To explore the impact of mindfulness-based cancer stress management (MBCSM) programs on depression, anxiety, and stress in individuals affected by cancer with a secondary aim to evaluate the impact of MBCSM on quality of life and spiritual well-being

Four MBCSM programs were run for clients experiencing psychological distress related to cancer diagnoses. Each group consisted of 9–13 participants. The program consisted of eight, two-hour, weekly sessions in which mindfulness exercises were provided by an experienced counselor trained in mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Participants also were asked to complete 40 minutes of meditation per day with the aid of notes, practice CDs, and home worksheets. A three-hour follow-up session was offered six weeks after the completion of the program. The program was modified to incorporate elements of the mindfulness-based stress reduction program developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn in 1990. Session 4 specifically included education about the psychoneuroimmunology of stress and an exploration of the cancer survivorship experience within the context of anxiety, depression, and stress.

• N = 26  
• AGE RANGE = 38–79 years
• MALES: 13%, FEMALES: 77%
• KEY DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Twenty-one patients were directly affected by cancer, five were caregivers, and the most common type of cancer was breast (42%).
• OTHER KEY SAMPLE CHARACTERISTICS: Time since diagnosis ranged from 2–84 months.

• SITE: Multi-site    
• SETTING TYPE: Outpatient    
• LOCATION: South Australia

• PHASE OF CARE: Diagnostic
• APPLICATIONS: Elder care  

Single-group, quasiexperimental study of participants directly and indirectly affected by cancer

• Global psychological distress was measured using a Visual Analog Distress Thermometer (VADT) scale.
• Levels of anxiety and depression were measured with a self-administered Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).  
• Quality of life and spiritual well-being were measured with the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy—General Version 4 (FACT-G).
• Mindfulness was measured with the short-form Freiburg Mindfulness Inventory (FMI).

Exploratory analysis indicated that there were no significant differences between baseline scores across sociodemographic groups. A series of Friedman tests indicated that there were significant differences in the levels of global psychological distress over time. Scores were significantly higher at baseline than postintervention for levels of global distress, anxiety, and depression. Global quality of life and spiritual well-being improved significantly over time. Emotional well-being and functional well-being were significantly higher postintervention than at the baseline assessment, which was maintained from baseline to follow-up (p = .001 and p = .001, respectively). Physical well-being improved from baseline to postintervention, which was determined to be significant at follow-up (p = .012). Mindfulness scores changed significantly over time. The level of mindfulness was significantly lower at baseline than postintervention, which was maintained through follow-up (p = .001).

Overall, the results of this study were positive with significant improvements in participants' levels of global distress, anxiety, and depression from baseline to postintervention. Improvements in psychological distress were sustained up to three months postintervention. This supports preliminary research on the effectiveness of mindfulness-based therapy in the treatment of cancer-related psychological distress.

• Small sample (< 30)
• Risk of bias (no control group)
• Risk of bias (no blinding)
• Risk of bias (no random assignment) 
• Unintended interventions or applicable interventions not described that would influence results 
• Findings not generalizable
• Intervention expensive, impractical, or training needs
• Subject withdrawals ≥ 10%

Mindfulness training should be considered for patients with cancer to improve their levels of distress, anxiety, and depression. Mindfulness programs require trained personnel, and the program should involve an intervention over time with opportunity for follow-up over time.

To examine the effects of six individual cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) sessions on sleep.

Individual CBT treatment consisted of six, one-hour weekly sessions comprised of education, behavioral components (sleep restriction, stimulus control, adhering to the sleep hygiene rules, and training in progressive muscle relaxation techniques), and cognitive interventions to counteract maladaptive thought. It also included homework assignments (sleep diaries and practicing behavioral and cognitive strategies) followed by six weeks of no-treatment follow-up. Data were collected at baseline and at the end of the first and second six-week components, and daily diary data were recorded during the treatment phase.

• The study enrolled 21 patients, and 14 finished treatment (six in the experimental group and eight in the wait-list control group).
• Mean age was 61 years (standard deviation = 11.6 years; range 45–85 years).
• All patients were female, and 12 were Caucasian.
• All patients were survivors of breast cancer who had completed treatment between 5 months and 24 years prior (mean years since completion = 6; median = 5).
• All patients met the criteria for insomnia as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV).

• Single site
• San Diego, California

Patients were undergoing the long-term follow-up phase of care.

This was a randomized, controlled, crossover pilot study.

• Actigraphy (Actillume®)
• Insomnia Severity Index (ISI)
• Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)
• Sleep diary
• Sleep medications list
   

After six weeks, objective data (actigraphy) showed statistically significant differences in change scores between the treatment condition group and the delayed treatment control condition group on total sleep time, wake after sleep onset, number of awakenings per night, and percent of time asleep. There was a significant decrease in insomnia in the treatment group compared to the control group. Follow-up at six weeks showed continued improvement with a clinically significant decrease in PSQI scores. Cohen’s d effect size estimate for PSQI was large (d = 0.8).

These preliminary results suggest that individual CBT is appropriate for improving sleep in survivors of breast cancer.

• The study had a small sample size.
• There was little racial/ethnic diversity among the patients.

If found to be effective, the intervention is potentially useful in several different settings.

To appraise the evidence of the effectiveness of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) interventions in reducing cancer-related fatigue (CRF).

Databases searched were Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, British Nursing Index, and Evidence-Based Medicine Reviews (EBMR).

The specific MEDLINE search strategy was provided.

Studies were included in the review if

• They were published in the English language
• They used a randomized, controlled trial or quasiexperimental design
• Patients were older than 18 years
• They tested at least one CAM as defined by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM)
• They measured fatigue and had CRF as primary or secondary outcome.

Studies were excluded from the review if they were psychosocial interventions.

In total, 2,398 references were retrieved. The Jadad scale was used to appraise study quality.

• The final number of studies included was 20. 
• The total sample included 1,560 patients (sample range 13–200).
• The majority of studies were performed in patients during treatment. 
• Most studies were performed in women with breast cancer.

Patients were undergoing multiple phases of care.

During treatment, the intervention that seemed to be the most effective was hypnosis (one study), whereas ginseng provided promising results (one study). Massage, multivitamins, herbs, yoga, relaxation therapy, and combined education and acupuncture were less effective. Sound and reliable conclusions could not be drawn due to the poor quality of the studies and varying interventions, timings, and dosages. Most studies did not describe processes to ensure intervention integrity, and the “dose” was often not well reported.

Evidence from the trials reviewed was not sufficient to support the use of the interventions examined.

• Studies were of low quality. 
• The appraisal method did not include consideration of factors such as sample size and power or difference between single and multisite studies.

Current evidence suggests a very limited role of CAM to contribute to improvement in fatigue among patients with cancer.

STUDY PURPOSE: To evaluate evidence from systematic reviews for the treatment of lymphedema

• FINAL NUMBER STUDIES INCLUDED = 21
• TOTAL PATIENTS INCLUDED IN REVIEW = Sample sizes not reported
• KEY SAMPLE CHARACTERISTICS: Not reported

• There was agreement that complete decongestive therapy (CDT) was effective in reducing limb volume. However, the most effective components and factors that affected efficacy were not defined. It appeared that ongoing therapy was needed to maintain the initial improvements of intensive CDT.
• There were inconsistent findings regarding the efficacy of manual lymphatic drainage, and the evidence did not support its efficacy as a stand-alone treatment.
• Volume reduction was demonstrated with low-level laser therapy, but the optimal dose and type was not clear.
• Pneumatic compression achieved volume reduction, but greater effects were seen when pneumatic compression was combined with other therapies.
• Compression bandaging or garments resulted in significant volume reductions.
• There was insufficient evidence to determine the contribution of exercise to volume reduction.
• Surgical treatments resulted in volume reduction, but these also had potential complications, and the continued use of conservative treatments was needed to maintain improvements.

Compression therapy alone and combined with manual lymphatic drainage was supported by strong evidence. Preliminary evidence suggested that a range of other treatments also are beneficial.

• The methodologic quality of the studies included was variable, and the quality of most was deemed to be poor.
• Little attention was given to the subjective aspects of treatment outcomes.

CDT and compression bandaging alone or with manual lymphatic drainage were effective in managing lymphedema. Ongoing maintenance is needed to keep these gains, and nurses need to educate patients regarding this ongoing need.

To assess the safety of the herpes simplex virus (HSV)–based gene transfer platform (dose escalation)

To evaluate the delivery of vector-mediated delivery of PENK on pain and on concurrent use of opioid medication

NP2, an HSV vector, was injected intradermally into the dermatome(s) corresponding to the radicular pattern of pain: Pain relief was a secondary measure evaluated by a numeric rating scale (NRS) and the Short Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ) on day 0 prior to doing and on postdosing days 1, 3, 7, 10, 14, 21, and 28. An SF-12 Short-Form Health Survey and complete Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status were also completed on days 0 and 28. Concurrent opiate analgesic use was recorded on postdosing days 1, 3, 7, 10, 14, 21, and 28. Phase I dose escalation was administered as 10 intradermal injections of approximately 100 microliters (total 1.0 ml) distributed within the dermatome corresponding to the radicular distribution of the pain in a single session on study day 0. The first cohort (four patients) was given a dose of 1 x 10^7 plaque-forming units (pfu) and monitored for four weeks. A second cohort (three patients) was given 1 x 10^8 pfu, and a third cohort (three patients) was given 1 x 10^9 pfu. Patients were observed for at least 12 hours after dosing before being discharged and were scheduled for reexamination at 1, 3, 7, 10, 14, 21, and 28 days postdosing and monthly thereafter. The primary outcome was safety, so patients received a full evaluation for adverse events, physical examination, vital signs, mucositis evaluation, and labs.

• The study reported on 10 patients.
• Mean patient age was 63.3 years in cohort 1, 51.3 years in cohort 2, and 73 years in cohort 3.
• The sample was 70% female and 30% male.
• Patients had primary or metastatic cancer and were experiencing moderate-to-severe intractable pain despite doses of more than 200 mg of morphine or equivalents.

• Multisite
• Outpatient setting
• University of Michigan

• Patients were receiving end-of-life care.
• The study has clinical applicability for end-of-life and palliative care.

The study was a phase I trial.

• NRS (0–10) pain scale at one-week intervals for 28 days    
• SF-MPQ at one-week intervals for 28 days
• Concurrent opioid usage
• SF-12 Health Survey
• ECOG performance

Treatment was well-tolerated with no significant adverse effects attributable to the agent. The adverse events that were deemed as possibly related to treatment were all mild in severity and resolved. These included transient injection site erythema and pruritus, and one patient who had a transient elevation in body temperature. Those enrolled in the lowest dose of NP2 reported no changes in pain. Those enrolled in higher doses (cohorts 2 and 3) reported pain relief of approximately 50% on day 1 after dosing.

NP2 vector appears to be safe, and the method has potential to improve intractable pain. Pain relief was difficult to interpret due to the small number of patients and no control group.

• The study had a small sample size, with less than 30 patients.
• No placebo group was used for comparison.

Further investigation of this novel treatment is needed.

Describe the effects of acupuncture and self-accupuncture on hot flash frequency and intensity

The study enrolled 182 females ages 35 to 83 and 12 men ages 49 to 79 years of age.

Researchers performed a retrospective audit of electronic charts.

The primary outcome measurement was hot flash frequency and intensity. Participants used both traditional acupuncture and self-accupuncture.

The average pre-treatment hot flash count was 16 per day. When acupuncture was added, the chart audit showed that 114 (79%) subjects achieved a 50% or greater reduction in hot flashes.

• Data was not collected prospectively; the study relied on data available in the charts.
• Data was missing in 27 charts.
• The study reviewed only 24 weeks of charts.

An open pilot study to evaluate the possible therapeutic effect of acupuncture on breathlessness in patients with cancer

A nurse observer remained with the patient for the first 90 minutes of the study.

• N = 20
• KEY SAMPLE CHARACTERISTICS: Patients with refractory cancer-related breathlessness

• Open pilot study

• Dyspnea was evaluated on two scales: visual analog scale (VAS) (0–10) and the BORG scale.
• The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was used once before the intervention.
• Pain, anxiety, and relaxation VASs also were employed before acupuncture and at five time points after acupuncture.
• Respiratory rate, pulse, and oxygen saturation were measured.

Compared to pretreatment levels, significant changes existed in breathlessness, relaxation, and anxiety VAS scores up to six hours after acupuncture, with p values of < 0.005, < 0.005, and < 0.001, respectively. No correlation was found between the anxiety score on the HADS and the effect of acupuncture on breathlessness (r = –0.14). A significant decrease existed in respiratory rate sustained for 90 minutes following acupuncture (p < 0.02). No significant changes in pulse rate or oxygen saturation (p > 0.1) were found.

Treatment contamination is a possibility, considering the nurse‘s presence and communication following the intervention. Whether the acupuncture or the individual care was more effective is unclear.

Further investigation in a randomized study is warranted.

The intervention was comprised of four weekly group meetings lasting 2.5 hours and a 5- to 15-minute telephone “booster session.” For one hour, participants were supervised by a kinesiologist or trained research nurse in walking training. A personal exercise program was established for each participant. Participants were encouraged to perform and keep records of their home-based assignments. Participants signed a contractual agreement to comply with recommendations, which were revised each week during the walking session. Participants were provided with ambulatory devices to help monitor their progress. The walking training was followed by a 1.5-hour session of psychoeducative and fatigue management techniques. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, postintervention, and at three-month follow-up.

• In total, 87 women with nonmetastatic breast cancer who had recently completed radiotherapy treatment were included.
• Mean age was 52.47 years.
• Of the participants, 65.5% were married, 71.3% were parents, and 37.9% were university graduates.
• Participants who showed signs of clinical depression, insomnia, or symptoms of recurrence or who had severe health problems other than cancer were excluded.

University hospital in Quebec City, Canada

Participants were undergoing the active treatment phase of care.

This was a randomized, controlled trial.

• Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI)
• Profile of Mood States (POMS)

At baseline, participants had moderate-intensity fatigue and energy levels. Women who received the intervention showed a significantly lower level of fatigue at follow-up compared with women in the control group. Similarly, women who received the intervention experienced statistically significant higher energy levels than the participants in the control group postintervention, particularly at the three-month follow-up.

• Participants in breast cancer research tend to be resource affluent and well educated, which limits the generalizability of the results.
• The participation rate was low due to time and travel requirements beyond what is required for standard medical care.
• The effects of nonspecific therapeutic processes, such as engagement and social interaction, were limitations, as participants in the experimental group spent more time with experts involved in the study than those in the control group.
• Analysis did not examine the benefits of the psychoeducative and exercise components of the intervention separately; it only evaluated the intervention as combined.

STUDY PURPOSE: To conduct a meta-analysis and systematic review to determine if laser therapy (LT) is effective in preventing oral mucositis (OM) during oncotherapy

TYPE OF STUDY: Meta-analysis and systematic review

DATABASES USED: LILACS, MEDLINE, Cochrane electronic

KEYWORDS: “laser therapy”, “oral mucositis” used in all databases

INCLUSION CRITERIA: Oncotherapy-induced and diagnosed OM, low-intensity laser was the form of treatment with specific wavelength between 632 and 1,064 nm, randomized trial with control group

EXCLUSION CRITERIA: No specific exclusion criteria referenced; however, OM grade ≥ 3 was used as a cutoff in all the scales to properly evaluate the preventative value of LT.

TOTAL REFERENCES RETRIEVED: 12 prospective, randomized studies met criteria out of 149 initial retrieved studies

EVALUATION METHOD AND COMMENTS ON LITERATURE USED: Jadad scale was used to evaluate the methodology of the studies included. BioEstat 5.0 was used for the meta-analysis. Literature was further evaluated using a standardized form that included study design, country of origin, year of publication, and authors. The patients’ data were analyzed for gender and age, type of cancer treatment, control group treatment, and LT specifics (e.g., wavelength, power, dose, irradiation time, and number of sessions per week).

FINAL NUMBER STUDIES INCLUDED =  12

SAMPLE RANGE ACROSS STUDIES, TOTAL PATIENTS INCLUDED IN REVIEW: Total sample of 527 patients; 276 of these patients underwent LT, and 251 patients were in the control group. Final meta-analysis resulted in a total sample of 293 patients.

KEY SAMPLE CHARACTERISTICS: 53% of the patients had hematologic malignancy; 47% had head and neck cancer.

PHASE OF CARE: Multiple phases of care

Out of the 12 studies included for review, 7 of them showed (through meta-analysis) that LT is almost 10 times more effective in preventing OM ≥ grade 3 than treatment without the use of LT.

The authors determined that the data supported the effectiveness of LT in the prevention of OM ≥ grade 3. They note that additional studies with larger sample sizes are still required to fully evaluate the total effectiveness of this intervention.

Age range was not listed in this review, nor was prior radiation or chemotherapy exposure. Dental health and evaluation prior to oncotherapy and LT were not referenced in this review. Due to multiple variances in the control group's non-LT prevention measures, the number of studies was much smaller than the number the initial search results returned.

This study, even with the limitations of its size and characteristics, is a good starting point for further investigation into LT to prevent severe OM in patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, radiation, or both. LT appears to be a promising intervention. If severe OM can be prevented, then pain and infection, which quickly result from OM, can be prevented, too. Thus, this study has larger implications in overall care and quality of life in patients with cancer. Nurses can begin to address the study and the use of LT in their own institutions.

To further evaluate the efficacy of light emitting diode (LED) photomodulation in lessening radiation dermatitis   

Patients in both arms of the study received a complete course of radiation therapy (RT) for breast cancer. Patients were assigned randomly to the treatment or control group. In the treatment arm, patients received LED treatment immediately before and after each RT treatment. The LED treatment consisted of using the GentleWaves Select 590 nm high-energy LED array, with the panel being placed 2 cm from the patients skin. The treatment lasted 35 seconds. At the completion of RT, patients received seven additional daily treatments over the following two weeks. The control group received sham treatments in which the GentleWaves Select machine was placed on the skin in the same manner as the treatment arm and for the same duration of 35 seconds, but the on button was not pressed to deliver the LED treatment. All patients also used Aquaphor applied three to four times a day during the duration of the study.

• The study sample (N = 33) was comprised of patients diagnosed with breast cancer undergoing radiation therapy.
• Patients were aged 18 years or older.
• All patients had undergone lumpectomy or mastectomy.
   

The study took place in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of California Irvine Medical Center.

Patients were undergoing the transition phase of care after initial treatment. The study has clinical applicability for late effects and survivorship.

The study used a single-center, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled design.

• The National Cancer Institute five-point scale for grading skin reactions was used.

In the LED treatment arm (N = 18), no patients had a grade 0 reaction, 6 (33%) had grade 1 reactions, and 12 (66.7%) had grade 2 reactions; no grade 3 or 4 reactions developed. In the sham treatment arm (N = 15), 1 (6.6%) had a grade 0 reaction, 4 (26.7%) had grade 1 reactions, 9 (60%) had grade 2 reactions, and 1 (6.7%) had a grade 3 reaction. Two patients (11.1%) in the LED arm and one (6.7%) in the sham arm had to interruption to treatment.

LED photomodulation did not provide statistically significant differences between the two groups.

• The study had a small sample size, with less than 30 participants.
• A blinded dermatologist performed evaluations of skin reactions based on photographs as opposed to real-time evaluations performed by a nurse at the time of treatment.   
   

No firm conclusions regarding efficacy of LED light for prevention of radiodermatitis can be drawn from this study.