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Biomedical subjects

Conrad V Fernandez

Publications and source records attributed to Conrad V Fernandez.

25 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2003

Psychosocial needs of families with a child with cancer.

PURPOSE: The aims of this study were to map the problems and needs of children with cancer and their families with regard to possible psychosocial interventions, and to do an acceptability study of different ways to provide support. METHODS: The authors performed a cross-sectional structured telephone interview with 56 parents of children with cancer and 13 adolescents from these families. On 0 to 10 analog scales, parents and adolescents rated the importance of different needs, how these needs had been met, the acceptability of different ways of providing supportive interventions, how often these ways had been used, and comfort using them. RESULTS: Parents' mean rating of importance of information needs was 9.42, peer social support 7.84, and self-management therapy 9.21. The ratings of how well these needs had been met were 8.05, 5.30, and 7.13, respectively. Both parents and adolescents ranked getting information written on paper highest, preferred to communicate in a face-to-face support group for peer social support, and preferred a therapist for self-management therapy. The comfort ratings for using different ways to provide the interventions were all high, as was access; 89% of families had computers in their homes, 76% had Internet access. CONCLUSIONS: The needs for information, peer social support, and self-management therapy are all high. There is still room to meet these needs better. Using paper-based, telephone, computer CD, or an interactive Web-based intervention package all seem to be acceptable and accessible ways to meet the needs and might reduce the risk of families developing psychosocial problems.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Mediastinal polyembryoma associated with Klinefelter syndrome.

A 4.5-year-old boy presented with isosexual precocious puberty and an anterior mediastinal mass. Surgical resection demonstrated a teratoma with foci of malignant mixed germ cell tumor elements of polyembryoma. On further investigation he was found to have Klinefelter syndrome. Most mediastinal germ cell tumors are treated with adjuvant therapy. He was managed with surgical excision alone and is well at 2 years follow-up. The rationale for this approach is discussed.

Carcinoma, Embryonal↗
PubMed2003

Offering to return results to research participants: attitudes and needs of principal investigators in the Children's Oncology Group.

PURPOSE: The offer to return a summary of results to participants after the conclusion of clinical research has many potential benefits. The authors determined current practice and attitudes and needs of researchers in establishing programs to return results to research participants. METHODS: An Internet survey of all 236 principal investigators (PIs) of the Children's Oncology Group in May 2002 recorded PI and institutional demographics, current practice, and perceived barriers to and needs of PIs for the creation of research results programs. RESULTS: One hundred fifty (63.8%) PIs responded. Few institutions (n = 5) had established, comprehensive programs to offer the return of results. PIs indicated that major impediments to the implementation of such programs are the preparation of lay summaries, time constraints, the task of contacting participants, and potential distress for the participants. PIs identified the following facilitators to the establishment of a program in their own institution: lay summaries, web site, preparation of an oncologist's summary, and financial credits. There was no clear consensus as to when the results should be shared: 30% indicated after the study was closed and 24% indicated at the time of publication of results. A substantial proportion of respondents opposed or strongly opposed the implementation of a universal offering of results to research participants. CONCLUSIONS: Few Children's Oncology Group institutions have programs that offer the return of results to research participants. Significant barriers and facilitators to this process have been identified.

Academies and Institutes↗