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Background and Purpose: Dyspnea in patients with terminal cancer worsens near death, necessitating effective nonpharmacological management. Despite guideline recommendations, detailed studies on nonpharmacological nursing practices are scarce. This study aimed to elucidate nursing practices for dyspnea in patients with cancer based on monthly and weekly prognoses., Methods: A multi-site cross-sectional study was conducted among nurses in 389 palliative care units in Japan. The study surveyed the frequency of direct care practices for dyspnea management (nurse-led intervention, multidisciplinary intervention, psychoeducational programs, breathing techniques, walking therapy, inspiratory muscle training, respiratory rehabilitation, yoga, acupressure, fan therapy, guided imagery, abdominal massage, aromatherapy, and a reduction in room temperature and humidity) in patients with cancer with monthly and weekly prognoses., Results: Of the 389 invited units, 162 participated. From these, 2448 registered nurses were invited and 539 (22.3%) responded. Almost similar nursing practices were provided regardless of patient prognosis. Nurse-led intervention was the most frequently practiced, followed by room temperature and humidity reduction, multidisciplinary intervention, and fan therapy. Yoga, respiratory rehabilitation, and acupressure were rarely practiced., Conclusion: Nursing practices for dyspnea are similar, irrespective of prognosis. Nurse-led interventions, reducing room temperature and humidity, multidisciplinary intervention, and fan therapy are frequently used for dyspnea in patients with cancer. Future studies should evaluate the effectiveness of these nursing practices., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.)

Purpose: This study explores the use of nursing support among nurses for caregiver burden in family caregivers of terminally ill patients with cancer in palliative care units (PCUs)., Methods: Requests were sent to 389 institutions, and cooperation was received from 162 PCUs. Nurses at 162 PCUs were asked to participate in an Internet survey regarding nursing practices for caregiver burden in Japan. The frequency of six nursing support practices (extracted in a scoping review) was reported using a 5-point Likert scale., Results: The response rate was 22.3% (539/2448). Support for reducing caregiver stress was the most frequently provided nursing support (mean Likert score: 2.41 for monthly prognosis and 2.42 for weekly prognosis). Psychological and educational support was mainly provided via non-face-to-face (telephone) (mean Likert score: 2.26 for monthly prognosis and 2.21 for weekly prognosis) and face-to-face methods (mean Likert score: 2.32 for monthly prognosis and 2.29 for weekly prognosis)., Conclusion: Nursing support was provided through telephone support and face-to-face interactions and aimed at reducing caregiver stress among nurses and family caregivers of patients with terminal cancer in PCUs. In this study, the trends in nursing support were similar for patients with a prognosis of weeks or months., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.)

Purpose: To identify nursing support for caregiver burden in family caregivers of patients with cancer. Methods: This scoping review was guided by Arksey and O'Malley's six-stage scoping review framework. All available published articles from database inception to July 31, 2023 were systematically searched through PubMed, CINAHL, CENTRAL, and Ichushi-Web of the Japan Medical Abstract Society databases with additional relevant studies from the article list. Each key journal was manually searched. Results: Overall, 502 articles were screened, and 34 were finally included. The results of the qualitative thematic analysis were categorized into 7 components of nursing support: psychological and educational support, psychological and educational support using mainly non-face-to-face (Information and Communication Technology), psychological and educational support mainly using non-face-to-face (telephone) methods, mindfulness to support, support aimed at reducing caregiver stress, support for both patients and caregivers, and others. Of the 34 studies, 23 were randomized controlled trials (RCT), and the remaining 11 were non-RCTs. Conclusion: The results of the scoping review categorized nursing support for caregiver burden in the family caregivers of patients with cancer into 7 components. Future research should examine the feasibility of implementing these components., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Background: Constipation is an uncomfortable symptom experienced by many patients with advanced cancer, and it decreases the quality of life. Several studies have advised pharmacological therapies for constipation management, whereas others have promoted nonpharmacological approaches that promote changes in the patient's lifestyle. However, constipation management by nurses has not yet been systematically reviewed in patients with cancer. Therefore, this study conducted a scoping review of nursing support focused on nonpharmacological therapies offered to relieve constipation in patients with cancer. Methods: The review was guided by Arksey and O'Malley's five-stage scoping review framework. We searched the databases of PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, CENTRAL in the Cochrane Library, and Ichushi-Web of the Japan Medical Abstract Society from the databases' inceptions to August 31, 2023, using various search terms such as "cancer," "constipation," and "nursing care." Results: A total of 1501 articles that met the eligibility criteria were identified; of these, 5 articles were selected, and 1 additional article was found via handsearching. The final sample included six articles. We categorized the articles into three major nursing support types: acupressure, aroma massage to the abdomen, and self-management education. Five studies used a randomized controlled trial (RCT) design, including one with a randomized, waiting-list controlled trial, and one used a non-RCT design. All included studies showed the effectiveness of nonpharmacological interventions to improve constipation. Conclusion: This study also identified three types of nursing support for patients with cancer to relieve constipation. However, because of the small sample size, further evidence is required.

Background: This report investigates the applicability of nursing support for patients with cancer with a prognosis of months and weeks, and their families., Objectives: To evaluate the applicability of nursing support for five symptoms (dyspnea, pain, nausea/vomiting, constipation, and delirium) in patients with cancer during the last weeks of life, and the caregiver burden on their families., Design Setting: A Delphi study was used to determine the applicability of nursing support for patients with terminal cancer and their families. Eight experts in symptom palliation in Japan who have direct care or research experience with these populations were included. The Delphi method was used to assess nursing support types for prognoses of months and weeks. Consensus was defined as ≥70% agreement for either "high applicability" or "low applicability" of each support type., Results: A total of 50 nursing support types for 5 symptoms were evaluated as highly applicable for 92% ( n = 46) of patients with cancer with a prognosis of months. For patients with cancer with a prognosis of weeks, 78% ( n = 39) of the nursing support was rated as highly applicable. For both prognosis groups, all nursing support (n = 6) for caregiver burden was highly applicable., Conclusion: Applicability ratings of nursing support may be influenced by a high degree of invasiveness, accessibility of knowledge and information, and high expectations of effectiveness. Future studies are needed to verify the effectiveness of nursing support evaluated as highly applicable to patients with cancer during the last few months and weeks of life., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) procedures often experience high levels of uncertainty. In this study, we developed and implemented a nursing intervention program to help patients recognize and reduce pre-transplant uncertainty. This study used a pretest-posttest single-group design without a control group. Eighteen patients undergoing HSCT participated in the intervention program-which included informational support, confirmation that the patients understood the information provided, and emotional support. Outpatients received the intervention at their initial outpatient visits after their procedure dates were determined, while inpatients received it at discharge following their procedures. The Universal Uncertainty in Illness Scale (UUIS), which consists of 26 items and six subscales, was used as the primary outcome measure. The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were used as secondary outcome measures. The sample included 18 individuals (13 male and five female participants; median age, 52 years). Most participants had acute lymphoblastic leukemia and had previously undergone bone marrow transplantations. Following our intervention, the total UUIS score significantly decreased, from 80.83 ± 18.42 before the intervention to 63.06 ± 23.53 afterward ( t = 4.98, p < .001). Furthermore, significant post-intervention reductions were observed for all six subscales of the UUIS. There were no significant differences in the functional EORTC QLQ-C30 scale scores; however, the symptom scale showed a significant decrease in fatigue (pre = 35.19 ± 19.53, post = 25.93 ± 17.04, Z = -1.99, p < 0.046) and constipation (pre = 20.37 ± 20.26, post = 7.41 ± 14.26, Z = -2.11, p = 0.035). There were no significant differences in anxiety and depression levels pre- and post-intervention. Overall, the intervention effectively reduced both UUIS total and subscale scores related to pre-HSCT uncertainties. Assessing uncertainty prior to HSCT is vital to assisting patients in coping with the procedure. Nurses not only provide information but also tailor the information to the patients' cognitive abilities, thereby simplifying their understanding of the disease and its treatment., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest. Disclosure forms provided by the authors are available on the website., (Copyright Ⓒ2024 Asia-Pacific Blood and Marrow Transplantation Group (APBMT).)

Pain is subjective, warranting tailored responses in pharmacotherapy and nursing support. Despite this, the evidence for suitable nursing support for pain is not well established in terminally ill patients such as those with cancer; therefore, it is necessary to provide support in consideration of changes in physical symptoms and quality of life. However, interventional studies for such patients are often difficult. There have been no comprehensive studies to date on non-pharmacological support that can be implemented by nurses. Therefore, with the aim of examining nursing support applicable at the end of life, this scoping review comprehensively mapped nursing support for pain in cancer patients at all stages of the disease. This study complies with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement and the Arksey and O'Malley framework. All available published articles from the time of database establishment to January 31, 2022, were systematically searched for in PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), CENTRAL, and the Ichushi Web database of the Japanese Society of Medical Abstracts. Overall, 10,385 articles were screened, and 72 were finally included. Both randomized controlled trials (RCTs) (n = 62) and non-RCTs (n = 10) were included. Twenty-two types of nursing support were identified. Eighteen of them showed positive results; five of them were provided only to terminally ill patients, three of which were effective, namely, comfort care, foot bath, and combined therapy. It is important to examine the applicability of types of nursing support in clinical practice in the future., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2023, Morikawa et al.)

Nausea and vomiting are symptoms commonly experienced by patients with advanced cancer and have a wide range of causes, including pharmacological interventions. Additionally, multiple factors often simultaneously cause nausea and vomiting. These highly distressing symptoms may be directly or indirectly related to the disease and can significantly impact both the physical and psychological well-being of patients. This study aims to identify the nursing support provided to reduce nausea and vomiting experienced by patients with cancer. This study followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews checklist and Arksey and O'Malley's framework. We searched the PubMed, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials in the Cochrane Library, and the Ichushi-Web of the Japan Medical Abstract Society databases for all content published from the inception of each database through July 31, 2023. A total of 4,625 scientific articles were identified after literature screening. In total, 58 articles were included for full-text review, and 10 articles were finally selected for review. The types of study designs comprised six randomized controlled trials, three prospective observational studies, and one before-after study with no controls. The types of cancers included in the articles were colorectal, breast, lung, pancreatic, gynecological, stomach, and sarcoma. The total sample size of the study population was 793 patients (range = 12-281) for intervention studies and 4,333 patients (range = 20-4,197) for observational studies. Nursing support, extracted from the 10 articles, was classified into the following six types: massage therapy, acupressure, early palliative care, psychosocial support, self-symptom monitoring, and coordinated care. The review yielded six classifications of nursing support for nausea and vomiting in cancer patients. Future research should examine the feasibility of providing nursing support for nausea and vomiting in cancer patients., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2023, Kobayashi et al.)

Objective: To identify nursing support provided for the relief of breathlessness in patients with cancer., Design: A scoping review following a standard framework proposed by Arksey and O'Malley., Study Selection: Electronic databases (PubMed, CINAHL, CENTRAL and Ichushi-Web of the Japan Medical Abstract Society Databases) were searched from inception to 31 January 2022. Studies reporting on patients with cancer (aged ≥18 years), intervention for relief from breathlessness, nursing support and quantitatively assessed breathlessness using a scale were included., Results: Overall, 2629 articles were screened, and 27 were finally included. Results of the qualitative thematic analysis were categorised into 12 nursing support components: fan therapy, nurse-led intervention, multidisciplinary intervention, psychoeducational programme, breathing technique, walking therapy, inspiratory muscle training, respiratory rehabilitation, yoga, acupuncture, guided imagery and abdominal massage., Conclusions: We identified 12 components of nursing support for breathlessness in patients with cancer. The study results may be useful to understand the actual state of nursing support provided for breathlessness in patients with terminal cancer and to consider possible support that can be implemented., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background and Purpose: This study aimed to identify patient motivation for physical activity before and after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT)., Methods: We conducted 14 semi-structured interviews of seven patients (two of each patient): one before starting a conditioning regimen and one after leaving the protected environment. All interviews were recorded and analyzed using the inductive content analysis method. The data collection period was May to December 2018., Results: The participants comprised three men and four women aged 40-70 years. The patients underwent bone marrow, umbilical cord blood, or peripheral HSCT. The patients' motivation for physical activity before and after HSCT was classified into six categories and categorized into five themes including "to overcome HSCT," "to look after myself," "to respond to the donor," "the existence of supporters," and "encouragement from supporters.", Conclusions and Implications for Practice: The categories and themes developed here based on patient responses provide an important perspective that should be promoted among healthcare providers who care for patients undergoing HSCT., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest. Disclosure forms provided by the authors are available on the website., (Copyright Ⓒ2023 Asia-Pacific Blood and Marrow Transplantation Group (APBMT).)

Introduction: Terminally ill patients with cancer experience a variety of symptoms, and their families experience certain caregiver burdens. Most studies on this topic have focused on the symptoms experienced by patients with cancer. There is little established evidence to show how nursing support affects these symptoms and burdens. Nurses provide support by extrapolating their clinical experience, practical knowledge and insights gained from the treatment phase of patients with cancer, regardless of the existence or degree of evidence. This study presents a scoping review protocol with the aim of categorising the feasibility of nursing support from the initial to the terminal phases in the trajectory of cancer care., Method and Analysis: This review will be guided by Arksey and O'Malley's five-stage scoping review framework and Levac's extension. Our research project team will focus on the pain, dyspnoea, nausea and vomiting, constipation, delirium, fatigue and skin disorders experienced by patients with cancer as well as the burdens experienced by caregivers of such patients. All available published articles from database inception to 31 January 2022 will be systematically searched using the following electrical databases: PubMed, CINAHL, CENTRAL in the Cochrane Library and Ichushi-Web of the Japan Medical Abstract Society databases. In addition, we will assess relevant studies from the reference list and manually search each key journal. The formula creation phase of the literature search involves working with a librarian to identify relevant keywords. At least two reviewers will independently screen and review articles and extract data using a data chart form. Results will be mapped according to study design and analysed for adaptation in the field of terminal cancer., Ethics and Dissemination: This review does not require ethical approval as it is a secondary analysis of pre-existing, published data. The findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2022. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Context: The Dyspnea-12 questionnaire is a simple tool to assess dyspnea using qualitative descriptors that include both physical and emotional domains. However, the reliability and validity of the Japanese version in patients with lung cancer have not been assessed., Objective: To determine the reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the Dyspnea-12 questionnaire in patients with lung cancer., Methods: The assessment was based on the numerical rating scale (NRS), cancer dyspnea scale (CDS), and hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS). Spearman's correlation assessed the convergent validity of Dyspnea-12 using these three scales. Exploratory factor analysis examined the construct validity. The reliability was verified using Cronbach's alpha. Anxiety, depression, clinical dyspnea, presence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and patient status were identified by discriminating performance., Results: The analysis included 113 patients with lung cancer. A significant positive correlation was found between Dyspnea-12 and NRS, CDS, and HADS scores. Similar to the original version, factor analysis clearly classified Dyspnea-12 into two components (physical and emotional), thereby confirming its construct validity. Cronbach's alpha values for the total Dyspnea-12 and its physical and emotional components were 0.97, 0.95, and 0.96, respectively. Patients with anxiety, depression, and clinical dyspnea and those in the palliative phase had significantly higher Dyspnea-12 scores than their respective counterparts. The Dyspnea-12 scores of patients with and without COPD were similar., Conclusion: The Japanese version of the Dyspnea-12 questionnaire is a useful and reliable tool to assess the multi-dimensional aspects of dyspnea in patients with lung cancer., (Copyright © 2022 American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: This study investigates the views on death among cancer patients in Japan and examines how these views are related to age, sex, and physical condition. We also investigate how these views are related to where patients would like to spend their final days and whether or not they would like to be told how long they have left to live., Method: We targeted 450 cancer patients receiving outpatient treatment in the radiology department at the University of Tokyo Hospital. We used the Death Attitudes Inventory (DAI) developed by Hirai to measure attitudes about death., Results: Of the 450 patients approached, we received responses from 310 (69% collection rate). The results of the t test and one-way ANOVA showed that, in terms of "death anxiety/fear," the under-65 group (17.73 ± 6.69) scored significantly higher than the 65-and-over group (15.43 ± 7.69, t = 2.685, df = 280, p < 0.01); the group with KPS scores 70 or above (16.88 ± 7.21) scored higher than the group with KPS scores below 70 (12.73 ± 7.09, t = 2.168, df = 280, p = 0.03); and no significant difference was found for sex, metastasis, or treatment stage., Significance of Results: Our results demonstrate that, although views on death among cancer patients may differ according to sex, age, and physical condition, taking these factors into account when understanding such views can be useful in predicting where patients may wish to spend their final days.

Background: The objectives of this study were to compare the importance of components of a good death among cancer patients, the general population, oncologists, and oncology nurses, and explore which patients preferred "fighting against cancer.", Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional anonymous self-reported survey of cancer patients who visited a radiation oncology outpatient clinic, oncologists, and oncology nurses at the Tokyo University Hospital and a random sample of the general population in the Tokyo metropolitan area. The outcomes were 18 previously developed components of a good death in Japanese cancer care consisting of 57 attributes., Results: Three hundred ten patients, 353 subjects from the general population, 109 oncologists, and 366 oncology nurses participated. The desire to "fight against cancer" was highly significantly different between patients and oncologists (effect size [ES] = -1.40; P = 0.001) and patients and oncology nurses (ES = -1.12; P = 0.001). "Physical and cognitive control" was, similarly, highly significantly different between patients and oncologists (ES = -1.30; P = 0.001) and patients and oncology nurses (ES = -1.06; P = 0.001). Patients who emphasized "maintaining hope and pleasure" (P = 0.0001), "unawareness of death" (P = 0.0001), and "good relationship with family" (P = 0.004) favored "fighting against cancer." The patients, however, who emphasized "physical and psychological comfort" did not significantly favor "fighting against cancer" (P = 0.004)., Conclusion: The importance of good death components differed between groups. Medical professionals should be aware of the diversity of values surrounding death and assess the patient's values and discuss them to support his or her quality of life. In addition, the development of care and a medical/social system to maintain hope and pleasure after failure of anticancer treatment is necessary.

Objective: One of the most important goals of palliative care is achieving a good death. Most Japanese believe that “having some pleasure in daily life” is necessary at the end of life. The aim of this study was to identify, from the perspective of physicians and nurses, a care strategy that ensures that cancer patients have pleasure in daily life at the end of life., Method: We conducted semistructured interviews with experts in palliative care units. A total of 45 participants included 22 palliative care physicians and 23 nurses. Transcripts of the interviews were analyzed using a content analysis method., Results: Care for end-of-life cancer patients that ensures they have some pleasure in daily life was classified into five categories: “Pain assessment and pain easing” aimed to offer physical and psychological pain assessment and relief. “Maintenance of recuperative environment” aimed to offer care that arranged for assistive devices and equipment in the patient's room. “Support of daily life” aimed to offer care that eased accomplishment of daily activities. “Care that respects individuality” aimed to offer care that assessed sources of pleasure for the patient. “Events and complementary and alternative therapies” aimed to offer such care as aromatherapy and massage., Significance of Results: The elements of care identified in this study are useful for all end-of-life cancer patients, even those who do not enter palliative care units. The next step of research is to test the efficacy of interventions that reflect the five identified categories of care for end-of life cancer patients.

It is thought that there is no effective traditional antibiotic therapy for MDRP, and a prevention of its transmission is the most important strategy for controlling infection. In practicing standard precautions for MDRP patients at home, we noticed some sort of anxiety and confusion among the healthcare workers and family caregivers. We made our experimental manual and unified our procedures for MDRP carriers at home to reduce such problems. Consequently, healthcare workers' stress was alleviated and the teamwork could be enhanced better. We think that it is significant to make a common manual for MDRP control to improve mutual understandings and to have a better cooperation among the concerned home care workers.

Investigation of a hairy root culture of Tripterygium wilfordii var. regelii transformed with Agrobacterium rhizogenes resulted in the isolation of new diterpenoid and sesquiterpenoid together with known triterpenoids. These structures were determined by spectroscopic analyses.