An inventory of psychosocial oncological interventions in The Netherlands: identifying availability,gaps, and overlap in care provision

Abstract

Purpose: While a wide range of psychosocial oncological (PO) interventions has been developed, a systematic overview of interventions to inform patients, care providers, as well as researchers, policy makers and health insurers, is lacking. The aims of this paper were (1) to describe the attainment of this overview, which may be used in other jurisdictions and for other health conditions and (2) to reflect on what determines developments in this field.

Methods: Dutch researchers and care providers were invited to describe PO-interventions they apply in research or clinical practice. Selection criteria for what constituted a PO-intervention were determined. The input was organized in 12 predefined categories (e.g. physical functioning, genetics).

Findings: Sixty-six PO-interventions were included in the overview. Two major categories were psychosocial functioning (24%) and physical functioning and recovery (24%). Interventions are mostly directed at adults (65%) and not aimed at a specific type of cancer (61%). Nearly 25% of the interventions lacked scientific underpinning.

Conclusions: This paper provides an overview of Dutch PO-interventions and input on what drives their development. The categorizing method can be used in other jurisdictions and for other health care conditions. A next step would be to investigate the effectiveness and evidence of PO-interventions.

Implications for Psychosocial Providers and Policy: The open access overview of interventions provides referral information for care providers. By identifying possible gaps and overlap, the overview looks at possible drivers behind developments in this field which will be of interest to policy makers.     

Psychosocial mechanisms of a behavioral treatment for urinary incontinence of prostate cancer survivors

Abstract

Purpose: We examined underlying psychosocial processes of a behavioral treatment for urinary incontinence (UI) of prostate cancer survivors.

Design: Secondary analysis of data collected from a clinical trial.

Sample: Two hundred forty-four prostate cancer survivors who participated in a clinical trial of behavioral intervention to UI as intervention or control subjects.

Methods: The participants had a 3-month behavioral intervention or usual care and were followed up for an additional 3?months. They were assessed at baseline, 3, and 6?months. Latent growth curve models were performed to examine trajectories of each study variable and relationships among the variables.

Findings: Increasing self-efficacy and social support were significantly and independently associated with more reduction of urinary leakage frequency over time.

Implications for psychosocial oncology: Providing problem-solving skills and social support, including peer support, are essential for empowering patients to reduce UI.     

Attachment Insecurity and Sexual and Relational Experiences in Saudi Arabian Women: The Role of Perceived Partner Responsiveness and Sexual Assertiveness

BackgroundAttachment and intimacy play an important role in shaping sexual and relational experiences. Yet, their interrelation has rarely been investigated in the context of sexual problems and never been tested in Saudi Arabian women.AimThe present study examined the interrelations of attachment orientation and sexual function, distress, satisfaction, and relational satisfaction in a sample of Saudi Arabian women and explored whether this link can be explained by 2 important aspects of (sexual) intimacy, namely perceived partner responsiveness (PPR) and sexual assertiveness.MethodThis is a cross-sectional, observational study in a sample of 50 heterosexual women with sexual problems and 50 control women without problems, who completed an Arabic version of questionnaires on attachment orientation, sexual assertiveness, PPR, relationship satisfaction, sexual satisfaction, sexual distress, and sexual function.ResultsWe found that both attachment anxiety and sexual refusal showed a significant association with the level of sexual function, sexual distress, and sexual satisfaction (P < .01) in the clinical group. No mediating effects of sexual refusal were found. In the control group, sexual function, sexual distress, and sexual satisfaction were predicted by attachment avoidance (P < .01). Level of sexual function was also predicted by sexual initiation (P < .05). PPR fully mediated the association between attachment anxiety and relational satisfaction in the clinical group (P < .01), while in the control group the link between attachment avoidance and relational satisfaction was only partially mediated by PPR (P < .01).Strengths & LimitationsThis study offers unique information on relational and sexual functioning in a culture in which sexual expression and intimate behavior are restricted, particularly in women.Clinical ImplicationsPerceiving the partner as being more responsive is an important target of intervention to increase satisfaction with the relationship.ConclusionsOur results suggest that attachment anxiety and low sexual assertiveness, as indicated by lower tendencies to refuse sex when not desired, play a significant role in predicting negative sexual experiences in women who cope with sexual difficulties.Attaky A, Kok G, Dewitte M. Attachment Insecurity and Sexual and Relational Experiences in Saudi Arabian Women: The Role of Perceived Partner Responsiveness and Sexual Assertiveness. J Sex Med 2020;17:1383–1394.     

The Second Victim Phenomenon: How Are Midwives Affected?

Perinatal care providers are likely to encounter adverse events such as intrapartum emergencies, traumatic births, or maternal or fetal deaths. As a result of being directly or indirectly involved in an adverse event, health care providers can be considered second victims. The experience of the second victim phenomenon can lead to significant physical, psychological, and psychosocial sequelae that can negatively impact the provider's personal and professional life for either a short or long duration of time. When health care providers experience an adverse event, they may manifest symptoms of guilt, shame, blame, flashbacks, nightmares, insomnia, isolation, helplessness, and hopelessness, thereby becoming the second victim. Following an adverse event, health care providers who experience second victim phenomenon experience stages of recovery that influence subsequent professional and personal well‐being. Persons who experience the second victim phenomenon can incorporate self‐care behaviors to assist with recovery. Health care organizations have a responsibility to implement efficacious support programs that promote the provider's recovery and a return to safe and full function in the workplace.     

南宁市高校教师职业倦怠现况及其影响因素分析

目的了解南宁市高校教师职业倦怠状况及其影响因素,探讨高校教师职业倦怠与领悟社会支持、应对方式和生活事件的相关性,为缓解和克服教师职业倦怠、有针对性地制定提高教师生存质量的干预措施提供科学依据。方法2019年3~6月通过便利抽样方法,采用一般情况调查问卷、职业倦怠量表(Maslach Burnout inventoryeducators survey,MBI-ES)、领悟社会支持量表(perceived social support scale,PSSS)、特质应对方式量表(trait coping style questionnaire,TCSQ)及生活事件量表(life event scale,LES),对南宁市214名高校教师进行职业倦怠调查。结果不同教龄(F=3.556,P<0.05)、学历(F=4.888,P<0.01)、体育锻炼(F=3.853,P<0.05)、婚姻状况(t=-2.379,P<0.05)的高校教师职业倦怠水平不同,差异均有统计学意义。高校教师领悟社会支持、特质应对方式、生活事件与职业倦怠各维度大部分相关显著(P<0.05)。其他支持、积极应对、体育锻炼程度为职业倦怠的保护因素,消极应对为危险因素。结论其他支持、积极应对、体育锻炼可以有效防控职业倦怠。     

2015—2018年某地上岗前职业健康检查职业禁忌证检出情况分析

采用描述性流行病研究方法，对2015—2018年某地上岗前职业禁忌证的构成和职业病危害因素分布进行统计学分析。结果显示，噪声、苯及苯系物作业和各类特殊工种的上岗前职业禁忌证检出率较高；双耳高频平均听阈N40dBHL而被列为噪声作业上岗前职业禁忌证者占56.98%。提示《职业健康监护技术规范》(GBZ188—2014)仍需完善，以最大限度地保证劳动者的职业健康。     

Experiences of radiographers working alone in remote locations: A Far North Queensland non-participant observational study

IntroductionRadiographers employed in remote locations such as Far North Queensland (FNQ) can face unique sets of challenges as they often perform radiographic and sonographic diagnostic imaging without onsite radiologists' services. Additionally, the majority of patients presenting to these sites are Indigenous for whom English may be their third language. This non-participant observational study observed two FNQ radiographers' interactions with patients and interprofessional staff, and the radiographers' ability to fit into the Indigenous community during routine radiographic and sonographic examinations which to date have received little attention.MethodsNon-participant observations and semi-structured interviews with radiographers were held at two FNQ hospitals. Consecutive radiographer–patient interactions were observed and recorded on checklists. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed for thematic analysis.ResultsAcross both remote sites, 24 patients were observed as they underwent diagnostic imaging examinations, with the majority being Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders (n = 17/24 (70.8%). In total, eleven general radiography and sixteen ultrasound examinations were observed. Semi-structured interviews highlighted complex issues such as the need for radiographer communication in local dialect, ongoing interprofessional collaborations, overcoming the lack of radiologists' onsite support by providing radiographic reports directly to referring doctors and midwives, and isolation with regard to professional development opportunities.ConclusionsRadiographers working in remote hospitals need to be culturally competent, navigate local indigenous languages and possess excellent interprofessional skills as well as thorough knowledge of imaging pathology to convey findings to referring doctors and allied health professionals. These findings have implications for the entry to practice curriculum.Implications for practiceThis study provides evidence that culturally competent radiographers are capable of undertaking reporting roles to facilitate patient management in the absence of timely radiologists' reports at remote sites.     

Qualitative evidence for Resilience,Stress, and Ethnicity (RiSE): A program to address race-based stress among Black women at risk for cardiovascular disease

ObjectiveGrowing evidence demonstrates that perceived discrimination and racism are significant contributing factors to psychological distress, low-grade chronic inflammation, and cardiovascular health disparities among minorities, particularly among Black women. Despite this evidence, there are no evidence-based complementary therapy interventions available to ameliorate chronic stress associated with racism and discrimination. The purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility and effectiveness of a novel, 8-week, group-based stress reduction program, Resilience, Stress and Ethnicity (RiSE), designed to help Black women at risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) develop effective coping skills for dealing with chronic stress uniquely associated with being a minority.MethodsWe conducted two semi-structured focus groups with Black women (N = 22) following their participation in the 8-week RiSE program. We analyzed the data using constant comparative qualitative methods.ResultsAttrition rate was low (13%) with all participants attending at least 6 of the 8 classes. Participants reported high levels of satisfaction with the program and the majority (81%) reported practicing the skills that they learned in real-life stressful situations. In describing the participants’ response to the program, four key categories emerged from the data: (1) Increasing awareness of stressors associated with perceived discrimination and racism; (2) Coping with race-based stressors; (3) Coping with other sources of stress; and (4) Increasing sense of empowerment and emotion regulation.ConclusionsFindings suggest that RiSE is feasible and effective in helping Black women at risk for CVD cope with chronic stress associated with being a minority. Given evidence that perceived discrimination and racism are underlying factors in many inflammatory-based chronic diseases, this research may have broader implications for reducing health disparities across a wide-spectrum of chronic illnesses in which women minorities are disproportionately affected.     

新型冠状病毒肺炎中医诊疗方案用药规律数据挖掘＊

目的 基于中医传承辅助平台（V2.5），挖掘国家及省级卫生主管部门所公布的NCP中医诊疗方案的用药规律及新方挖掘。方法 收集国家及省级卫生主管部门公布的新型冠状病毒肺炎（Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia，NCP）中医诊疗方案，提取方案中四诊信息及处方用药信息，共收集到处方76首，录入中医传承辅助平台软件，建立数据库，采用软件集成的关联规则、复杂系统熵聚类核心组合分析及无监督的熵层次聚类新方分析等方法，分析NCP中医诊疗用药规律。结果 对入选的76首处方进行分析，得出本病治疗药物寒温并用，辛甘苦味为主，药物归经主要是肺、胃、脾经，常用药物有杏仁、甘草、生石膏、黄芩、麻黄、连翘、茯苓、苍术、大黄、法半夏等，并得到新处方7首。结论 NCP治疗以辛温解表、清热解毒、化湿健脾、清肺平喘为主。     

罕见病患者社会支持与生命质量的关系研究

目的:利用2016年中国罕见病群体生存状况调查数据,通过分析罕见病患者生命质量各维度现状及其与社会支持的关系,为完善罕见病患者社会保障政策提供参考。方法:评价工具采用WHOQOL-BREF量表,运用滚雪球抽样调查方法,通过网络和电话调查方式收集数据,采用t检验分析与中国常模数据进行比较,并使用线性回归模型考察非正式、正式社会支持与罕见病患者生命质量的关系。结果:罕见病患者生命质量的各维度得分(生理、心理、社会、环境领域)均显著低于中国常模正常组和疾病组的生命质量评价得分,说明罕见病对居民的生命质量负面影响显著。非正式和正式社会支持与罕见病患者生命质量相关,非正式社会支持水平越高,患者各领域的生命质量越好;曾接受过社会帮扶的患者,心理领域和社会领域的生活质量水平高于未曾接受的患者。结论:改善患者的社会支持水平,完善罕见病的社会保障政策,对提高患者的生命福祉有一定的意义。