Showing papers by "Zeev Rosberger published in 2023"
TL;DR: In this paper , the PAROLE•Onco programme introduced accompanying patients (APs) in healthcare teams to improve the experience of cancer patients, where APs are patient advisors who have had a cancer treatment experience and conduct consultations to complement the service offered by providing emotional, informational and educational support to patients undergoing treatments.
Abstract: Since 2018, four establishments in Quebec, Canada, have decided to implement the PAROLE‐Onco programme, which introduced accompanying patients (APs) in healthcare teams to improve the experience of cancer patients. APs are patient advisors who have had a cancer treatment experience and who conduct consultations to complement the service offered by providing emotional, informational and educational support to patients undergoing treatments (e.g., radiotherapy, chemotherapy, surgery), mostly for breast cancer. We aimed to explore the evolution of APs' perspectives regarding their activities within the clinical oncology teams as well as the perceived effects of their intervention with patients, the clinical team and themselves.
3 citations
TL;DR: In this paper , the authors developed and validated two scales measuring attitudes and beliefs towards HPV testing and self-sampling, which were used to evaluate the effectiveness of the cervical screening program.
Abstract: The disrupted introduction of the HPV-based cervical screening program in several jurisdictions has demonstrated that the attitudes and beliefs of screening-eligible persons are critically implicated in the success of program implementation (including the use of self-sampling). As no up-to-date and validated measures exist measuring attitudes and beliefs towards HPV testing and self-sampling, this study aimed to develop and validate two scales measuring these factors. In October-November 2021, cervical screening-eligible Canadians participated in a web-based survey. In total, 44 items related to HPV testing and 13 items related to HPV self-sampling attitudes and beliefs were included in the survey. For both scales, the optimal number of factors was identified using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and parallel analysis. Item Response Theory (IRT) was applied within each factor to select items. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was used to assess model fit. After data cleaning, 1027 responses were analyzed. The HPV Testing Attitudes and Beliefs Scale (HTABS) had four factors, and twenty-two items were retained after item reduction. The HPV Self-sampling Attitudes and Beliefs Scale (HSABS) had two factors and seven items were retained. CFA showed a good model fit for both final scales. The developed scales will be a valuable resource to examine attitudes and beliefs in anticipation of, and to evaluate, HPV test-based cervical screening.
2 citations
TL;DR: In this article , the authors investigate the contribution of genetic predispositions to depression and inflammation, as measured through polygenic risk scores, on symptom burden (physical and psychological) in patients with head and neck cancer in the immediate post-treatment period (i.e., at three months post-diagnosis), as well as on 3-, 6-, 12-, 24, and 36-month survival.
1 citations
TL;DR: In this paper , a cross-sectional study was carried out among patients to compare patients who had one encounter with an accompanying patient (G1) with those who had had several encounters (G2) in order to explore whether one-offs vs ongoing encounters with APs influence their experience of care, on self-efficacy in coping with cancer, and on their level of psychological distress.
Abstract: Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal in Canada introduced accompanying patients (APs) into the breast cancer care trajectory. APs are patients who have been treated for breast cancer and have been integrated into the clinical team to expand the services offered to people affected by cancer. This study describes the profiles of the people who received the support and explores whether one-offs vs ongoing encounters with APs influence their experience of care, on self-efficacy in coping with cancer, and on their level of psychological distress.An exploratory cross-sectional study was carried out among patients to compare patients who had one encounter with an AP (G1) with those who had had several encounters (G2). Five questionnaires were administered on socio-demographic characteristics, care pathway, evaluation of the support experience, self-efficacy in coping with cancer, and level of psychological distress. Logbooks, completed by the APs, determined the number of encounters. Linear regression models were used to evaluate the associations between the number of encounters, patient characteristics, care pathway, number of topics discussed, self-efficacy measures in coping with cancer, and level of psychological distress.Between April 2020 and December 2021, 60% of 535 patients who were offered support from an AP accepted. Of these, one hundred and twenty-four patients participated in the study. The study aimed to recruit a minimum of 70 patients with the expectation of obtaining at least 50 participants, assuming a response rate of 70%. There were no differences between G1 and G2 in terms of sociodemographic data and care pathways. Statistical differences were found between G1 and G2 for impacts on and the return to daily life (p = 0.000), the return to the work and impacts on professional life (p = 0.044), announcement of a diagnosis to family and friends (p = 0.033), and strategies for living with treatment under the best conditions (p = 0.000). Significant differences were found on the topics of cancer (p = 0.000), genetic testing (p = 0.023), therapeutic options (p = 0.000), fatigue following treatment (p = 0.005), pain and discomfort after treatment or surgery (p = 0.000), potential emotions and their management (p = 0.000) and the decision-making processes (p = 0.011). A significant relationship was found between the two groups for patients' ability to cope with cancer (p = 0.038), and their level of psychological distress at different stages of the care pathway (p = 0.024).This study shows differences between one-time and ongoing support for cancer patients. It highlights the potential for APs to help patients develop self-efficacy and cope with the challenges of cancer treatment.
TL;DR: In this article , the authors identify the factors that influence vaccine decision-making in Canadian younger adults and understand younger adults' perceptions of an altruism-eliciting video designed to increase COVID-19 vaccine intentions.
Abstract: COVID-19 vaccine-induced immunity wanes over time, and with the emergence of new variants, additional “booster” doses have been recommended in Canada. However, booster vaccination uptake has remained low, particularly amongst younger adults aged 18–39. A previous study by our research team found that an altruism-eliciting video increased COVID-19 vaccination intentions. Using qualitative methods, the present study aims to: (1) identify the factors that influence vaccine decision-making in Canadian younger adults; (2) understand younger adults’ perceptions of an altruism-eliciting video designed to increase COVID-19 vaccine intentions; and (3) explore how the video can be improved and adapted to the current pandemic context. We conducted three focus groups online with participants who: (1) received at least one booster vaccine, (2) received the primary series without any boosters, or (3) were unvaccinated. We used deductive and inductive approaches to analyze data. Deductively, informed by the realist evaluation framework, we synthesized data around three main themes: context, mechanism, and intervention-specific suggestions. Within each main theme, we deductively created subthemes based on the health belief model (HBM). For quotes that could not be captured by these subthemes, additional themes were created inductively. We found multiple factors that could be important considerations in future messaging to increase vaccine acceptance, such as feeling empowered, fostering confidence in government and institutions, providing diverse (such as both altruism and individualism) messaging, and including concrete data (such as the prevalence of vulnerable individuals). These findings suggest targeted messaging tailored to these themes would be helpful to increase COVID-19 booster vaccination amongst younger adults.
TL;DR: In this article , the authors investigated the contribution of genetic predisposition to depression, through polygenic risk scores (PRS), on quality of life levels in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) immediately post-diagnosis.
Abstract: 6063 Background: The primary aim of this study was to investigate the contribution of genetic predisposition to depression, through polygenic risk scores (PRS), on quality of life levels in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) immediately post-treatment period (i.e., 3 months post-diagnosis). Methods: Prospective longitudinal study of 223 consecutive adult patients with HNC (72% participation) newly diagnosed with a first occurrence of primary HNC, including saliva samples analyzed using the Illumina PsychChip, psychometric measures, Structured Clinical DSM Interviews, and medical chart reviews. Results: Level of quality of life at 3 months on the FACT-G+H&N was predicted by (r2 = 0.51, r2 adj. = 0.33, p = 0.001) the polygenic risk score for depression (standardized b = -0.28, p = 0.01) and a previous history of suicidal ideation (standardized b = -0.25, p = 0.04). Other variables were non-significant in the analyses: sociodemographic (i.e., age, sex, education, living alone), psychosocial (i.e., SCID current and past diagnoses (trend), past history of abuse), and medical variables (i.e., cancer stage and site, HPV status, functional status/ECOG, treatment). Conclusions: Our results outline the importance of attending to genetic predisposition and past history of suicidal ideation as markers for quality of life compromise immediately post-treatment in patients with head and neck cancers. Strategies are needed to address psychosocial vulnerability early-on as part of pre-habilitation in the treatment of patients with head and neck cancer.