Providing Trauma Informed Care During Anorectal Evaluation.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Patients with a history of gastrointestinal (GI) conditions report high rates of psychological trauma. This review discusses the impact of previous trauma, as well as interactions with the medical system, on a patient's physical and mental health. Trauma-informed strategies for improving patient care during gastroenterology procedures are provided. RECENT FINDINGS: History of trauma increases risk of developing GI conditions and re-traumatization during sensitive anorectal procedures (i.e., anorectal manometry, balloon expulsion testing). Trauma-informed strategies include consistent trauma screening for all patients, obtaining consent before and during procedures, creating a safe environment, allowing for privacy, and post-procedure debriefing. Due to high rates of psychological trauma in the gastroenterology setting and the risk of medical trauma from the GI procedures themselves, having an established trauma-informed plan of care for all patients can reduce risk of iatrogenic harm and improve quality of care for patients with GI conditions.

Patients with IBD Want to Talk About Sleep and Treatments for Insomnia with Their Gastroenterologist.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Poor sleep may be prospectively associated with worse disease course in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Chronic insomnia is the most common cause of poor sleep complaints in IBD and is theorized to be maintained by dysfunctional thoughts and behavioral patterns. However, data characterizing patterns specific to insomnia in IBD are lacking. Understanding the nuances of insomnia and patients' preferences for treatment is critical for addressing this significant comorbidity in IBD. METHODS: We conducted an anonymous, mixed-method online survey of people with IBD and asked questions about sleep patterns, thoughts, and behaviors related to sleep, treatment preferences, and barriers to treatment. RESULTS: 312 participants (60.9% Crohn's, 66.3% women, mean age of 48.62 years) were included in this study. Participants with insomnia were significantly more concerned about the consequences of sleep loss, felt more helpless about their sleep, and were more likely to engage in behaviors known to perpetuate insomnia (e.g., spending time in bed in pain; ps ≤ 0.001) than those without insomnia. 70.3% of participants were interested in discussing sleep as part of IBD care, 63.5% were interested in receiving sleep recommendations from their gastroenterologist, and 84.6% of those with insomnia were interested in participating in sleep treatments. CONCLUSION: Participants with IBD and insomnia are interested in treatment and reported patterns that can be targeted in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia, as opposed to traditional sleep hygiene guidelines. Additionally, people with insomnia engaged in several sleep-interfering behaviors related to pain. Clinical trials that target insomnia in people with IBD should include pain management in the intervention.

Personality as a predictor of well-being in a randomized trial of a mindfulness-based stress reduction of Danish women with breast cancer.

Purpose: Many clinical interventions have been designed to improve psychological well-being in women with breast cancer; however, there are individual differences in the extent of benefit across participants. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is a structured 8-week intervention that has been shown to reduce depression and anxiety for patients with breast cancer. Personality factors may influence which participants benefit more from various psychological interventions, including MBSR.Design: In a secondary analysis, we examined whether personality factors accounted for variability in response to an MBSR intervention for women with breast cancer.Sample: Two hundred eighty Danish women with breast cancer who completed the Mindfulness and Cancer Mamma trial were included in this analysis.Methods: Using multiple regression analyses, we investigated whether personality factors, measured by the NEO-PI-R, contribute independently or interact with treatment to predict depressive symptoms at 2, 6, and 12-month follow-up.Findings: The interaction between low conscientiousness and MBSR, as well as high neuroticism and MBSR each predicted significantly lower levels of distress at 12-month follow-up compared to women who higher in conscientious or lower in neuroticism.Conclusions: Personality factors may contribute to the impact of psychosocial interventions, such as MBSR, on psychological well-being.Implications for Psychosocial Providers: Utilizing personality measures may assist providers in identifying which patients may benefit from mindfulness therapies.

Feasibility and Acceptability of Real-Time Antiretroviral Adherence Monitoring among Depressed Women Living with HIV in the Deep South of the US.

This study presents feasibility and acceptability data on the use of a real-time wireless electronic adherence monitor (EAM), among African American women living with HIV with co-occurring depression, residing in remote areas of the Southeastern United States. EAM and self-report ART adherence was monitored over an average of 14.8 weeks among 25 participants who were recruited at four HIV clinics in Alabama. Intra-class correlation showed a low degree of concordance between EAM and self-report (ICC = 0.33, 95% bootstrap CI 0.13, 0.59). 83% of data collected via EAM was transmitted in real-time. Due to technological failures, 11.4% were not transmitted in real-time, but were later recovered, and 5.7% were lost entirely. Acceptability was examined through surveys and qualitative interviews. Results suggest that EAM monitoring is acceptable and feasible in a rural US setting; however, technological difficulties, such as loss of connectivity may impede the device's usefulness for just-in-time adherence interventions.

Sexual Health Concerns Among Cancer Survivors: Testing a Novel Information-Need Measure Among Breast and Prostate Cancer Patients.

While it is recognized that cancer treatment can contribute to problems in sexual function, much less is currently known about the specific sexual health concerns and information needs of cancer survivors. This study tested a new instrument to measure cancer survivors' sexual health concerns and needs for sexual information after cancer treatment. The Information on Sexual Health: Your Needs after Cancer (InSYNC), developed by a multidisciplinary team of experts, is a novel 12-item questionnaire to measure sexual health concerns and information needs of cancer survivors. We tested the measure with a sample of breast and prostate cancer survivors. A convenience sample of 114 cancer survivors (58 breast, 56 prostate) was enrolled. Results of the InSYNC questionnaire showed high levels of sexual concern among cancer survivors. Areas of concern differed by cancer type. Prostate cancer survivors were most concerned about being able to satisfy their partners (57 %) while breast cancer survivors were most concerned with changes in how their bodies worked sexually (46 %). Approximately 35 % of all cancer survivors wanted more information about sexual health. Sexual health concerns and unmet information needs are common among breast and prostate cancer survivors, varying in some aspects by type of cancer. Routine screening for sexual health concerns should be included in comprehensive cancer survivorship care to appropriately address health care needs. The InSYNC questionnaire is one tool that may help clinicians identify concerns facing their patients.

Adjuvant chemotherapy dosing in low-income women: the impact of Hispanic ethnicity and patient self-efficacy.

Unwarranted breast cancer adjuvant chemotherapy dose reductions have been documented in black women, women of lower socioeconomic status, and those who are obese. No information on the quality of chemotherapy is available in Hispanic women. The purpose of this study was to characterize factors associated with first cycle chemotherapy dose selection in a multi-ethnic sample of low-income women receiving chemotherapy through the Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention Treatment Program (BCCPT) and to investigate the impact of Hispanic ethnicity and patient self-efficacy on adjuvant chemotherapy dose selection. Survey and chemotherapy information were obtained from consenting participants enrolled in the California BCCPT. Analyses identified clinical and non-clinical factors associated with first cycle chemotherapy doses less than 90 % of expected doses. Of 552 patients who received chemotherapy, 397 (72 %) were eligible for inclusion. First cycle dose reductions were given to 14 % of the sample. In multivariate analyses, increasing body mass index and non-academic treatment site were associated with doses below 90 % of the expected doses. No other clinical or non-clinical factors, including ethnicity, were associated with first cycle doses selection. In this universally low-income sample, we identified no association between Hispanic ethnicity and other non-clinical patient factors, including patient self-efficacy, in chemotherapy dose selection. As seen in other studies, obesity was associated with systematic dose limits. The guidelines on chemotherapy dose selection in the obese may help address such dose reductions. A greater understanding of the association between type of treatment site and dose selection is warranted. Overall, access to adequate health care allows the vast majority of low-income women with breast cancer to receive high-quality breast cancer chemotherapy.

Working with Trauma in the Gastroenterology Setting.

Patients with gastrointestinal (GI) complaints report high rates of previous psychological trauma such as physical, emotional abuse and neglect, sexual trauma, and other traumatic experiences. History of trauma is considered a risk factor for the development of disorders of gut-brain interaction, including irritable bowel syndrome. This article discusses key points for providers in understanding how various aspects of trauma can affect patients' physical and mental health and medical interactions, as well as trauma-informed strategies providers can use to increase patient comfort, improve communication, and improve effectiveness of treatment.

Behavioral Strategies for Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Brain-Gut or Gut-Brain?

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a disorder of gut-brain interaction (DGBI) that is associated with significant physical, emotional, and occupational burden. Factors such as early life stress, sleep disruption, maladaptive coping strategies, symptom hypervigilance, and visceral hypersensitivity negatively affect gut-brain communication and increase the likelihood of developing IBS or worsen IBS severity. Behavioral strategies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, gut-directed hypnosis, and mindfulness-based treatments, have shown benefit in improving gastrointestinal (GI)-specific quality of life, as well as reducing GI symptoms. Partnering with a GI-specific mental health provider can assist gastroenterologists in providing comprehensive treatment of IBS and other DGBIs.

Influence of trauma on clinical outcomes, quality of life and healthcare resource utilization following psychogastroenterology intervention.

INTRODUCTION: Patients with disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBI) are more likely to report a history of psychological trauma, including abuse, compared with controls. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of trauma amongst patients in a GI behavioral health program and assess the impact of trauma on GI-specific quality of life, psychological distress, and healthcare utilization. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis for 205 patients who completed treatment in the GI behavioral health program. Measures included the IBS-QOL and the Brief Symptom Inventory-18 (BSI-18), as well as a retrospective chart review to examine healthcare utilization (HCU). RESULTS: Patients with a trauma history had significantly greater psychological distress on the BSI-18 compared with controls (63.32 vs 57.40, p < .001). Patients with trauma also endorsed significantly poorer GI-specific QOL compared with controls (54.57 vs 64.15, p = .001). Patients with and without trauma demonstrated improvements in distress and GI-specific QOL following behavioral treatment. Comparison of one year pre and post treatment HCU revealed a mean decrease in HCU from 6.87 contacts to 4.21 contacts per year. CONCLUSIONS: In a sample of GI behavioral health patients, those with a history of trauma endorsed higher levels of distress and poorer GI-specific QOL at baseline. Both groups benefitted equally from behavioral treatment. The impact of GI behavioral treatment on patient mental health, GI-specific quality of life and HCU lends support to the assessment of patient trauma history by gastroenterologists in order to provide more comprehensive treatment for their GI health.

Obesity and angiolymphatic invasion in primary breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is associated with poorer breast cancer-specific survival. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between obesity and the presence of angiolymphatic invasion as well as other features of invasive breast cancer, including stage at presentation, estrogen receptor (ER) status, triple-negative phenotype, and tumor grade. METHODS: Detailed clinical and pathologic data were abstracted from the medical records of all 1,312 patients with stage I-III primary breast cancer who had breast surgery at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2006. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to investigate the relationships between body mass index and tumor biologic features, controlling for menopausal status, diabetes and hypertension, hormone replacement therapy before diagnosis, race, and ethnicity. RESULTS: In multivariate analyses, severe obesity was independently associated with the presence of angiolymphatic invasion [odds ratio (OR) 1.80, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.08-2.99, joint test of significance, P = 0.03]. Severe obesity was associated with lower likelihood of triple-negative breast cancer (OR 0.39, 95% CI 0.16-0.96). Among premenopausal women with diabetes, ER-negative (OR 5.22, 95% CI 1.12-24.29) and triple-negative (OR 14.8, 95% CI 1.92-113.91) disease was significantly more common. DISCUSSION: In this large sample of invasive breast cancers, obesity was independently associated with the presence of angiolymphatic invasion. Higher rates of angiolymphatic invasion among obese women may account in part for poorer outcomes among obese women with breast cancer.

A phoenix rising: who considers herself a "survivor" after a diagnosis of breast cancer?

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to investigate factors associated with patients' identification of themselves as survivors after a diagnosis of breast cancer. METHODS: A self-administered survey was deployed through the nonprofit organization Breastcancer.org . As part of a larger study, we collected data on treatment, mental health, perceived prognosis, concerns about recurrence, and the question, "Do you consider yourself a survivor of breast cancer?" RESULTS: Of the 629 survey respondents, 492 (78 %) considered themselves survivors of breast cancer. Factors independently associated with an affirmative response were (1) believing that one's prognosis was "very good" compared to others (p = <0.001), (2) recalling being told that treatment was curative (p = 0.04), (3) having better mental health (p = 0.002), and (4) having received chemotherapy (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: The disparate factors associated with the identification of oneself as a survivor-both the perception of having a very good prognosis and having received chemotherapy (reflecting high-risk disease rather than a good prognosis)--are intriguing. Clinicians caring for women with breast cancer should be sensitive to the fact that not everyone considers herself a survivor. Addressing transitions at the end of treatment and during the follow-up period may be challenging for clinicians and patients alike. Awareness of the complexities of survivor identification may help clinicians in counseling their patients.

Breast cancer adjuvant chemotherapy dosing in obese patients: dissemination of information from clinical trials to clinical practice.

BACKGROUND: Substantial variation in adjuvant breast cancer chemotherapy dosing in obese women suggests that there is uncertainty about optimal practices. The purpose of this study was to investigate variations in dose determinations in clinical trial protocols and publications over the last 3 decades as potential sources of this uncertainty. METHODS: The National Cancer Institute database was used to identify protocols of breast cancer adjuvant chemotherapy conducted by cooperative groups between 1970-2000, and these protocols were then obtained directly from the cooperative groups. Dose determinations were categorized in each protocol and in published reports from each clinical trial. Fisher exact tests were used to compare the proportions of protocols that used full weight-based doses over time. RESULTS: Protocol-specified chemotherapy dosing was obtained for all of 44 eligible trials. A significant increase was identified in the use of full weight-based doses in the later time period compared with the earlier (P = .004; 2-sided Fisher exact test). A notable exception was 1 cooperative group that continues to require dose limitations for doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide in patients with a body surface area of more than 2.0 m(2). Regardless of publication date, published reports of clinical trials rarely provide information on use of full or limited weight-based doses. CONCLUSIONS: Variations in dose determinations among clinical trial protocols and lack of information on use of full weight-based doses in most publications are 2 likely sources of variation in chemotherapy dosing in obese women. Developing consensus and disseminating information on optimal chemotherapy dosing will likely reduce such variation and may improve survival among obese patients with breast cancer.