Psycho-oncology
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We aimed to assess whether awareness of a terminal illness can affect care decision making processes and the achievement of a good death in advanced cancer patients receiving palliative care services. ⋯ Awareness of the terminal illness had beneficial effect on the harmonious decision making, patient autonomy, and patient's quality of death. Disclosure of terminal illness should be encouraged.
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Review Meta Analysis
The psychological experience of living with head and neck cancer: a systematic review and meta-synthesis.
To summarise patients' experiences of head and neck cancer (HNC) by examining the findings of existing qualitative studies ⋯ This review supports further specific research into these emerging themes and provides a context for future work, informing interventions to improve patients' experiences.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
The effect of including a 'psychooncological statement' in the discharge summary on patient-physician communication: a randomized controlled trial.
The objective of this study is to determine whether the inclusion of a 'psychooncological statement' (PO-statement) in the discharge summary enhances patient-physician communication about psychosocial issues across the inpatient and outpatient sector. ⋯ Written information on psychosocial distress in the discharge summary alone does not affect communication.
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Anxiety and depression (distress) over the first year following the initial adjuvant therapy for advanced breast cancer (ABC) remain poorly documented in non-Caucasian populations. This study describes trajectories of distress and their determinants in Chinese women with ABC. ⋯ Most women with ABC did not experience psychological distress over 12 months following diagnosis of ABC. Preventive interventions should focus on women at risk of high persistent distress and reducing rumination, providing emotional support, and managing physical symptoms.
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The course of caregivers' depressive symptoms may not be homogenous. This study identified trajectories of depressive symptoms among caregivers providing end-of-life care to cancer patients and profiled the unique characteristics of caregivers within each trajectory. ⋯ Caregivers of terminally ill cancer patients follow distinct depressive-symptom trajectories while providing end-of-life care.