219 research outputs found
A Communication Intervention for Training Southern European Oncologists to Recognize Psychosocial Morbidity in Cancer. I - Development of the Model and Preliminary Results on Physicians' Satisfaction
BACKGROUND: The detection of psychosocial distress is a significant communication problem in Southern Europe and other countries. Work in this area is hampered by a lack of data. Because not much is known about training aimed at improving the recognition of psychosocial disorders in cancer patients, we developed a basic course model for medical oncology professionals.
METHODS: A specific educational and experiential model (12 hours divided into 2 modules) involving formal teaching (ie, journal articles, large-group presentations), practice in small groups (ie, small-group exercises and role playing), and discussion in large groups was developed with the aim of improving the ability of oncologists to detect emotional disturbances in cancer patients (ie, depression, anxiety, and adjustment disorders).
RESULTS: A total of 30 oncologists from 3 Southern European countries (Italy, Portugal, and Spain) participated in the workshop. The training course was well accepted by most participants who expressed general satisfaction and a positive subjective perception of the utility of the course for clinical practice. Of the total participants, 28 physicians (93.3%) thought that had they been exposed to this material sooner, they would have incorporated the techniques received in the workshop into their practices; 2 participants stated they would likely have done so. Half of the doctors (n = 15) believed that their clinical communication techniques were improved by participating in the workshop, and the remaining half thought that their abilities to communicate with cancer patients had improved.
CONCLUSIONS: This model is a feasible approach for oncologists and is easily applicable to various oncology settings. Further studies will demonstrate the effectiveness of this method for improving oncologists skills in recognizing emotional disorders in their patients with cancer
Controlling Cherenkov angles with resonance transition radiation
Cherenkov radiation provides a valuable way to identify high energy particles
in a wide momentum range, through the relation between the particle velocity
and the Cherenkov angle. However, since the Cherenkov angle depends only on
material's permittivity, the material unavoidably sets a fundamental limit to
the momentum coverage and sensitivity of Cherenkov detectors. For example, Ring
Imaging Cherenkov detectors must employ materials transparent to the frequency
of interest as well as possessing permittivities close to unity to identify
particles in the multi GeV range, and thus are often limited to large gas
chambers. It would be extremely important albeit challenging to lift this
fundamental limit and control Cherenkov angles as preferred. Here we propose a
new mechanism that uses constructive interference of resonance transition
radiation from photonic crystals to generate both forward and backward
Cherenkov radiation. This mechanism can control Cherenkov angles in a flexible
way with high sensitivity to any desired range of velocities. Photonic crystals
thus overcome the severe material limit for Cherenkov detectors, enabling the
use of transparent materials with arbitrary values of permittivity, and provide
a promising option suited for identification of particles at high energy with
enhanced sensitivity.Comment: There are 16 pages and 4 figures for the manuscript. Supplementary
information with 18 pages and 5 figures, appended at the end of the file with
the manuscript. Source files in Word format converted to PDF. Submitted to
Nature Physic
Topologically-protected refraction of robust kink states in valley photonic crystals
Recently discovered valley photonic crystals (VPCs) mimic many of the unusual
properties of two-dimensional gapped valleytronic materials such as bilayer
graphene or MoS2. Of the utmost interest to optical communications is their
ability to support topologically protected chiral edge (kink) states at the
internal domain wall between two VPCs with spectrally overlapping bandgap zones
and opposite half-integer valley-Chern indices. We experimentally demonstrate
the robustness of the kink states in VPCs that support degenerate
transverse-electric-like (TE) and transverse-magnetic-like (TM) topological
phases, thus enabling polarization multiplexing in a single topological
waveguide. The propagation direction of the kink states is locked to the
valleys of the reverse Brave lattice and, therefore, cannot be reversed in the
absence of inter-valley scattering. At the intersection between the internal
domain wall and the external edge separating the VPCs from free space, the kink
states are shown to exhibit >97% out-coupling efficiency into directional
free-space beams. This constitutes the first experimental demonstration of
meron-like valley-projected topological phases with half-integer valley-Chern
indices.Comment: 19 pages, 4 figure
Challenges in supporting lay carers of patients at the end of life: results from focus group discussions with primary healthcare providers
Background: Family caregivers (FCGs) of patients at the end of life (EoL) cared for at home receive support from professional and non-professional care providers. Healthcare providers in general practice play an important role as they coordinate care and establish contacts between the parties concerned. To identify potential intervention targets, this study deals with the challenges healthcare providers in general practice face in EoL care situations including patients, caregivers and networks.
Methods: Focus group discussions with general practice teams in Germany were conducted to identify barriers to and enablers of an optimal support for family caregivers. Focus group discussions were analysed using content analysis.
Results: Nineteen providers from 11 general practices took part in 4 focus group discussions. Participants identified challenges in communication with patients, caregivers and within the professional network. Communication with patients and caregivers focused on non-verbal messages, communicating at an appropriate time and perceiving patient and caregiver as a unit of care. Practice teams perceive themselves as an important part of the healthcare network, but also report difficulties in communication and cooperation with other healthcare providers.
Conclusion: Healthcare providers in general practice identified relational challenges in daily primary palliative care with potential implications for EoL care. Communication and collaboration with patients, caregivers and among healthcare providers give opportunities for improving palliative care with a focus on the patient-caregiver dyad. It is insufficient to demand a (professional) support network; existing structures need to be recognized and included into the care
A comunicação de notícias ruins e a pragmática da comunicação humana: o uso do cinema em atividades de ensino/aprendizagem na educação médica
The impact of chemotherapy on cognitive outcomes in adults with primary brain tumors
There is growing recognition that chemotherapy may have short and long term impact on cognitive function of cancer patients. However, the impact of chemotherapy on the cognition of adult patients with primary brain tumor has not been extensively studied. This article will review the evidence for both positive and negative impact of chemotherapy on cognitive function of adult brain tumor patients as well as potential confounding factors
Degradability and kinetics of fibrous particles in cattle fed diets based on corn silage and concentrates with or without addition of lipids
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