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Author on Call

The function of the “Author on Call” blog is to allow our readers and authors to interact with each other in a unique way. A few select authors will be chosen to share on the blog aspects of their papers that were especially meaningful to them personally or points that may not have made it into their published report. Readers will then have the opportunity to provide comments and questions, to which the authors will respond.

At times, as seen in our first entry, we will also post separate entries to the blog on various special topics that we feel would be informational or that we welcome your feedback on.

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

Release of the Evidence Synthesis Theme Issue

​We are very excited to share with you the release of the Evidence Synthesis Theme Issue guest edited by Drs. Sarah Kagan, Ronald (R.K.) Elswick, Jr., and G.J. Melendez-Torres. A very fitting commentary is offered by Dr. Jane Noyes. This collection of state-of-the-art evidence synthesis articles serves the immediate purpose of succinctly providing us with systematically reviewed and weighed knowledge for our field and the more futuristic service of becoming the new baseline against which future papers will compare their contributions.  For a limited time, the entire theme issue has been made available to be viewed without a subscription.   We are very glad to offer to you these most excellent 'good reads'!

Resources:
Volume 43 Issue 3

Tuesday, April 14, 2020

Nurses' Experiences When Introducing Patient-Reported Outcome Measures in an Outpatient Clinic: An Interpretive Description Study

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Nurses' Experiences When Introducing Patient-Reported Outcome Measures in an Outpatient Clinic

An Interpretive Description Study

 

Thestrup Hansen, Stine PhD(c), MScN, RN; Kjerholt, Mette PhD, MScN, RN, MLP; Friis Christensen, Sarah PhD(c), MD; Brodersen, John PhD, MD; Hølge-Hazelton, Bibi PhD, MScN, MA, RN

 

While performing the research reported in this paper, I personally learned that implementing PROMs in clinical nursing practice is complex.

We found that nurses reflecting upon the potential of PROMs valued PROMs highly relevant to clinical practice on supportive care for patients diagnosed with hematological cancer. The nurses received more information on patients' condition and identified issued and care needs which could have been missed without patients' PROM completion.

However, the nurses faced a dilemma as they expressed that they had very limited or no experience using PROMs. This was a conflict that nurses experienced when prioritizing: nurses had to choose between what had to be done, such as instrumental treatments, and 'nice to do' duties, including use of PROMs and exploring patients' needs within supportive care.

The contribution of this paper to the current research on the use of PROM is that simply introducing PROMs to practice does not necessarily evolve the potential of PROMs due to multiple reasons. Implications for practice are that future research on PROMs should address context issues, moving towards a feasible and convenient model or framework. Furthermore, if PROMs are intended to be implemented, the PROM instruments should cover information fields contributing to nurse practice whilst maintaining ease of access and use.

I believe that cancer nurses have a lot to learn about the application of PROMs through future research on applied nursing practice.

 

 

 -- Corresponding author Stine Thestrup Hansen on her paper "Nurses' Experiences When Introducing Patient-Reported Outcome Measures in an Outpatient Clinic: An Interpretive Description Study," currently published online ahead-of-print in CANCER NURSING.  The full article may be viewed below without a subscription.

Tuesday, March 10, 2020

ANNOUNCEMENT: ICCN2020 POSTPONED UNTIL MARCH 2021

​Due to the COVID-19 Virus, ICCN2020 has been postposed until March 2021. Further information can be found at https://iccn2020.org/iccn2020-2/ , including frequently asked questions and information regarding registration fees.

Monday, March 2, 2020

Breast Cancer and Hair Loss: Experiential Similarities and Differences in Men's and Women's Narratives

Breast Cancer and Hair Loss:

Experiential Similarities and Differences in Men's and Women's Narratives


Trusson, Diane PhD; Quincey, Kerry PhD


Our article, entitled "Breast Cancer and Hair Loss: Experiential Similarities and Differences in Men and Women's Narratives" was borne out of a conversation I had with Kerry after watching her present her research on men's breast cancer experiences, during which she discussed how men and their experiences are often unfairly side-lined and overshadowed by breast cancer in women. When I told Kerry about my research on cancer treatment-related hair loss, we realised that this was another facet of men's experiences which tends to be neglected; both in the academic literature, and in terms of the support made available to men who undergo treatment for breast cancer. Subsequent to having had my article on women's hair loss experiences published with Cancer Nursing in 2017, I witnessed the public interest in the topic of cancer treatment-induced hair loss; this included being interviewed on the BBC Radio 4 programme Thinking Allowed, which is broadcast worldwide.

 

We wanted men's experiences to be similarly publicised, and in particular, to challenge assumptions that men are less affected by losing their hair due to cancer-related treatments, and also to ensure that men, like women, are supported to deal with this significant side issue. Kerry had used an interesting methodology where her participants provided photographs to express their experiences in addition to interviews. One participant, Tom, had charted his change of appearance when he lost his hair, and his photographs provided a stark contrast between his pre- and post-cancer treatment appearance. The photographs (some of which we have used in the article) convey his experiences of the impact of hair loss on his self-identity in a particularly powerful way, and serve to illustrate the importance placed on this side-effect of the primary issue that is breast cancer.

 

A comparison of the data from our respective studies revealed commonalities between men's and women's hair loss experiences, and also interesting contrasts, such as men's use of humour to mask their distress or embarrassment at losing their hair. It also showed how women are better able, and better supported to, including having the option of a using a wig to disguise their hair loss, while men were forced to reveal their baldness. We feel that it is important that men and women are equally supported to deal with hair loss resulting from cancer treatment. We also agree with the male participants that information and advice should be offered to men through the same channels as they are for women, rather than having separate resources that needlessly distinguish between the sexes.

 

Most importantly, we wanted to show that hair loss should not be considered as a gendered experience, and that all cancer patients should be supported to deal with this side effect of their treatment, regardless of their gender identity.

 

References

BBC Radio 4 Thinking Allowed. 'The Secret World of Hair.' Broadcast 13th July, 2017 http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p058k2q7

Quincey, Kerry (2018). Stop marginalising men with breast cancer. The Conversation. Published online on October 19th 2018. https://theconversation.com/stop-marginalising-men-with-breast-cancer-104873

Trusson, Diane and Pilnick, Alison.  The role of hair loss in cancer identity: Perceptions of chemotherapy-induced alopecia among women treated for early-stage breast cancer or ductal carcinoma in situ. Cancer Nursing, 2017:40(2):E9-E16.

 

 -- Corresponding author Diane Trusson on her paper "Breast Cancer and Hair Loss: Experiential Similarities and Differences in Men and Women's Narratives," currently published online ahead-of-print in CANCER NURSING.  For a limited time, the full article may be viewed below without a subscription.

Saturday, February 1, 2020

Support Needed for ICCN 2020 Scholarships

The International Society of Nurses in Cancer Care is pleased to announce the next International Conference on Cancer Nursing (ICCN) to be held from 29 March – 1 April, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. The theme for ICCN 2020 is Innovation and Inspiration: Celebrating the Global Impact of Oncology Nurses.


Conference scholarships are a vital part of ISNCC’s work in supporting capacity building in cancer nursing around the world. The conference scholarship program has been established to facilitate the dissemination of cancer nursing knowledge to and by nurses in underserved populations – and thereby build capacity in these locations. Scholarship recipients will share their experiences and newly acquired knowledge with colleagues following attendance at the ICCN.


The ISNCC Conference Scholarships will be awarded to nurses from Low- and Middle-income countries or regions working with underserved population groups throughout the world to offset the costs associated with attending ICCN.


These scholarships will be chosen by the ISNCC Nominations and Awards Committee via competition. The scholarship supports registration and/or travel and accommodation for the conference. Following the conference, scholarship recipients will write a review of their attendance which will be published in the post-conference newsletter, together with recognition of all scholarship supporters.


ISNCC requests your assistance by providing support towards a conference scholarship for the ICCN 2020. Any level of support is greatly appreciated. Your conference scholarship support may be recognized on the ICCN 2020 website and program.

To provide support, please visit https://charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/isncc-conference-scholarships.