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Biomedical subjects

Mary Jane Ott

Publications and source records attributed to Mary Jane Ott.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Mindfulness meditation for oncology patients: a discussion and critical review.

UNLABELLED: The purpose of this article is to (1) provide a comprehensive over view and discussion of mindfulness meditation and its clinical applicability in oncology and (2) report and critically evaluate the existing and emerging research on mindfulness meditation as an intervention for cancer patients. Using relevant keywords, a comprehensive search of MEDLINE, PsycInfo, and Ovid was completed along with a review of published abstracts from the annual conferences sponsored by the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society and the American Psychosocial Oncology Society. Each article and abstract was critiqued and systematically assessed for purpose statement or research questions, STUDY DESIGN: The search produced 9 research articles published in the past 5 years and 5 conference abstracts published in 2004. Most studies were conducted with breast and prostate cancer patients, and the mindfulness intervention was done in a clinic-based group setting. Consistent benefits--improved psychological functioning, reduction of stress symptoms, enhanced coping and well-being in cancer outpatients--were found. More research in this area is warranted: using randomized, controlled designs, rigorous methods, and different cancer diagnoses and treatment settings; expanding outcomes to include quality of life, physiological, health care use, and health-related outcomes; exploring mediating factors; and discerning dose effects and optimal frequency and length of home practice. Mindfulness meditation has clinically relevant implications to alleviate psychological and physical suffering of persons living with cancer. Use of this behavioral intervention for oncology patients is an area of burgeoning interest to clinicians and researchers.

Chronic Disease↗
PubMed2004

Mindfulness meditation: a path of transformation & healing.

As nurses, we have the unique privilege of witnessing and nurturing the healing process of the whole person--mind, body, and spirit. Teaching mindfulness meditation is a nursing intervention that can foster healing. The consistent practice of mindfulness meditation has been shown to decrease the subjective experience of pain and stress in a variety of research settings. Formal and informal daily practice fosters development of a profound inner calmness and nonreactivity of the mind, allowing individuals to face, and even embrace, all aspects of daily life, regardless of circumstances. By emphasizing being, not doing, mindfulness meditation provides a way through suffering for patients, families, and staff. This practice allows individuals to become compassionate witnesses to their own experiences, to avoid making premature decisions, and to be open to new possibilities, transformation, and healing.

Breathing Exercises↗
PubMedDate not supplied

"I want to do it myself!" Interferon self-injection for children with chronic viral hepatitis.

As part of protocols for the treatment of chronic viral hepatitis B or C, children were scheduled to receive subcutaneous injections of interferon three times weekly for a period of 6 to 12 months. Both the children and their parents perceived the injections as painful and technically difficult. In response, a program was developed to provide an educational approach that supported the active participation of 34 children (20 male, 14 female), ages 1.5 to 16.5 years of age (mean, 9.4 years). Interferon was reconstituted as 10 mu/1 ml and administered with a 29-gauge needle and a 0.5- or 1.0-mL insulin syringe. These children were asked what they feared most about treatment and what would help them be less fearful. A developmentally based teaching plan emphasizing safety, trust, initiative, and mastery was created by each family with the help of the pediatric nurse practitioner. Flexibility and development of rituals were supported. Participants were asked what they learned and what advice they had for others; this feedback was shared with new families entering the protocol. This article describes the implementation of a new approach incorporating self-injection by children.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Mind-body therapies for the pediatric oncology patient: matching the right therapy with the right patient.

Pediatric oncology nurses provide care for children across a continuum from the point of diagnostic evaluation through treatments and cure or a peaceful, dignified death. Nurses provide this care in a wide variety of settings such as the home, hospital, clinics, schools, camps, and residential facilities. Mind-body therapies are being used more frequently in the care of children receiving treatment for cancer. Matching the right therapy with the right patient is an important component of care.

Attitude to Health↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Future directions of CAM research in pediatric oncology.

Children with cancer are using complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to relieve symptoms, reduce side effects of treatment, and cope with the emotional aspects of having a life-threatening illness. Parental decisions about using CAM should be based on studies of efficacy and safety. Unfortunately, little evidence of efficacy is available for the majority of CAM therapies. This article discusses the methodological challenges to conducting CAM research in children and the evidence needed to support integrative medicine in pediatric oncology.

Child↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Integrating complementary and conventional symptom management in a cancer center.

One goal of oncology nursing is to help patients achieve the best possible quality of life. In the conventional care perspective, quality of life has four aspects: physical, emotional, social, and spiritual. From the complementary care perspective, it is defined as harmony of body, mind, and spirit. Integrating these perspectives of quality of life allows us to have a fuller and richer view of the patient, accentuating the core of his or her being: values, beliefs, and goals. The Pain and Symptom Management Service has embraced this integrated view and, by doing so, has improved symptom management outcomes for patients and their families.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Mindfulness meditation in pediatric clinical practice.

Complementary therapies are used in addition to conventional treatments; alternative therapies are generally used instead of conventional treatments. In the Five Domains of complementary and alternative therapies, patient education and cognitive-behavioral approaches are listed as mainstream interventions. Meditation is listed within the mind-body domain as a complementary intervention used to facilitate the mind's ability to affect bodily functions and symptoms.

Child↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Pediatric faculty development in integrative medicine.

As more patients use complementary and alternative medical (CAM) therapies, faculty may be asked to teach trainees about topics requiring faculty development training. Our purpose in this study was to evaluate qualitatively and quantitatively a new faculty development program covering 4 key areas of CAM: herbs and dietary supplements, mind-body therapies, massage, and acupuncture. Faculty members (N = 6) volunteered for the program and were included in the study if they completed at least 3 of the 6 scheduled sessions. For each session, participants completed a pretest evaluating their knowledge and confidence about the topic, then they received background reading and focused discussion questions. Each session was a case-based, experiential seminar led by an expert in the content area. Participants completed post-session questionnaires measuring knowledge, confidence, and communication practices at the end of each session and at the end of the series of seminars. They also were asked for feedback and suggestions for the following year. All participants strongly agreed that they gained important knowledge; scores on tests about herbs increased from 62% at baseline to 84% at completion, and scores on knowledge of acupuncture increased from 60% before the session to 98% after. All participants strongly agreed that their confidence in talking with patients, colleagues, and trainees improved; on average, confidence scores improved an average of 1.8 out of a total of 5 possible points for all topics. Participants more frequently asked patients about their use of herbs (from 50% at baseline to 75% at the end) and increased the percentage of training encounters in which they discussed CAM with trainees or colleagues from 10% to 25%. We concluded that faculty development in integrative medicine is feasible and results in qualitative and quantitative improvements in knowledge, confidence, and clinical and teaching behaviors.

Adult↗