Construct validity and responsiveness of a health-related symptom index for persons either treated or monitored for anal high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL): AMC-A01/-A03.

PURPOSE: To determine whether treatment of anal high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL), vs active monitoring, is effective in reducing incidence of anal cancer in persons living with HIV, the US National Cancer Institute funded the Phase III ANal Cancer/HSIL Outcomes Research (ANCHOR) clinical trial. As no established patient-reported outcomes (PRO) tool exists for persons with anal HSIL, we sought to estimate the construct validity and responsiveness of the ANCHOR Health-Related Symptom Index (A-HRSI). METHODS: The construct validity phase enrolled ANCHOR participants who were within two weeks of randomization to complete A-HRSI and legacy PRO questionnaires at a single time point. The responsiveness phase enrolled a separate cohort of ANCHOR participants who were not yet randomized to complete A-HRSI at three time points: prior to randomization (T1), 14-70 (T2), and 71-112 (T3) days following randomization. RESULTS: Confirmatory factor analysis techniques established a three-factor model (i.e., physical symptoms, impact on physical functioning, impact on psychological functioning), with moderate evidence of convergent validity and strong evidence of discriminant validity in the construct validity phase (n = 303). We observed a significant moderate effect for changes in A-HRSI impact on physical functioning (standardized response mean = 0.52) and psychological symptoms (standardized response mean = 0.60) from T2 (n = 86) to T3 (n = 92), providing evidence of responsiveness. CONCLUSION: A-HRSI is a brief PRO index that captures health-related symptoms and impacts related to anal HSIL. This instrument may have broad applicability in other contexts assessing individuals with anal HSIL, which may ultimately help improve clinical care and assist providers and patients with medical decision-making.

Impact of an LGBTQ Cultural Competence Training Program for Providers on Knowledge, Attitudes, Self-Efficacy, and Intensions.

This paper describes the development and implementation of a robust lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) cultural competence curriculum for training health and human service providers across New York State. Between 2013-2018, The National LGBT Cancer Network developed and published Best Practices in Creating and Delivering LGBTQ Cultural Competency Trainings for Health and Social Service Agencies and designed a training curriculum. They also conducted Train the Trainer sessions, and evaluated pre- and post- curriculum knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy and intentions of individuals who attended educational sessions conducted by the certified trainers. Most respondents improved from pretest to posttest, with significant improvements in knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy and intentions. An increase in self-efficacy was significantly associated with pre- to posttest improvement in respondent intention. Future research should focus on what components specifically bolster self-efficacy and intention. Increasing the number of health and human service providers who are trained to address the needs of this population is an important step toward providing culturally competent care.

Feasibility and acceptability of using an IVRS to assess decision making about sun protection.

OBJECTIVE: We developed an interactive voice response system (IVRS), an automated telephone survey technology, to assess real-time decision making about sun protection. We examined the feasibility and acceptability of IVRS in this electronic health (eHealth) context. METHODS: Melanoma patients who underwent surgery referred their first-degree relatives (FDRs) for participation. Eligible FDRs were contacted twice daily (12:30 pm; 5:00 pm) over 14 consecutive days via IVRS to complete a survey about their sun protection behaviors and decisions about those behaviors. RESULTS: Of the 81 eligible FDRs, 69 (85%) consented to the study, and 53 (77%) completed the study. We assessed adherence with the IVRS via the number and pattern of missing survey items across all answered IVRS calls. About 80% of scheduled IVRS calls were answered (1316/1652). Most surveys (93%) of the IVRS-answered calls were completed. To examine acceptability, we analyzed the program satisfaction survey data collected at the end of the study. Most participants viewed the IVRS to be highly acceptable and easy to use. CONCLUSIONS: These findings illustrate that use of real-time IVRS data collection regarding sun protection decision making is feasible and acceptable to higher-risk research participants and could thus be used with time and location-sensitive eHealth support to enhance sun protection decision making.

Reliability and between-group stability of a health-related quality of life symptom index for persons with anal high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions: an AIDS Malignancy Consortium Study (AMC-A03).

PURPOSE: The Anal Cancer HSIL Outcomes Research (ANCHOR) trial aims to determine whether treating precancerous anal high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL), versus active surveillance, is effective in reducing anal cancer incidence in HIV-infected individuals. We evaluated the reliability (i.e., internal consistency, test-retest) and between-group stability of a 25-item ANCHOR Health-Related Symptom Index (A-HRSI). METHODS: ANCHOR participants at least 1-month post-randomization to treatment or active surveillance completed the A-HRSI via telephone. Participants were contacted 7-10 days later to complete the A-HRSI and a participant global impression of change (PGIC) item. RESULTS: Participants (n = 100) were enrolled (mean age = 51.4, 79% cisgender-male, 73% African American, 9% Hispanic) from five ANCHOR sites. Cronbach's α was good for the physical symptoms (0.82) domain and fair for the physical impacts (0.79) and psychological symptoms (0.73) domains. Intraclass correlation coefficients were good for each of respective domains (i.e., 0.80, 0.85, and 0.82). There were no significant differences in PGIC between the treatment (n = 56) and active surveillance (n = 44) groups (F(1,98) = 2.03, p = 0.16). CONCLUSIONS: The A-HRSI is able to reliably assess participant-reported symptoms and impacts of anal HSIL across a 7-10 days of timeframe. Future work will involve the establishment of construct and discriminant validity prior to inclusion in the full ANCHOR trial.

The QuitIT Coping Skills Game for Promoting Tobacco Cessation Among Smokers Diagnosed With Cancer: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Although smoking cessation apps have become popular, few have been tested in randomized clinical trials or undergone formative evaluation with target users. OBJECTIVE: We developed a cessation app targeting tobacco-dependent cancer patients. Game design and behavioral rehearsal principles were incorporated to help smokers identify, model, and practice coping strategies to avoid relapse to smoking. In this randomized pilot trial, we examined feasibility (recruitment and retention rates), acceptability (patient satisfaction), quitting self-confidence, and other cessation-related indices to guide the development of a larger trial. METHODS: We randomized 42 English-speaking cancer patients scheduled for surgical treatment to either the Standard Care (SC; telecounseling and cessation pharmacotherapies) or the experimental QuitIT study arm (SC and QuitIT game). Gameplay parameters were captured in-game; satisfaction with the game was assessed at 1-month follow-up. We report study screening, exclusion, and refusal reasons; compare refusal and attrition by key demographic and clinical variables; and report tobacco-related outcomes. RESULTS: Follow-up data were collected from 65% (13/20) patients in the QuitIT and 61% (11/18) in SC arms. Study enrollees were 71% (27/38) females, 92% (35/38) white people, and 95% (36/38) non-Hispanic people. Most had either lung (12/38, 32%) or gastrointestinal (9/38, 24%) cancer. Those dropping out were less likely than completers to have used a tablet (P<.01) and have played the game at all (P=.02) and more likely to be older (P=.05). Of 20 patients in the QuitIT arm, 40% (8/20) played the game (system data). There were no differences between those who played and did not play by demographic, clinical, technology use, and tobacco-related variables. Users completed an average of 2.5 (SD 4.0) episodes out of 10. A nonsignificant trend was found for increased confidence to quit in the QuitIT arm (d=0.25, 95% CI -0.56 to 1.06), and more participants were abstinent in the QuitIT group than in the SC arm (4/13, 30%, vs 2/11, 18%). Satisfaction with gameplay was largely positive, with most respondents enjoying use, relating to the characters, and endorsing that gameplay helped them cope with actual smoking urges. CONCLUSIONS: Recruitment and retention difficulties suggest that the perihospitalization period may be a less than ideal time for delivering a smoking cessation app intervention. Framing of the app as a "game" may have decreased receptivity as participants may have been preoccupied with hospitalization demands and illness concerns. Less tablet experience and older age were associated with participant dropout. Although satisfaction with the gameplay was high, 60% (12/20) of QuitIT participants did not play the game. Paying more attention to patient engagement, changing the intervention delivery period, providing additional reward and support for use, and improving cessation app training may bolster feasibility for a larger trial. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01915836; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01915836 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/73vGsjG0Y).

Intra-individual study of mindfulness: ecological momentary perspective in post-surgical lung cancer patients.

The period of recovery following a lung-cancer surgery presents unique challenges and psychological demands. The study utilized ecological momentary assessments (EMA) to repeatedly sample mindfulness states in a sample of mindfulness-untrained individuals following hospital discharge. Intra- and inter- individual variability was assessed to examine cancer patients' natural capacity to exhibit mindfulness states during two weeks of recovery. Fifty nine stage I lung cancer patients (61% women, mean age = 66.1, SD = 7.9) completed EMA twice a day for two weeks. Mean level of mindfulness in the sample was low and equaled .49 (SD = .51) on the 5 point scale, with older participants being less likely to endorse mindful states. Net variability in mindfulness, defined as the person-based standard deviation in momentary scores, equaled .42 (SD = .26), ranging for 0 to 1.3 and indicating very modest variability for most participants. Results of the multi-level variance partitioning model revealed 41.4% of variance in mindfulness scores at the inter-individual, 2.4% on the temporal (i.e., .2% weekly and 2.2% daily), and 56.2% on the momentary levels. Findings indicate that, for cancer patients recovering from surgery, the innate ability to exhibit mindfulness is limited. From the methodological standpoint, consideration of intra-individual variability has implications for conceptualization and design of EMA studies.

Initial Development and Content Validation of a Health-Related Symptom Index for Persons either Treated or Monitored for Anal High-Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions.

BACKGROUND: Anal cancer, caused by oncogenic types of human papillomavirus, is a growing problem in the United States. A key focus of anal cancer prevention has been screening for and treating precancerous high-grade squamous intraepithelial anal lesions (HSILs). OBJECTIVES: To develop a health-related symptom index for HSIL using qualitative techniques because anal HSIL and its treatment may have a negative impact on health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and no HRQOL measure specific to this condition and treatment currently exists. METHODS: Expert consultation was used to guide one-on-one concept elicitation interviews with participants to identify HRQOL aspects they attribute to their anal HSIL and its treatment. This resulted in a draft instrument, which was administered to an independent participant sample, where cognitive interview techniques assessed comprehension. RESULTS: Eighteen anal HSIL-related concepts were identified by the expert panel. Across the 41 concept elicitation interviews, 23 items representing physical symptoms, physical impacts, and psychological symptoms were identified to comprise the initial measure, which was then evaluated during three rounds of cognitive interviews (n = 45). Several questionnaire aspects were refined on the basis of participant input, with three additional items added per expert/participant recommendation. One item was removed because of poor comprehension, resulting in a 25-item measure. CONCLUSIONS: Using state-of-the-art qualitative methodology, we have established the content validity of this new instrument, the ANCHOR Anal HSIL Health-Related Symptom Index. Quantitative validation efforts are currently underway. The participant-driven process of developing this tool will facilitate a participant-centered evaluation of the impact on morbidity for treatment of anal HSIL or observation without treatment.

Examining transdiagnostic vulnerabilities among HIV positive smokers seen at three inner city community based organizations.

Investigators have proposed a "transdiagnostic vulnerability framework" that examines the relationship between smoking and broader emotional factors, including anhedonia, anxiety sensitivity, and distress tolerance. Because smoking and depression are more common in persons living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) than in the general population, understanding the relationship between smoking and mental health is critical. The following study aims to characterize levels of clinically significant depressive symptoms and these broader emotional factors as well as the relationship between these factors and smoking-related variables in a sample of PLWHA. This cross-sectional study employed convenience sampling to survey adult clients who attended one of three AIDS service organizations in New York City. The questionnaires assessed sociodemographic and HIV health care variables, tobacco use, and anxiety - and depression-related constructs. 150 PLWHA completed surveys. Among the 118 smokers, the prevalence of clinically depressive symptoms was 53%. Participants with clinically significant depressive symptoms had significantly higher mean anhedonia scores and anxiety sensitivity scores and lower mean distress tolerance total scores compared to participants without clinically significant depressive symptoms (p < 0.001). Smoking cessation treatment for persons with co-morbid psychiatric disorders has been suboptimal and treatment for co-morbid mental health conditions tends to align with disorder-specific treatment. Given that PLWHA are a priority population, further research should address how to best tailor interventions to a group with multiple obstacles to successful tobacco cessation.

Participant characteristics and clinical trial decision-making factors in AIDS malignancy consortium treatment trials for HIV-infected persons with cancer (AMC #S006).

BACKGROUND: Overall, people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) are living longer, but compared with the general population, they are at elevated risk for numerous AIDS-defining and non-AIDS-defining cancers. The AIDS Malignancy Consortium (AMC) is dedicated to conducting clinical trials aimed at prevention and treatment of cancers among PLWHA. OBJECTIVE: To examine patient-level characteristics and perceptions that influence decision-making regarding AMC treatment trial participation. METHODS: PLWHA diagnosed with cancer or anal high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia who were ≥18 years old and offered participation on a therapeutic AMC clinical trial were eligible. Participants completed a 17-item survey assessing sociodemographic and other factors potentially influencing decision-making regarding trial participation. RESULTS: The sample of 67 participants was mainly male (n = 62, 92.5%), non-Hispanic (89.5%) and white (67.2%), with a mean age of 48.3 years. About half of participants were screened for lymphoma studies. Nearly all (98.5%) of the participants learned about AMC clinical trials from a medical provider, most (73.1%) knew little about clinical trials in general, and half decided on trial participation on their own. Altruism was the most frequently cited reason for trial participation. Participant recommendations for improving AMC trial accrual included systems changes to speed access to clinical trials and reduce participant burden. CONCLUSIONS: This formative study highlights the perceived benefits to others, i.e. altruism, as an important factor in trial decision-making, little knowledge about clinical trials in general, and the role of physicians in informing participants about clinical trials. Future research should address knowledge barriers and explore systems- and provider-level factors affecting accrual to AMC trials.

Real-time sun protection decisions in first-degree relatives of melanoma patients.

OBJECTIVE: Melanoma is the most serious skin cancer, and consistent use of sun protection is recommended to reduce risk. Yet sun protection use is generally inconsistent. Understanding the decisional factors driving sun protection choices could aid in intervention development to promote sun protection maintenance. METHOD: In 59 first-degree relatives of melanoma patients, an interactive voice response system (IVRS) on participants' cell phones was used to assess twice daily (morning, afternoon) real-time sun protection usage (sunscreen, shade, hats, protective clothing) and decision factors (weather, type of activity, convenience, social support) over a 14-day summer interval where morning and afternoon outdoor exposures were anticipated. Generalized estimating equations and hierarchical linear models were used to examine the effect of demographics and decisional factors on sun protection choices over time. RESULTS: Sun protection use was inconsistent (e.g., 61% used sunscreen inconsistently). Most strategies were used independently, with the exception of moderate overlap of sunscreen and hat usage. Decision factors were highly relevant for sun protection. For instance, sunscreen use was related to the perception of having adequate time to apply it, whereas shade and hat usage were each related to convenience. Few findings emerged by gender, age, time of day, or year. Significant within-subject variation remained, however. CONCLUSIONS: The findings support continued examination of decision factors in understanding sun protection consistency in real time. Interventions where cues to action and environmental supports work together in varied settings can be developed to improve sun protection maintenance in populations at risk for this common disease. (PsycINFO Database Record

Electronic cigarette use among patients with cancer: characteristics of electronic cigarette users and their smoking cessation outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Given that continued smoking after a cancer diagnosis increases the risk of adverse health outcomes, patients with cancer are strongly advised to quit. Despite a current lack of evidence regarding their safety and effectiveness as a cessation tool, electronic cigarettes (E-cigarettes) are becoming increasingly popular. To guide oncologists' communication with their patients about E-cigarette use, this article provides what to the authors' knowledge is the first published clinical data regarding E-cigarette use and cessation outcomes among patients with cancer. METHODS: A total of 1074 participants included smokers (patients with cancer) who recently enrolled in a tobacco treatment program at a comprehensive cancer center. Standard demographic, tobacco use history, and follow-up cessation outcomes were assessed. RESULTS: A 3-fold increase in E-cigarette use was observed from 2012 to 2013 (10.6% vs 38.5%). E-cigarette users were more nicotine dependent than nonusers, had more prior quit attempts, and were more likely to be diagnosed with thoracic and head or neck cancers. Using a complete case analysis, E-cigarette users were as likely to be smoking at the time of follow-up as nonusers (odds ratio, 1.0; 95% confidence interval, 0.5-1.7). Using an intention-to-treat analysis, E-cigarette users were twice as likely to be smoking at the time of follow-up as nonusers (odds ratio, 2.0; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-3.3). CONCLUSIONS: The high rate of E-cigarette use observed is consistent with recent articles highlighting increased E-cigarette use in the general population. The current longitudinal findings raise doubts concerning the usefulness of E-cigarettes for facilitating smoking cessation among patients with cancer. Further research is needed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of E-cigarettes as a cessation treatment for patients with cancer.

A prospective trial comparing pain and quality of life measures after anatomic lung resection using thoracoscopy or thoracotomy.

BACKGROUND: Minimally invasive lung lobectomy and segmentectomy by video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) are assumed to result in better quality of life and less postoperative pain compared with standard open approaches. To date, few prospective studies have compared the two approaches. We performed a prospective cohort study to compare quality of life and pain scores during the first 12 months after VATS or open anatomic resection. METHODS: Patients were prospectively enrolled from May 2009 to April 2012. Patients with clinical stage I lung cancer who were scheduled to undergo anatomic lung resection were eligible. The Brief Pain Index and Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey were conducted perioperatively and at four assessments during the first 12 months after the operation. Intent-to-treat analyses using mixed-effects models were used to longitudinally assess the effect of treatment on quality of life components (physical component summary and mental component summary) and pain. RESULTS: In total, 74 patients underwent thoracotomy, and 132 underwent VATS (including 19 patients who were converted to thoracotomy); 40 and 80 patients, respectively, completed the 12-month surveys. Baseline characteristics were similar between the two groups. Physical component summary and Brief Pain Index scores were similar between the two groups throughout the 12 months of follow-up. The mental component summary score, however, was consistently worse in the VATS group. CONCLUSIONS: Patient-reported physical component summary and pain scores after VATS and thoracotomy were similar during the first 12 months after surgical resection.

Promoting cancer prevention and control in community-based HIV/AIDS service organizations: are they ready?

Community-based organizations (CBOs) serving persons living with HIV or AIDS face the challenge of an aging population with more chronic diseases. This study assessed cancer programming needs of AIDS service organizations (ASOs) in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut by conducting a community needs assessment. Sixty (58%) of 103 organizations completed the survey. ASOs conduct activities most related to early steps along the cancer care continuum, but they also express great interest in expanding cancer-focused programming into new areas. ASOs have resources or capacities in assisting HIV+ clients with mental health or substance abuse problems, but there exists a need for funding in undertaking or expanding cancer-focused programs. ASOs are receptive to collaborating with researchers on disseminating cancer prevention and control knowledge in their settings. Community-academic research partnerships enable resonant training and technical assistance methods to be explored that will enhance the abilities of ASOs to bring cancer-related programming to their clients.

Impact of symptom burden in post-surgical non-small cell lung cancer survivors.

PURPOSE: Pain, fatigue, dyspnea, and distress are commonly reported cancer-related symptoms, but few studies have examined the effects of multiple concurrent symptoms in longer-term cancer survivors. We examined the impact of varying degrees of symptom burden on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and performance status in surgically treated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) survivors. METHODS: A sample of 183 NSCLC survivors 1-6 years post-surgical treatment completed questionnaires assessing five specific symptoms (pain, fatigue, dyspnea, depression, and anxiety), HRQOL, and performance status. The number of concurrent clinically significant symptoms was calculated as an indicator of symptom burden. RESULTS: Most survivors (79.8 %) had some degree of symptom burden, with 30.6 % reporting one clinically significant symptom, 27.9 % reporting two symptoms, and 21.3 % reporting three or more symptoms. Physical HRQOL significantly decreased as the degree of symptom burden increased, but mental HRQOL was only significantly decreased in those with three or more symptoms. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves showed that having multiple concurrent symptoms (two or more) was most likely associated with limitations in functioning (area under a ROC curve = 0.75, sensitivity = 0.81, specificity = 0.54). CONCLUSIONS: Two or more clinically significant symptoms are identified as the "tipping point" for showing adverse effects on HRQOL and functioning. This highlights the need for incorporating multiple-symptom assessment into routine clinical practice. Comprehensive symptom management remains an important target of intervention for improved post-treatment HRQOL and functioning among lung cancer survivors.

Randomized trial of a presurgical scheduled reduced smoking intervention for patients newly diagnosed with cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Cancer patients who smoke are advised to quit smoking to reduce treatment complications and future cancer risk. This study's main objective was to evaluate the efficacy of a novel, presurgical cessation intervention in newly diagnosed cancer patients scheduled for surgical hospitalization. METHOD: We conducted a parallel-arm, randomized controlled trial comparing the efficacy of our hospital-based, tobacco cessation "best practices" treatment model (BP; cessation counseling and nicotine replacement therapy) with BP enhanced by a behavioral tapering regimen (scheduled reduced smoking; BP + SRS) administered by a handheld computer before hospitalization for surgery. Cessation outcomes were short (hospital admission and 3 months) and longer-term (6 months) biochemically verified smoking abstinence. We hypothesized that BP + SRS would be superior to BP alone. One hundred eighty-five smokers were enrolled. RESULTS: Overall, 7-day-point prevalence, confirmed abstinence rates at 6 months for BP alone (32%) and BP + SRS (32%) were high; however, no main effect of treatment was observed. Patients who were older and diagnosed with lung cancer were more likely to quit smoking. CONCLUSION: Compared to best practices for treating tobacco dependence, a presurgical, scheduled reduced smoking intervention did not improve abstinence rates among newly diagnosed cancer patients.reserved).

Modeling nonlinear time-dependent treatment effects: an application of the generalized time-varying effect model (TVEM).

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this article is to introduce to social and behavioral scientists the generalized time-varying effect model (TVEM), a semiparametric approach for investigating time-varying effects of a treatment. The method is best suited for data collected intensively over time (e.g., experience sampling or ecological momentary assessments) and addresses questions pertaining to effects of treatment changing dynamically with time. Thus, of interest is the description of timing, magnitude, and (nonlinear) patterns of the effect. METHOD: Our presentation focuses on practical aspects of the model. A step-by-step demonstration is presented in the context of an empirical study designed to evaluate effects of surgical treatment on quality of life among early stage lung cancer patients during posthospitalization recovery (N = 59; 61% female, M age = 66.1 years). Frequency and level of distress associated with physical symptoms were assessed twice daily over a 2-week period, providing a total of 1,544 momentary assessments. RESULTS: Traditional analyses (analysis of covariance [ANCOVA], repeated-measures ANCOVA, and multilevel modeling) yielded findings of no group differences. In contrast, generalized TVEM identified a pattern of the effect that varied in time and magnitude. Group differences manifested after Day 4. CONCLUSIONS: Generalized TVEM is a flexible statistical approach that offers insight into the complexity of treatment effects and allows modeling of nonnormal outcomes. The practical demonstration, shared syntax, and availability of a free set of macros aim to encourage researchers to apply TVEM to complex data and stimulate important scientific discoveries.

Development and Alpha Testing of QuitIT: An Interactive Video Game to Enhance Skills for Coping With Smoking Urges.

BACKGROUND: Despite many efforts at developing relapse prevention interventions, most smokers relapse to tobacco use within a few months after quitting. Interactive games offer a novel strategy for helping people develop the skills required for successful tobacco cessation. OBJECTIVE: The objective of our study was to develop a video game that enables smokers to practice strategies for coping with smoking urges and maintaining smoking abstinence. Our team of game designers and clinical psychologists are creating a video game that integrates the principles of smoking behavior change and relapse prevention. We have reported the results of expert and end-user feedback on an alpha version of the game. METHODS: The alpha version of the game consisted of a smoking cue scenario often encountered by smokers. We recruited 5 experts in tobacco cessation research and 20 current and former smokers, who each played through the scenario. Mixed methods were used to gather feedback on the relevance of cessation content and usability of the game modality. RESULTS: End-users rated the interface from 3.0 to 4.6/5 in terms of ease of use and from 2.9 to 4.1/5 in terms of helpfulness of cessation content. Qualitative themes showed several user suggestions for improving the user interface, pacing, and diversity of the game characters. In addition, the users confirmed a high degree of game immersion, identification with the characters and situations, and appreciation for the multiple opportunities to practice coping strategies. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the procedures for translating behavioral principles into a game dynamic and shows that our prototype has a strong potential for engaging smokers. A video game modality exemplifies problem-based learning strategies for tobacco cessation and is an innovative step in behavioral management of tobacco use.

At the intersection of HIV/AIDS and cancer: a qualitative needs assessment of community-based HIV/AIDS service organizations.

Due to advances in treatment, persons living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) are living longer, but with aging, immune deficits, and lifestyle factors, they are at increased risk for cancer. This challenges community-based AIDS service organizations (ASOs) to address the growing cancer needs of persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). Community-based participatory research was applied to engage ASOs in exploring their capacities and needs for integrating cancer-focused programming into their services. Focus groups were conducted with a community advisory board (CAB) representing 10 community-based organizations serving PLWHA. Three 90-minute, serial focus groups were conducted with a mean number of seven participants. Topics explored CAB members' organizational capacities and needs in cancer prevention, detection, treatment, and survivorship. Transcript analyses identified six themes: (a) agencies have limited experience with cancer-focused programs, which were not framed as cancer specific; (b) agencies need resources and collaborative partnerships to effectively incorporate cancer services; (c) staff and clients must be educated about the relevance of cancer to HIV/AIDS; (d) agencies want to know about linkages between HIV/AIDS and cancer; (e) cancer care providers should be culturally competent; and (f) agencies see opportunities to improve their services through research participation but are wary. Agency capacities were strong in relationships with clients and cultural competency, a holistic view of PLWHA health, expertise in prevention activities, and eagerness to be on the cutting edge of knowledge. Cancer education and prevention were of greatest interest and considered most feasible, suggesting that future projects develop accordingly. These findings suggest a high level of receptivity to expanding or initiating cancer-focused activities but with a clear need for education and awareness building. Qualitative findings will inform a large quantitative survey to validate identified themes, which will be applied in developing interventions to assist ASOs in adopting or expanding cancer-focused activities.