Effect of COVID-19 on cancer research nursing services

AUTH Why you should read this article: • To learn about the experience of early phase cancer research nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic • To appreciate the challenges and positive developments brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic in relation to nurses working on early phase cancer clinical trials • To recognise the positive implications for future cancer research nursing practice This service evaluation examined the experiences of adult and children's cancer research nurses working on early phase cancer clinical trials during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. A questionnaire was provided to early phase cancer research nurses at experimental cancer medicine centres, and alongside this there was an online discussion with eight of the nurses. The themes developed from the findings and online discussion provided an insight into the challenges faced by early phase cancer nurses during this unprecedented time and into some of the innovations, such as virtual appointments, adopted to overcome them. COVID-19 had a significant negative effect on the cancer research nurse workforce. However, peer support, networking opportunities, reflection and embracing innovation provided support for nurses and enhanced person-centred care.

Scaling Up Parenting Interventions is Critical for Attaining the Sustainable Development Goals.

Of all the potentially modifiable influences affecting children's development and mental health across the life course, none is more important than the quality of parenting and family life. In this position paper, we argue that parenting is fundamentally linked to the development of life skills that children need in order to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. We discuss key principles that should inform the development of a global research and implementation agenda related to scaling up evidence-based parenting support programs. Research over the past 50 years has shown that parenting support programs of varied intensity and delivery modality can improve a wide range of developmental, emotional, behavioral and health outcomes for parents and their children. Such findings have been replicated across culturally and socioeconomically diverse samples, albeit primarily in studies from Western countries. We highlight the evidence for the relevance of parenting interventions for attaining the SDGs globally, and identify the barriers to and strategies for achieving their scale-up. The implications of the global COVID-19 pandemic for the delivery of evidence-based parenting support are also discussed.