PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Susan Bauer-Wu

Publications and source records attributed to Susan Bauer-Wu.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Telephone monitoring of distress in patients aged 65 years or older with advanced stage cancer: a cancer and leukemia group B study.

BACKGROUND: Significant barriers to cancer patients receiving mental health treatment for distress have been reported in the literature. The objective of the current study was to determine whether distress in older patients (aged 65 years and older) would be reduced with educational materials (EM) supplemented by monthly telephone monitoring (TM) (TM + EM) compared with the use of EM alone because of more timely referrals to appropriate health professionals. METHODS: One hundred ninety-two older patients with breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers who had advanced disease and currently were receiving treatment were randomized to receive either TM + EM or EM alone. One hundred thirty-one patients were evaluated by telephone interview for psychologic and physical distress and for social support at baseline and at 6 months using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC)-QLQ-C30 quality-of-life questionnaire, and the Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) Social Support Survey. Patients who in the TM + EM group were called monthly for 6 months to monitor their distress using the HADS and EORTC physical symptom items and the MOS Social Support Survey items, with cutoff levels were established to indicate which patients were in greater distress. Those patients who scored above the cutoff levels were referred to their oncology nurse for referral to the appropriate professional. Patients in the EM group received written materials regarding cancer-related psychosocial issues and available resources. RESULTS: At 6 months, patients in the TM + EM group reported significantly less anxiety (HADS; P < .0001), depression (HADS; P = .0004), and overall distress (HADS; P < .0001) compared with patients in the EM group. CONCLUSIONS: Monthly monitoring of older patients' distress with TM and EM along with referral for appropriate help was found to be an efficient means of reducing patients' anxiety and depression compared with patients who received only EM.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2005

Using qualitative evaluation in a feasibility study to improve and refine a complementary therapy intervention prior to subsequent research.

Feasibility studies of complementary therapies are useful and important not only to test and evaluate the potential effectiveness of an intervention but also to refine and improve it prior to a subsequent study. A series of guided interviews were conducted with patients (n=19) undergoing stem cell/autologous bone marrow transplant (SC/ABMT) who were participating in a feasibility study of a mindfulness meditation (MM) intervention. Audiotapes of these interview sessions were transcribed and then used to create a project in the QRS NVivo software program to manage the data from the interview questions. Responses about what the participants liked and disliked and their suggestions for improving the effectiveness of the MM intervention were identified and grouped. Subsequently, the MM intervention has been refined based on this information, and additional testing in a randomized, controlled trial is planned. The cost is high to implement complementary therapies and to rigorously test them. Preliminary work using qualitative evaluation methods can provide rich and detailed information that will save time and money in the long run.

Bone Marrow Transplantation↗
PubMed2005

Meaning in life and psycho-spiritual functioning: a comparison of breast cancer survivors and healthy women.

PURPOSE: Incorporating holistic health perspectives, this study compared and examined relationships among meaning in life, spirituality, perceived stress, and psychological distress in breast cancer survivors (BCS) and healthy women. METHODS: Standardized self-report measures were completed once by all participants (N = 78). FINDINGS: Group comparison revealed statistically significant variances across the measures. Covariate analysis identified BCS without children had less meaningful lives and greater stress and distress than BCS with children and participants without cancer. Significant correlations (p > .001) between meaning in life and spirituality (r = .43), stress (r = -.39), and distress (r = -.41) were also identified. CONCLUSION: Personal factors (i.e., being a parent) may be especially important in BCS. Also, psychological and spiritual variables are highly correlated, suggesting the use of an integrated term psycho-spiritual functioning. IMPLICATIONS: Holistic nursing interventions can facilitate self-awareness, interpersonal connection, and living a meaningful life, particularly in vulnerable patients such as BCS without children.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2004

Oncology physician and nurse practices and attitudes regarding offering clinical trial results to study participants.

Despite recent interest on the part of advocates and researchers of oncology clinical trials in sharing study results, participants in these trials are not routinely informed about the results. We identified oncology physicians and nurses through the Cancer and Leukemia Group B database and surveyed them about sharing clinical trial results with participants. Of 1977 eligible members, 796 (40.3%) responded to the mailed survey, 497 (62.4%) of whom reported that they offer trial results to participants less than one-fifth of the time. A total of 576 (72.4%) of responders believed that most patients want to know the results of studies, and 634 (79.7%) of responders expressed willingness to offer results to most study participants in the future, believing that most patients want to know trial results and that routinely offering results would not have a negative effect on patients. Concerns of some responders about routinely offering trial results included negative emotional effect on patients, patient difficulty understanding the information, and resources required to offer the results. Of concern, 16.2% (129/796) of responders believed an obligation to offer results to study participants would make them less likely to enroll patients on studies. Future studies should consider sharing trial results with patients and evaluating the process and its effect on both patients and clinicians.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Interdisciplinary collaboration for health professional education in cancer control.

BACKGROUND: Overlapping responsibilities of health care delivery professionals in the United States has propelled medical, graduate nursing, and public health schools to rethink their curricula. The University of Massachusetts Medical School implemented the Cancer Prevention and Control Education (CPACE) initiative, an interdisciplinary curriculum focusing on behavioral and psychosocial aspects of cancer prevention, control, and research. METHODS: An interdisciplinary Operations Committee developed courses, clerkships, and programs. Continuing education programs stressed the team approach. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: CPACE teaching objectives were congruent in the three schools, but logistical issues were challenging. Positive preevaluations and postevaluations indicated potential for shaping a collaborative attitude among health care providers.

Clinical Clerkship↗