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Biomedical subjects

Stacey Young-McCaughan

Publications and source records attributed to Stacey Young-McCaughan.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

Sleep wake disturbances in people with cancer and their caregivers: state of the science.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To review the state of the science on sleep/wake disturbances in people with cancer and their caregivers. DATA SOURCES: Published articles, books and book chapters, conference proceedings, and MEDLINE, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, PsycINFO, and the Cochrane Library computerized databases. DATA SYNTHESIS: Scientists have initiated studies on the prevalence of sleep/wake disturbances and the etiology of sleep disturbances specific to cancer. Measurement has been limited by lack of clear definitions of sleep/wake variables, use of a variety of instruments, and inconsistent reporting of sleep parameters. Findings related to use of nonpharmacologic interventions were limited to 20 studies, and the quality of the evidence remains poor. Few pharmacologic approaches have been studied, and evidence for use of herbal and complementary supplements is almost nonexistent. CONCLUSIONS: Current knowledge indicates that sleep/wake disturbances are prevalent in cancer populations. Few instruments have been validated in this population. Nonpharmacologic interventions show positive outcomes, but design issues and small samples limit generalizability. Little is known regarding use of pharmacologic and herbal and complementary supplements and potential adverse outcomes or interactions with cancer therapies. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: All patients and caregivers need initial and ongoing screening for sleep/wake disturbances. When disturbed sleep/wakefulness is evident, further assessment and treatment are warranted. Nursing educational programs should include content regarding healthy and disrupted sleep/wake patterns. Research on sleep/wake disturbances in people with cancer should have high priority.

Antidepressive Agents↗

Developing military nursing research priorities.

Congress established the TriService Nursing Research Program (TSNRP) in 1992 to serve the nursing research needs of the military. The TSNRP advances the science of military nursing to support mission readiness and deployment, improves the health and quality of life of military personnel, and provides optimal nursing care in settings worldwide. In 1995, the TSNRP Advisory Council commissioned the Institute of Medicine to make recommendations on management, research funding areas, resource allocation, and objectives. In 1996, the committee issued its report, The Program for Research in Military Nursing: Progress and Future Direction. A principal recommendation was that the TSNRP hold regular research priority-setting conferences. In response, since 2000, the TSNRP has held three conferences. This article follows up the Institute of Medicine report and summarizes the results of those conferences. The article describes conference processes, constituents, and conclusions and outlines future TSNRP research directions.

Congresses as Topic↗

The Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program: innovations in the federal funding of biomedical research.

In response to the lobbying efforts of the women's advocacy movement, in 1993 Congress authorized funds for a substantial increase in support of new and promising research aimed at the eradication of breast cancer. This appropriation resulted in a major expansion of the United States Army Medical Research and Materiel Command, Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program. The Office of Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs was established within the United States Army Medical Research and Materiel Command to facilitate the management of the expanded extramural research program. Since that time, the programs have grown to include not just breast cancer but also prostate cancer, ovarian cancer, and neurofibromatosis. The unique appropriations to the Office of Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs has resulted in a number of programmatic innovations. These include development of unique mechanisms of grant support, inclusion of consumer advocates on peer and programmatic review panels, and the introduction of criteria-based evaluation and scoring in peer review. This article describes these novel scientific management strategies and outlines their success in meeting program visions and goals.

Breast Neoplasms↗

Research and commentary: Change in exercise tolerance, activity and sleep patterns, and quality of life in patients with cancer participating in a structured exercise program.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To investigate the feasibility of an exercise program patterned after a phase II cardiac rehabilitation program to improve selected physiologic and psychological parameters of health in patients with cancer. DESIGN: Prospective, repeated measures study. SETTING: Two major military medical centers in the southwestern United States. SAMPLE: 62 patients diagnosed with cancer within the previous two years. Ages ranged from 24-83 (meanX = 59). Half of the participants were male and half were female. Minorities made up 29% of the sample. Participants had a wide range of cancer diagnoses and all stages of cancer. Fifteen subjects were undergoing treatment when they enrolled in the study. More than half of the subjects exercised prior to their cancer diagnoses, but fewer than half were able to resume an exercise routine following their cancer diagnoses. METHODS: Subjects met two days each week for 12 weeks for exercise and education. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES: Exercise tolerance as measured with a graded exercise test, activity and sleep patterns as measured with a wrist actigraph, and quality of life (QOL) as measured with the Cancer Rehabilitation Evaluation System-Short Form. FINDINGS: Significant improvements were observed over time in exercise tolerance, selected activity and sleep patterns, and QOL among the 46 (74%) subjects who completed the program. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with various types and stages of cancer can safely exercise using a cardiac rehabilitation model and can realize significant improvements in exercise tolerance, selected activity and sleep patterns, and QOL. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Most people are aware that regular exercise is part of a healthy lifestyle. After cancer diagnosis and treatment, patients experience uncertainty regarding how to resume exercise or how to begin an exercise program as part of their rehabilitation. Participation in a structured exercise program can provide patients with a safe environment within which to exercise at an intensity appropriate to their individual needs.

Adaptation, Psychological↗