Feasibility and Impact of an Online Simulation Focusing on Nursing Communication About Sexual Health in Gynecologic Oncology.

Nurses' communication regarding the sexual health of women with gynecologic cancer is suboptimal and may be attributed to their lack of sexual health training and knowledge. Our study aims to document the learning experience, impacts, and feasibility of an online educational intervention activity between oncology nurses and a simulated participant on communication with patients regarding oncological sexual health. Using a qualitative approach, we conducted a feasibility study, which included 11 oncology nurses, and performed semi-structured individual interviews after our simulation exercise. We then conducted an iterative thematic data analysis. The participating nurses found the learning experience positive and satisfactory, despite issues with discussions between learners via Zoom™. Study nurse participants reported positive outcomes in knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, communication skills, and nursing practices. Finally, the educational intervention was found to be feasible. The online educational intervention involving a simulated participant appears to be a satisfactory, feasible, and promising module to improve communication regarding the sexual health of gynecologic cancer patients among oncology nurses. However, further studies are needed to verify this type of intervention's effectiveness and optimize oncology nurses' continuing education in sexual health.

Educational interventions to improve communication about sexual health between nurses and gynecologic oncology patients: A narrative review.

Despite the desire of gynecologic oncology (GO) patients to speak openly about their sexual health experience with nurses, nurses often feel ill equipped to engage in these conversations. There are very few educational interventions available to GO nurses to improve sexual health communication with patients. The purpose of this narrative review is to identify and summarize existing educational interventions in this field. A literature search conducted in three databases, for the years 2010 through 2020, identified 11 papers. The results of the review indicate a mix of nurse training modalities and explore the potential for improving this communication. Existing training programs vary in terms of mode of delivery (online or in person), length, type of instructor, learning strategies and themes addressed. Overall, however, the results show a general lack of sexual health training for nurses caring for GO patients.

Routes of administration, reasons for use, and approved indications of medical cannabis in oncology: a scoping review.

INTRODUCTION: Some patients diagnosed with cancer use medical cannabis to self-manage undesirable symptoms, including nausea and pain. To improve patient safety and oncological care quality, the routes of administration for use of medical cannabis, patients' reasons, and prescribed indications must be better understood. METHODS: Based on the Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines, a scoping review was conducted to map the current evidence regarding the use of medical cannabis in oncological settings based on the experiences of patients diagnosed with cancer and their healthcare providers. A search strategy was developed with a scientific librarian which included five databases (CINAHL, Web of Science, Medline, Embase, and PsycINFO) and two grey literature sources (Google Scholar and ProQuest). The inclusion criteria were: 1) population: adults aged 18 and over diagnosed with cancer; 2) phenomena of interest: reasons for cannabis use and/or the prescribed indications for medical cannabis; 3) context: oncological setting. French- or English-language primary empirical studies, knowledge syntheses, and grey literature published between 2000 and 2021 were included. Data were extracted by two independent reviewers and subjected to a thematic analysis. A narrative description approach was used to synthesize and present the findings. RESULTS: We identified 5,283 publications, of which 163 met the eligibility criteria. Two main reasons for medical cannabis use emerged from the thematic analysis: limiting the impacts of cancer and its side effects; and staying connected to others. Our results also indicated that medical cannabis is mostly used for three approved indications: to manage refractory nausea and vomiting, to complement pain management, and to improve appetite and food intake. We highlighted 11 routes of administration for medical cannabis, with oils and oral solutions the most frequently reported. CONCLUSION: Future studies should consider the multiple routes of administration for medical cannabis, such as inhalation and edibles. Our review highlights that learning opportunities would support the development of healthcare providers' knowledge and skills in assessing the needs and preferences of patients diagnosed with cancer who use medical cannabis.

The early integration of palliative care into oncology care: A rapid review.

With the number of cancer diagnoses and cancer-related deaths on the rise, palliative care is becoming a more important consideration for helping to improve the quality of life of patients and families and the support they receive during their healthcare journey. Accordingly, the early integration of palliative care into standard oncology care would appear to be an underutilized and novel approach that could be used to address the specific needs of palliative oncology patients. Oncology nurses play a central role in this process, delivering care throughout the health continuum, including palliative care. The purpose of this rapid review is to outline the benefits of early palliative care interventions and describe their characteristics. A literature search on CINAHL and PubMed returned five randomized trials conducted between 2010 and 2018. An analysis of these papers showed that the majority of the selected studies concluded that the early integration of palliative care into standard oncology care, which includes such treatments as chemotherapy and radiation therapy, can lead to improvements in quality of life, symptoms of anxiety and depression, and overall survival rate.

The post-treatment return-to-work transition experience for breast cancer survivors under 50 years of age.

The purpose of this study is to explore the experience of cancer survivors less than 50 years of age, as they transition back to work after the end of treatment. Eight survivors took part in this exploratory qualitative study. The results of the iterative content analysis suggest that these survivors want to put their illness-focused life behind them and resume a "normal" existence, of which a return to work is an integral part. The return-to-work transition is also influenced by various personal, family and societal factors that can facilitate or inhibit the experience. Lastly, a number of distinct challenges and a higher level of vulnerability must be taken into consideration by healthcare professionals to be able to better support these survivors transitioning back to work.

Synthesis of self-management strategies used by young adults who have undergone hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: A narrative review.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is frequently used to treat young adults with hematologic cancer. The treatment can cause a range of side effects that require patients to self-manage their symptoms. However, there do not seem to be any studies that review the literature on self-management strategies used by this group. The purpose of this paper is to summarize the self-management strategies used by young adults (18-39 years old) who have received a hematopoietic stem cell transplant for leukemia or lymphoma. A narrative review conducted in the CINAHL, MEDLINE and PsycINFO databases returned 11 papers. An analysis of these data shows that young adults use self-management strategies, including managing their emotions, turning to spiritual beliefs, seeking support from others and changing their behaviours. The results stress the importance of nursing care in supporting these self-management strategies used by young adults who have undergone hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.