Current Issue : October-December Volume : 2026 Issue Number : 4 Articles : 5 Articles
Purpose This randomized controlled trial aimed to evaluate the effects of a Noddings’ caring theory-based intervention on coping with death competence (CDC), death attitudes, and psychological distress in patients with advanced lung cancer. Methods Seventy inpatients were randomly allocated to the intervention group (n = 35) or the control group (n = 35). The 3-week intervention comprised modeling, dialogue, practice, and recognition phases. Outcomes, including CDC, attitude toward death, anxiety, and depression, were assessed at baseline (T0), post-intervention (T1), and 1-month follow-up (T2). Results No significant between-group differences were observed at baseline. Following the intervention, patients in the intervention group demonstrated significantly higher CDC total and subscale scores, more positive death attitudes, and lower anxiety and depression scores than those in the control group at both post-intervention and 1-month follow-up. Conclusion The Noddings-based program effectively enhanced death-coping competence, improved death attitudes, and reduced psychological distress in patients with advanced lung cancer. Trial registration ChiCTR2600118530, 2/6/2026 retrospectively registered....
Objective: To analyze the research status, hotspots, and trends in nutritional care for cancer patients, providing evidence for future clinical practice and research. Methods: Literature on nutritional care for cancer patients published between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2024, was retrieved from the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) database. CiteSpace 6.4.R1 was utilized to visualize and analyze keywords, authors, and institutions in the included studies. Results: A total of 919 Chinese articles were included. The annual publication volume in this field showed significant fluctuations, peaking in 2019. Authors and institutions were distributed with limited collaboration. The primary study populations included patients with esophageal cancer, gastric cancer, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and those undergoing chemoradiotherapy. Key research themes focused on nutritional assessment, therapeutic nutrition interventions, and nutritional support strategies. Conclusion: Nutritional care for cancer patients has garnered substantial attention and formed several research hotspots. However, further in-depth studies are required. Future efforts should strengthen collaborations among authors and institutions to advance this field....
Objectives. Older adults with cancer frequently experience high symptom burden, psychological distress, and reduced quality of life. Integrating palliative nursing interventions into routine oncology care has the potential to improve these outcomes, yet evidence examining their measurable effects remains limited. This study aimed to examine the effects of integrated palliative nursing interventions on quality of life, psychological outcomes, and symptom burden among older adults with cancer. Methods. A quasi-experimental one-group pre-test–post-test design was conducted at King Khaled Hospital, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia, including 80 older adults (≥60 years) with confirmed cancer diagnosis. Participants received a structured 6-week integrated palliative nursing intervention comprising 12 sessions (2 sessions/week) addressing physical, psychological, social, functional, and spiritual needs. Outcome measures included the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) for quality of life, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Distress Thermometer for psychological outcomes, and the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS-r) for symptom burden. Pre- and post-intervention assessments were conducted, and data were analyzed using paired t-tests, Pearson correlations, and multiple linear regression. Results. All 80 participants completed the study, and no attrition was observed during the 6-week intervention period. Post-intervention, participants demonstrated significant improvements in overall quality of life (FACT-G total: 39.65 ± 5.51 → 66.41 ± 6.25, p < .001) and all subscales. Distress scores (NCCN) decreased from 21.93 ± 2.49 to 6.99 ± 2.37 (p < .001), and total symptom burden (ESAS) declined from 63.56 ± 6.31 to 41.09 ± 6.88 (p < .001). Regression analysis identified baseline scores as significant predictors of post-intervention outcomes: pre-intervention FACT-G scores and cancer type for quality of life [R2 = 0.660, F (8, 71) = 17.199, p < .001), pre-intervention NCCN scores for distress (R2 = 0.219, F (8, 71) = 2.487, p = .019), and pre-intervention ESAS scores for symptom burden (R2 = 0.757, F (8, 71) = 27.697, p < .001). These results indicated that baseline status strongly predicts post-intervention outcomes, while demographic and clinical variables had minimal impact. Significance of the results. Structured integrated palliative nursing interventions significantly enhance quality of life and reduce psychological distress and symptom burden in older adults with cancer. Incorporating multidimensional, patient-centered palliative care within routine oncology practice can improve clinical outcomes, with baseline status serving as an important determinant of intervention effectiveness....
Background: Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is a peptide hormone that is synthesized by several organs and regulates energy homeostasis, including reducing fat mass and lowering hyperglycemia, insulin resistance and dyslipidemia. It also increased metabolic syndrome (MS) and cardiovascular risk in breast cancer (BC) survivors treated with aromatase inhibitors (AIs) aimed at reducing cancer recurrence. We evaluated whether blood FGF21 concentration is associated with MS and its five criteria in postmenopausal women treated with AIs, and whether this persists after multimodal interventions that reduce MS. Methods: A quasi-experimental longitudinal study in 31 postmenopausal women with localized BC on Ais, assessed via a 12-week multimodal program. Their MS was evaluated per the NCEP-ATP III guidelines (waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting glucose, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol). Plasma FGF21 was measured pre/post-intervention via fasting blood samples, centrifugation, and ELISA assay. Results: Pre-intervention FGF21 median: 377.62 pg/mL (38.40–1616.42). Plasma FGF21 concentrations positively correlated with MS criteria number pre- and post-intervention (all p < 0.05). Linear regression confirmed pre-intervention MS criteria (β = 127.262, p = 0.006) and antihypertensive drugs as predictors of post-FGF21 levels. Analysis of individual MS criteria revealed significant associations with blood pressure (p = 0.028 and p = 0.022 for systolic and diastolic pressure, respectively) and fasting glucose changes (p = 0.008). Conclusions: Plasma FGF21 may act as a biomarker for monitoring exercise-based interventions which reduce MSs, particularly hypertension and hyperglycemia, in AI-treated BC survivors....
Objective To provide an overview of the current state of international research on technology-based applications for informal caregivers of people with advanced cancer, with a particular focus on advanced breast cancer. Methods This scoping review was conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and reported in line with the PRISMA-ScR guideline. The PCC framework was used to define the search terms, and develop the search strategy for the databases PubMed, CINAHL, and Web of Science. The systematic search identified 13 relevant articles describing ten different technology-based applications. One additional article was identified through a manual search. Results In total, 14 studies covering ten distinct interventions were included. Some interventions were adapted from faceto- face programmes for digital delivery, whereas only a minority were explicitly informed by theoretical models from psychology or health science. The included studies addressed five main areas: informational support, mental and psychosocial support and enhancement of quality of life, physical and practical support, communication support, and preparation for caregiving and death. Evaluations reported predominantly positive findings, particularly with regard to quality of life, anxiety, depressive symptoms, and coping. However, most studies focused on advanced cancer more broadly rather than on advanced breast cancer specifically. Conclusions The reviewed literature suggests that technology-based interventions for informal caregivers of people with advanced cancer are available in several countries and address a range of support needs. However, no intervention tailored to relatives of patients with advanced breast cancer was identified as having been fully developed and evaluated. The findings highlight the need for future research on targeted, sustainable digital support for this group. The development of the Gesi-BK platform is based on the results of this scoping review....
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