Assessing the needs of patients with breast cancer and their families across various treatment phases using a Latent Dirichlet Allocation model: a text-mining approach to online health communities.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to assess the different needs of patients with breast cancer and their families in online health communities at different treatment phases using a Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) model. METHODS: Using Python, breast cancer-related posts were collected from two online health communities: patient-to-patient and patient-to-doctor. After data cleaning, eligible posts were categorized based on the treatment phase. Subsequently, an LDA model identifying the distinct need-related topics for each phase of treatment, including data preprocessing and LDA topic modeling, was established. Additionally, the demographic and interactive features of the posts were manually analyzed. RESULTS: We collected 84,043 posts, of which 9504 posts were included after data cleaning. Early diagnosis and rehabilitation treatment phases had the highest and lowest number of posts, respectively. LDA identified 11 topics: three in the initial diagnosis phase and two in each of the remaining treatment phases. The topics included disease outcomes, diagnosis analysis, treatment information, and emotional support in the initial diagnosis phase; surgical options and outcomes, postoperative care, and treatment planning in the perioperative treatment phase; treatment options and costs, side effects management, and disease prognosis assessment in the non-operative treatment phase; diagnosis and treatment options, disease prognosis, and emotional support in the relapse and metastasis treatment phase; and follow-up and recurrence concerns, physical symptoms, and lifestyle adjustments in the rehabilitation treatment phase. CONCLUSION: The needs of patients with breast cancer and their families differ across various phases of cancer therapy. Therefore, specific information or emotional assistance should be tailored to each phase of treatment based on the unique needs of patients and their families.

The influence of changes in the Chinese COVID-19 prevention and control policies on mental health of medical staff: A network analysis.

BACKGROUND: Shortly after the first outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, the disease spread rapidly around the world. Previous findings reported an increase in mental health problems among Chinese medical staff, but there was a lack of research following changes in COVID-19 prevention and control policies. METHODS: Medical staff were recruited separately in China from 15 to 16 December 2022 (N = 765, wave 1) and from 5 to 8 January 2023 (N = 690, wave 2). All participants completed the assessments of Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and the Euthymia Scale. Network analysis was used to explore the relationships between symptoms both within and across depression, anxiety and euthymia. RESULTS: Medical staff showed worse anxiety, depression and euthymia at wave 2 than at wave 1. Depression, motor, restlessness and uncontrollable worrying showed high centrality (i.e., strength, expected influence, closeness) at wave 1, but higher at peak. Meanwhile, motor symptoms and restlessness showed the strongest connection between different mental disorders at both wave 1 and wave 2. The network structure was stable over time after the relaxation of the infection policy. LIMITATIONS: Our participants were not a random sample and the assessments were based on self-reports. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicated the changes in central and bridging symptoms in medical staff at different stages after lifting of restrictions and the withdrawal of testing requirements, which provided management suggestions for the Chinese government and hospitals, as well as clinical guidance for psychological interventions.

Symptom trajectories in patients with breast cancer: An integrative review.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to synthesize the available knowledge of symptom trajectories in patients with breast cancer and identify predictors associated with these trajectories. METHODS: Whittemore and Knafl's integrative review method was employed to guide a systematic search for literature in four databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and CINAHL). The retrieved articles' publication time was limited to 2010 to 2020, and only peer-reviewed English articles were included. RESULTS: Twenty-seven articles were included. The findings of the relevant studies were analyzed using thematic analysis. They were grouped into two themes: symptom trajectories of patients with breast cancer (symptom trajectories in patients with breast cancer, in patients who underwent surgery, and in patients who received cancer-related treatment) and associated factors (socioeconomic factors, health characteristics, cancer-related treatment characteristics). Newly diagnosed patients tended to report high trajectories of depression and persistent sleep disturbance. Most patients who underwent surgery reported significant sleep disturbance and anxiety shortly after surgery. For patients who received cancer-related treatment, only a small proportion had a high level of physical activity after cancer-related therapy over time. A high body mass index, a low relationship quality, parental responsibilities, insufficient social support, a low educational background, and an unhealthy lifestyle may increase the risk of negative symptom trajectories in patients with breast cancer. Additionally, old patients were more likely to report cognitive impairment after chemotherapy, while young patients tended to report trajectories of persistent sexual dysfunction. Concurring symptoms and poor health status also contributed to adverse symptom trajectories. CONCLUSION: The findings of this review add to the body of knowledge of the interindividual variability of symptom trajectories in patients with breast cancer. Despite the overall similarity in appraisal at baseline, the patients reported varied symptom trajectories over time. It is recommended that nurses consider sociodemographic, clinical and cancer-related treatment characteristics and perform targeted early preventive interventions for patients with breast cancer.

Psychometric validation of the Chinese version of the PROMIS Social Relationships Short Forms.

AIM: This study aimed to culturally adapt and psychometrically validate the PROMIS Social Relationships Short Forms (PROMIS-SR) among Chinese patients with breast cancer. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. METHOD: The PROMIS-SR was translated into simplified Chinese by strictly adhering to the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy translation method and was subsequently tested among patients with breast cancer (N = 965). Eligible patients filled out the demographic information questionnaire, the PROMIS-SR, and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast. RESULTS: Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) provided support for the original structure of the PROMIS-SR. All instruments reported strong known-group, cross-cultural and convergent validity, as hypothesized. Correlation coefficients ranged from 0.67 to 0.85, and Cronbach's α of all items were high (0.90-0.94).

Psychiatric-mental health education with integrated role-play and real-world contact can reduce the stigma of nursing students towards people with mental illness.

Stigma and negative attitudes towards people with mental illness are frequently found among nursing students. Interventions targeting mental illness stigma are the critical elements in altering the status. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of the psychiatric-mental health education with role-play and real-world contact on stigma of nursing students towards people with mental illness in China. A single group pretest and posttest study design was adopted and total 373 students were recruited whilst 343 completed the course. We integrated the role-play and contact with patients in the routine psychiatric-mental health education. After the education was completed, the students' stigma towards people with mental illness were positively changed (pretest mean score of stigma: 53.77, posttest mean score of stigma: 49.01, 95% CI: 2.63-6.87) and their willingness to care for the people with mental illness was also significantly increased (pretest mean score of willingness: 5.45, posttest mean score of willingness: 7.38, 95% CI: -2.22--1.65). The psychiatric-mental health education especially with integrated role-play and real-world contact is an effective way to reduce nursing students' stigma and negative attitudes towards people with mental illness and increases their willingness to care for people with mental illness.

Exercise interventions for improving physical function, daily living activities and quality of life in community-dwelling frail older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

This review reports the most current evidence on the effects of exercise interventions on improving physical function, daily living activities and quality of life in community-dwelling frail older adults. CBMdisc, CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (Central), Pubmed, Embase, Web of Science and EBSCO were searched from inception to July 2019. Exercise interventions were found to improve knee extension strength and normal speed and were beneficial in lower Time up and go test (TUG) and improving semi-tandem, Berg balance scale (BBS), Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), Physical Performance Test (PPT) and Activities of daily living (ADL). Further well-designed studies are needed to explore the most effective intervention type and dose.

Predictors of self-neglect among community-dwelling older adults living alone in China.

Little is known about the prevalence of self-neglect and its predictors among community-dwelling older adults living alone in China. The present study was conducted among 181 older adults living alone in Nanjing, China. Self-neglect was assessed using a self-neglect screening scale. Participants' sociodemographic data, social network, functional ability, cognitive function, and depression level were also collected through a set of questionnaires. The prevalence of self-neglect among this group of older adults was 23.2%, which is comparative to their counterparts in Korea and in the United States. Only depression (ß = 0.361, p < 0.001) and monthly income (ß = -0.159, p = 0.025) were identified as significant predictors of self-neglect, accounting for 27.1% of the variance. Understanding self-neglect and its predictive factors is essential to provide culturally relevant and tailored interventions to enhance the confidence and self-care abilities of older adults to maintain their health and well-being.

Exploring Meaning in the Life of Chinese Breast Cancer Survivors.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide, and spiritual fulfillment such as experiencing meaning in life plays an important role in coping with the disease. OBJECTIVE: The objectives of this study were to explore and understand Chinese breast cancer survivors' perspective on meaning in life. METHODS: This study used Grounded Theory; 23 participants were recruited using convenience sampling, purposive sampling, and theoretical sampling. Semistructured interviews were conducted, and the data were analyzed using open coding, axial coding, and selective coding. RESULTS: A core category emerged as "satisfaction with my life" to explain Chinese breast cancer survivors' perspective of meaning in life, and 4 subcategories described the core category including (1) living a healthy and peaceful life, (2) having a good relationship with others, (3) achieving purpose in life, and (4) fulfilling responsibility. CONCLUSION: Chinese breast cancer survivors value physical health as well as spiritual fulfillment. The experience of adapting to life with cancer, having a good relationship with others, pursuing life goals, and fulfilling responsibility consists of a satisfying life, which makes life more meaningful. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Health providers should pay more attention to survivors' experience of meaning in life and help them enhance meaning in life and improve their quality of life through building good relationship with others, achieving purpose in life, and fulfilling responsibility for family and society.

Development of the Chinese version of Meaning in Life Scale for cancer patients and psychometric evaluation.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To develop a Meaning in Life Scale for cancer patients in Chinese version and to test the validity and reliability. BACKGROUND: Meaning in life is a protective factor of psychological well-being and is negatively related to depression and demoralisation among cancer patients. The existing scales measuring meaning in life are mostly designed in English and there is no scale designed for Chinese cancer patients based on Chinese cultural background. DESIGN: Process of instrument development and psychometric evaluation were used. METHODS: Items were generated from literature review and a focus group interview. Delphi technique was used to test the content validity. Item analysis and exploratory factor analysis were performed with data from 251 cancer patients. The internal consistency of the scale was tested by Cronbach's alpha. RESULTS: A 25-item Meaning in Life Scale in Chinese version with five domains was developed. The five factors explained 62·686% of the variance. The Cronbach's alpha for the total scale was 0·897. CONCLUSIONS: The Meaning in Life Scale in Chinese version has acceptable internal consistency reliability and good content validity and acceptable construct validity. The content of the scale reflected the attitudes of cancer patients towards meaning in life based on Chinese cultural background. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The Chinese version of Meaning in Life Scale for Cancer Patients appears to be a new scale to assess meaning in life among Chinese cancer patients exactly and the concept of meaning in life presented in this scale provides new ideas of meaning intervention in routine clinical practice.