How to prevent alcohol and illicit drug use among students in affluent areas: a qualitative study on motivation and attitudes towards prevention.

BACKGROUND: The use of alcohol and illicit drugs during adolescence can lead to serious short- and long-term health related consequences. Despite a global trend of decreased substance use, in particular alcohol, among adolescents, evidence suggests excessive use of substances by young people in socioeconomically affluent areas. To prevent substance use-related harm, we need in-depth knowledge about the reasons for substance use in this group and how they perceive various prevention interventions. The aim of the current study was to explore motives for using or abstaining from using substances among students in affluent areas as well as their attitudes to, and suggestions for, substance use prevention. METHODS: Twenty high school students (age 15-19 years) in a Swedish affluent municipality were recruited through purposive sampling to take part in semi-structured interviews. Qualitative content analysis of transcribed interviews was performed. RESULTS: The most prominent motive for substance use appears to be a desire to feel a part of the social milieu and to have high social status within the peer group. Motives for abstaining included academic ambitions, activities requiring sobriety and parental influence. Students reported universal information-based prevention to be irrelevant and hesitation to use selective prevention interventions due to fear of being reported to authorities. Suggested universal prevention concerned reliable information from credible sources, stricter substance control measures for those providing substances, parental involvement, and social leisure activities without substance use. Suggested selective prevention included guaranteed confidentiality and non-judging encounters when seeking help. CONCLUSIONS: Future research on substance use prevention targeting students in affluent areas should take into account the social milieu and with advantage pay attention to students' suggestions on credible prevention information, stricter control measures for substance providers, parental involvement, substance-free leisure, and confidential ways to seek help with a non-judging approach from adults.

Perceptions of care after end-of-treatment among younger women with different gynecologic cancer diagnoses - a qualitative analysis of written responses submitted via a survey.

BACKGROUND: Less attention has been given to younger adults' psycho-oncology care needs than to children and older adults with cancer. The aim was to explore how care following end-of-treatment was perceived by women treated for different gynecologic cancer diagnoses during younger adulthood. METHODS: A sample of 207 women diagnosed with gynecologic cancer 2008 to 2016, aged 19-39 at time of diagnosis answered one open-ended question regarding important aspects of care after end-of-treatment. The written responses were analyzed with manifest content analysis and presented in relation to the women's diagnoses, i.e., cervical (n = 130), ovarian (n = 57), and other gynecologic cancer diagnoses (n = 20). RESULTS: The analysis resulted in three categories: Unmet long-term supportive care needs, Satisfying long-term supportive care, and Health care organizational difficulties. Over half of the women (66.7%) described unmet care needs. The corresponding figures were 80.7, 63.1 and 50% for women diagnosed with ovarian, cervical and other gynecologic cancer diagnoses, respectively. Satisfying supportive care were described by approximately one quarter of the women (26.1%). Among women diagnosed with ovarian cancer 14% described satisfying supportive care. The corresponding figures were 26.9 and 30% for women diagnosed with cervical cancer and other gynecological diagnoses, respectively. Approximately one quarter of the women, irrespectively of diagnosis, described aspects related to health care organizational difficulties (28%). CONCLUSIONS: The results highlight the importance of good quality care linked to the diagnosis and based on an understanding of the woman's need, desire and expectation of support after end-of-treatment.

Attitudes and Preferences Toward a Hypothetical Trial of an Internet-Administered Psychological Intervention for Parents of Children Treated for Cancer: Web-Based Survey.

BACKGROUND: Clinical trials are often challenged with issues of recruitment and retention. Little is known concerning general attitudes and preferences toward trial design and willingness to participate among parents of children treated for cancer. Furthermore, willingness to participate in internet-administered psychological interventions remains unexplored. In this study, we examined attitudes and preferences of the population regarding study procedures for a hypothetical trial of an internet-administered psychological intervention. In addition, differences in the response rate between modes of study invitation and willingness to engage in internet-administered interventions were examined. OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of this study was to examine attitudes and preferences toward participating in an internet-administrated psychological intervention. The secondary objective was to examine the response rates and help-seeking behavior among parents of children treated for cancer. METHODS: A cross-sectional, Web-based survey was conducted with parents of children who had completed cancer treatment. This Web-based survey examined self-reported emotional distress, prior help-seeking and receipt of psychological support, past research participation, attitudes toward research, preferences concerning recruitment procedures, and attitudes toward different types of trial design. RESULTS: Of all the parents invited, 32.0% (112/350) completed the survey, with no difference in response rate between modes of study invitation (χ21=0.6, P=.45). The majority (80/112, 71.4%) of parents responded that they had experienced past emotional distress. Responses indicated high (56/112, 50.0%) or somewhat high trust in research (51/112, 45.5%), and the majority of parents would accept, or maybe accept, internet-administered psychological support if offered (83/112, 74.1%). In addition, responses showed a preference for postal study invitation letters (86/112, 76.8%), sent by a researcher (84/112, 75.0%) with additional study information provided on the Web via text (81/112, 72.3%) and video (66/112, 58.9%). Overall, parents responded that trials utilizing a waiting list control, active alternative treatment control, or a patient-preference design were acceptable. CONCLUSIONS: Parents of children treated for cancer appear willing to participate in trials examining internet-administered psychological support. Findings of this study will inform the design of a feasibility trial examining internet-administered psychological support for the population.

Women treated for gynaecological cancer during young adulthood - A mixed-methods study of perceived psychological distress and experiences of support from health care following end-of-treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence and predictors of cancer-related distress in younger women treated for gynaecological cancer, and to explore women's needs and experiences of psychosocial support following end-of-treatment. METHODS: Data were collected from 337 gynaecological cancer survivors, 19-39years at diagnosis, using a study-specific questionnaire and the Swedish Quality Register of Gynaecologic Cancer. Predictors of distress were investigated with multivariable logistic regression analysis. Open-ended questions were analysed with content analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of cancer-related distress was 85% (n=286) including fear of cancer-recurrence (n=175, 61%), anxiety (n=152, 53%), depression (n=145, 51%), fear of death (n=91, 32%), concerns regarding sexuality (n=87, 34%) and fertility (n=78, 27%), and changed body image (n=78, 27%). Multi-modal treatment (OR 2.25, 95% CI 1.13-4.49) and a history of psychological distress (OR 3.44, 95% CI 1.41-8.39) predicted cancer-related distress. The majority of women experiencing distress also reported a need for support after end-of-treatment (n=205, 71%). One-third of those receiving support reported the received support as inadequate (n=55, 34%). Eight categories described reasons for not seeking support, e.g., lacked strength to seek professional support and too busy managing every-day life and, wanted help but did not know who to turn to. Four categories described reasons for not receiving sought support e.g., found it difficult to openly express feelings, psychosocial care was under-dimensioned, insufficient and unprofessional. CONCLUSION: Results identify the importance of support and longer-term follow-up for young survivors of gynaecological cancer. The support needs to be organised to meet this group's specific needs.

Evaluation of an electronic diary as a diagnostic tool to study headache and premenstrual symptoms in migraineurs.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate an electronic diary as a tool to evaluate the occurrence and relationship of headaches and premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms throughout the menstrual cycle in women with migraine. BACKGROUND: Menstrually related headache and PMS significantly impact the quality of life of many women. The time relationship of these 2 menstrually related problems is not well understood and not well described. METHODS: Twenty women with migraine experiencing regular menstrual cycles were enrolled in a prospective study designed to date- and time-stamp data, both self- and computer-prompted, headache and PMS symptoms, for 3 consecutive months. A previously validated PMS score was calculated by grading 23 PMS criteria on a scale of 0 to 3 (0 = no symptoms, 3 = severe symptoms). RESULTS: The total number of data entries recorded was 2009, composed of 56 menstrual cycles in 20 migraineurs. Five hundred forty-four entries reported a current, prodromal, or previous headache. The mean daily occurrence of headache increased beginning on cycle day -5, peaked on days +1 to +5, and returned to baseline by day +7. Mean daily PMS scores ranged from 2.4 to 12. Mean daily PMS scores peaked on days -6 to +2 and returned to baseline by day +8. CONCLUSIONS: An electronic diary may have potential as a diagnostic tool in studying headaches and PMS symptoms throughout the menstrual cycle. The occurrence of headache and PMS symptoms in migraineurs follows similar time courses.