Career adaptability among new oncology nurses: A longitudinal exploration.

AIM: This study aims to explore the longitudinal predictive effect of self-awareness on career adaptability in new nurses at a tumor specialty hospital and the mediating mechanisms of work readiness and transition shock. BACKGROUND: Career adaptability is crucial for the personal development of nurses and also intricately linked to the retention rates among newcomers in oncology nursing. Inadequate career adaptability contributes to higher turnover, which in turn exacerbates the shortage of qualified nursing personnel in this field. There is a pressing need for dedicated research and interventions that support new nurses, especially in specialized areas like oncology, to promote their well-being and career advancement. Comprehending these challenges is essential for devising effective strategies that will retain nursing talent and ensure the sustainability of a robust healthcare workforce. METHODS: Longitudinal data from four follow-up surveys were collected from 248 new clinical nurses at the National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, and Peking Union Medical College. Mediation analyses using R 4.1.2 were conducted to examine the pathways between self-awareness, work readiness, transition shock, and career adaptability. CONCLUSIONS: Self-awareness not only directly predicts career adaptability but also influences it through the bidirectional and chained mediating pathways of work readiness and transition shock. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING AND HEALTH POLICY: These findings equip nursing managers with flexible strategies to foster and enhance nurses' career adaptability, providing targeted support as nurses assimilate into their clinical roles. This not only strengthens workforce stability but also mitigates turnover, ultimately reinforcing the healthcare workforce.

Community Outreach and Engagement in Cancer Research Through a Biobank Clinic at Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Pakistan.

INTRODUCTION: Cancer's increasing prevalence across the globe emphasizes the urgency for continued research, prevention, and accessible healthcare to mitigate its impact on individuals and communities. While there have been significant advances made towards controlling cancer morbidity and mortality in recent decades, Pakistan continues to experience a markedly elevated burden of the disease. With this study, we aim to raise awareness about biobank research within the cancer patient community, fostering participation and collaboration to advance the fight against cancer through vital research contributions. METHODS: In October 2022, we initiated the biobank clinic at Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (SKMCH&RC). Here, patients underwent screening and received invitations to voluntarily participate in biobank research. During these interactions, we engaged patients in discussions about the significance of biobank research, addressed their concerns, and encouraged their participation in advancing our research endeavors. Two-sample independent t-tests were performed to compare the mean number of participants in pre-clinic and post-clinic cohorts. RESULTS: This research involved a total of 958 participants, with 312 participants enrolled before the clinic and 646 participants enrolled after the clinic. We have observed a noticeable increase in the participation of cancer patients in our research endeavors since the inception of the biobank clinic (p-value<0.001). Over an 11-month time frame, we scheduled appointments for 759 patients, and out of those, 656 patients availed themselves to visit the clinic. Impressively, we achieved the enrollment of 646 patients into the clinic, reflecting an exceptional consent rate of 98.47% for their active involvement in our research initiatives. This underscores our commitment to conducting comprehensive discussions and providing thorough explanations regarding the ethical and procedural aspects of our research. CONCLUSION: Biobank clinic plays a pivotal role in raising cancer awareness and fostering research participation, especially in regions with limited healthcare infrastructure and lower literacy rates. It emerges as a community-engagement model that aligns research with local needs, ensuring its relevance and benefit to the population.

Reduction in Average Length-of-Stay in Emergency Department of a Low-Income Country's Cancer Hospital.

Introduction: Prolonged length of stay (LOS) in emergency departments (ED) is a widespread problem in every hospital around the globe. Multiple factors cause it and can have a negative impact on the quality of care provided to the patients and the patient satisfaction rates. This project aimed to ensure that the average LOS of patients in a tertiary care cancer hospital stays below 3 hours. Materials and Methods: The Six Sigma DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control) approach was followed. Results: The average LOS was 166 minutes before implementing interventions. The two primary reasons for the increased length of stay were delays secondary to physician assessment and diagnostic lab reports. Strategies were defined to control these factors, which helped reduce the average length of stay to 142 minutes, a 30% reduction. Conclusion: A process improvement model similar to this project is recommended to enhance the quality of hospital services. It will provide valuable insights into the process flow and assist in gathering precise data on the various steps involved. The data collected can then be analyzed to identify potential causes and make informed decisions that can significantly improve hospital processes.

Experiences of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre Biobank during COVID-19 Pandemic.

Pakistan has an approximate population of 228.9 million. In 2020, 178,388 new cancer cases were diagnosed in Pakistan. In 2019, we established the biobanking facility at Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Lahore, Pakistan. Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre is a tertiary care charitable, not-for-profit cancer hospital in Pakistan. In 2020-21, 22,745 new cancer patients were registered in the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre for cancer treatment. The hospital treats around 75% of accepted cancer patients free of charge, regardless of race or nationality. In December 2019, a novel coronavirus SARS-Cov-2 (COVID-19) was identified in China. The World Health Organization acknowledged the COVID-19 outbreak as a pandemic. Pakistan was hit by the first wave of COVID-19 in March 2020. We have highlighted the challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. We emphasized the significance of collaborations between low and middle-income countries' biobanks and international biobanks to achieve the global perspective of biobanking.

Candidemia in cancer patients: features of the taxonomic structure.

The aim of the study was to determine the main Candida species isolated from blood of cancer patients, to compare the taxonomic structure of strains obtained from children and adults with candidemia. In total, during the study period, candidemia was microbiologically proven by blood culture in 81 patients (duplicates were excluded). Patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) accounted for 35,8%. The total number of isolates elaborated was 82 strains of 10 Candida species. In general, in the taxonomic structure of candidemias, C. parapsilosis (61.0%) predominates, C. albicans (20.7%) is in the second place, followed by C. glabrata and C. lusitaniae (3.7% each); C. krusei, C. guilliermondii and C. tropicalis (2.4% each). C. parapsilosis was statistically significantly often isolated from blood compared to C. albicans (61.0% versus 20.7%, respectively, p<0.0001). Candidemia was statistically significantly more often detected in adults than in children (63.0% versus 37.0%, respectively, p<0.002). Moreover, in adults, C. parapsilosis was statistically significantly more often isolated from blood than C. albicans (70.6% versus 15.7%, respectively, p<0.0001). In children, there were no significant differences in the frequency of isolation of C. parapsilosis and C. albicans: the proportion of C. parapsilosis was 45.2%, C. albicans - 29.0%. Rare species were identified in 7.8% of cases in adults, and in 12.9% of cases in children without statistical difference (p>0.05). The proportion of Candida non-albicans during the study period was 79.3%, and C. parapsilosis is the main species in this group (76.9%).

Risk factors associated with death among cancer patients hospitalized for COVID-19 in Mato Grosso / Fatores associados ao óbito entre pacientes com câncer internados por COVID-19 em Mato Grosso

Objective: To analyze the prognostic factors for death by COVID-19 in cancer patients. Methods: Retrospective study based on data recorded in the case notification system for COVID-19 hospitalizations in Mato Grosso. Reported cases of COVID-19 admitted between April 2020 and June 2021 with cancer were evaluated. Absolute and relative frequencies of sociodemographic, hospital care and comorbidity variables were calculated, as well as mean, median and standard deviation of age and length of stay. The odds ratio and its respective 95% confidence interval, crude and adjusted, were estimated using a logistic regression model. Results: 948 cancer patients hospitalized by covid-19 in Mato Grosso were considered, with a mean age of 59.7 years. The proportion of deaths was 34.5% and the mortality rate was 3.73 person-day (95%CI: 3.35; 4.16), with a median time between admission and death of 18 days. The chance of death was greater among patients aged 60 years or older, with chronic lung disease, who were admitted to ICU beds and required mechanical ventilation at the time of admission. Patients hospitalized from April to December 2020 and January to March 2021 had a greater chance of death when compared to those hospitalized between April and June 2021. Conclusions: The chance of deaths due to COVID-19 was greater among hospitalized cancer patients before the period of vaccination of this group in the state and among those older and admitted in worse clinical conditions.

Objetivo: Analisar os fatores prognósticos para o óbito por COVID-19 em pacientes com câncer. Métodos: Estudo retrospectivo a partir dos dados registrados no sistema de notificação de casos de internações por COVID-19 de Mato Grosso. Foram avaliados casos notificados de COVID-19 internados entre abril de 2020 a junho de 2021 com câncer. Foram calculadas as frequências absolutas e relativas das variáveis sociodemográficas, de assistência hospitalar e comorbidades, assim como média, mediana e desvio-padrão da idade e tempo de internação. Estimou-se o Odds Ratio e seu respectivo intervalo de confiança de 95%, bruto e ajustados, por meio modelo de regressão logística. Resultados: Foram considerados 948 pacientes com câncer internados por COVID-19 em Mato Grosso, com média de idade de 59,7 anos. A proporção de óbitos foi de 34,5% e taxa de mortalidade foi de 3,73 pessoa-dia (IC95%: 3,35; 4,16), com mediana de tempo entre admissão e óbito de 18 dias. Foi maior a chance de óbito entre os pacientes com 60 anos ou mais de idade, com doença pulmonar crônica, que internaram em leitos de UTI e necessitaram de ventilação mecânica no momento da internação. Os pacientes internados no período de abril a dezembro de 2020 e janeiro a março de 2021 apresentaram maior chance de óbito quando comparados aos internados entre abril e junho de 2021. Conclusões: Foi maior a chance de óbitos por COVID-19 entre pacientes com câncer internados antes do período de vacinação deste grupo no estado e entre aqueles mais velhos e admitidos em piores condições clínicas.

Cancer and malnutrition were independently associated with a poor prognosis in patients with heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Recent advances in treatment have improved the survival of cancer patients. Such survivors may go on to develop heart failure (HF) later in life. HF and cancer are wasting diseases, and malnutrition is associated with a poor prognosis in patients with HF or cancer. METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients admitted to our hospital with HF from April 2012 to March 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. They were divided into 2 groups: cancer patients (N = 185) and patients without cancer (N = 930). Patients discharged alive and followed by our outpatient clinic were also examined (N = 857, median follow-up period: 794 days). RESULTS: In cancer patients, the geriatric nutritional risk index and prognostic nutritional index were lower and the controlling nutritional status score was higher than in HF patients without cancer; nutrition was disturbed in HF patients with cancer. The in-hospital mortality rates of the two groups were not markedly different; however, cancer patients showed higher long-term mortality in comparison to HF patients without cancer. A multivariate analysis revealed that cancer and malnutrition were independently associated with all-cause death. CONCLUSIONS: The long-term mortality of HF patients with cancer was higher than that of HF patients without cancer. Malnutrition was associated with long-term mortality, independently of the presence of cancer. Multidisciplinary treatment is needed when treating HF patients with cancer.

The Building of a Cancer Center for the Rural Folk.

The requirement of rural folk differs from the requirements of the well-off urbanites. In developing nations, the onus of their healthcare falls upon the doctors practicing in the periphery. Since public awareness and support are minimal, income has to be generated from the poor folk. Hard work and simple living by the caretakers are the cornerstones to divert all profits for further growth of the hospital. Cancer therapy does not always require big investments. Scientific healthcare can be provided to the poor by doctors with good knowledge, hard work, and good skills.

Investigation on the development of interventional radiology discipline in Chinese provincial-level cancer hospital / 中华放射学杂志

Objective:To investigate the current status of interventional radiology discipline in the provincial-level and national cancer hospitals of China, and to provide supportive data for the future systematic construction of interventional radiology.Methods:A questionnaire was used to survey 32 provincial and national cancer hospitals of China. The survey included data such as discipline settings, medical treatment, medical education, and scientific research. Then descriptive statistical analysis was performed based on the data.Results:All 32 provincial and national cancer hospitals of China had interventional radiology services and were equipped with independent wards; the deployment rates of DSA, ultrasound, CT, and radiofrequency ablation equipments were: 100%(32/32), 81.3%(26/32), 40.6%(13/32), and 75.0%(24/32), respectively. Of all 32 hospitals, 27 (84.4%) had performed more than 1 000 interventional operations per year. The proportion of hospitals that had interventional subspecialties was 21.9% (7/32). As for the interventional radiology doctors in these hospitals, the ratio of doctors with a background of medical imaging specialty was 69.6%(256/368); the proportion of doctors with ages ≤ 45 years old was 72.0%(265/368); and the ratio of doctors with a master degree was 79.9%(294/368). Among the 32 hospitals, 22 (68.8%) had more than 500 000 yuan research funds in intervention radiology discipline, and 71.9%(23/32) had intervention radiology discipline postgraduate tutors.Conclusions:The overall development of interventional radiology discipline in provincial-level and national cancer hospitals is good. The discipline development pattern might set a good example for interventional radiology discipline construction in general hospitals.

Dermatologist's role in a cancer hospital: An overview of in-hospital consultations.

As cancer treatment advances, the need for dermatologists in the treatment process is increasing. Cancer patients often experience cutaneous manifestations of internal diseases and dermatological adverse events from chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, and stem cell transplants. These diminish patients' health-related quality of life and negatively affect cancer treatment adherence. To identify the dermatologist's role, we analyzed 893 cases of in-hospital dermatology consultations at the Niigata Cancer Center Hospital during 2019. The number of dermatology consultations was the second highest among all hospital departments. Malignant tumors accounted for 91.7% of the underlying diseases, including hematological, gastrointestinal, and lung cancer as the top three primary cancers. The most common consultation category was inflammatory skin disorders (29.2%), followed by chemotherapy-related skin disorders (23.5%), cutaneous infections (11.5%), skin tumors (9.5%), and continued treatment of pre-existing skin disorders (8.8%). The average intervention time was the longest for continued treatment of existing skin disorders (229 ± 60.6 days), followed by malignant wound management (126 ± 60.6 days) and chemotherapy-related skin disorders (122 ± 60.6 days). The median overall survival time of the 27 patients in the malignant wound management group was 5 months (95% confidence interval, 1.8-8.2 months) from the initial dermatology consultation. Our results show an increasing demand for dermatologists in cancer management. However, the number of full-time dermatologists is insufficient in some Japanese cancer hospitals. There is a need to consider increasing the number of adequately trained dermatologists in cancer medical settings.

The Surgical Legacy of Randolph Lee Clark Jr, MD: First Surgeon-in-Chief and Director of University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center I. Training and Surgical Practice Before Recruitment to University of Texas MD Anderson Hospital.

Dr R. Lee Clark Jr was the first Surgeon-in-Chief and permanent Director of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Hospital, leading the institution from 1946 to 1978. He is known for his visionary leadership as President, but much less about his prodigious activity as a general surgeon and for his academic contributions as a clinical researcher and surgical educator. His general surgery training at the Mayo Clinic from 1935 to 1939 was extensive, having been involved in over 2000 operations. Dr Clark then began a prodigious surgery practice for 2 years in Jackson, MS. He described his clinical practice: "I have done more than 600 major operations a year, of all types-from the brain to the colon". He was commissioned into the Army Air Force in 1942, as Chief of Surgical Services, with 30 surgeons at a 1000-bed hospital in North Carolina. In 1944, he transferred to Wright Patterson Field in Dayton, OH, as Chief of the Experimental Surgical Unit. He published numerous articles about surgical problems in aviation medicine and edited the journal Air Surgeon's Bulletin. His final assignment in 1945 was Chairman of the Department of Surgery at Randolph Field in San Antonio, TX. On 12 July 1946, after a rather turbulent and vacillating recruitment process, Dr Clark received a unanimous vote by the University of Texas Board of Regents to become the first permanent Director and Surgeon-in-Chief, and so, Randolph Lee Clark Jr began the most productive and impactful phase of his career.

Establishment of improved review criteria for hematology analyzers in cancer hospitals.

BACKGROUND: Although hematologic review criteria for general hospitals have been established, they may be insufficient for cancer hospitals. This study aimed to establish the appropriate review criteria for hematology analyzers in cancer hospitals. METHODS: A total of 1003 samples from our hospital were randomly selected for blood smear preparation and microscopic review. The review criteria of the International Consensus Group for Hematology Review (ICGH) and Chinese consensus group were used to obtain the review, true-negative (TN), true-positive (TP), false-negative (FN), and false-positive (FP) rates, as well as the triggered rules. Our review criteria were established by comparing flag or numeric value information of TP and FP samples, adjusting rules to obtain better efficiency, a low slide review rate, and an acceptable FN rate. RESULTS: Overall, 197 (19.64%) samples showed positive smear findings. Compared to the ICGH criteria, the slide review rate of the newly established criteria declined from 51.25% to 39.28%, and the TP and TN rates increased from 17.85% and 46.06% to 23.13% and 55.83%, respectively. The FN rate of the newly established criteria was 3.69%. Another set of samples used to validate the newly established criteria yielded the review, FN, and FP rates as 33.49%, 1.86%, and 25.58%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The newly established review criteria for hematology analyzers enabled the prompt identification, smear, and further verification of doubtful specimens, without a significant increase in the workload, thus improving the efficiency of the review process. This study provided data support for other cancer hospitals to establish review criteria.

Conversion from paper to electronic acute care chemotherapy orders.

PURPOSE: UNC Medical Center converted to an electronic health record (EHR) in 2014. This conversion allowed for the transition of paper chemotherapy orders to be managed electronically. This article describes the process for converting inpatient paper chemotherapy orders into the new EHR in a safe and effective manner. SUMMARY: A collaborative interdisciplinary approach to the EHR transition enabled our organization to move from using paper chemotherapy orders to fully electronic chemotherapy treatment plans in both ambulatory and acute care areas. Active chemotherapy orders for acute care inpatients were reviewed and transcribed by two oncology pharmacists in the cancer hospital prior to being signed by an attending physician. The newly input orders were independently verified by two pharmacists in the cancer hospital inpatient pharmacy. Nurse review of the signed and verified treatment plans, along with reconciliation of the medication administration record ensured a safe transition to the new EHR workflow. Providers benefit from the ability to review treatment plans remotely, track changes, and include supportive medications in one consolidated location. The coordinated team effort allowed for a smooth transition with minimal interruptions to patient care. CONCLUSION: The pharmacist-led, multidisciplinary conversion to electronic chemotherapy orders was safe, accurate, and occurred ahead of schedule for the EHR go-live. Advance communication and planning around scheduled inpatient admissions helped to minimize the impact of the transition from paper to electronic treatment plans. Both pharmacist and physician engagement were necessary to ensure a smooth transition for active inpatient treatment plans.

Preoperative Chemoradiation in Locally-Advanced Resectable Carcinoma of the Esophagus in a Single Rural Cancer Hospital in Western India.

Background The current standard of care for the treatment of surgically resectable carcinoma of the esophagus is preoperative chemoradiation followed by surgery. There is strong evidence that this trimodality approach improves survival as compared with surgery alone. Objective The objective of this study is to determine the feasibility of this approach in a rural cancer institute in western India. Materials and Methods The data of all the 157 consecutively treated patients with locally-advanced carcinoma of the esophagus from March 2013 to March 2017 who were started on preoperative chemoradiation were analyzed retrospectively. Results Of the 157 patients who were started on preoperative chemoradiation, 68 patients underwent surgery. There are various practical reasons for not undergoing the definitive surgery, with the important being the socioeconomic support to the patients during the course of treatment. Conclusion This study gave us insight into the strategic selection of patients for the trimodality approach as well as the need for continuous socioeconomic support throughout the treatment course.

Predictors of skeletal-related events and mortality in men with metastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer: Results from the Shared Equal Access Regional Cancer Hospital (SEARCH) database.

BACKGROUND: Although skeletal-related events (SREs) are linked with a reduced quality of life and worse outcomes, to the authors' knowledge the factors that predict SREs are minimally understood. The objective of the current study was to identify predictors of SREs and all-cause mortality among men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). METHODS: Data were collected on 837 men with bone mCRPC at 8 Veterans Affairs medical centers within the Shared Equal Access Regional Cancer Hospital (SEARCH) database from 2000 through 2017. Patients were followed to assess development of SREs (pathological fracture, radiotherapy to bone, spinal cord compression, or surgery to bone). Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate predictors of SREs and mortality. RESULTS: Of the 837 men with bone mCRPC, 287 developed a SRE and 740 men died (median follow-up, 26 months). Bone pain was found to be the strongest predictor of SREs (hazard ratio [HR], 2.96; 95% CI, 2.25-3.89). A shorter time from CRPC to the development of metastasis (HR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.85-0.99), shorter progression to CRPC (HR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.91-0.98), and visceral metastasis at the time of diagnosis of bone metastasis (HR, 1.91; 95% CI, 1.18-3.09) were associated with an increased risk of SREs. Ten or more bone metastases (HR, 2.17; 95% CI, 1.72-2.74), undergoing radical prostatectomy (HR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.61-0.89), shorter progression to CRPC (HR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.94-0.99), older age (HR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.02-1.04), higher prostate-specific antigen level at the time of diagnosis of metastasis (HR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.14-1.28), bone pain (HR, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.23-1.70), and visceral metastasis (HR, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.23-2.39) were associated with an increased mortality risk. CONCLUSIONS: Among men with bone mCRPC, bone pain was found to be the strongest predictor of SREs and the number of bone metastases was a strong predictor of mortality. If validated, these factors potentially may be used for risk stratification and for SRE prevention strategies.

[A decade's review for the foundation, establishment and development of the Department of Minimally Invasive Gastrointestinal Surgery in Peking University Cancer Hospital].

Department of minimally invasive gastrointestinal surgery in Peking University Cancer Hospital (also named as Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery IV) was established on April 7, 2009. Up to now, ten years have passed since its foundation. As the first department built in specialized cancer hospital, which mainly focuses on laparoscopic surgery, its foundation and development has a very important historical and practical significance in the development of surgical oncology in China. Reviewing the rapid growth of the Department of Minimally Invasive Gastrointestinal Surgery over the past decade, on the one hand, it has benefited from the opportunities of the times and the support of leaders in Peking University Cancer Hospital at that time. More importantly, the progress owes to the pioneering Professor Su Xiangqian, who is brave and innovative, with indomitable spirit and advanced management philosophy. With rigorous training, the ability of the team has been steadily enhanced, the competitiveness has been gradually improved, and the development direction which focuses on laparoscopic gastric cancer surgery and laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery has been established. Now, the Department of Minimally Invasive Gastrointestinal Surgery has become a well-known domestic gastrointestinal tumor center. In the past ten years, under the leadership of Professor Su Xiangqian, the growth of this team is innovative and comprehensive: (1) Introduce the internationally advanced Baldrige medical service management framework, and propose the "management by principle" concept to improve the core competitiveness of the department; (2) Establish an academic brand by laparoscopic standardized surgery training courses for gastrointestinal tumors, promote cooperation and exchange at home and abroad, and participate in international multi-center clinical research projects; (3) Adhere to the "formation of a research-oriented department, conducting clinical and basic research simultaneously" as the development direction; (4) Stick to the core development concept of team building and cultivate professional talents. Looking forward to the future, our team will not forget the beginning of the heart, and move forward! In the next ten years, we will break through ourselves and continue to pursue the higher level!