Acceptability of an internet cognitive behavioural therapy program for people with early-stage cancer and cancer survivors with depression and/or anxiety: thematic findings from focus groups.

PURPOSE: We developed an eight-lesson internet-delivered CBT (iCBT) program targeting anxiety and depression in early-stage cancer and cancer survivors. To explore the acceptability of the program, we showed volunteers the first two lessons and asked for their views. METHODS: Focus groups (n = 3) and individual interviews (n = 5) were undertaken with 15 participants (11 survivors) with mainly breast (11 of the 15) cancer, who had reviewed intervention materials. Participants were asked to consider the acceptability of the iCBT program content and implementation design (timing, duration). Semi-structured questions guided discussion. Thematic analysis was conducted of participant reactions to the acceptability and/or suitability of materials created for use in a psychological intervention. We took a data-driven (inductive) approach to semantic theme development across the data set. RESULTS: Participants reported high acceptability of the internet delivery format, good engagement and user-friendly material. Participants were broadly supportive of combining depression and anxiety iCBT resources for early-stage cancer patients and survivors. Participants further indicated that a separate course would be needed to address the needs of patients with advanced stage disease. CONCLUSIONS: Participants welcomed the general development of an internet-delivered CBT intervention program to treat patients with clinical depression and/or anxiety. Furthermore, the sessions reviewed were highly acceptable to all participants. Study findings informed researchers on the development of iCBT resources for the cancer community.

Improving quality of life by increasing outings after stroke: study protocol for the Out-and-About trial.

RATIONALE: Almost one-third of Australians need help to travel outdoors after a stroke. Ambulation training and escorted outings are recommended as best practice in Australian clinical guidelines for stroke. Yet fewer than 20% of people with stroke receive enough of these sessions in their local community to change outcomes. AIMS: The Out-and-About trial aims to determine the efficacy and cost effectiveness of an implementation program to change team behavior and increase outings by people with stroke. DESIGN: A two-group cluster-randomized trial will be conducted using concealed allocation, blinded assessors, and intention-to-treat analysis. Twenty community teams and their stroke clients (n = 300) will be recruited. Teams will be randomized to receive either the Out-and-About program or written guidelines only. STUDY OUTCOMES: The primary outcome is the proportion of people with stroke receiving multiple escorted outings during therapy sessions, measured at baseline and 13 months postintervention. Secondary outcomes include number of outings and distance traveled, measured using a self-report diary at baseline and six months postbaseline, and a global positioning system after six months. Cost effectiveness will measure quality-adjusted life years and health service use, measured at baseline and six months postbaseline. DISCUSSION: A potential outcome of this study will be evidence for a costed, transferable implementation program. If successful, the program will have international relevance and transferability. Another potential outcome will be validation of a novel and objective method of measuring outdoor travel (global positioning system) to supplement self-report methods.

Patients undergoing cardiac surgery with asymptomatic unilateral carotid stenoses have a low risk of peri-operative stroke.

BACKGROUND: There is considerable controversy regarding the optimal management of patients undergoing cardiac surgery who are found to have an asymptomatic, unilateral carotid artery stenosis. Prior to 2004, the policy of this Unit was to perform a synchronous cardiac and carotid revascularisation. After January 2004, the policy was changed and patients underwent their cardiac procedure without carotid revascularisation. The aim of this study was to audit the incidence of stroke in the peri-operative period following this change in practice. METHODS: Five-year audit of the 30-day risk of stroke after 61 consecutive open cardiac procedures in patients with unilateral, asymptomatic 70-99% (NASCET) stenoses who did not undergo prophylactic carotid endarterectomy. RESULTS: 61 cardiac procedures; coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)=44, valve replacement=6, CABG+valve replacement=9, CABG+repair of left ventricular aneurysm=2 were undertaken and the 30-day outcomes audited. There were three deaths (4.9%), all due to myocardial infarction. No strokes occurred in any patient in the 30-day post-operative period. CONCLUSION: These results challenge the opinion that the presence of a unilateral, asymptomatic carotid stenosis in patients undergoing open cardiac surgery is associated with an increased risk of peri-operative stroke, sufficient to warrant routine prophylactic carotid revascularisation.