Linda M. Wells

Evaluation of Conceptual Framework for Recruitment of African American Patients With Breast Cancer

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES To describe the Heiney-Adams Recruitment Framework (H-ARF); to delineate a recruitment plan for a randomized, behavioral trial (RBT) based on H-ARF; and to provide evaluation data on its implementation. DATA SOURCES All data for this investigation originated from a recruitment database created for an RBT designed to test the effectiveness of a therapeutic group convened via teleconference for African American women with breast cancer. DATA SYNTHESIS Major H-ARF concepts include social marketing and relationship building. The majority of social marketing strategies yielded 100% participant recruitment. Greater absolute numbers were recruited via Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act waivers. Using H-ARF yielded a high recruitment rate (66%). CONCLUSIONS Application of H-ARF led to successful recruitment in an RBT. The findings highlight three areas that researchers should consider when devising recruitment plans: absolute numbers versus recruitment rate, cost, and efficiency with institutional review board-approved access to protected health information. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING H-ARF may be applied to any clinical or population-based research setting because it provides direction for researchers to develop a recruitment plan based on the target audience and cultural attributes that may hinder or help recruitment.

Psychosocial Stressors, Coping Resources, and Information Needs of Parents of Adolescent Cancer Patients

The purpose of this study was to describe the emotional responses, psychosocial concerns, coping resources, and information needs of parents of adolescents with cancer. The convenience volunteer sample consisted of 26 parents, 15 mothers and 11 fathers. Using a descriptive survey design, a written questionnaire was mailed to all parents (one each for the mother and father) of adolescent cancer patients (N = 60) at a pediatric oncology center. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. The psychosocial concerns and needs reported by the parents included negative feelings, physical complaints, and their other children. Coping strategies used were spending time away from the ill child and meeting another parent at diagnosis. The major resources that the parents used to help them cope included group meetings, talking with other parents, working with a counselor, and books. Educational needs of the parents focus on psychosocial problems. The results from this study indicate that parents have many psychosocial concerns that could be addressed by nurses in a variety of formats.

Lasting Impressions: Adolescents With Cancer Share How to Cope—A Videotape Program

This article discusses the production of a videotape program for newly diagnosed adolescent cancer patients and their parents. The video was developed as a goal of the members of Lasting Impressions, a support program for adolescent cancer patients and their parents. The patients wanted to help other patients realistically understand the stesses they would encounter and learn ways to cope with them. The project is unique in that the patients developed the content, wrote the script, and starred in the production. This article details the various components of the project and describes the therapeutic goals achieved.

Antecedents and mediators of community connection in African American women with breast cancer.

Objective: To describe the theory of community connection defined as close relationships with women and men who are members of a neighborhood, a church, a work group, or an organization. Antecedent and mediator variables related to community connection are identified. Design/methods: A cross-sectional design was used to assess for relationships among theorized antecedents and mediators of community connection in a sample of 144 African American women aged 21 years and older (mean = 54.9) who had been diagnosed with invasive/infiltrating ductal carcinoma. Measurement and Analyses: Community connection was measured with the relational health indices-community subscale. Mediator analysis was conducted to assess significance of the indirect effects of the mediator variables, which were fear, breast cancer knowledge, and isolation. Results: Community connection was found to be associated with three of the four antecedents, cancer stigma, stress, and spirituality, but not associated with fatalism. Effects were mediated primarily through fear and isolation with isolation as was more dominant of the two mediators. Surprisingly, breast cancer knowledge showed no significant mediator role. Conclusions: The importance of isolation and fear as mediators of community connection is highlighted by this research. The study could serve as a model for other researchers seeking to understand connection in ethnic groups and communities.

Participant Evaluation of Teleconference Support for African American Women with Breast Cancer

Background: African American women with breast cancer face obstacles such as transportation and family obligations when attending standard support groups. Teleconference support circumvents barriers such as transportation to participation, but few evaluations have been reported about teleconference support. Objective: The purpose of this article was to describe the format of a teleconference group and to provide a descriptive account of the participants’ feedback about a teleconference group intervention. Methods: A descriptive design was used. Participants completed the Overall Support Group Evaluation tool at the end of the 10th group session. Results: Teleconference group participants’ feedback indicated that they perceived they had gained knowledge about breast cancer and coping. The participants expressed that the group helped them to reach out and ask for support and improved family and work relationships. Also, participants rated the group highly for the presence of therapeutic factors. On a scale of 1 to 4, with 4 being the highest, mean scores ranged from 3.97 to 3.56. Conclusions: The participants gave high ratings of satisfaction in terms of knowledge gained, leadership style, and benefits. The participants perceived that the group increased their knowledge about cancer, improved family connections, and increased their ability to deal with their cancer. Implications for Practice: Using teleconferencing technology to deliver a support group to African American breast cancer patients is a beneficial method to reach a disadvantaged population that may be unable to attend face-to-face groups.

Early Hydration and Alkalinization-Decreased Length of Stay for High-Dose Methotrexate (HDMTX

gent&dquo; management results in unnecessary expenses for the patients and families. The Duke Pediatric Stem Cell Transplant program has developed a unique approach to managing these high-risk patients in the outpatient setting. The Bone Marrow Outpatient Procedure Program (BOPP) is an outpatient treatment room located on the inpatient unit. Patients requiring after-hours care are seen in the BOPP room,