17 research outputs found
Oncology Healthcare Professionals’ Mental Health During the Covid-19 Pandemic
The paper begins by reviewing the literature on oncology healthcare professionals’ (HCP) mental health. We summarize and present the current data on HCP mental health in order to understand the baseline state of oncology HCPs’ mental health status prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. At each juncture, we will discuss the implications of these mental health variables on the personal lives of HCPs, the healthcare system, and patient care. We follow by reviewing the literature on these parameters during the COVID-19 pandemic in order to better understand the impact of COVID-19 on the overall mental health of HCPs working in oncology. By reviewing and summarizing the data before and after the start of the pandemic, we will get a fuller picture of the pre-existing stressors facing oncology HCPs and the added burden caused by pandemic-related stresses. The second part of this review paper will discuss the implications for the oncology workforce and offer recommendations based on the research literature in order to improve the lives of HCPs, and in the process, improve patient care
Associação Entre Estigma, dor e Qualidade de Vida em Mulheres com Cancro da Mama
Aim: We examined the association between cancer stigma and quality of life. We further explored the role of pain intensity in this association among women with breast cancer in the first months following diagnosis. Methods: 105 women with breast cancer within 8 months of diagnosis completed self-report measures assessing cancer stigma, pain intensity and quality of life. Results: Our findings show that stigma among breast cancer patients is associated with worse quality of life. Pain intensity partially mediated the relationship between cancer stigma and quality of life. We recruited a convenience sample of women with breast cancer, which may be subject to selection bias. The cross sectional design of the study precludes inferences regarding causality. Conclusions: Health professionals should recognize and mitigate the impact of stigma as an important factor that is associated with impaired quality of life among patients with breast cancer. Continued attention should be paid to pain intensity and the complex relationship between stigma and pain in predicting quality of life.Objetivo: O presente estudo procurou analisar a associação entre o estigma e a qualidade de vida em pessoas com cancro. Foi ainda explorado o papel da intensidade da dor nesta associação, em mulheres com cancro de mama, nos primeiros meses apĂłs o diagnĂłstico. MĂ©todo: 105 mulheres com cancro da mama (atĂ© 8 meses apĂłs o diagnĂłstico) completaram medidas de autorrelato avaliando o estigma relacionado com o cancro, a intensidade da dor e a qualidade de vida. Resultados: Os nossos resultados mostram que o estigma entre pacientes com cancro de mama está associado a uma pior qualidade de vida. A intensidade da dor mediou parcialmente a relação entre o estigma relativo ao cancro e a qualidade de vida. Duas limitações sĂŁo o facto de a amostra de mulheres com cancro da mama ser de conveniĂŞncia, podendo ter estado sujeita a algum viĂ©s de seleção, e o facto de ser um estudo correlacional, que nĂŁo permite inferĂŞncias sobre causalidade. Conclusões: Os profissionais de saĂşde devem reconhecer e mitigar o impacto do estigma como um fator importante associado Ă diminuição da qualidade de vida de pacientes com cancro da mama. Deverá prestar-se atenção contĂnua Ă intensidade da dor e Ă complexa relação entre estigma e dor na previsĂŁo da qualidade de vida
Experiences of Canadian Oncologists with Difficult Patient Deaths and Coping Strategies Used
Objectives We aimed to explore and identify what makes patient death more emotionally difficult for oncologists and how oncologists cope with patient death. Methods A convenience sample of 98 Canadian oncologists (50 men, 48 women) completed an online survey that included a demographics section and a section about patient death. Results More than 80% of oncologists reported that patient age, long-term management of a patient, and unexpected disease outcomes contributed to difficult patient loss. Other factors included the doctor–patient relationship, identification with the patient, caregiver-related factors, oncologist-related factors, and “bad deaths.” Oncologists reported varying strategies to cope with patient death. Most prevalent was peer support from colleagues, including nurses and other oncologists. Additional strategies included social support, exercise and meditation, faith, vacations, and use of alcohol and medications. Conclusions Oncologists listed a number of interpersonal and structural factors that make patient death challenging for them to cope with. Oncologists reported a number of coping strategies in responding to patient death, including peer support, particularly from nursing colleagues. No single intervention will be suitable for all oncologists, and institutions wishing to help their staff cope with the emotional difficulty of patient loss should offer a variety of interventions to maximize the likelihood of oncologist participation
It Takes A Village - The Canadian Postpartum Recovery Approach for Vaginal & C-Section Mothers; A Scoping Review
Major Research Paper (Master's), Health, Faculty of Health, School of Health Policy and Management, York UniversityChildbirth is the most frequent reason for hospitalization in Canada, with cesarean sections being the most common surgical procedure among inpatients. Given this, the postpartum recovery period is a critical aspect of health policy that needs attention. This paper uses a political economy of health research paradigm to examine the role of Canada's liberal welfare state in providing postpartum care and programs, focusing on the duration and extent of this care. Following Arksey and O'Malley's methodology, a scoping review was conducted using databases like ProQuest Sociological Abstracts, Medline, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Public Health Database, and Web of Science. The aim was to understand Canada's approach to postpartum care for both vaginal and cesarean births and to identify any differences in care between these methods. Six themes emerged from the data, encompassing the models of care, duration of postpartum care, educational topics, c-section-specific care, available health services and programs, and existing gaps in the Canadian postpartum care approach. The findings reveal that, within the Canadian liberal welfare state, government-funded postpartum care is modest, minimal, and time-limited, with eligibility criteria reviewed to access additional support and referrals. The market offers more personalized care and support, but only for those who can afford it. The study also found that apart from a few additional educational topics and more extended hospital stays, postpartum care for c-section deliveries is mainly similar to that for vaginal births. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of Canada's current postpartum care approach, highlighting its shortcomings and suggesting policy changes to enhance postpartum support
Suivre des voies parallèles : perspectives de patientes et de médecins sur les raisons pour lesquelles les femmes tardent à rechercher des soins pour leurs symptômes de cancer du sein
Dans la littérature sur le cancer du sein, le terme « consultation tardive » est défini comme étant un retard de > 3 mois entre le moment de l’auto-détection d’un nouveau symptôme de cancer du sein et celui de la consultation auprès d’un prestataire de soins. Il a pourtant été établi que la détection précoce du cancer du sein s’accompagne de meilleurs résultats cliniques. Cette étude qualitative avait pour but d’explorer les raisons pour lesquelles les femmes tardent à rechercher des soins pour leurs symptômes de cancer du sein en cernant les perspectives de femmes et de médecins de famille. L’analyse narrative a été employée afin de révéler la manière dont les individus donnent un sens à leurs expériences et de dégager les parties de leurs récits qui revêtent le plus d’importance à leurs yeux. Nous avons découvert des différences dans les exposés explicatifs des femmes, d’une part, et des médecins de famille, d’autre part, concernant la compréhension de ces retards. Les suggestions visant à favoriser une consultation plus précoce comprennent notamment l’amélioration de la communication édecin-patients et la promotion de la neutralité, chez les médecins et les professionnels de la santé, quant aux attributions qu’ils se forgent à propos du retard de consultation chez les femmes
Travelling on parallel tracks: Patient and physician perspectives on why women delay seeking care for breast cancer symptoms
In the breast cancer literature, “delayed presentation” is defined as a delay of > 3 months from the self-detection of a new breast cancer symptom until presentation to a health care provider. It has been established that early detection of breast cancer is associated with better health outcomes. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore reasons why women delay seeking care for their breast cancer symptoms by asking both women and family physicians for their perspectives. Narrative analysis was used to reveal the ways in which people make sense of their experiences and which parts of their stories are most important to them. We found differences in the explanatory narratives of women versus those of family physicians when it came to understanding delay. Suggestions to promote earlier presentation include improving physician-patient communication and encouraging physician and health care professional neutrality in making attributions about women’s delay