Dietary intake and micronutrient deficiency in children with cancer

Data regarding micronutrient deficiencies in children with cancer are lacking. We measured micronutrients in a subset of children with cancer (n = 23) participating in a randomized trial of the neutropenic diet. Ninety‐six percent of children had ≥1 micronutrient deficiency and 39% had ≥3 micronutrient deficiencies. Eighty‐six percent of children had vitamin C deficiency, 87% had 25‐hydroxyvitamin D deficiency, 50% had zinc deficiency, and 13% had vitamin A deficiency. Dietary intake did not correlate with micronutrient deficiency status. More data are needed regarding the prevalence and etiology of micronutrient deficiencies in children with cancer to further understand their implications and treatment.     

Effect of a prototype lumbar spinal stenosis belt versus a lumbar support on walking capacity in lumbar spinal stenosis: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND CONTEXT

Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) can impair blood flow to the spinal nerves giving rise to neurogenic claudication and limited walking ability. Reducing lumbar lordosis can increases the volume of the spinal canal and reduce neuroischemia. We developed a prototype LSS belt aimed at reducing lumbar lordosis while walking.

Careful assistance? Personal assistance within the family as hybridization of modern welfare policy and traditional family care

The aim of this article is to examine how different ideological perspectives on Swedish disability policy, are reflected in the experiences of disabled people and their families personal assistants. Personal assistance provided within the family can be seen as a hybridization between publicly regulated and paid work performed in the private family sphere, and thus conflicting norms and practices may coexist. In Sweden, family members of the assistant user can be employed as paid personal assistants. Many users combine personal assistance from family members with non-family assistance. Approximately 20–25% of the employed personal assistants are relatives of the assistance users. The empirical data consists of qualitative interviews with seventeen adult users and twenty-three family members employed as PAs with different types of family ties; parent-child relationships, sibling relationships and partner relationships. The findings show that family assistance could entail advantages such as personalised services, to combine instrumental and emotional assistance as well as achieving a power-balance between the parties. But there were also disadvantages, such as unwanted or enforced dependency, with a risk for both parties to be ‘locked up’ in the family. In an overall analysis, we distinguished three broad approaches towards family assistance, family as a substitute, family as a supplement and family first.     

Is ignorance bliss,or is knowledge power? When cancer healthcare professionals become cancer patients

Cancer healthcare professionals who are diagnosed with cancer enter the patient journey with considerable illness‐specific and healthcare expertise, which may influence the nature of their experience. Insights gained from having personal cancer experience may also lead to changes in professionals' subsequent clinical practice. This study explored cancer professional‐patients' experiences of their own cancer diagnosis, changes in practice, and recommendations for cancer care improvements. Participants were current or former cancer healthcare professionals who had ever received a cancer diagnosis. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 26 participants. Thematic analysis with an inductive approach was used for data analysis. Cancer professional‐patients faced unique needs, benefits and disadvantages due to their professional background, which both aided and marred their personal cancer experience. Individuals reported subjective practical and emotional‐related improvements in their clinical practice, although adverse emotional consequences upon returning to work were also prevalent. Care recommendations highlighted the importance of communication skills training for professionals, integrating psychological support, and providing patient‐centred care. In order to provide optimal care for cancer professional‐patients, providers must acknowledge their distinct challenges. Findings may help to foster improvements in cancer care practices through developing guidelines for treating cancer professional‐patients, and as part of narrative‐based medicine.     

食管癌放化疗患者自我效能感与领悟社会支持相关性研究

目的 探讨食管癌患者放化疗期间自我效能感与领悟社会支持状况及其相关性。方法 选择2017 年 1~5 月首都 医科大学附属北京康复医院口腔科收治的 216 名食管癌住院患者，应用一般自我效能感量表、领悟社会支持量表和一般资 料调查表进行调查。结果 食管癌患者在放化疗期间自我效能感总体得分为（25.94±5.28）分；其中年龄＞35 岁、月收入 在 5000 元以上、有医保、诊断年限在6~10 年、有治疗史的患者自我效能感水平较高（P ＜ 0.05）。领悟社会支持总分为 （61.67±10.86）分，家庭内支持得分为（23.46±3.91）分，家庭外支持得分为（38.09±8.90）分；其中年龄越大、民族为少 数民族、文化程度越高、居住在城市、职业为医务人员、月收入在 5000 元以上、有医保、确诊年限在 6 年以下的患者领悟 社会支持水平较高（P＜0.05）。患者自我效能感得分与领悟社会支持总分及各维度均呈显著正相关（P＜0.01）。另外， 本研究还发现，完全缓解、部分缓解者的自我效能感、领悟社会支持得分、家庭内支持及家庭外支持得分均显著高于部分稳定、 疾病进展者，差异之间存在统计学意义（P＜0.05）。结论 食管癌患者在放化疗期间自我效能感和领悟社会支持水平较高， 患者感知到的社会支持越高，自我效能感越高。同时，自我效能感和领悟社会支持水平对判断该人群的预后具有重要的临 床意义。     

“I used to be an addict. I’m still an addict. I’m always going to be a recovering addict”: Understanding the challenges of individuals seeking recovery

Background and Objective: Although preventable, substance addiction has become one of the most prominent public health problems facing the nation. As a result, treatment programs and centers have focused resources and efforts on aiding individuals on their path to long-term recovery. However, the constant threat, reinforced by high incidence, of relapse presents a major obstacle to long-term recovery. Relapse prevention programs are designed to target social and psychological factors contributing to lapses in sobriety. Yet, the exact factors that can impact long-term recovery and prevent or lower the instances of relapse are not always clear. The current study explores the major contributors to relapse as experienced in a male residential treatment center.

Methods: The data were gathered through 31 in-depth interviews in a residential halfway house treatment facility for substance use recovery.

Results: The results of the study underscored social support and interpersonal relationships as major factors impacting long-term recovery. More specifically, lack of efficacy in managing interpersonal relationships and building new support networks were identified as essential barriers to long-term recovery.

Conclusions: The management of interpersonal relationships seems to be a key to long-term recovery, which emphasizes the need for strategies that underscore the development of positive relationships that will strengthen resistance to relapse and long-term recovery.