goal is to predict rather than explain. The deployment of a poorly developed and tested predictive risk model has the potential to do great harm. Recommendations for best practice to develop predictive risk models have been developed but there appears to be little application within psychosocial and supportive oncology care. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Use of best practice evidence will ensure the development and validation of predictive models that are robust as these are currently lacking. These models have the potential to enhance supportive oncology care through harnessing routine digital collection of patient-reported outcomes and the targeting of interventions according to risk characteristics.

How Do You Provide Humanistic Care During a Pandemic?

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are at an unprecedented time in history. We practice at Monter Cancer Center in Lake Success, New York, which is part of Northwell Health, the largest health system in New York state, located in the initial epicenter of COVID-19 in the United States.

Advancing Oncology Nursing Practice Through the Adoption of Patient Monitoring Digital Tools.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this paper is to describe the use of oncology digital symptom monitoring and patient self-management coaching tools, how nurses and nurse practitioners (NPs) can optimize their use as an adjunct in improving oncology care and discuss issues and strategies needed for adoption within a variety of clinical settings. DATA SOURCES: A review of the research literature regarding digital health in oncology symptom management in PubMed provided the foundation for this paper. CONCLUSION: Digital symptom monitoring technology provides a variety of opportunities for oncology nurses and NPs to efficiently extend and improve symptom management in multiple settings including cancer patients at home between clinic visits, at clinic visits, and during inpatient stays. Digital monitoring and patient engagement make possible frequent symptom assessments, just-in-time personalized self-management reinforcement, and judiciously alert nurses and NPs about key times for follow-up with patients supported with evidenced-based guidelines. Oncology nurses at all levels have the opportunity to be leaders in the adoption and expansion of digital tools to enhance their practice. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Oncology nurses and NPs can lead practice changes that improve patient outcomes through understanding and shaping the use of digital tools.