Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer
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Support Care Cancer · Aug 2014
ReviewInterventions for preparing patients for chemotherapy and radiotherapy: a systematic review.
Undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy can be physically and psychologically stressful for people with cancer. Providing preparatory information to cancer patients as they face treatment and its aftermath has the potential to improve patient outcomes. This study assessed the methodological quality and effectiveness of interventions providing preparatory information about chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy to cancer patients in improving patient outcomes and health care use. ⋯ Providing preparatory information can improve patient-reported outcomes in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy, especially with respect to satisfaction and knowledge. Some, but not all, studies improved psychological outcomes and physical symptoms. There is a need for methodologically rigorous research to determine the most effective timing and method of delivery of preparatory information to improve patient outcomes.
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Support Care Cancer · Aug 2014
Randomized Controlled TrialItem response theory analysis of the patient satisfaction with cancer-related care measure: a psychometric investigation in a multicultural sample of 1,296 participants.
We developed and validated a Patient Satisfaction with Cancer-Related Care (PSCC) measure using classical test theory methods. The present study applied item response theory (IRT) analysis to determine item-level psychometric properties, facilitate development of short forms, and inform future applications for the PSCC. ⋯ The GRM provides precise IPEs that will enable comparable scores from different subsets of items, and facilitate optimal selections of items to estimate patients' latent satisfaction level. Given the large calibration sample, the IPEs can be used in settings with limited resources (e.g., smaller samples) to estimate patients' satisfaction.
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Support Care Cancer · Aug 2014
ReviewManagement options for established chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.
Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common and debilitating condition associated with a variety of chemotherapeutic agents. Clinicians are cognizant of the negative impact of CIPN on cancer treatment outcomes and patients' psychosocial functioning and quality of life. ⋯ The rationale for such use is mostly based on the evidence for the treatment options in non-CIPN peripheral neuropathy syndromes, as this area is more robustly studied than is CIPN treatment. In this manuscript, we examine the existing evidence for both CIPN and non-CIPN treatments and develop a summary of the best available evidence with the aim of developing a practical approach to the treatment of CIPN, based on available literature and clinical practice experience.
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Support Care Cancer · Aug 2014
Further evaluation of the EORTC QLQ-C30 psychometric properties in a large Brazilian cancer patient cohort as a function of their educational status.
The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Core Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) is considered a valid instrument for use in Brazil. However, the previous Brazilian validation study included only 30 lung cancer patients and only measured test-retest reliability. The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the EORTC QLQ-C30 in a sample of cancer patients at different educational levels who completed the instrument administered by an interviewer. ⋯ Detailed psychometric property data using the EORTC QLQ-C30 in Brazil are added by this study. In addition, we demonstrated that this instrument is in general reliable and valid regardless of the patient educational level.
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This study aims to investigate the prevalence and factors predictive of vitamin D deficiency in patients with malignancy in Brisbane, Australia (latitude 27° S). ⋯ There was a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in patients with cancer in Brisbane, Australia.