A mixed-methods pilot study of a psychoeducational group programme for nurse managers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

AIM: This mixed-methods pilot study aimed to measure the feasibility and acceptability of a psychoeducational group programme and determine its impact on mental well-being. BACKGROUND: The programme was developed to promote self-care, growth and adaptive coping for nurse managers. The programme themes were resilience, insight, self-compassion and empowerment. METHODS: The sample included 19 hospital-based nurse managers. Outcomes included post-traumatic growth, resilience, insight, self-compassion, empowerment, perceived stress, burnout and job satisfaction. Paired samples t tests were conducted to compare outcomes at baseline to follow-up. Qualitative interviews were conducted. Thematic analysis was used to code the qualitative responses by keyword, which were then aggregated into themes. RESULTS: Participants reported higher post-traumatic growth and psychological empowerment after the intervention. The following six themes emerged most consistently from the qualitative interviews: feasibility of the programme, benefits of peer support, sources of stress, barriers to self-care, sources of strength and sustainability of effects. CONCLUSIONS: The results support the acceptability and feasibility of the psychoeducational group programme. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Health care organizations can support and promote the implementation of programmes to alleviate burnout and improve mental well-being amid the complex demands of nursing management (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04987697).

A thematic analysis of the effects of compassion rounds on clinicians and the families of NICU patients.

The correlation between spiritual wellness and clinical outcomes is widely established in the literature. This thematic analysis illuminates the experiences of clinicians, chaplains, and parents of Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) patients who participated in Compassion Rounds, spiritual care interventions that focus solely on emotional and spiritual well-being, rather than physical diagnoses. Clinicians and families participated in semi-structured interviews and focus groups. The results showed that Compassion Rounds had positive effects on spiritual wellness for NICU parents and their health care providers, while also allowing chaplains to model and provide spiritual care for physicians. Compassion Rounds enabled physicians to learn from chaplains and deliver effective spiritual wellness interventions within their limited available time. Compassion Rounds had a restorative effect on caregivers and have the potential to prevent or overcome burnout, return meaning to the work of clinicians, and create trust within multidisciplinary care teams.

The effect of a performing arts intervention on caregivers of people with mild to moderately severe dementia.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the feasibility and acceptability of a multi-modal performing arts intervention (MPAI) for caregivers of people with mild to moderately severe dementia. The secondary objective was to examine how MPAI might change caregiver burden, caregiver resiliency, and perceived quality of life (QoL) for care recipients. METHOD: The study features a mixed-methods design. Caregivers (N = 32) completed the Zarit Burden Interview (caregiver burden) Brief Resilience Scale (resiliency) and Quality of Life-Alzheimer's disease measure (care recipient QoL) at five study timepoints. Semi-structured interviews (N = 15) documented the intervention's acceptability and caregivers' subjective experiences. Feasibility was indexed through withdrawal and attendance analysis. Braun and Clarke (2006) thematic analysis guided the qualitative analysis. RESULTS: Caregiver burden significantly declined from baseline through final follow-up. Caregiver resiliency and care recipient QoL were not significantly changed but trended up during the intervention until it dropped at the end of the program. Qualitative data suggests the reversal in resiliency and QoL may be explained by caregivers' increased anxiety as the program ended. Acceptability data indicated caregivers were unanimously highly satisfied with the intervention, desiring to continue participation. Feasibility findings provide recommendations for intervention improvements. CONCLUSION: MPAI could reduce caregiver burden and increase resilience for informal caregivers of a person with dementia. Effects drop off quickly at the end of the program, indicating the need for ongoing interventions that provide social support, a respite from the pressures of care recipients' dependency, and the relief that caregivers experience when they perceive benefits to their care recipient's well-being.

Understanding patient experiences in a motivational interviewing intervention to improve whole-person lifestyle among individuals with hypertension or type 2 diabetes: a qualitative focus group study.

PURPOSE: This qualitative focus group study aimed to determine how participants responded to a motivational interviewing intervention and to further explore how it impacted whole-person lifestyle of participants with hypertension or type 2 diabetes. METHODS: Twenty participants attended one of five focus groups. A trained researcher led the one-hour focus groups using a semi-structured question guide. Responses were coded using thematic analysis and were then aggregated into six themes. RESULTS: The following six themes emerged most consistently: (1) the importance of a coach who can connect meaningfully with participants; (2) appreciation of the whole-person approach; (3) the power of "choice" in making health behaviour changes; (4) the effectiveness of goal setting and accountability; (5) the desire for increased contact and follow-up; (6) overall positive experience with mixed clinical results. CONCLUSION: Focus group themes highlighted that this intervention may empower individuals to feel confident in their choices and attain their goals during their health and wellness journey.

Rocktape provides no benefit over sham taping in people with knee osteoarthritis who are completing an exercise program: a randomised trial.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate if Rocktape combined with exercise is more effective than exercise and sham taping in patients with knee osteoarthritis. DESIGN: Single institution, prospective, participant and assessor blinded, randomised study. SETTING: Outpatient physiotherapy department of a tertiary hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-six patients with knee osteoarthritis. INTERVENTION: Participants were randomised to either; 1) Rocktape plus exercise or 2) sham taping plus exercise. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A linear mixed-effect model was used to assess differences between groups over time for the primary outcome measure (VAS at rest and movement) as well as the secondary outcome measures. Secondary measures included the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), 30second sit to stand, 40m walk and stair climb tests. Exercise adherence and analgesia use were recorded via a diary. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, immediately prior to the first tape application and immediately following first taping (both at one week after baseline), then two and five weeks after first tape application. RESULTS: There were no between group differences over time in pain at rest [median Rocktape group 0.035 (IQR -0.1 to 3.0) vs median sham 0 (IQR 0 to 1.6) mean adj diff (0.053, 95% CI -0.17 to 0.27)] or with movement [median tape group 2.45 (IQR -0.5 to 4.8) vs median sham 2.0 (IQR 0.8 to 4.1) mean adj diff 0.072, 95% CI -0.20 to 0.35]. There were no significant differences between groups in any of the KOOS subscales or performance-based tests administered over time. Pain on movement significantly improved over time in both groups, whilst pain at rest only improved at the final time point. CONCLUSION: There was no additional benefit of Rocktape over sham tape in patients with knee osteoarthritis who were completing a home exercise program over five weeks. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical Trials Registry (#NCT02049216).

Evaluation of NICU Healthcare Providers' Experience of Patient Ethics and Communication Excellence (PEACE) Rounds.

BACKGROUND: Neonatal intensive care (NICU) providers may experience distress due to controversial orders or the close relationships they form with neonates' families. A "Patient Ethics and Communications Excellence [PEACE] Rounds" intervention developed at Indiana University proved to significantly relieve distress by facilitating interdisciplinary discussions of clinically and ethically challenging issues associated with pediatric intensive care (PICU) patient care. NICU healthcare providers face similar challenges and will benefit from understanding the potential efficacy of PEACE Rounds in this setting. PURPOSE: This study describes the experiences of NICU healthcare providers who participate in PEACE Rounds and evaluates their perceptions of how it affects their distress levels, contributes to interdisciplinary collaboration, and influences their understanding of ethical decision-making. METHODS: Researchers conducted semi-structured interviews with 24 intervention participants, observed 12 interventions, facilitated a validation focus group, and performed a constructionist thematic analysis and triangulation based on data from transcribed recordings. FINDINGS: PEACE Rounds improved interdisciplinary communication and collaboration and demonstrated restorative value through the benefits of voice and collective support. The intervention may reduce, but not replace, the need for formal ethics consultations. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: PEACE Rounds may potentially improve interdisciplinary communications and collaboration, relieve employee distress, and reduce ethics consultations. IMPLICATIONS FOR RESEARCH: Studies of PEACE Rounds undertaken in other clinical settings, and facilitated by a nurse educator, will help assess the potential benefits of greater reach and access and the efficacy of less structured ethics discussions.

The effect of 96-hour formalin fixation on the immunohistochemical evaluation of estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and HER2 expression in invasive breast carcinoma.

We studied the impact of 96 hours of formalin fixation on estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and HER2 testing by comparing immunohistochemical results from core biopsy specimens fixed under current American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)/College of American Pathologists (CAP) guidelines with results for corresponding resection samples fixed for 96 hours. Samples enriched with cases showing weak to moderate receptor expression on core biopsy were included in the study. Cases were scored using ASCO/CAP guidelines. Of the 47 cases, only 1 case (2%) showed a qualitative change in result. However, this change was a positive ER result (H score, 1) on the 96-hour fixed resected sample compared with a negative ER result (H score, 0) for the core biopsy. Minimal changes in semiquantitative H scoring were noted for ER and PR that were likely due to tumor heterogeneity and/or intraobserver variability as the variation occurred in both directions. ER, PR, and HER2 immunohistochemical results should be considered valid for cases fixed up to 96 hours.

Carcinomas of Distal Fallopian Tube and Their Association with Tubal Intraepithelial Carcinoma: Do They Share a Common "Precursor" Lesion? Loss of Heterozygosity and Immunohistochemical Analysis Using PAX 2, WT-1, and P53 Markers.

As the role of distal fallopian tube as organ of serous carcinogenesis is emerging, additional literature on the role of tubal intraepithelial carcinoma (TIC) as a precursor lesion in a subset of primary peritoneal serous carcinomas (PPSC is emerging as well. TIC although fallopian tube in origin can be genetically related to ovarian/peritoneal carcinomas. The role of PAX2 in primary fallopian tube carcinomas (PFTC)/PPSC is yet to be defined. The aim of our study was to understand if the biologic properties of tumors arising in the distal fallopian tube that remain as PFTC are different when they seed on to the peritoneal surface (PPSC). A panel of 6 polymorphic microsatellite markers corresponding to p53, PAX2, and WT1 tumor suppressor genes were studied. Invasive carcinomas as well as TIC arising in the distal fallopian tube when remain as PFTC appears to exhibit different LOH patterns in comparison to PPSC. PAX 2 LOH patterns might represent a "hidden PAX 2 signature" analogous to p53 signatures. PAX 2 might be an emerging marker for detection of early serous carcinomas particularly in BRCA + women.

Insulin-like growth factor receptor-1 (IGF-1R) expression in normal breast, proliferative breast lesions, and breast carcinoma.

Insulin-like growth factor receptor 1 (IGF-1R) is a receptor protein tyrosine kinase that is activated by ligand (IGF-1) binding and promotes mitogenic, metastatic, and antiapoptotic phenotypes of breast cancer. There is a dearth of studies analyzing IGF-1R expression by immunohistochemistry in breast carcinoma. This biomarker analysis will be important for pharmacologic interventions that target the IGF system. IGF-1R expression pattern was first analyzed in normal breast tissue and a variety of breast lesions (71 diagnoses from 35 patients), followed by analysis in 191 consecutive invasive breast carcinomas. Furthermore, 86 carcinomas treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy were also analyzed. The carcinomas were classified using immunohistochemical surrogate (to molecular classes) markers-estrogen receptors (ER), progesterone receptors, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2. IGF-1R is expressed at moderate level in normal breast tissue which was considered as normal expression. Overexpression and lower expression were defined as higher than normal or lower than normal expression, respectively. Among the benign and noninvasive breast lesions, IGF-1R expression was slightly increased in lesions that are hormonally driven (such as atypical ductal hyperplasia and columnar cells changes) whereas it was significantly reduced in ER-negative lesions (such as apocrine metaplasia). Similarly, in 191 consecutive breast carcinomas, IGF-1R overexpression was predominantly seen in ER-positive+ tumors. The tumor group that consistently showed reduced expression was the ERBB2 group (ER negative/progesterone receptors negative/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 positive). The expression was somewhat heterogeneous in the triple-negative group. IGF-1R expression was not predictive of pathologic complete response or tumor volume reduction in ER-negative tumors, but reduced IGF-1R was associated with pathologic complete response and significant tumor volume reduction in ER+ tumors. Therapies targeting IGF-1R will be useful in majority of ER+ and a subset of triple-negative tumors that express IGF-1R. The consistent presence of IGF-1R in ER+ tumors may explain the lower response rate to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in luminal tumors.

Identification of the most sensitive and robust immunohistochemical markers in different categories of ovarian sex cord-stromal tumors.

Different immunohistochemical sex cord-stromal markers have been previously studied in various types of ovarian sex cord-stromal tumors; however, the sensitivity for sex cord-stromal lineage may vary between markers, and some markers may not be as sensitive in some types of sex cord-stromal tumors compared with other tumors in this spectrum of neoplasms. The goals of this study were to determine which immunohistochemical markers are the most sensitive and immunohistochemically robust for sex cord-stromal lineage within a given type of ovarian sex cord-stromal tumor, and to establish whether there are substantial differences of expression of these markers between different types of sex cord-stromal tumors. Immunohistochemical stains for markers which have known variable specificity for sex cord-stromal lineage [inhibin, calretinin, MART-1/melan-A, CD99, steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1, adrenal 4-binding protein), and WT1], were performed in 127 cases of 5 different types of ovarian sex cord-stromal tumors: adult granulosa cell tumor (n=32), Sertoli cell tumor (n=27), Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor (n=18), steroid cell tumor (n=25), and fibroma/fibrothecoma (n=25). All cases in each type of sex cord-stromal tumor expressed SF-1. Inhibin and calretinin were expressed in all groups of tumors but with a lesser frequency (56% to 100% and 36% to 100% of cases, respectively). All types of tumors except steroid cell tumor expressed WT1. Fibroma/fibrothecoma was the only type of tumor that did not express CD99. The only tumor groups that showed expression of MART-1 were Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor (restricted to the Leydig cell component) and steroid cell tumor (94% and 96% of cases, respectively). The type of sex cord-stromal tumor that was least frequently positive for several of the different markers studied was fibroma/fibrothecoma. Among all tumor groups combined, inhibin and WT1 were the 2 markers showing the most diffuse expression. Likewise, the single marker showing the most optimal combination of diffuse and strong staining (immunohistochemical composite score: possible range, 1 to 12) varied between tumors: adult granulosa cell tumor-inhibin (score 10.0); Sertoli cell tumor-WT1 (score 10.8); Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor (Sertoli cell component)-WT1 (score 10.4); steroid cell tumor-inhibin (score 11.2); and fibroma/fibrothecoma-WT1 (score 8.9). We conclude that most immunohistochemical sex cord-stromal markers have sufficient sensitivity for sex cord-stromal lineage. Although each of the different types of sex cord-stromal tumors has a slightly unique immunoprofile in terms of frequency and extent of expression, these differences are relatively minor for most types of tumors with certain exceptions (eg, WT1 is not diagnostically useful in steroid cell tumor; CD99 is not diagnostically useful in fibroma/fibrothecoma; the only sex cord-stromal tumor for which MART-1 is diagnostically useful is steroid cell tumor; inhibin and calretinin are less diagnostically useful in fibroma/fibrothecoma than in the other types of tumors, but expression in fibrothecoma was higher than in fibroma). SF-1 is the most sensitive sex cord-stromal marker among the most common types of sex cord-stromal tumors. Given the findings relating to sensitivity and extent of expression in this study, and known specificity in the literature, the most informative sex cord-stromal markers to be used for the distinction from nonsex cord-stromal tumors are inhibin, calretinin, SF-1, and WT1 (the exact number of markers to be used should be based on the degree of difficulty of the case and level of experience of the pathologist); however, the utility of immunohistochemistry for the diagnosis of fibroma/fibrothecoma is somewhat limited.

CK5 is more sensitive than CK5/6 in identifying the "basal-like" phenotype of breast carcinoma.

Multiple immunohistochemical stains, including cytokeratin (CK)5/6, are used in a panel format to identify "basal-like" carcinomas. We set out to determine the sensitivity and specificity of the CK5 antibody (clone XM26) and compared its expression with that of CK5/6 (clone D5/16B4) in a variety of breast carcinoma cases. The study was performed on 3 breast carcinoma tissue microarrays (TMAs). TMA-1 consisted of 59 consecutive breast carcinoma cases. TMA-2 (n = 16) and TMA-3 (n = 11) consisted of basal-like breast carcinomas previously characterized morphologically and immunohistochemically at our institution. Of the 86 total cases, 20 were positive for CK5 and CK5/6, 14 were positive for CK5 only, and 52 were negative for both. The sensitivity of CK5 for identifying basal-like tumors was 97% compared with 59% for CK5/6. Both antibodies had comparable specificity of more than 95%. For positive cases, the percentage and intensity of staining was much higher with CK5 than with CK5/6 (P = .0001).

SF-1 is a diagnostically useful immunohistochemical marker and comparable to other sex cord-stromal tumor markers for the differential diagnosis of ovarian sertoli cell tumor.

Immunohistochemistry can be an important part of the diagnosis of Sertoli cell tumor of the ovary, including distinction from non-sex cord-stromal tumors such as the sertoliform variant of endometrioid carcinoma and carcinoid. Several good markers for this differential diagnosis have been identified, particularly inhibin, Wilms tumor 1 gene product (WT1), epithelial membrane antigen, and chromogranin; however, many available markers have limitations to some degree. Steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1; adrenal 4-binding protein; Ad4BP) is a nuclear transcription factor involved in gonadal and adrenal development. In the testes, SF-1 is expressed in Sertoli cells. Immunohistochemical expression of this marker in ovarian sex cord-stromal tumors, including utility for differential diagnosis, has not been rigorously evaluated. As an extension of our previous immunohistochemical studies of ovarian Sertoli cell tumor, expression of SF-1 and comparison with WT1 and inhibin were assessed in 111 primary ovarian tumors: 27 Sertoli cell tumors, 60 endometrioid tumors (including borderline tumors, conventional well-differentiated carcinomas, and sertoliform variants of carcinoma), and 24 carcinoids. SF-1 was expressed in 100% of Sertoli cell tumors but not in endometrioid tumors or carcinoid. WT1 was expressed in 100% of Sertoli cell tumors and 17% of endometrioid tumors; all carcinoids were negative. Inhibin was expressed in 96% of Sertoli cell tumors and 2% of endometrioid tumors (4% of conventional well-differentiated carcinomas); all carcinoids were negative. The extent of expression of all 3 markers was similar in Sertoli cell tumor but greatest for WT1: 63%, 96%, and 78% of cases showed expression of SF-1, WT1, and inhibin, respectively, in more than 50% of tumor cells. Immunohistochemical composite scores combining both extent and intensity of staining in positive cases were calculated for Sertoli cell tumor (possible range: 1-12). Combined extent/intensity of immunostaining was similar for all 3 markers, but WT1 showed the most robust immunoreactivity in positive cases (mean immunohistochemical composite scores for SF-1, WT1, and inhibin: 6.1, 10.8, and 7.8, respectively). We conclude that for the differential diagnosis with endometrioid tumors and carcinoid of the ovary, SF-1 is a sensitive and specific immunohistochemical marker for Sertoli cell tumor and that SF-1 is diagnostically comparable with other good sex cord-stromal markers.

WT1 immunoreactivity in breast carcinoma: selective expression in pure and mixed mucinous subtypes.

Current literature suggests that strong WT1 expression in a carcinoma of unknown origin virtually excludes a breast primary. Our previous pilot study on WT1 expression in breast carcinomas has shown WT1 expression in approximately 10% of carcinomas that show mixed micropapillary and mucinous morphology (Mod Pathol 2007;20(Suppl 2):38A). To definitively assess as to what subtype of breast carcinoma might express WT1 protein, we examined 153 cases of invasive breast carcinomas. These consisted of 63 consecutive carcinomas (contained 1 mucinous tumor), 20 cases with micropapillary morphology (12 pure and 8 mixed), 6 micropapillary 'mimics' (ductal no special type carcinomas with retraction artifacts), 33 pure mucinous carcinomas and 31 mixed mucinous carcinomas (mucinous mixed with other morphologic types). Overall, WT1 expression was identified in 33 carcinomas, that is, 22 of 34 (65%) pure mucinous carcinomas and in 11 of 33 (33%) mixed mucinous carcinomas. The non-mucinous component in these 11 mixed mucinous carcinomas was either a ductal no special type carcinoma (8 cases) or a micropapillary component (3 cases). WT1 expression level was similar in both the mucinous and the non-mucinous components. The degree of WT1 expression was generally weak to moderate (>90% cases) and rarely strong (<10% cases). None of the breast carcinoma subtype unassociated with mucinous component showed WT1 expression.

Sentinel lymph node micrometastasis as a predictor of axillary tumor burden.

The sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) procedure is an alternative method for assessing the axillary lymph node (ALN) status in patients with breast cancer. The SLNB carries the risk of a false-negative result, with patients harboring positive ALNs in the face of a negative SLNB examination. In addition, the significance of a SLNB with cells identified only with keratin or with deposits less than 0.2 mm remains unresolved. We analyzed our SLNB data over the past 5 years in order to determine the relationship between SLN tumor burden and ALN tumor burden. Pathology files for the past 5 years at Magee-Womens Hospital were searched for all SLNB cases that had an axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). Each SLNB case was reviewed and tabulated for breast tumor size, SLN tumor size, and largest tumor size in the ALND. Correlation and frequency distribution were performed for the status of all SLNs and ALNDs. Patterns of lymph node metastasis were recorded and the sizes of the SLN metastases were reported according to the recent Philadelphia Consensus Conference on Sentinel Lymph Nodes and the revised American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging. SLN metastases were classified as immunohistochemistry (IHC) positive if only single keratin-positive cells or clusters were present and were not observed with standard tissue stains, as submicrometastatic (SMM) if tumors were less than 0.2 mm (excluding IHC positive), as micrometastatic if tumors were larger than 0.2 mm but