Symptom Occurrence, Severity, and Self-Care Methods by Ethnicity and Age Group Among Adults With Cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the relationships among cancer therapy-related symptom occurrence and severity, selected cancer-related variables, and demographic variables. Secondary purposes were to examine participants' reported symptom occurrence and severity by ethnicity and by age group and to identify self-care methods. SAMPLE & SETTING: Convenience sampling was used and included 110 adults receiving cancer treatment from a major hospital in the northeast region of the United States. METHODS & VARIABLES: A descriptive correlational design was used. Study variables were symptom occurrence and severity and selected demographic and cancer-related variables. The Therapy-Related Symptom Checklist was used to measure symptom occurrence and severity, and the Symptom Alleviation. RESULTS: Significant relationships were found between symptom occurrence and severity and gender, economic status, and disease stage. Feeling sluggish was the most frequently reported symptom. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Oncology nurses are in an influential position to educate and manage participants' cancer therapy-related symptoms.

Using Mobile Technology to Improve Bone-Related Lifestyle Risk Factors in Young Women With Low Bone Mineral Density: Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Poor bone health in adolescent and young adult females is a growing concern. Given the widespread use of mobile phones in this population, mobile health (mHealth) interventions may help improve health behaviors related to bone health in young women. OBJECTIVE: The goal of the study was to determine the acceptability and feasibility of an mHealth intervention called Tap4Bone in improving health behaviors associated with the risk of osteoporosis in young women. METHODS: The Tap4Bone mHealth intervention comprised the use of mobile phone apps, short messaging service (text messaging), and Web emails to encourage health behavior changes. The education group received osteoporosis prevention education leaflets. Changes in the bone health-related behaviors exercise, smoking, and calcium intake were assessed. User experiences and acceptance of the app were collected through focus group interviews. RESULTS: A total of 35 (22 completed, mean age 23.1 [SD 1.8] years) were randomized to either the mobile phone (intervention n=18) or education (control n=17) group. Although there were trends toward improvement in calcium intake, sports activity, and smoking behaviors in the mHealth intervention group compared to the education group, these were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The Tap4Bone mHealth intervention was shown to be acceptable and feasible in subsets of the participants. The intervention should be improved upon using participant feedback to improve functionality. Findings from this study may aid in the development and modification of health care apps to reduce participant attrition.