| 1. |
- Brännström, Margareta, et al.
(författare)
-
Effectiveness of the Liverpool care pathway for the dying in residential care homes: An exploratory, controlled before-and-after study
- 2016
-
Ingår i: Palliative Medicine. - : SAGE Publications. - 0269-2163 .- 1477-030X. ; 30:1, s. 54-63
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Clinical pathways aim to ensure that individuals receive appropriate evidence-based care and interventions, with the Liverpool Care Pathway for the Dying Patient focusing on end of life. However, controlled studies of the Liverpool Care Pathway for the Dying Patient, particularly outside of cancer settings, are lacking. Aim: To compare the effects of the Liverpool Care Pathway for the Dying Patient and usual care on patients' symptom distress and well-being during the last days of life, in residential care homes. Design: Exploratory, controlled before-and-after study. During a 15-month baseline, usual care was carried out in two areas. During the following 15-months, usual care continued in the control area, while residential care home staff implemented Liverpool Care Pathway for the Dying Patient use in the intervention area. The intervention was evaluated by family members completing retrospective symptom assessments after the patient's death, using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System and Views of Informal Carers - Evaluation of Services. Settings/participants: Patients who died at all 19 residential care homes in one municipality in Sweden. Results: Shortness of breath (estimate=-2.46; 95% confidence interval=-4.43 to -0.49) and nausea (estimate=-1.83; 95% confidence interval=-3.12 to -0.54) were significantly reduced in Edmonton Symptom Assessment System in patients in the intervention compared to the control area. A statistically significant improvement in shortness of breath was also found on the Views of Informal Carers - Evaluation of Services item (estimate=-0.47; 95% confidence interval=-0.85 to -0.08). Conclusion: When implemented with adequate staff training and support, the Liverpool Care Pathway for the Dying Patient may be a useful tool for providing end-of-life care of elderly people at the end of life in non-cancer settings.
|
|
| 2. |
- Eilertsen, M. E. B., et al.
(författare)
-
Impact of Social Support on Bereaved Siblings' Anxiety: A Nationwide Follow-Up
- 2013
-
Ingår i: Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing. - : SAGE Publications. - 1043-4542 .- 1532-8457. ; 30:6, s. 301-310
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose:To assess adolescent and young adult siblings' perception of social support prior to and following the loss of their brother or sister to cancer, 2 to 9 years earlier, and their anxiety at follow-up. Method: In 2009, 174 (73%) bereaved siblings (12-25 years) participated in a nationwide, long-term follow-up study in Sweden using an anonymous study-specific questionnaire. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale was used to measure self-assessed anxiety. Results: Siblings had a higher risk of anxiety if they perceived their need for social support was unsatisfied during their brother or sisters' last month before death, relative risk (RR) = 3.6 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.8-7.3); time after death, RR = 2.9 (95% CI = 1.5-5.6); and at follow-up, RR = 3.8 (95% CI = 2.0-7.2). Furthermore, a higher risk for anxiety was shown for siblings if they did not perceive that their parents and neighbors cared for them after their brother or sisters' death, RR = 2.7 (95% CI = 1.3-5.5), RR = 5.4 (95% CI = 1.3-21.9), respectively. Conclusion: Bereaved siblings had a greater probability to report self-assessed anxiety if they perceived that their need for social support was not satisfied prior to and following death. Information from both nurses and other health care professionals to families about the impact of social support may contribute to lessen the siblings' risk of anxiety.
|
|
| 3. |
- Birgisdóttir, Dröfn, et al.
(författare)
-
Losing a parent to cancer as a teenager: Family cohesion in childhood, teenage, and young adulthood as perceived by bereaved and non-bereaved youths
- 2019
-
Ingår i: Psycho-Oncology. - : Wiley. - 1057-9249 .- 1099-1611. ; 28:9, s. 1845-1853
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective The aim of this study was to investigate levels of perceived family cohesion during childhood, teenage years, and young adulthood in cancer-bereaved youths compared with non-bereaved peers. Methods In this nationwide, population-based study, 622 (73%) young adults (aged 18-26) who had lost a parent to cancer 6 to 9 years previously, when they were teenagers (aged 13-16), and 330 (78%) non-bereaved peers from a matched random sample answered a study-specific questionnaire. Associations were assessed using multivariable logistic regression. Results Compared with non-bereaved youths, the cancer-bereaved participants were more likely to report poor family cohesion during teenage years (odds ratio [OR] 1.6, 95% CI, 1.0-2.4, and 2.3, 95% CI, 1.5-3.5, for paternally and maternally bereaved youths, respectively). This was also seen in young adulthood among maternally bereaved participants (OR 2.5; 95% CI, 1.6-4.1), while there was no difference between paternally bereaved and non-bereaved youths. After controlling for a number of covariates (eg, year of birth, number of siblings, and depression), the adjusted ORs for poor family cohesion remained statistically significant. In a further analysis stratified for gender, this difference in perceived poor family cohesion was only noted in females. Conclusion Teenage loss of a parent to cancer was associated with perceived poor family cohesion during teenage years. This was also noted in young adulthood among the maternally bereaved. Females were more likely to report poor family cohesion. Our results indicate a need for increased awareness of family cohesion in bereaved-to-be families with teenage offspring, with special attention to gender roles.
|
|
| 4. |
- Adolfsson, Karin, et al.
(författare)
-
Referral of patients with cancer to palliative care: Attitudes, practices and work-related experiences among Swedish physicians
- 2022
-
Ingår i: European Journal of Cancer Care. - : Hindawi Limited. - 0961-5423 .- 1365-2354. ; 31:6
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective This study aimed to explore the attitudes, practices and work-related experiences among Swedish physicians regarding the referral process, integration and transition between oncology care and palliative care (PC). Methods A cross-sectional online survey was performed with a study-specific questionnaire in 2016-2017 in south-eastern Sweden. Physicians working with cancer patients within surgical specialties, medical specialties and paediatric oncology participated. Results The vast majority of the 130 participating physicians (99.2%) stated that PC was beneficial for the patient and were positive about early integration of PC (65.5%). Still, only 27.6% of the participants introduced PC at an early stage of non-curable disease. However, paediatric oncologists had a very early introduction of PC in comparison with medical specialties (p = 0.004). Almost 90% of the study population said they wanted to know that the patient had been taken care of by another care facility. Conclusions Despite the physicians' positive attitude towards early integration and referral to PC, they often acted late in the disease trajectory. This late approach can reduce the patient's opportunity of improving quality of life during severe circumstances. There is a need for in-depth knowledge of the physicians' challenges in order to bridge the gap between intentions and actions.
|
|
| 5. |
- Omran, Meis, et al.
(författare)
-
Whole-Body MRI Surveillance : Baseline Findings in the Swedish Multicentre Hereditary TP53-Related Cancer Syndrome Study (SWEP53)
- 2022
-
Ingår i: Cancers. - : MDPI. - 2072-6694. ; 14:2
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A surveillance strategy of the heritable TP53-related cancer syndrome (hTP53rc), commonly referred to as the Li–Fraumeni syndrome (LFS), is studied in a prospective observational nationwide multi-centre study in Sweden (SWEP53). The aim of this sub-study is to evaluate whole-body MRI (WB-MRI) regarding the rate of malignant, indeterminate, and benign imaging findings and the associated further workup generated by the baseline examination. Individuals with hTP53rc were enrolled in a surveillance program including annual whole-body MRI (WB-MRI), brain-MRI, and in female carriers, dedicated breast MRI. A total of 68 adults ≥18 years old have been enrolled to date. Of these, 61 fulfilled the inclusion criteria for the baseline MRI scan. In total, 42 showed a normal scan, while 19 (31%) needed further workup, of whom three individuals (3/19 = 16%) were diagnosed with asymptomatic malignant tumours (thyroid cancer, disseminated upper GI cancer, and liver metastasis from a previous breast cancer). Forty-three participants were women, of whom 21 had performed risk-reducing mastectomy prior to inclusion. The remaining were monitored with breast MRI, and no breast tumours were detected on baseline MRI. WB-MRI has the potential to identify asymptomatic tumours in individuals with hTP53rc syndrome. The challenge is to adequately and efficiently investigate all indeterminate findings. Thus, a multidisciplinary team should be considered in surveillance programs for individuals with hTP53rc syndrome.
|
|
| 6. |
- Nyholm, Tufve, et al.
(författare)
-
A national approach for automated collection of standardized and population-based radiation therapy data in Sweden
- 2016
-
Ingår i: Radiotherapy and Oncology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0167-8140 .- 1879-0887. ; 119:2, s. 344-350
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose: To develop an infrastructure for structured and automated collection of interoperable radiation therapy (RT) data into a national clinical quality registry. Materials and methods: The present study was initiated in 2012 with the participation of seven of the 15 hospital departments delivering RT in Sweden. A national RT nomenclature and a database for structured unified storage of RT data at each site (Medical Information Quality Archive, MIQA) have been developed. Aggregated data from the MIQA databases are sent to a national RT registry located on the same IT platform (INCA) as the national clinical cancer registries. Results: The suggested naming convention has to date been integrated into the clinical workflow at 12 of 15 sites, and MIQA is installed at six of these. Involvement of the remaining 3/15 RT departments is ongoing, and they are expected to be part of the infrastructure by 2016. RT data collection from ARIA (R), Mosaiq (R), Eclipse (TM), and Oncentra (R) is supported. Manual curation of RT-structure information is needed for approximately 10% of target volumes, but rarely for normal tissue structures, demonstrating a good compliance to the RT nomenclature. Aggregated dose/volume descriptors are calculated based on the information in MIQA and sent to INCA using a dedicated service (MIQA2INCA). Correct linkage of data for each patient to the clinical cancer registries on the INCA platform is assured by the unique Swedish personal identity number. Conclusions: An infrastructure for structured and automated prospective collection of syntactically inter operable RT data into a national clinical quality registry for RT data is under implementation. Future developments include adapting MIQA to other treatment modalities (e.g. proton therapy and brachytherapy) and finding strategies to harmonize structure delineations. How the RT registry should comply with domain-specific ontologies such as the Radiation Oncology Ontology (ROO) is under discussion.
|
|
| 7. |
- Browall, Maria, et al.
(författare)
-
The course of health related quality of life in postmenopausal women with breast cancer from breast surgery and up to five years post-treatment
- 2013
-
Ingår i: Breast. - : Elsevier. - 0960-9776 .- 1532-3080. ; 49, s. S344-S345
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Previous studies include too few patients over 70 years to be able to assess treatment effects on Health Related Quality Of Life (HRQOL) in the older age group. We aimed to follow HRQOL in postmenopausal women (55-80 years) with breast cancer receiving adjuvant treatment, until five years post-treatment, and compare with a general population.Patients and methods: The patient sample included 150 women (adjuvant CT n=75 and RT n=75) and two reference samples from the Swedish SF-36 norm database.Results: Data from baseline showed significantly higher levels of physical functioning and general health among the patients compared to the reference sample, and significantly lower levels of bodily pain, emotional role functioning and mental health. Longitudinal analyses showed significant changes in all scales, and three different patterns (a decrease-stable, a decrease-increase, and a stable- increase pattern) were identified.Conclusion: Postmenopausal women seem to successfully manage the effects of adjuvant treatment on HRQOL.
|
|
| 8. |
- Bylund Grenklo, Tove, et al.
(författare)
-
Unresolved grief and its consequences : A nationwide follow-up of teenage loss of a parent to cancer 6-9 years earlier
- 2016
-
Ingår i: Supportive Care in Cancer. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0941-4355 .- 1433-7339. ; 24:7, s. 3095-3103
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- PurposeThe early loss of a parent is a tragedy and a serious life event. This study investigated grief resolution and morbidity in cancer-bereaved teenagers 6 to 9 years after the loss of a parent to cancer.MethodsIn a nationwide population-based study of 622 of 851 (73 %) youths who as teenagers 6 to 9 years earlier had lost a parent to cancer, we explored the magnitude of unresolved grief and its association with psychological and physiological morbidity. Participants answered a study-specific anonymous questionnaire including questions about if they had worked through their grief and about their current health. Results Six to nine years post-loss 49 % reported unresolved grief (8 % no and 41 % a little grief resolution). They had, in comparison with youths reporting resolved grief. statistically significantly elevated risks, e.g. for insomnia (sons' relative risk (RR) 2.3, 95 % CI 1.3-4.0; daughters' RR 1.7, 95 % CI 1.1-2.7), fatigue (sons' RR 1.8, 95 % CI 1.3-2.5; daughters' RR 1.4, 95 % CI 1.1-1.7) and moderate to severe depression, i.e. score >9, PHQ-9 (sons' RR 3.6, 95 % CI 1.4-8.8; daughters' RR 1.8, 95 % CI 1.1-3.1). Associations remained for insomnia in sons, exhaustion in daughters and fatigue in both sons and daughters when depression, negative intrusive thoughts and avoiding reminders of the parents' disease or death were included in a model. Conclusions Approximately half of cancer-bereaved youth report no or little grief resolution 6 to 9 years post-loss, which is associated with fatigue, sleeping problems and depressive symptoms.
|
|
| 9. |
- Tzortzatos, G., et al.
(författare)
-
The gynecological surveillance of women with Lynch Syndrome in Sweden
- 2015
-
Ingår i: Gynecologic Oncology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0090-8258 .- 1095-6859. ; 25:9, s. 1111-1111
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective. Women with Lynch syndrome (LS) have up to a 60% lifetime risk of endometrial cancer (EC) and up to a 24% risk of ovarian cancer (OC). Gynecological surveillance is recommended, but the benefit and how it should be performed remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to assess diagnostic modalities for gynecological screening of LS patients in Sweden and clinical outcome. Methods. A retrospective nationwide study of 170 women with molecularly confirmed LS. Data including gynecological LS screening history, biopsy results (if any), genetic records, number of screening visits, results from screening including transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS), endometrial biopsy (EB), blood test for tumor marker cancer antigen (CA) 125, prophylactic surgery including age at procedure, and setting from which screening data were obtained from medical records. Results. A total of 117 women were eligible for gynecological screening and of these, 86 patients attended screening visits. Of these, 41 underwent prophylactic hysterectomy and/or bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Two patients (4.9%) were diagnosed with EC and two (4.9%) with precancerous lesions in conjunction with prophylactic surgery. Total incidence of gynecological cancer in the surveillance group (45 women) was 20% EC, 4% OC. Five patients had endometrial cancer or complex hyperplasia with atypia (n = 2) detected by endometrial biopsy. Four additional cases were detected due to interval bleeding. Both cases of ovarian cancer were detected by transvaginal ultrasound in patients with ovarian cysts under surveillance. The youngest woman with endometrial cancer was diagnosed at 35 years of age, before she was aware of her diagnosis of Lynch syndrome. Conclusions. Gynecological surveillance of women with Lynch syndrome may lead to earlier detection of precancerous lesions, which might have some impact on the morbidity from endometrial cancer although further studies are needed to prove this. Prophylactic hysterectomy with or without bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy reduces the cancer incidence. A practical approach to surveillance in Lynch syndrome women would be to offer annual surveillance beginning at age 30 years including probably both TVUS and EB in order to increase diagnostic yield with prospective data registry for follow-up studies. Prophylactic surgery could be performed at a suitable age after childbearing to obtain a balance between reducing the risk of cancer and minimizing long-term complications from premature menopause.
|
|
| 10. |
- Andersson, Andreas, et al.
(författare)
-
Public support for healthcare-mediated disclosure of hereditary cancer risk information: Results from a population-based survey in Sweden
- 2020
-
Ingår i: Hereditary Cancer in Clinical Practice. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1731-2302 .- 1897-4287. ; 18:1
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background Targeted surveillance of at-risk individuals in families with increased risk of hereditary cancer is an effective prevention strategy if relatives are identified, informed and enrolled in screening programs. Despite the potential benefits, many eligible at-risk relatives remain uninformed of their cancer risk. This study describes the general public's opinion on disclosure of hereditary colorectal cancer (CRC) risk information, as well as preferences on the source and the mode of information. Methods A random sample of the general public was assessed through a Swedish citizen web-panel. Respondents were presented with scenarios of being an at-risk relative in a family that had an estimated increased hereditary risk of CRC; either 10% (moderate) or 70% (high) lifetime risk. A colonoscopy was presented as a preventive measure. Results were analysed to identify significant differences between groups using the Pearson's chi-square (chi(2)) test. Results Of 1800 invited participants, 977 completed the survey (54%). In the moderate and high-risk scenarios, 89.2 and 90.6% respectively, would like to receive information about a potential hereditary risk of CRC (chi 2,p = .755). The desire to be informed was higher among women (91.5%) than men (87.0%, chi 2,p = .044). No significant differences were found when comparing different age groups, educational levels, place of residence and having children or not. The preferred source of risk information was a healthcare professional in both moderate and high-risk scenarios (80.1 and 75.5%). However, 18.1 and 20.1% respectively would prefer to be informed by a family member. Assuming that healthcare professionals disclosed the information, the favoured mode of information was letter and phone (38.4 and 33.2%). Conclusions In this study a majority of respondents wanted to be informed about a potential hereditary risk of CRC and preferred healthcare professionals to communicate this information. The two presented levels of CRC lifetime risk did not significantly affect the interest in being informed. Our data offer insights into the needs and preferences of the Swedish population, providing a rationale for developing complementary healthcare-assisted communication pathways to realise the full potential of targeted prevention of hereditary CRC.
|
|
