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Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences

Preservation Of Immune Function In Cervical Cancer Patients During Chemoradiation Using A Novel Integrative Approach., Susan Lutgendorf, Elizabeth Mullen-Houser, Daniel Russell, Koen De Geest, Geraldine Jacobson, Laura Hart, David Bender, Barrie Anderson, Thomas Buekers, Michael Goodheart, Michael Antoni, Anil Sood, David Lubaroff Apr 2013

Preservation Of Immune Function In Cervical Cancer Patients During Chemoradiation Using A Novel Integrative Approach., Susan Lutgendorf, Elizabeth Mullen-Houser, Daniel Russell, Koen De Geest, Geraldine Jacobson, Laura Hart, David Bender, Barrie Anderson, Thomas Buekers, Michael Goodheart, Michael Antoni, Anil Sood, David Lubaroff

Koen De Geest

Patients receiving chemoradiation for cervical cancer are at risk for distress, chemoradiation-related side-effects, and immunosuppression. This prospective randomized clinical trial examined effects of a complementary therapy, Healing Touch (HT), versus relaxation training (RT) and usual care (UC) for (1) supporting cellular immunity, (2) improving mood and quality of life (QOL), and (3) reducing treatment-associated toxicities and treatment delay in cervical cancer patients receiving chemoradiation. Sixty women with stages IB1 to IVA cervical cancer were randomly assigned to receive UC or 4 ×/weekly individual sessions of either HT or RT immediately following radiation during their 6-week chemoradiation treatment. Patients completed psychosocial …


Social Isolation Is Associated With Elevated Tumor Norepinephrine In Ovarian Carcinoma Patients., Susan Lutgendorf, Koen De Geest, Laila Dahmoush, Donna Farley, Frank Penedo, David Bender, Michael Goodheart, Thomas Buekers, Luis Mendez, Gina Krueger, Lauren Clevenger, David Lubaroff, Anil Sood, Steve Cole Apr 2013

Social Isolation Is Associated With Elevated Tumor Norepinephrine In Ovarian Carcinoma Patients., Susan Lutgendorf, Koen De Geest, Laila Dahmoush, Donna Farley, Frank Penedo, David Bender, Michael Goodheart, Thomas Buekers, Luis Mendez, Gina Krueger, Lauren Clevenger, David Lubaroff, Anil Sood, Steve Cole

Koen De Geest

Noradrenergic pathways have been implicated in growth and progression of ovarian cancer. Intratumoral norepinephrine (NE) has been shown to increase with stress in an animal cancer model, but little is known regarding how tumor NE varies with disease stage and with biobehavioral factors in ovarian cancer patients. This study examined relationships between pre-surgical measures of social support, depressed mood, perceived stress, anxiety, tumor histology and tumor catecholamine (NE and epinephrine [E]) levels among 68 ovarian cancer patients. We also examined whether associations observed between biobehavioral measures and tumor catecholamines extended to other compartments. Higher NE levels were found in advanced …


Preservation Of Immune Function In Cervical Cancer Patients During Chemoradiation Using A Novel Integrative Approach., Susan Lutgendorf, Elizabeth Mullen-Houser, Daniel Russell, Koen De Geest, Geraldine Jacobson, Laura Hart, David Bender, Barrie Anderson, Thomas Buekers, Michael Goodheart, Michael Antoni, Anil Sood, David Lubaroff Apr 2013

Preservation Of Immune Function In Cervical Cancer Patients During Chemoradiation Using A Novel Integrative Approach., Susan Lutgendorf, Elizabeth Mullen-Houser, Daniel Russell, Koen De Geest, Geraldine Jacobson, Laura Hart, David Bender, Barrie Anderson, Thomas Buekers, Michael Goodheart, Michael Antoni, Anil Sood, David Lubaroff

David P Bender

Patients receiving chemoradiation for cervical cancer are at risk for distress, chemoradiation-related side-effects, and immunosuppression. This prospective randomized clinical trial examined effects of a complementary therapy, Healing Touch (HT), versus relaxation training (RT) and usual care (UC) for (1) supporting cellular immunity, (2) improving mood and quality of life (QOL), and (3) reducing treatment-associated toxicities and treatment delay in cervical cancer patients receiving chemoradiation. Sixty women with stages IB1 to IVA cervical cancer were randomly assigned to receive UC or 4 ×/weekly individual sessions of either HT or RT immediately following radiation during their 6-week chemoradiation treatment. Patients completed psychosocial …


Social Isolation Is Associated With Elevated Tumor Norepinephrine In Ovarian Carcinoma Patients., Susan Lutgendorf, Koen De Geest, Laila Dahmoush, Donna Farley, Frank Penedo, David Bender, Michael Goodheart, Thomas Buekers, Luis Mendez, Gina Krueger, Lauren Clevenger, David Lubaroff, Anil Sood, Steve Cole Apr 2013

Social Isolation Is Associated With Elevated Tumor Norepinephrine In Ovarian Carcinoma Patients., Susan Lutgendorf, Koen De Geest, Laila Dahmoush, Donna Farley, Frank Penedo, David Bender, Michael Goodheart, Thomas Buekers, Luis Mendez, Gina Krueger, Lauren Clevenger, David Lubaroff, Anil Sood, Steve Cole

David P Bender

Noradrenergic pathways have been implicated in growth and progression of ovarian cancer. Intratumoral norepinephrine (NE) has been shown to increase with stress in an animal cancer model, but little is known regarding how tumor NE varies with disease stage and with biobehavioral factors in ovarian cancer patients. This study examined relationships between pre-surgical measures of social support, depressed mood, perceived stress, anxiety, tumor histology and tumor catecholamine (NE and epinephrine [E]) levels among 68 ovarian cancer patients. We also examined whether associations observed between biobehavioral measures and tumor catecholamines extended to other compartments. Higher NE levels were found in advanced …


Outcome Indicators For Direct And Indirect Caregiving, Deborah Schoenfelder, Elizabeth Swanson, Janet Specht, Meridean Maas, M. Johnson Oct 2012

Outcome Indicators For Direct And Indirect Caregiving, Deborah Schoenfelder, Elizabeth Swanson, Janet Specht, Meridean Maas, M. Johnson

Deborah P. Schoenfelder

Informal caregiving and outcomes for caregiving are an important part of health care and of particular importance in nursing. The purpose of this research is to report the results of a survey mailed to nursing experts for validation of the outcome labels Caregiver Role Performance: Direct Care and Caregiver Role Performance: Indirect Care and their accompanying indicators. Experts were asked to rate how important the identified indicators were for assessing those two outcomes. In addition, the respondents were asked to what extent nursing interventions influence the achievement of each identified indicator for Caregiver Role Performance: Direct Care and Caregiver Role …


No Resting Place: African American Women At The Crossroads Of Violence, Janette Taylor Aug 2012

No Resting Place: African American Women At The Crossroads Of Violence, Janette Taylor

Janette Y. Taylor

Seeking safe places after leaving abusive relationships is often an intricate process for African American women. Survivor-victims of gender violence frequently experience ongoing trauma because of race, ethnicity, class, sexual orientation, and other stigmatizing social identities. All too often, women of color must handle leaving the gender violence simultaneously with the ongoing threat of cultural violence. The intersection of gender and cultural violence (e.g., racism, discrimination) complicate African American women's ability to obtain and sustain safe environments. These intersections are critical crossroads in African American women's lives. The results of this womanist and Black feminist study are presented in an …


A Qualitative Study Of Programs For Parents With Serious Mental Illness And Their Children: Building Practice-Based Evidence, Joanne Nicholson, Beth Hinden, Kathleen Biebel, Alexis Henry, Judith Katz-Leavy Mar 2012

A Qualitative Study Of Programs For Parents With Serious Mental Illness And Their Children: Building Practice-Based Evidence, Joanne Nicholson, Beth Hinden, Kathleen Biebel, Alexis Henry, Judith Katz-Leavy

Joanne Nicholson

The rationale for the development of effective programs for parents with serious mental illness and their children is compelling. Using qualitative methods and a grounded theory approach with data obtained in site visits, seven existing programs for parents with mental illness and their children in the United States are described and compared across core components: target population, theory and assumptions, funding, community and agency contexts, essential services and intervention strategies, moderators, and outcomes. The diversity across programs is strongly complemented by shared characteristics, the identification of which provides the foundation for future testing and the development of an evidence base. …


Family Options For Parents With Mental Illnesses: A Developmental, Mixed Methods Pilot Study, Joanne Nicholson, Karen Albert, Bernice Gershenson, Valerie Williams, Kathleen Biebel Mar 2012

Family Options For Parents With Mental Illnesses: A Developmental, Mixed Methods Pilot Study, Joanne Nicholson, Karen Albert, Bernice Gershenson, Valerie Williams, Kathleen Biebel

Joanne Nicholson

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this paper is to provide a description of Family Options, a rehabilitation intervention for parents with serious mental illnesses and their children focusing on recovery and resilience, and to report the findings from a pilot study at 6-months post-enrollment for participating mothers. METHODS: A developmental design, and mixed quantitative and qualitative methods facilitate an in-depth understanding of Family Options and its impact on parents early in the implementation process. RESULTS: Participating families faced significant challenges, including long-term mental health conditions in adults, and emotional and behavioral difficulties in children. Data from mothers (n = 22) demonstrate …


Integrating Behavioral Health Services For Homeless Mothers And Children In Primary Care, Linda Weinreb, Joanne Nicholson, Valerie Williams, Frances Anthes Mar 2012

Integrating Behavioral Health Services For Homeless Mothers And Children In Primary Care, Linda Weinreb, Joanne Nicholson, Valerie Williams, Frances Anthes

Joanne Nicholson

This article describes an innovative trauma-informed care management model in which mental health, substance abuse, and support services are integrated for homeless families in primary care. The rationale for service integration in a health care setting is discussed and the conceptual underpinnings of the model are elaborated, drawing from the literature and clinical experience. Service encounter data collected by each staff member over a 1-year period (N = 7,214 encounters) allow for description of program functions and provider roles and activities, an essential step in developing the fidelity indicators necessary for future program replication and rigorous testing in additional settings. …


Responding To Depression In Parents, Joanne Nicholson, Jonathan Clayfield Mar 2012

Responding To Depression In Parents, Joanne Nicholson, Jonathan Clayfield

Joanne Nicholson

Pediatric professionals may naturally view themselves as gatekeepers or facilitators of access to mental health services for children, but may not see themselves as the first line of "defense" for parents with mental health issues. However, about two thirds of women who meet criteria for affective disorders, and slightly more than half of the men who do, are parents. Given that the average age of onset for affective disorders is several years after the birth of first children, parental depression may initially come to the attention of pediatric providers, the most likely professionals with whom parents have contact prior to …


Commentary On "Community Mental Health Care For Women With Severe Mental Illness Who Are Parents" - The Tragedy Of Missed Opportunities: Of Missed Opportunities: What Providers Can Do, Joanne Nicholson, Kathleen Biebel Mar 2012

Commentary On "Community Mental Health Care For Women With Severe Mental Illness Who Are Parents" - The Tragedy Of Missed Opportunities: Of Missed Opportunities: What Providers Can Do, Joanne Nicholson, Kathleen Biebel

Joanne Nicholson

Women and men who meet criteria for psychiatric disorder are likely to be parents. Many go undiagnosed and untreated, putting themselves and their children at risk of poor outcomes. Adults with mental illness may fear disclosing their status as parents; providers may not ask. Practices can be modified to promote the well being of parents with mental illness and their children.


Developing A Scholarship Community, S. Cumbie, C. Weinert, S. Luparell, Virginia Conley, J. Smith Nov 2011

Developing A Scholarship Community, S. Cumbie, C. Weinert, S. Luparell, Virginia Conley, J. Smith

Virginia M. Conley

PURPOSE: To report the results of a multidisciplinary, interinstitutional writing support group established to facilitate faculty scholarly productivity. ORGANIZING CONCEPT: The road to scholarship can be filled with many obstacles, among them time constraints, teaching and meeting demands, student needs, office interruptions, and lack of colleagueship. The problems associated with lack of colleagueship, in particular, can be compounded for faculty who work in isolated contexts with few, if any, senior faculty to serve as mentors. METHODS OF DEVELOPMENT: The Western Writers Coercion Group evolved over a 2-year period from a small group of nursing faculty at a single institution to …


Outcome Indicators For Direct And Indirect Caregiving, Deborah Schoenfelder, Elizabeth Swanson, Janet Specht, Meridean Maas, M. Johnson Nov 2011

Outcome Indicators For Direct And Indirect Caregiving, Deborah Schoenfelder, Elizabeth Swanson, Janet Specht, Meridean Maas, M. Johnson

Elizabeth A. Swanson

Informal caregiving and outcomes for caregiving are an important part of health care and of particular importance in nursing. The purpose of this research is to report the results of a survey mailed to nursing experts for validation of the outcome labels Caregiver Role Performance: Direct Care and Caregiver Role Performance: Indirect Care and their accompanying indicators. Experts were asked to rate how important the identified indicators were for assessing those two outcomes. In addition, the respondents were asked to what extent nursing interventions influence the achievement of each identified indicator for Caregiver Role Performance: Direct Care and Caregiver Role …


Breastfeeding Success With Preterm Quadruplets, L. Mead, Rebecca Chuffo, P. Lawlor-Klean, P. Meier Nov 2011

Breastfeeding Success With Preterm Quadruplets, L. Mead, Rebecca Chuffo, P. Lawlor-Klean, P. Meier

Rebecca Siewert

Although the incidence of triplet and quadruplet birth has increased in the United States, few research-based guidelines are available for assisting mothers of these multiple births with breastfeeding. The purpose of this case study is to report a successful breastfeeding experience of a mother with preterm quadruplets. The quadruplets were born by cesarean delivery at 34 weeks' gestation and weighed from 1,820 g to 2,240 g. In-hospital breastfeeding experiences were managed by the authors, according to research-based guidelines for breastfeeding preterm neonates and infants. During the first month after discharge of the four newborns, the mother breastfed 12-34 times daily. …


Screening And Counseling For Postpartum Depression By Nurses: The Women's Views, Lisa Segre, M. O'Hara, S. Arndt, C. Beck Nov 2011

Screening And Counseling For Postpartum Depression By Nurses: The Women's Views, Lisa Segre, M. O'Hara, S. Arndt, C. Beck

Lisa S. Segre

PURPOSE: In this part 2 article of research examining a model of care in which nurses screen and counsel postpartum women for postpartum depression, acceptability of such a model to postpartum patients was evaluated with a diverse sample of American women. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Descriptive survey of two groups: 691 predominately white postpartum women with relatively high annual incomes (Sample 1) and 132 low-income women, some of whom were ethnic minorities (Sample 2). The surveys were distributed and needed to be mailed back to the investigators. The response rate was 72% in Sample 1 and 30% in Sample 2. …


Exploring Nursing Home Staff's Perceptions Of Communication And Leadership To Facilitate Quality Improvement, Jill Scott-Cawiezell, M. Schenkman, L. Moore, C. Vojir, R. Connoly, M. Pratt, L. Palmer Nov 2011

Exploring Nursing Home Staff's Perceptions Of Communication And Leadership To Facilitate Quality Improvement, Jill Scott-Cawiezell, M. Schenkman, L. Moore, C. Vojir, R. Connoly, M. Pratt, L. Palmer

Jill Scott-Cawiezell

Leadership and clinical staff were surveyed to explore communication and leadership in nursing homes. Registered nurses and other professionals perceived communication as better than their nursing colleagues did. Overall, results suggest all factors of communication could improve. In terms of leadership, licensed practical nurses perceived less clarity of expectations, encouragement of initiative, and support than other groups. The study provides insight into what is organizationally necessary to improve quality of care in nursing homes.


Mother-Infant Breastfeeding Progress Tool: A Guide For Education And Support Of The Breastfeeding Dyad, T. Johnson, Pamela Mulder, K. Strube Oct 2011

Mother-Infant Breastfeeding Progress Tool: A Guide For Education And Support Of The Breastfeeding Dyad, T. Johnson, Pamela Mulder, K. Strube

Pamela J. Mulder

OBJECTIVE: To describe the development of the Mother-Infant Breastfeeding Progress Tool to be used at the bedside by nurses to guide ongoing support and education for the mother-baby dyad. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Community hospital in a Midwestern city. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty-two English-speaking mother-infant dyads. METHODS: Three nurse raters (two per session) independently scored the eight characteristics on the Mother-Infant Breastfeeding Progress Tool during 81 breastfeeding sessions. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Percent agreement between raters and suggested modifications for the Mother-Infant Breastfeeding Progress Tool. RESULTS: The results support the use of the tool as a checklist for assessment of the breastfeeding mother-infant …