Psycho-oncology
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Randomized Controlled Trial
A pathway linking patient participation in cancer consultations to pain control.
To test a pathway through which a tailored, pain management education-coaching intervention could contribute to better cancer pain control through the effects of patients' communication about pain on physician prescribing of pain medication. ⋯ Cancer patients who ask questions, express concerns, and state preferences about pain-related matters can prompt physicians to change their pain management regimen, which in turn may lead to better pain control. Future research should model pathways through which clinician-patient communication can lead to better cancer outcomes.
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Qualitative research suggests that the wish to hasten death (WTHD) in the advanced stages of disease is mainly related to overall suffering. This quantitative study explores the relationship between the WTHD and psychological and physical factors, including survival, in patients with advanced cancer. ⋯ Both psychological and physical impairment (as well as poorer prognosis) are associated with higher scores on SAHD, supporting the idea that WTHD emerges in response to overall suffering. Although we observed a direct relationship between physical status and survival, the latter was not related to any of the psychological factors or WTHD.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
A randomized pilot trial of a telephone-based couples intervention for physical intimacy and sexual concerns in colorectal cancer.
We previously developed and piloted a telephone-based intimacy enhancement (IE) intervention addressing sexual concerns of colorectal cancer patients and their partners in an uncontrolled study. The current study tested the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of the IE intervention in a randomized, controlled trial. ⋯ The telephone-based IE intervention shows promise for couples facing colorectal cancer. Larger multi-site intervention studies are necessary to replicate findings.
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To investigate the variations in and intentions of wishes to die (WTD) of palliative care cancer patients. ⋯ Terminally ill persons' WTD statements differ in their intention, and deeper knowledge about these differences is ethically relevant.
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Lymphedema is a distressing and chronic condition affecting up to 30% of breast cancer survivors. Using a cross-sectional study design, we examined the impact of self-reported lymphedema-related distress on psychosocial functioning among breast cancer survivors in the Women's Healthy Eating and Living Study. The Women's Healthy Eating and Living Study has a dataset that includes self-report data on lymphedema status, symptoms, and distress. ⋯ Breast cancer survivors with lymphedema-related distress had worse physical health and mental health outcomes than women with lymphedema who were not distressed and women with no lymphedema. Our findings provide further evidence of the relationship between lymphedema and psychosocial outcomes in breast cancer survivors.