Psychosocial impact of undergoing prostate cancer screening for men with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations.

OBJECTIVES: To report the baseline results of a longitudinal psychosocial study that forms part of the IMPACT study, a multi-national investigation of targeted prostate cancer (PCa) screening among men with a known pathogenic germline mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes. PARTICPANTS AND METHODS: Men enrolled in the IMPACT study were invited to complete a questionnaire at collaborating sites prior to each annual screening visit. The questionnaire included sociodemographic characteristics and the following measures: the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Impact of Event Scale (IES), 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36), Memorial Anxiety Scale for Prostate Cancer, Cancer Worry Scale-Revised, risk perception and knowledge. The results of the baseline questionnaire are presented. RESULTS: A total of 432 men completed questionnaires: 98 and 160 had mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, respectively, and 174 were controls (familial mutation negative). Participants' perception of PCa risk was influenced by genetic status. Knowledge levels were high and unrelated to genetic status. Mean scores for the HADS and SF-36 were within reported general population norms and mean IES scores were within normal range. IES mean intrusion and avoidance scores were significantly higher in BRCA1/BRCA2 carriers than in controls and were higher in men with increased PCa risk perception. At the multivariate level, risk perception contributed more significantly to variance in IES scores than genetic status. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to report the psychosocial profile of men with BRCA1/BRCA2 mutations undergoing PCa screening. No clinically concerning levels of general or cancer-specific distress or poor quality of life were detected in the cohort as a whole. A small subset of participants reported higher levels of distress, suggesting the need for healthcare professionals offering PCa screening to identify these risk factors and offer additional information and support to men seeking PCa screening

Set-up and preliminary results from the Patient-overview Prostate Cancer : Longitudinal registration of treatment of advanced prostate cancer in the National Prostate Cancer Register of Sweden

Introduction: Novel drugs have been shown to prolong life in men with metastatic prostate cancer (PCa) and castration resistant Pca (CRPC). The aim of Patient-overview Prostate cancer (PPC) is to register and report these treatments and their effect. Material and methods: In PPC, a new part of the National Prostate Cancer Register of Sweden data on start and stop of treatments, imaging, prostate specific antigen, clinical assessment of progression and patient reported outcome measures (PROM) are registered from initiation of hormonal treatment. Data are displayed in a graph to inform clinical decisions for individual patients. For research, data in PPC are linked to PCBaSe with information from NPCR and a number of health care registers. Results: In December 2019, 7 882 men had been registered in PPC out of whom 3 912 had reached the CRPC state. Median time to start of androgen receptor targeted drugs (ART) from start of ADT was 4 years (interquartile range IQR 6) for men with primary ADT, and 9 years (IQR 6) and for men with secondary ADT. Out of all men in PCBaSe with a prescription for ART in 2016-2017, PPC captured 1 480/4 055 (36%). There were small differences between men registered/not registered in PPC for cancer characteristics, primary treatment, comorbidity, and time on ADT before start of ART. Conclusion: In PPC, use and effects of novel therapies for advanced Pca are assessed in a real-life setting. PPC data are used as a decision aid, for quality assurance, and in research

Time difference in retrieving clinical information in Patient-overview Prostate Cancer compared to electronic health records

Background Patients with advanced prostate cancer (PCa) typically undergo numerous lines of treatment leading to large amounts of information in Electronic Health Records (EHRs). The Patient-overview Prostate Cancer (PPC) presents clinical information in a graphical overview. The aim of this study was to measure time spent on retrieving clinical information in PPC compared to EHRs, to assess if retrieved data was correct and to explore usability of PPC. Material and methods Oncologists, urologists and nurses in three hospitals in Sweden were timed when filling out questionnaires about patients using PPC and two different EHRs; Melior and COSMIC. Time and number of errors were analysed using linear mixed models (LMMs). Usability of PPC was measured with the System Usability Scale. Results The LMM showed a significantly shorter time to retrieve information in PPC compared to EHRs. The estimated time to complete one questionnaire was 8 minutes (95% CI = 6-10, p < 0.001) in PPC compared to 25 minutes in Melior and 21 minutes in COSMIC. Compared to PPC, the estimated time difference was 17 minutes longer in Melior (95% CI = 14-20, p < 0.001) and 13 minutes longer in COSMIC (95% CI = 10-17, p < 0.001). The LMM showed significantly fewer errors in PPC compared to Melior. No significant difference in the number of errors was found between PPC and COSMIC. The usability of PPC was rated as excellent by oncologists, urologists and nurses. Conclusion A graphical overview of a patient's medical history, as in PPC, gives health staff rapid access to relevant information with a high degree of usability

Nationwide population-based study on the use of novel antiandrogens in men with prostate cancer in Sweden

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the use of abiraterone and enzalutamide, two oral novel antiandrogens (NOVAs), in men with prostate cancer (PCa) in Sweden. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study investigated filled prescriptions for NOVAs recorded in the Swedish Prescribed Drug Register between July 2015 and April 2016. Associations between age, comorbidity, educational level, marital status and county of residence and filled prescriptions were analyzed in the National Prostate Cancer Register (NPCR) and other health population-based registers, using multivariable logistic regression. Results: Of 91,209 men, 1650 (2%) had at least one prescription filled for NOVAs, of whom 1350 (82%) had high-risk or metastatic PCa at diagnosis.. Of 1914 men with M1 disease and a high probability of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), 22% had a prescription for NOVAs at a median 3 years after the date of diagnosis. At multivariable logistic regression analysis,, the likelihood of NOVA use was lower in older men [age >80 vs <70 years: odds ratio (OR) 0.23, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.15–0.35] and in men with lower educational level (high vs low education: OR 1.64, 95% CI 1.23–2.20). There was up to a five-fold difference in the use of NOVAs between county councils. Conclusions: Less than one-third of potentially eligible men with CRPC received NOVAs in 2015–2016. There were large differences in use according to age and region of residence, indicating that efforts are needed to improve equal access to novel cancer drugs

Henkilöstön vaihtuvuus ja siihen liittyvät tekijät telemarkkinointialalla : case: Gainer Oy

Tämä opinnäytetyö toteutettiin toimeksiantosopimuksena Gainer Oy:lle, joka on toiminut telemarkkinoinnin alalla jo vuodesta 1984. Opinnäytetyön tutkimusstrategiaksi valittiin case study eli tapaustutkimus. Käytimme tutkimusmenetelmänä kvalitatiivista eli laadullista tutkimusta. Tavoitteenamme oli tutkia ja selvittää henkilöstön vaihtuvuutta ja siihen liittyviä tekijöitä alalla, jossa henkilöstön vaihtuvuus koetaan ongelmaksi. Teoriaosuudessa käsittelemme teoreettisen viitekehyksen liittyen työnantajan keinoihin vaikuttaa työntekijän sitouttamiseen. Tämä on jaettu kahteen osa-alueeseen, jotka ovat rekrytointi sekä työhyvinvointi ja osaamisen kehittäminen. Empiirisessä osiossa päädyimme käyttämään puolistrukturoitua teemahaastattelua, joka toteutettiin suurimmaksi osaksi puhelimitse sekä muutama haastattelu tehtiin kasvotusten. Teemahaastattelu valikoitui parhaimmaksi menetelmäksi johtuen aiheen moniulotteisuudesta. Avoimella haastattelulla emme olisi välttämättä saaneet merkittävää tietoa samassa mittakaavassa kuin puolistrukturoidulla mallilla. Opinnäytetyön tuloksena päädyimme esittämään toimeksiantajalle muutamia kehitysehdotuksia. Haastatteluista johdetuilla päätelmillä saatettaisiin parantaa rekrytoinnin onnistumista, joka osaltaan parantaa kannattavuutta niin tuloksellisesti, kuin henkilöstön resurssejakin säästäen. Kehitysehdotuksia muodostui myös muihin osa-alueisiin liittyen. Näillä on myös vaikutusta henkilöstön yleiseen työhyvinvointiin ja työssä jaksamiseen.This thesis was carried out as a commission agreement for Gainer Oy, which has operated in the field of telemarketing since 1984. Our study was carried out as a case study using qualitative approach as our research method. Our objective was to study personnel turnover and matters relating to it in a field where personnel turnover is seen as a problem. In the theoretical section of the study we deal with the theoretical frame of reference related to the employer's means to influence employee engagement. This is divided into two sections that are recruiting, and occupational health and development of skills. In the empirical part of our study, we ended up using half-structured theme interviews, which were mainly carried out by telephone. A few interviews were carried out face-to-face. Theme interview was selected to be the best method because of the multidimensionality of the subject. By using open interviews, we would not necessarily have received as much significant information as by using the half-structured model. As a result of our study, we presented a few development proposals for our client/commissioner. The conclusions drawn from the interviews may lead to more successful recruiting, which in turn improves viability both in terms of productivity and by saving the resources of the personnel. There were also other development proposals concerning other areas. The results of the study may also help to improve the general well-being at work and coping with one’s workload