Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Education For Healthcare Professionals On Protocol For Prostate Cancer Screenings On Inmates, Heather Ackerman, Randi Janae Ballard

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Cancer is the leading cause of death for incarcerated individuals, prostate cancer awareness and screening guidelines are essential areas of focus for healthcare professionals (Puglisi et al., 2021). Prostate cancer screenings recommend that males between the age of 55-69 be informed of evidence-based guidelines and offered these screenings as a part of routine health maintenance (USPSTF, 2018). In 2019, the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) was ordered to follow these guidelines for incarcerated individuals (Raba, 2021). As of 2021, the IDOC had yet to implement these screenings for incarcerated individuals within the state facilities. Two separate one-hour educational sessions regarding …

Implementing Distress Screening And Hospital Management Of Oncology Patients With Distress, Rhezarie Mae Agtarap

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Of the nearly 2 million new cancer cases projected to occur in the United States in 2022, up to 65% of patients may be hospitalized in the first year of their diagnosis. Hospitalized oncology patients have been documented to experience psychological distress during their hospitalization related to physical and emotional challenges related to their disease. In ***, a tertiary hospital located in ***, Oregon, hospitalized cancer patients with hematologic malignancies and aggressive or advanced solid cancers have verbalized distress, including depression, anxiety, feelings of isolation, and fatigue during prolonged hospital stays. According to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), distress …

Cameroonian Women's Experiences In Seeking Breast Cancer Screening And Preventive Services, Cynthia N. Moore

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy For Cancer Patients With Radiation-Induced Tissue Injuries, Abigail R. Roy, Julia Shannon, Sampaguita French, Daniel Weaver

Non-Thesis Student Work

Cancer, secondary to cardiovascular disease, is the leading cause of death worldwide (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d.). Radiation is a standard cancer therapy, however it can cause fibrosis of blood vessels, the breakdown of soft tissue, and subsequently lead to necrosis. When caring for cancer patients, it is imperative to consider the lasting effects interventions pose on their long-term health. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is a healing treatment consisting of administering 100% oxygen to the body in a pressurized chamber; in turn, HBOT facilitates capillary regrowth, blood flow restoration, and increased efficiency of wound healing time. The efficacy …

A Multidisciplinary Approach To Managing Financial Toxicity In Oncology Patients, Katelin Muse

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Patients with a cancer diagnosis are counseled at length about the standard of care treatment options, which may include surgery, radiation, anticancer medications, and chemo/immunotherapy through an informed consent process. Unfortunately, the potential economic burden and the accompanying psychological burden is seldom discussed up front. There is a significant need for routine screening and a multidisciplinary approach to the prevention of financial toxicity for the oncology patient. The purpose of this doctoral project was to lead an interprofessional team in the development of a clinical practice guideline for routine financial screening using the Comprehensive Score for Financial Toxicity (COST) tool …

A Multidisciplinary Approach To Managing Financial Toxicity In Oncology Patients, Katelin Muse

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Patients with a cancer diagnosis are counseled at length about the standard of care treatment options, which may include surgery, radiation, anticancer medications, and chemo/immunotherapy through an informed consent process. Unfortunately, the potential economic burden and the accompanying psychological burden is seldom discussed up front. There is a significant need for routine screening and a multidisciplinary approach to the prevention of financial toxicity for the oncology patient. The purpose of this doctoral project was to lead an interprofessional team in the development of a clinical practice guideline for routine financial screening using the Comprehensive Score for Financial Toxicity (COST) tool …

Evaluating The Symptoms And Treatment-Related Knowledge Of Cancer Patients Receiving Chemotherapy In A Tertiary Care Hospital, Kiran Nawaz Ali

Theses & Dissertations

Background: Cancer has become the leading source of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Its prevalence is rising and high-risk behaviours are being adopted by the people in society. Knowledge about cancer and its management helps in adjusting the resource allocations and in terms of public health policy. Moreover, patient education about symptoms, treatment, and side effects is crucial and must be addressed.
Knowledge about cancer, its side effects, and the possible treatment outcomes is essential, as it helps in deciding about adherence to the treatment. It is observed that many oncology patients have information gaps related to cancer and chemotherapy. However, …

Improving Oncofertility Discussions And Referrals: Implementation Of A Formal Fertility Preservation Program, Mackenzie Danielle Browning, Melissa Marie Hessock

Graduate Publications and Other Selected Works - Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

BACKGROUND: Impaired fertility is a risk of life-saving cancer treatment in adolescents and young adults (AYAs). Despite this known risk and clinical practice guidelines that stress their importance, treatment-associated fertility risk education and preservation referrals are often neglected in this population.

LOCAL PROBLEM: The site of this evidence-based practice improvement project is an outpatient hematology-oncology clinic serving adults with varying cancer diagnoses. The site did not have a standardized approach to ensure treatment-associated fertility risk education and fertility preservation referrals were provided to AYAs with newly diagnosed cancer. The purpose of this project was to implement a formal fertility preservation …

Early Palliative Care Screening Among Solid Tumor Oncology Patients, Kaitlin Lothe

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

While there are extensive benefits of integration of early palliative care, referral to this specialty tends to occur late in the disease course after some form of suffering has already occurred (Hausner et al., 2021). The purpose of this DNP student’s quality improvement project was to improve care coordination and increase rate of palliative care referrals of solid tumor oncology patients through implementation of an evidence-based trigger tool for palliative care screening. Participants were recruited from a 36-bed inpatient adult medical oncology unit where identified patients meeting criteria were included in the study. Data for this study included participant demographics, …

Standardized Patient Education For Patients' Initial Chemotherapy Through An Integrated Telemedicine Platform, Karen D. Dougherty

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Telemedicine has demonstrated a high level of satisfaction in a variety of health settings as a safe and efficient method of delivering healthcare. The purpose of this project was to implement an Advanced Practice-led Quality Improvement (QI) initiative pilot to evaluate the standardization of chemotherapy education through an integrated telemedicine platform. This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project used interventions noted in the literature review to assess and evaluate core concepts of knowledge, satisfaction, utilization, and program acceptance. This project aimed to utilize evidence-based processes to increase knowledge about the chemotherapy treatment routine, to raise awareness and develop skills to …

Meditation-Type Exercise For The Management Of Chemotherapy Related Cognitive Impairment In Breast Cancer Patients, Christine Cain

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

Chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment (CRCI), or “chemobrain”, is one of the most troublesome side effects of chemotherapy (Dijkshoorn et al., 2020). Ongoing CRCI may negatively affect relationships, confidence, sleep, fatigue, anxiety, and the ability to return to work activities leading to a decreased quality of life (Johns et al., 2016; Gokal et al., 2018). The purpose of this evidence-based practice (EBP) project was to assess the efficiency of a meditation-type exercise intervention, chair yoga, on decreasing perceived cognitive impairment (PCI) in breast cancer patients. The PICOT question for this project was: In breast cancer patients with chemotherapy related cognitive impairment (P), …

Development Of An Advanced Practice Provider Diagnostic Clinic Within An Oncology Practice, Abigail Jean Voss

Culminating Experience Projects

Background: The process of diagnosing cancer and the time to treatment can influence a patient’s experience with diagnosis of cancer at a later stage being associated with poorer cancer outcomes and decreased quality of life post-treatment. With increasingly complex oncologic imaging and pathology findings, effective interventions for early diagnosis of cancer requires a cohesive approach including referral, diagnosis, staging, and treatment phases. Objectives: The aim of this article is to outline the program development efforts initiated to apply current literature findings and organizational assessment to create a program development toolkit and business plan for an Advanced Practice Provider …

Race, Gender, Physical Activity, And Cancer: A Quantitative Investigation, Shawna A. Townsend

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Black women are more likely to die from cancer than any other population in the United States. Physical activity is known to be associated with preventing and reducing cancer burden. However, Black women are less physically active than their White counterparts and have a higher prevalence of diseases related to lack of physical activity than any other female group. To better understand these issues, this study employed the self-and-family management framework and intersectionality as theoretical frameworks through a secondary analysis of the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) dataset and hierarchical regression modeling to examine the relative impact of (a.) …

Sit Less, Move More: A National Study Of Physical-Activity Behavior And Cancer, Stella O. Nwogugu

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Background: Physical activity is associated with lower risks of cancer, the second leading cause of death among Americans. Yet, sedentary behavior is the prevailing lifestyle for about 80% of American adults. Additionally, cancer survivors remain significantly inactive, even though physical activity has been shown to decrease risk of cancer and cancer recurrence, improve tolerance of cancer therapy, and reduce mortality. This research explores the relative impact of personal agency, social support, and key demographic variables on physical-activity behavior for a national sample of adults as well as how these relationships differ for cancer survivors and their counterparts.

Methods: Using the …

Nutritional Medicine: Education For Advanced Practice Providers, Natalie Organ

DNP Research Projects

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The project's primary goal was to educate the APP and develop positive attitudes and beliefs concerning plant-based nutrition regarding obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. The project addressed a crucial gap in healthcare education. APPs were not routinely given the chance to learn nutritional medicine, leading to decreased confidence in providing nutritional guidance in clinical practice.

METHODS: The DNP project participants were practicing advanced practice providers. The Knowledge, Attitude, Behavior (KAB) education theory and CREATION Life were used. This project used Qualtrics to send a pre-and post-intervention survey titled Student Survey for Nutritional Medicine. The intervention was a …

Using Family Focused-Care Solutions To Improve Child’S Quality Of Life, Joshua M. Del Sol

Nursing | Senior Theses

Chronic illness in children impacts not only themselves but their families too. Everyone in the family supports each other and provides each other with pretty much all our physiological needs including our emotional needs. Parents/caregivers are the role models for their young children and really shape the person they become because basic values and their early relationships are formed. A family provides that consistent balance in our life that is the center of our life at a young age. When children are diagnosed with a chronic illness, parents may feel responsible, ashamed, guilty, or angry. Families may turn on each …

Reducing Nausea With Medical Marijuana In Adult Patients Receiving Iv Chemotherapy, Katelyn R. Miller, Katie Harder, Angie Timms, Mia Pothier

Non-Thesis Student Work

The use of medical marijuana has been a trending topic in recent years. As marijuana and THC become legalized in numerous states, there has been more consideration for providers to prescribe THC to patients. One specific population that benefits from the use of medical THC are patients in chemotherapy because of the nausea these patients experience. The question arises: does medical marijuana edibles consumed before IV chemotherapy treatment decrease or eliminate the need for nausea medication such as Zofran in adults over 18 years of age? A literature search was conducted on CINAHL, OneSearch, and Nursing Reference Center Plus using …

Implementation Of A Functional Pain Scale In An Adult Cancer Center, Kristine Pantchenko

DNP Projects

Background: Best practices include assessing functional status in addition to pain intensity in patients with cancer experiencing pain. The Defense and Veterans Pain Rating Scale (DVPRS) is an effective tool for assessing pain intensity and functional status in patients with cancer.

Objective: To improve pain assessment among outpatient oncology patients in an adult cancer center by implementing the DVPRS and evaluating patient and nurse satisfaction with this tool.

Methods: The Model for Healthcare Improvement was followed for the planning, implementation, and evaluation of this project. Nurses completed an online education module and self-assessment quiz before an in-person simulation checkoff demonstrated …

Nurse-Led Education On Oral Chemotherapy Medications, Carmen Lucia Glick Alonso

Master's Projects and Capstones

Problem: Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer death among women in the United States. Annually, around 264,000 breast cancer cases are diagnosed in women and 2,400 in men (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022). According to the American Cancer Society, the risk of a woman in the United States being diagnosed with breast cancer in their life is around 13% (2022).

Context: Along with a cancer diagnosis comes the need to introduce patient education about new oral chemotherapy treatments. As a treatment team member, the oncology nurse plays a vital role in this …

The Crucial Role Of Nurses In Promoting Quality Of Life Of Cancer Patients Through Therapeutic Communication, Yvonne Tan

Honors Program Contracts

No abstract provided.

Prevalence, Distribution, And Histopathological Features Of Malignant Tumors Reported At Tertiary Level In Afghanistan: A 3-Year Study, Haider Ali Malakzai, Ahmed Maseh Haidary, Saleema A. Gulzar, Mujtaba Haidari, Abdul Sami Ibrahimkhil, Ramin Saadaat, Ahmadullah Hakimi, Sayed Murtaza Sadat Hofiani, Soma Rahmani, Jamshid Abdul Ghafar

School of Nursing & Midwifery

Purpose: Cancer is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity, and therefore, tremendous research work is continuously being done around the world with consideration of etiopathogenesis as well as identification of therapeutic targets. Decades of continuous war in Afghanistan has left the medical infrastructure of the country in a miserable situation. There is a serious deficiency in research work in the fields of pathology and oncology at the moment with minimal data available to elaborate about the demographic characteristics of various malignant disorders in the country, which would be indispensable to pave the way for further research and …

The Lived Experiences Of Middle Eastern Immigrant Women During Their Cancer Survivorship Journey: A Phenomenological Study, Enam Alsrayheen, Khaldoun Aldiabat, Catherine Aquino-Russell

The Qualitative Report

The number of Middle Eastern immigrant women (MEIW) living in Canada has significantly increased. However, this group of women is underrepresented in health research and there is a gap in knowledge of their cancer survivorship experiences in Canada. This phenomenological qualitative approach was employed to uncover the meaning of the lived experiences of MEIW during their cancer survivorship journey (CSJ). Data were collected through unstructured interviews and one written description from three MEIW. The participants' perspectives of cancer risk factors were believed to be the cause of their cancer, and their CSJ was fear-inducing and anxiety-provoking. There appears to be …

Doubling Down On Sepsis: A Quality Improvement Project To Improve Sepsis Bundle Compliance On An Inpatient Oncology Unit, Kayla Slay

Dissertations

Problem: Sepsis is a leading cause of death worldwide, and the second most common cause of death in cancer patients. Early management of sepsis through use of sepsis bundles have been shown to improve patient outcomes, yet bundle adherence is unfortunately inconsistent.

Methods: A two-nurse team, called the Sepsis Sidekicks, was a process improvement initiative to increase compliance with the center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) sepsis bundle and improve patient outcomes related to sepsis. The observational quality improvement project utilized a Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) model over a six-week period where quantitative data was collected using a retrospective chart review. …

The Ketogenic Diet: Its Effectiveness As An Adjuvant Therapy For Cancer, Rheaonn Marin

Nursing | Senior Theses

This paper explores a total of six research studies and will contain a literature review and proposal for further study regarding the effectiveness of the ketogenic diet as an adjuvant cancer therapy. Each study addresses a variety of different factors involved in KD implementation, ranging from effects on body composition and lipid profiles, to self-proclaimed quality of life, to tumor expression and progression under a KD regime. Ultimately, each were divided into three separate categories depending on the aspects of research that were covered. Two studies, by Hagihara et.al and Jansen and Walach respectively, discuss the potential benefits of KD …

Dnp Final Report: Psychosocial Screening For Oncology Patients, Robyn V. Beard

DNP Final Reports

Background: Patients with cancer often face severe distress related to fear of death, body disfigurement, financial stress, and lack of support system. This distress may lead to physical and emotional symptoms that bring patients to seek care at emergency departments, delay care or make poor health choices, and increase utilization of prescription drugs. With the already over burdened healthcare system, addressing these psychosocial needs is vital to improving patients outcomes as well as improving healthcare expenditure. Purpose: The purpose of this evidence based practice project was to improve perceived quality of life for oncology patients through detailed screening and behavioural …

The Impact Of Dietary Fiber On Breast Cancer Incidence, Peyton North

Epsilon Sigma at-Large Research Conference

Abstract

Introduction & Background

The role of dietary fiber in breast cancer etiology remains unclear. A negative correlation may be due to fiber’s ability to stave off obesity and aid in the extraction of serum estrogen, two known risk factors for the disease. Effects may differ by source, and type, of fiber. Most of the data available is from research with non-Hispanic white women. However, fiber intake may vary significantly across cultures.

Purpose Statement & Question

The research sought to investigate whether an increased intake of dietary fiber was associated with a corresponding decrease in the incidence of breast cancer. …

The Experiences And Needs Of Individuals With A Variant Of Uncertain Significance (Vus) On Genetic Tests For Hereditary Cancer Syndromes: A Grounded Theory Study, Danielle Gould

Doctoral Dissertations

Background: The use of multigene panel testing for identifying individuals with hereditary cancer susceptibility has expanded in recent years. The number of individuals who have a variant of unknown significance (VUS) result is increasing. However, little is known about the experiences and needs of this group. This study’s purpose was to describe the experiences and needs of individuals with a VUS result by focusing on their experiences in communicating with healthcare providers and family members. Methods: A constructivist grounded theory approach was used. Recruitment took place from January–July 2021 through social media: the Prospective Registry of Multiplex Testing (PROMPT), and …

The Efficacy Of The Role Of Therapeutic Play In Alleviating Pain Or Anxiety In Pediatric Cancer Patients, Savannah B. Duke

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of therapeutic play in alleviating pain or anxiety in the pediatric cancer patient.

Background: Therapeutic play is an intervention often incorporated within the care of pediatric cancer patients and children with other disease processes to promote well-being. Even though play therapy is supported by research, nurses have the option to implement nursing care interventions in a play-like manner. Therapeutic play is an individualized technique that provides an intentional opportunity for children to express their emotional responses in a controlled environment.

Method: The databases used in this search included CINAHL, MEDLINE, APA PsycINFO, ERIC, and Education …

Food Insecurity In Oncology Patients: An Educational Intervention For Nurses, Chinelo Pernilla Onwuazombe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractFood insecurity is not having enough food or resources or not being able to procure nutritious foods. An observation that nurses in one oncology clinic rarely assessed their patients for food insecurity as part of their regular assessment led to the development and testing of an educational intervention for nurses which was to create awareness on the importance of assessing food insecurity among oncology patients and to learn to use the Household Food Insecurity Assess Scale (HFIAS) in assessing patients. Summative evaluation was done using a pre/and posttest. The Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and the Virginia Henderson nursing need theories …

Therapeutic Music Effectiveness In Managing Anxiety And Depression Feelings In Cancer Patients, Aida L. Ramos

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractWith the emergence of advances in health care technology, increased life expectancy has exacerbated the manifestation of chronic disease states such as cancer. The side effects of cancer treatments can lead to feelings of depression and anxiety, which can be as devastating as disease process. Many studies have provided evidence supporting the practice problem, therapeutic music effectiveness in managing anxiety and depression feelings in cancer patients. Available pharmacological treatments may result in additional side effects that may outweigh the benefits of their use. Current systematic reviews of literature demonstrating the effectiveness of therapeutic music use as a non-pharmacological thera-peutic adjunct …