Air Pollution and Stroke: What Nurses Need to Know.

Air pollution exposure is linked to an increased risk of stroke. Elevated levels of pollution (carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, sulfur dioxide, coarse particulate matter [PM10], and especially fine particulate matter [PM2.5]) cause systemic inflammation after the particles are inhaled and lodge into lung tissue, causing an increased incidence of stroke, hospitalizations for stroke, and stroke mortality. Until air pollution levels are remediated, assessing Air Quality Index (AQI) and following the guidelines to decrease illness from exposure is imperative. AQI levels are reported hourly, identifying ambient PM2.5 and ozone levels. When AQI levels are low, the risk of exposure to PM2.5 is low. As the AQI increases, there is more risk. It is important to take steps to decrease exposure to PM2.5, especially for those with cardiovascular comorbidities such as diabetes and those with previous stroke events. This is important information for nurses to understand and share with their patients as a risk reduction strategy.

Evaluating the impact of differing completion rates of a face-to-face DIABETES self-management education programme on Patient Reported Outcome measures (DIABETES PRO): A feasibility trial protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Structured diabetes self-management education (DSME) is internationally recommended for people with type 2 diabetes to support self-management and to prevent associated long-term complications. 'Attendance' at DSME is currently benchmarked as having completed a registration form and at least one active engagement with programme content, and 'completion' measured against ≥60% completion, despite landmark trials reporting outcomes based on the full completion of a programme. Little is known about the effectiveness of DSME on the psychological and emotional health of people with diabetes who complete less than the full DSME programme. We report a protocol for a single-centre randomised feasibility study to assess the impact of differing completion rates of a face-to-face DSME programme on patient reported outcomes of self-care, diabetes distress and quality of life in people with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: A randomised feasibility study in 120 people with type 2 diabetes due to attend a secondary care diabetes clinic in the North West UK for DSME. Participants will be randomised into one of the four groups: Group 1 full DSME programme, Group 2 60%, Group 3 10% and Group 4 0% (delayed education). Psychometric questionnaire scores will be evaluated at baseline and 3-4 months post-intervention. Measures of feasibility (eligibility, recruitment and retention rates) will be reported. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The DIABETES-PRO study was approved by the London-Surrey Borders Research Ethics Committee (24/LO/0235). Results will be shared with study participants and published in peer-reviewed journals. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT06419907.

A cross-sectional time series of cardiometabolic health education format preferences across sociodemographic groups.

AIMS: Health education is integral to cardiometabolic disease (CMD) management. This study aimed to assess whether and how education preferences have changed over time, and whether trends differ by sociodemographic characteristics (education status, age, ethnicity, and sex). METHODS: A cross-sectional questionnaire was deployed across five counties in the East Midlands, UK between 2017 and 2022 to adults with CMD (type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease or cerebrovascular disease). Respondent demographic data were collected alongside health education preferences. Statistical analyses ascertained whether demographic characteristics influenced preferences. The distribution of preferences over time was charted to identify trends. RESULTS: A total of 4301 eligible responses were collected. Face-to-face one-to-one education was preferred (first choice for 75.1% of participants) but popularity waned over the five-year period. Trends were similar amongst demographic groups. Online education showed a U-shaped trend: In 2017, 44% of respondents ranked it as acceptable, peaking at 53% in 2019, but declining again, to below base line, 43%, by 2022. This modality was more popular with participants aged younger than 65 years, but popularity in people older than 65 years increased over the study period. The popularity of printed information also declined over time across all demographic groups except those of South Asian ethnicity, for whom it remained static. CONCLUSIONS: The overwhelming preference for face-to-face one-to-one health education from a doctor or nurse highlights the importance of preserving access to this modality, even in the face of current NHS pressures and trends towards digitalisation. Trends are changing, and should continue to be monitored, including between different sociodemographic groups.

Digital Health and Self-Management in Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies: A Missed Opportunity?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This paper explored the potential of digital health in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs), with a focus on self-management. Digital self-management technology includes tailored treatment plans, symptom tracking, educational resources, enhanced communication, and support for long-term planning. RECENT FINDINGS: After arguing the importance of digital health in IIMs management, from diagnosis until treatment, our literature review revealed a notable gap in research focusing on the efficacy of digital self-management interventions for individuals with IIMs, with no randomised controlled trials or observational studies addressing this topic. Our review further highlighted the significant unmet need for research in self-management interventions for individuals with IIMs. The absence of studies underscores the necessity for collaborative efforts to address this gap and develop personalised, effective strategies for managing IIMs using digital technology. Individuals with IIMs deserve tailored self-management approaches akin to those available for other rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases.

Communicative competence of generative artificial intelligence in responding to patient queries about colorectal cancer surgery.

PURPOSE: To examine the ability of generative artificial intelligence (GAI) to answer patients' questions regarding colorectal cancer (CRC). METHODS: Ten clinically relevant questions about CRC were selected from top-rated hospitals' websites and patient surveys and presented to three GAI tools (Chatbot Generative Pre-Trained Transformer [GPT-4], Google Bard, and CLOVA X). Their responses were compared with answers from the CRC information book. Response evaluation was performed by two groups, each consisting of five healthcare professionals (HCP) and patients. Each question was scored on a 1-5 Likert scale based on four evaluation criteria (maximum score, 20 points/question). RESULTS: In an analysis including only HCPs, the information book scored 11.8 ± 1.2, GPT-4 scored 13.5 ± 1.1, Google Bard scored 11.5 ± 0.7, and CLOVA X scored 12.2 ± 1.4 (P = 0.001). The score of GPT-4 was significantly higher than those of the information book (P = 0.020) and Google Bard (P = 0.001). In an analysis including only patients, the information book scored 14.1 ± 1.4, GPT-4 scored 15.2 ± 1.8, Google Bard scored 15.5 ± 1.8, and CLOVA X scored 14.4 ± 1.8, without significant differences (P = 0.234). When both groups of evaluators were included, the information book scored 13.0 ± 0.9, GPT-4 scored 14.4 ± 1.2, Google Bard scored 13.5 ± 1.0, and CLOVA X scored 13.3 ± 1.5 (P = 0.070). CONCLUSION: The three GAIs demonstrated similar or better communicative competence than the information book regarding questions related to CRC surgery in Korean. If high-quality medical information provided by GAI is supervised properly by HCPs and published as an information book, it could be helpful for patients to obtain accurate information and make informed decisions.

The exercise-app Axia for axial spondyloarthritis enhances the home-based exercise frequency in axial spondyloarthritis patients - A cross-sectional survey.

BACKGROUND: Patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) benefit from regular home-based exercise (HbE). In spite of recommendations, a relevant proportion of German axSpA patients does not adhere to recommended HbE practices. To enhance HbE care, we developed the novel digital therapeutic (DTx) "Axia" compliant with the European medical device regulation (MDR). Axia offers a modern app-based HbE solution with patient educative content and further integrated features. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess Axia's efficacy, attractiveness, and functionality through a survey among axSpA-patients involved in the first user tests. METHODS: A mixed-method online questionnaire with 38 items was administered to 37 axSpA volunteers after using Axia. Numeric rating scales (NRS) and likelihood scales were primarily used. RESULTS: HbE frequency significantly increased from a median of 1 day/week to 6 days/week (p < 0.001) by using Axia. Existing HbE practitioners also increased their frequency (median of 4 days/week before, 6 days/week with Axia, p < 0.05). Axia received a median rating of 5 out of 5 stars. On NRS scales, Axia scored a median of 9 for intuitiveness and design, and a median of 8 for entertainment. 64.9% reported improved range of motion, 43.2% reported reduced pain, and 93.6% enhanced disease-specific knowledge. All users recommended Axia to other patients. CONCLUSION: Axia increases axSpA patients HbE frequency, possibly due to its good intuitiveness and design, leading to reduction in pain and subjective improvement of range of motion. This warrants further investigation in large randomized controlled interventional trials to establish its efficacy conclusively and patients adherence to HbE.

A Systematic Quality Assessment of Online Resources on Eyelid Ptosis Using the Modified Ensuring Quality Information for Patients (mEQIP) Tool.

BACKGROUND: Eyelid ptosis is an underestimated pathology deeply affecting patients' quality of life. Internet has increasingly become the major source of information regarding health care, and patients often browse on websites to acquire an initial knowledge on the subject. However, there is lack of data concerning the quality of available information focusing on the eyelid ptosis and its treatment. We systematically evaluated online information quality on eyelid ptosis by using the "Ensuring Quality Information for Patients" (EQIP) scale. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Google, Yahoo and Bing have been searched for the keywords "Eyelid ptosis," "Eyelid ptosis surgery" and "Blepharoptosis." The first 50 hits were included, evaluating the quality of information with the expanded EQIP tool. Websites in English and intended for general non-medical public use were included. Irrelevant documents, videos, pictures, blogs and articles with no access were excluded. RESULTS: Out of 138 eligible websites, 79 (57,7%) addressed more than 20 EQIP items, with an overall median score of 20,2. Only 2% discussed procedure complication rates. The majority fail to disclose severe complications and quantifying risks, fewer than 18% clarified the potential need for additional treatments. Surgical procedure details were lacking, and there was insufficient information about pre-/postoperative precautions for patients. Currently, online quality information has not improved since COVID-19 pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the urgent requirement for improved patient-oriented websites adhering to international standards for plastic and oculoplastic surgery. Healthcare providers should effectively guide their patients in finding trustworthy and reliable eyelid ptosis correction information. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE V: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Enhancing Symptom Screening and Patient Education Among Patients with Metastatic Lung Cancer: a Qualitative Analysis.

We explored perspectives of patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (mNSCLC) on symptom screening and population-level patient-reported outcome (PRO) data regarding common symptom trajectories in the year after diagnosis. A qualitative study of patients with mNSCLC was conducted at a Canadian tertiary cancer centre. English-speaking patients diagnosed ≥ 6 months prior to study invitation were recruited, and semi-structured one-on-one interviews were conducted. Patient and treatment characteristics were obtained via chart review. Anonymized interview transcripts underwent deductive-inductive coding and thematic content analysis. Among ten participants (5 (50%) females; median (range) age, 68 (56-77) years; median (range) time since diagnosis, 28.5 (6-72) months; 6 (60%) with smoking histories), six themes were identified in total. Two themes were identified regarding symptom screening: (1) screening is useful for symptom self-monitoring and disclosure to the healthcare team, (2) screening of additional quality-of-life (QOL) domains (smoking-related stigma, sexual dysfunction, and financial toxicity) is desired. Four themes were identified regarding population-level symptom trajectory PRO data: (1) data provide reassurance and motivation to engage in symptom self-management, (2) data should be disclosed after an oncologic treatment plan is developed, (3) data should be communicated via in-person discussion with accompanying patient-education resources, and (4) communication of data should include reassurance about symptom stabilization, acknowledgement of variability in patient experience, and strategies for symptom self-management. The themes and recommendations derived from the patient experience with mNSCLC provide guidance for enhanced symptom screening and utilization of population-level symptom trajectory data for patient education.

Clinical Impact of a Rapid Genetic Testing Model for Advanced Prostate Cancer Patients.

PURPOSE: Genetic testing may alter clinical management for individuals with metastatic prostate cancer by identifying additional therapies. Traditional counseling models are unlikely to enable time-sensitive therapeutic decision-making. This study aimed to determine the feasibility and clinical impact of an alternative hereditary genetic testing model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: As part of a multicenter, single-arm prospective trial, individuals with advanced prostate cancer were referred by their oncologist for testing of 14 genes associated with hereditary prostate cancer. Pretest education (brochure and video) was provided in the oncology clinic. Questionnaires assessing participant satisfaction with both pretest education and decision to undergo genetic testing were collected. A genetic counselor contacted participants by phone to obtain family history and discuss results. Medical records were queried to determine whether a change in clinical management was discussed. RESULTS: Of 501 participants consented to germline analysis, 51 (10.2%) had at least 1 pathogenic/likely pathogenic variant. Change in treatment was discussed with 22/48 (45.8%) of eligible participants who tested positive. Feasibility of this model was assessed by participant satisfaction and turnaround time. Average±SD satisfaction with the pretest education (15.5±2.2, 4-20 scale) and with the decision to undergo genetic testing (17.1±2.9, 4-20 scale) were both high. Results were returned 20 days (median) after sample collection. CONCLUSIONS: Oncologist-initiated germline genetic testing in collaboration with a genetic counselor is a feasible approach to testing advanced prostate cancer patients with impactful clinical actionability. The testing model and educational material serve as resources to clinicians treating prostate cancer patients.

Barriers to and enablers of the promotion of patient and family participation in primary healthcare nursing in Brazil, Germany and Spain: A qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Most health systems are insufficiently prepared to promote the participation of chronically ill patients in their care. Strong primary health care (PHC) strengthens patients' resources and thus promotes their participation. The tasks of providing continuous care to people with chronic diseases and promoting self-management are the responsibility of PHC nurses. Recent research assessing enablers of or barriers to nurses' efforts to support patients' participation has mostly not considered the special situation of patients with chronic diseases or focused on the PHC setting. OBJECTIVE: To investigate enablers of and barriers to PHC nurses' efforts to promote the participation of chronically ill patients in their care. METHODS: We interviewed 34 practicing PHC nurses and 23 key informants with advanced knowledge of PHC nursing practice in Brazil, Germany and Spain. The data was analyzed using thematic coding. RESULTS: We identified four categories of barriers and enablers. (1) Establishing bonds with patients: Interviewees emphasized that understanding patients' views and behaviours is important for PHC nurses. (2) Cooperation with relatives and families: Good relationships with families are fundamental, however conflicts within families could challenge PHC nurses efforts to strengthen participation. (3) Communication and cooperation within PHC teams: PHC nurses see Cooperative team structures as a potential enabler, while the dominance of a 'biomedical' approach to patient care is seen as a barrier. (4) Work environment: Interviewees agreed that increased workload is a barrier to patient participation. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Supporting patient participation should be acknowledged as an important responsibility for nurses by general practitioners and PHC planners. PHC nurses should be trained in communicative competence when discussing participation with chronically ill patients. Interprofessional education could strengthen other professionals' understanding of patient participation as a nursing task. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: This study is part of a research project associated with the research network 'forges: User-oriented care: Promotion of health in the context of chronic diseases and care dependency'. The study's focus and provisional results were discussed continuously with partners in health and social care practice and presented to and discussed with the public at two conferences in which patient representatives, professionals and researchers participated.

Patient-mediated interventions in hospital: A systematic review.

AIMS: To describe the characteristics of hospital-based, patient-mediated interventions and their impact on patient, clinician and organization outcomes. DESIGN: Systematic review. DATA SOURCES: Health literature databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL and EMBASE) were searched in August 2021. Backward and forward citation searching was conducted. REVIEW METHODS: Studies investigating patient-mediated interventions, targeted at adult hospitalized patients were eligible. Data were extracted related to study and intervention characteristics. Narrative synthesis was used to understand intervention impact on patient, clinician and organization outcomes (as per a framework). Methodological quality was assessed using the Mixed Methods Assessment Tool. RESULTS: Thirty-three studies, reporting 18 interventions, were included. Twelve interventions prompted patients to report health information about their own health/needs/concerns and six interventions encouraged patients to provide feedback about clinical practice. Across all interventions, there was evidence that patients used patient-mediated interventions and that they may improve patient communication. Healthcare professional outcomes were mixed for actual/intended use, acceptability and usefulness of interventions; yet there was some evidence of healthcare professional behaviour change. Interventions that encouraged patients to report health information about their own health/needs/concerns appeared more successful than other types of interventions. CONCLUSIONS: There is some evidence that hospital-based patient-mediated interventions may influence patient communication and healthcare professional behaviour. Patient-mediated interventions that encourage patients to report patient data before a clinical encounter may be more impactful than interventions that encourage patient feedback during or post-encounter. IMPACT: To date, most patient-mediated intervention research has been conducted in primary care settings; we uncovered the types of patient-mediated interventions that have been trialled in hospitals. We found that patient communication and healthcare professional behaviour may be influenced by these patient-mediated interventions. Future researchers could explore the suitability and effectiveness of a wider range of hospital-based patient-mediated interventions. NO PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: There was no funding to remunerate a patient/member of the public for this review.

Systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression to determine the effects of patient education on health behaviour change in adults diagnosed with coronary heart disease.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To assess the effectiveness of educational interventions and the relative effect of intervention duration on secondary prevention health behaviours in adults with coronary heart disease. BACKGROUND: Patient education can reduce disease progression and improve outcomes. However, there is a lack of knowledge of its efficacy and the relative impact of education duration on health behaviour change in this population. DESIGN: A systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS: Seven electronic databases and grey literature were searched from Inception to July 2021. The review followed the PRISMA guidelines. This meta-analysis was analysed in Comprehensive Meta-Analysis version 3 software. Outcomes considered were disease knowledge and health behavioural outcomes. Data were pooled together with random-effects models using the inverse-variance method. The effect of education duration (<3 vs. ≥3 months) was examined by meta-regressions. RESULTS: In summary, 73 studies were included with a total of participants (n = 24,985) aged mean of 60.5 ± 5.7 years and mostly male (72.5%). Patient education improved all behaviours including disease knowledge at <6 and 6-12 months follow-up, the likelihood of quitting smoking at <6, and 6-12 months, medication adherence at <6 and 6-12 months; physical activity and exercise participation at <6 and 6-12 months and healthy dietary behaviours, at <6 and 6-12 months. Furthermore, education programmes with a longer duration (≥3 months) improved disease knowledge and physical activity more than shorter programmes. CONCLUSION: Patient education for secondary prevention, in various delivery modes and intensities, improves multiple self-reported health behaviours in patients with coronary heart disease. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: This study assessed the effectiveness of secondary prevention education and demonstrated improvements in all outcomes in this population. Longer duration programmes were more effective in improving disease knowledge and physical activity in the long term. These findings can assist the cardiac programmes' design, particularly in ensuring sufficient intervention duration.

Exploring Patients' Understanding of Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy.

Little quantitative evidence exists surrounding patients' level of understanding of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) symptoms (numbness, tingling, pain in the hands/feet) and consequences (e.g., negatively affect physical functioning or chemotherapy dosing) at the beginning of chemotherapy. The purpose of this cross-sectional, secondary analysis was to describe CIPN knowledge and education patterns among adults early in a course of neurotoxic chemotherapy for the treatment of cancer (< three infusions). Following consent, participants completed an electronic questionnaire about their perceptions of CIPN symptoms, incidence, and education. Participants (N = 92) were mainly female (76%), white (91%), and diagnosed with breast (46%) or gastrointestinal (40%) cancers. Most participants without CIPN (n = 48) did not expect to develop CIPN (45%) or were unaware of CIPN as a side-effect (30%). Furthermore, 71% of participants without CIPN (n = 31) estimated CIPN to occur in ≤ 30% of patients receiving neurotoxic chemotherapy. Overall, participants learned about CIPN from their doctor or nurse prior to beginning chemotherapy (90%). Clinicians delivered education about CIPN symptoms (75%), but less frequently delivered education about CIPN management (14%), or the impact of CIPN on the ability to continue chemotherapy (16%) or physical functioning (24%). Finally, participants reported that a discussion with their doctor/nurse would be the best way to learn about CIPN (92%). Results revealed that participants without CIPN were largely unaware of the adverse consequences or incidence of CIPN during treatment. Further research is needed to investigate optimal methods to promote patient-clinician communication about CIPN during chemotherapy to enhance patients' retention of CIPN information and activation in their care.

Patient experiences of, and preferences for, surgical wound care education.

The aim of this study was to describe patients' experiences of, and preferences for, surgical wound care discharge education and how these experiences predicted their ability to self-manage their surgical wounds. A telephone survey of 270 surgical patients was conducted across two hospitals two weeks after discharge. Patients preferred verbal (n = 255, 94.8%) and written surgical wound education (n = 178, 66.2%) from medical (n = 229, 85.4%) and nursing staff (n = 211, 78.7%) at discharge. The most frequent education content that patients received was information about follow-up appointments (n = 242, 89.6%) and who to contact in the community with wound care concerns (n = 233, 86.6%). Using logistic regression, patients who perceived that they participated in surgical wound care decisions were 6.5 times more likely to state that they were able to manage their wounds at home. Also, patients who agreed that medical and/or nursing staff discussed wound pain management were 3.1 times more likely to report being able to manage their surgical wounds at home. Only 40% (107/270) of patients actively participated in wound-related decision-making during discharge education. These results uncovered patient preferences, which could be used to optimise discharge education practices. Embedding patient participation into clinical workflows may enhance patients' self-management practices once home.

[Study of the impact of a post-acute coronary syndrome pharmaceutical interview in hospital]. / Étude de l'impact d'un entretien pharmaceutique post-syndrome coronarien aigu à l'hôpital.

OBJECTIVES: Post-acute coronary syndrome pharmaceutical interviews were set up in our establishment. The objective of this study was to assess their impact on patient knowledge and their benefit at one year on medication compliance, cardiovascular risk factors (smoking, overweight, dyslipidemia) and the recurrence rate. METHODS: Two groups were formed, an experimental group of patients who had benefited from pharmaceutical interviews and a control group of patients who had not benefited from them. The knowledge of the patients was measured using a quizz carried out before the interview and one month after for the experimental group, then one year after hospitalization for the two groups. A one-year follow-up of medication compliance assessed, control of cardiovascular risk factors and the rate of recurrence of acute coronary syndrome was carried out in both groups. RESULTS: A significant increase in knowledge (P<0.001) after the pharmaceutical interview and its maintenance over time were observed in the experimental group. One year after hospitalization, in the experimental group, the average score on the knowledge quizz (9.2/10) was significantly higher (P<0.005) than that of the control group (6.6/10); medication compliance was significantly better (P<0.05) and greater smoking cessation was observed. CONCLUSIONS: These encouraging results should be highlighted in order to perpetuate and develop such approaches around patient care.

Decision aids for localized prostate cancer treatment choice: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Patients who are diagnosed with localized prostate cancer need to make critical treatment decisions that are sensitive to their values and preferences. The role of decision aids in facilitating these decisions is unknown. The authors conducted a systematic review of randomized trials of decision aids for localized prostate cancer. Teams of 2 reviewers independently identified, selected, and abstracted data from 14 eligible trials (n = 3377 men), of which 10 were conducted in North America. Of these, 11 trials compared decision aids with usual care, and 3 trials compared decision aids with other decision aids. Two trials suggested a modest positive impact on decisional regret. Results across studies varied widely for decisional conflict (4 studies), satisfaction with decision (2 studies), and knowledge (2 studies). No impact on treatment choices was observed (6 studies). In conclusion, scant evidence at high risk of bias suggests the variable impact of existing decision aids on a limited set of decisional processes and outcomes. Because current decision aids provide information but do not directly facilitate shared decision making, subsequent efforts would benefit from user-centered design of decision aids that promote shared decision making.

The impact of oral health education on the incidence and severity of oral mucositis in pediatric cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Oral health education is an effective measure to prevent oral mucositis (OM) by improving self-management and effectively engaging patients in their health care. This systematic review aimed to determine the impact of oral health education interventions on the incidence and severity of OM. Bibliographical searches were carried out by two independent examiners in Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Virtual Health Library, and SIGLE, until June 2022. The eligibility criteria were based on the PICO strategy, considering studies with pediatric oncology patients, aged 0 to 19 years, who had attended oral health education activities and had been examined for the incidence and/or severity of OM. Data were extracted for qualitative synthesis and organized in spreadsheets. The quality assessment of the selected studies was performed using the ROBINS-I tool. Meta-analysis was based on the group frequencies of OM ulcerative lesions, adopting a significance level of 5%. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) was used to define the certainty of the evidence. The primary search retrieved 1827 articles. After removing duplicate records and screening titles and abstracts for eligibility, a total of 21 articles were selected for full-text analysis. Of these, seven eligible studies were included for data extraction and qualitative synthesis, while four studies were selected for quantitative synthesis. All studies had a longitudinal design; three performed a before-after comparison and four were controlled studies. OM was assessed by the following scales: OAG, WHO, ChIMES, and WCCNR. While data analysis of the selected studies was heterogeneous, the implementation of oral health education strategies was found to reduce the incidence and severity of OM during the follow-up period. The meta-analysis showed a favorable outcome for the educational intervention. The likelihood of patients attending oral health education activities to manifest OM ulcerative lesions was significantly lower (P = 0.002) than that of the control. The GRADE analysis presented a low certainty of the evidence. To conclude, oral health education interventions improved OM outcomes in pediatric oncology patients with a low quality of evidence.

Psychoeducation as Precision Health in Military-Related Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.

A significant proportion of Service Members and Veterans (SMVs) experience at least 1 mild traumatic brain injury during military activities (mil-mTBI), which can result in enduring cognitive symptoms. Although multiple cognitive rehabilitation (CR) interventions have been developed for this population, patient psychoeducation focusing on biopsychosocial relationships and health behaviors is often cited as the first line of defense for mil-mTBI sequelae. However, theoretical and conceptual foundations of these psychoeducational techniques are not well articulated. This raises questions about the potency of attempts to boost health literacy in affected SMVs, who represent a highly heterogeneous patient population within a special cultural milieu. To elucidate the significance of this problem and identify opportunities for improvement, we view the psychoeducation of SMVs through the lens of educational principles described in serious mental illness, where "psychoeducation" was first formally defined, as well as contextual and phenomenological aspects of mil-mTBI that may complicate treatment efforts. To advance psychoeducation research and practice in mil-mTBI, we discuss how treatment theory, which seeks to link active treatment ingredients with specific therapeutic targets, and an associated conceptual framework for medical rehabilitation-the Rehabilitation Treatment Specification System-can be leveraged to personalize educational content, integrate it into multicomponent CR interventions, and evaluate its effectiveness.

Opioids in advanced lung malignancy: a clinical audit of opioid prescription, patient education and safeguarding.

BACKGROUND: Opioids have an important role in symptom management for people with advanced cancer. Clinical guidelines recommend patient education to ensure the safe use of opioids; however, no Australian studies have explored current education and safeguarding practices when opioids are initiated to advanced cancer patients. AIMS: To investigate risk assessment, safeguarding and education practices when opioids are first prescribed to advanced lung cancer patients. METHODS: A retrospective medical record audit of outpatients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer seen at a tertiary Australian hospital between 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2019 and prescribed strong opioids for cancer-related symptoms. RESULTS: Of 1022 patients attending the lung cancer clinic, 205 were newly initiated on an opioid. Opioid-related risks including previous recreational drug use (28; 13.6%) and history of falls (16; 7.9%) were infrequently documented. Opioid-related safeguards and adverse effects management were variably instituted: written general practitioner correspondence at opioid initiation (62; 30%), clinic follow up (186; 91%) and laxative co-prescription (55; 26.8%). Most patients (137; 66.8%) received no documented opioid education on drug initiation. There was no association between age (P = 0.653), number of comorbidities (P = 0.569) or chronic alcohol use (P = 0.263) and the provision of education on opioid initiation. Palliative care doctors or nurse practitioners were eight times more likely to document opioid education than medical oncologists (odds ratio = 8.5; confidence interval = 2.9-24.8; P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Guideline-recommended risk assessment, safeguards and patient education were infrequently documented when opioids were initiated. Clinician training, decision-assist prompts in electronic prescribing software and written education resources for patients may address these gaps in care.

What do women at high risk of breast cancer request of a patient education day? Focus interviews with women before and after deciding about prophylactic interventions.

OBJECTIVE: At a Danish Hospital, we wished to establish a co-designed patient education day about prophylactic interventions for women at high risk of developing breast cancer. However, knowledge is lacking on the women's acceptability and requests for content. The objective of this study is to gain knowledge about the acceptability and requests of the content of a patient education day among women at high risk of breast cancer considering prophylactic mastectomy. METHODS: A user panel consisting of patients and health care professionals developed an interview guide for two focus interviews with two groups of women at high risk of breast cancer; one group had received a prophylactic mastectomy and one group considered it. Thematic analysis was used to explore the participants' acceptability and requests for content. RESULTS: Meaningful content was knowledge about prophylactic interventions, how to share knowledge with partners and children, and talking to equals in a safe forum. Not all participants wished to discuss own surgery in a group setting. CONCLUSION: An education day is an acceptable and supportive format for gaining knowledge about surgery, but since some topics may be vulnerable to discuss in a group setting to some women, we suggest the education day as a valuable supplement to the individual consultations.