Hermine Poghosyan

Health-related quality of life after surgical treatment in patients with non-small cell lung cancer: A systematic review

INTRODUCTION Surgical resection currently is the best available treatment to enhance long-term survival after non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). With the anticipated growth in the number of NSCLC survivors diagnosed through computed tomography screening, health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) as an endpoint of treatment will become increasingly important. This article is a systematic review of the literature regarding HR-QOL in patients after surgical treatment. METHODS Three computerized databases (PubMed, Medline, and CINHAL) were used to identify relevant articles. Inclusion criteria were: empirical studies English language, assessment of HR-QOL after surgical treatment for stage I, II, or III NSCLC, and publication prior to January 2012. Data were abstracted and content analyses were used to synthesize the findings. RESULTS Nineteen out of 337 studies were reviewed. The majority of participants (67%) had stable or improved mental HR-QOL at 6-months after surgery. Compared with the general population, however, NSCLC survivors have poorer mental HR-QOL. Compared to pre-surgical status, participants had worse physical function at 6-months after surgery and had decreased physical function up to 2-years after surgery. Pain, fatigue, dyspnea and coughing were the most prevalent symptoms. Increased levels of dyspnea and fatigue persisted for at least 2-years after surgery. Continued smoking, presence of comorbidities, extensive surgical resection, and use of adjuvant therapy were associated with lower HR-QOL. CONCLUSIONS New interventions focused on smoking cessation, improving symptom control and physical function are needed to enhance HR-QOL after lung cancer surgery.

The impact of computed tomography screening for lung cancer on smoking behaviors: a teachable moment?

Background: Helical computed tomography (CT) has emerged as a potential screening test for lung cancer. An important component of care surrounding the use of this technology is the impact of screening on decisions surrounding smoking cessation. Objective: The aim of this article was to conduct an integrative review of literature on the impact of lung cancer screening with CT on smoking behaviors of current smokers. Methods: Ganong’s [Res Nurs Health. 1987;10(1):1–11] guidelines were used to conduct this integrative review. Computerized databases were used to identify relevant articles. Data were extracted from the studies, and then content analysis was used to synthesize the findings. Results: Nine studies were identified and reviewed. The quit rate among participants ranged from 6.6% to 42% after screening. Among current smokers, smoking abstinence was associated with older age, worse pulmonary function, and having multiple abnormal CT findings. Motivation to quit smoking, within the next 30 days, ranged from 14% to 35% among smokers. Factors associated with increased motivation were older age, lower nicotine addiction, fewer lung cancer symptoms, higher self-efficacy, and acknowledgment of the advantages of quitting smoking. Conclusions: Participants undergoing lung cancer screening had increased motivation to quit smoking. Computed tomographic screening for lung cancer appears to be a teachable moment to address smoking cessation. Implications for Practice: Screening for lung cancer is only one step to fight lung cancer. Incorporating smoking cessation interventions along with the use of technology is necessary to fight this deadly disease.

Nurse practitioners as primary care providers: Creating favorable practice environments in New York State and Massachusetts

BACKGROUND Policy makers, health care organizations, and health professionals are calling for the expansion of the nurse practitioner (NP) workforce in primary care to ensure access to high-quality, cost-effective care. However, to date, little is known about NP practice environments in primary care settings and how they may affect the expansion of this workforce and their practice. PURPOSES The aims of this study were to investigate NP practice environments in two states, Massachusetts (MA) and New York State (NY), and determine the impact of state and organization on NP practice environment. METHODOLOGY A cross-sectional survey design was used. Practice environments were measured using the Nurse Practitioner Primary Care Organizational Climate Questionnaire in terms of NP-physician relations, NP-administration relations, support, NP role comprehension, and NP independent practice. In MA, 291 NPs were recruited from the Massachusetts Provider Database through mail surveys. In NY, 278 NPs were recruited from the NY Nurse Practitioner Association membership list through online surveys. Data were collected from May through September 2012. Descriptive statistics were computed. Multivariate analysis of variance was conducted to investigate the effect of state and organization type on NP practice environments. FINDINGS Nurse practitioners reported favorable relationships with physicians, deficiencies in their relationships with administrators, and lack of support. Nurse practitioners from MA reported better practice environments. Nurse practitioners from hospital-affiliated practices perceived poorer practice environments than did NPs practicing in physician offices and community health centers. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS Optimal working relations with physicians and administration, access to resources, and clarity in NP role are necessary to create practice environments where NPs can function effectively as primary care providers.

A Systematic Review of Emergency Department Use Among Cancer Patients.

Background: Recent reports call for reductions in costly and potentially avoidable services such as emergency department (ED) visits. Providing high-quality and safe care for oncology patients remains challenging for ED providers given the diversity of patients seeking care and the unpredictable clinical environment. While ED use by oncology patients is appropriate for acute health concerns, some ED visits may be preventable with well-coordinated care and adequate symptom management. Objective: The aim of this study was to summarize available evidence regarding the incidence, predictors of, and reasons for ED visits among oncology patients. Methods: Keyword/MeSH term searches were conducted using 4 online databases. Inclusion criteria were publication date between April 1, 2003, and December 5, 2014; sample size of 50 or more; and report of the incidence or predictors of ED use among oncology patients. Results: The 15 studies that met criteria varied in study aim, design, and time frames for calculating ED utilization rates. The incidence of ED visits among oncology patients ranged from 1% to 83%. The 30-day standardized visit rate incidence ranged from 1% to 12%. Collectively, the studies lack population-based estimates for all cancers combined. Conclusions: The studies included in this review suggest that rates of ED use among cancer patients exceed those of the general population. However, the extent of ED use by oncology patients and the reasons for ED visits remain understudied. Implications for Practice: Nurses are involved in the treatment of cancer, patient education, and symptom management. Nurses are well positioned to develop patient-centered treatment and care coordination plans to improve quality of care and reduce ED visits.

Social networks in health care teams: evidence from the United States

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to synthesize existing evidence regarding health care team networks, including their formation and association with outcomes in various health care settings. Design/methodology/approach Network theory informed this review. A literature search was conducted in major databases for studies that used social network analysis methods to study health care teams in the USA between 2000 and 2014. Retrieved studies were reviewed against inclusion and exclusion criteria. Findings Overall, 25 studies were included in this review. Results demonstrated that health care team members form professional (e.g. consultation) and personal (e.g. friendship) networks. Network formation can be influenced by team member characteristics (i.e. demographics and professional affiliations) as well as by contextual factors (i.e. providers sharing patient populations and physical proximity to colleagues). These networks can affect team member practice such as adoption of a new medication. Network structures can also impact patient and organizational outcomes, including occurrence of adverse events and deficiencies in health care delivery. Practical implications Administrators and policy makers can use knowledge of health care networks to leverage relational structures in teams and tailor interventions that facilitate information exchange, promote collaboration, increase diffusion of evidence-based practices, and potentially improve individual and team performance as well as patient care and outcomes. Originality/value Most health services research studies have investigated health care team composition and functioning using traditional social science methodologies, which fail to capture relational structures within teams. Thus, this review is original in terms of focusing on dynamic relationships among team members.

The association between having a first-degree family history of cancer and smoking status.

OBJECTIVE A diagnosis of cancer within the family provides an opportunity for smokers to adopt a health-promoting behavior. This study examines the associations between having a first-degree family history of cancer and smoking status using population-based data with a large and diverse sample. METHOD Cross-sectional data from the 2009 California Health Interview Survey on 47,331 adults were analyzed. Sample weights were applied to account for the survey design with results generalizable to non-institutionalized adults in California (27.4 million). RESULTS In 2009, 3.7 million (13.6%) adults were current-smokers, 6.3 million (23.0%) were former smokers and 17.4 million (63.4%) were never-smokers. Nine-million-six-hundred-thousand (35%) had a first-degree family history of cancer. Controlling for all covariates, first-degree family history of cancer was significantly associated with being a current smoker (OR=1.16; 95% CI=1.01-1.35) and to being a former smoker (OR=1.17; 95% CI=1.05-1.30). CONCLUSION In California, although many adults with a first-degree family history of cancer quit smoking, a significant subset still smoke which places them at higher risk for poor health outcomes. This subset represents an important target population for smoking cessation interventions.