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OBJECTIVE Suprasellar meningioma resection via either the transcranial approach (TCA) or the endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA) is an area of controversy and active evaluation. Skull base surgeons increasingly consider patient-reported outcomes (PROs) when choosing an approach. No PRO measure currently exists to assess quality of life for suprasellar meningiomas. METHODS Adult patients undergoing suprasellar meningioma resection between 2013 and 2019 via EEA (n = 14) or TCA (n = 14) underwent semistructured interviews. Transcripts were coded using a grounded theory approach to identify themes as the basis for a PRO measure that includes all uniquely reported symptoms. To assess content validity, 32 patients and 15 surgeons used a Likert scale to rate the relevance of items on the resulting questionnaire and the general Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System–29 (PROMIS29). The mean scores were calculated for all items and compared for TCA versus EEA patient cohorts by using unpaired t-tests. Items on either questionnaire with mean scores ≥ 2.0 from patients were considered meaningful and were aggregated to form the novel Suprasellar Meningioma Patient-Reported Outcome Survey (SMPRO) instrument. RESULTS Qualitative analyses resulted in 55 candidate items. Relative to patients who underwent the EEA, those who underwent the TCA reported significantly worse future outlook before surgery (p = 0.01), tiredness from medications 2 weeks after surgery (p = 0.001), and word-finding and memory difficulties 3 months after surgery (p = 0.05 and < 0.001, respectively). The items that patients who received a TCA were most concerned about included medication-induced lethargy after surgery (2.9 ± 1.3), blurry vision before surgery (2.7 ± 1.5), and difficulty reading due to blurry vision before surgery (2.7 ± 2.7). Items that patients who received an EEA were most concerned about included blurry vision before surgery (3.5 ± 1.3), difficulty reading due to blurry vision before surgery (2.4 ± 1.3), and problems with smell postsurgery (2.9 ± 1.3). Although surgeons overall overestimated how concerned patients were about questionnaire items (p < 0.0005), the greatest discrepancies between patient and surgeon relevance scores were for blurry vision pre- and postoperatively (p < 0.001 and < 0.001, respectively) and problems with taste postoperatively (p < 0.001). Seventeen meningioma-specific items were considered meaningful, supplementing 8 significant PROMIS29 items to create the novel 25-item SMPRO. CONCLUSIONS The authors developed a disease- and approach-specific measure for suprasellar meningiomas to compare quality of life by operative approach. If demonstrated to be reliable and valid in future studies, this instrument may assist patients and providers in choosing a personalized surgical approach.

ObjectiveTo determine whether Scrambler therapy is an effective, acceptable, and feasible treatment of persistent central neuropathic pain in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) and to explore the effect of Scrambler therapy on co-occurring symptoms.MethodsWe conducted a randomized single-blind, sham-controlled trial in patients with NMOSD who have central neuropathic pain using Scrambler therapy for 10 consecutive weekdays. Pain severity, pain interference, anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbance were assessed at baseline, at the end of treatment, and at the 30- and 60-day follow-up.ResultsTwenty-two patients (11 per arm) were enrolled in and completed this trial. The median baseline numeric rating scale (NRS) pain score decreased from 5.0 to 1.5 after 10 days of treatment with Scrambler therapy, whereas the median NRS score did not significantly decrease in the sham arm. Depression was also reduced in the treatment arm, and anxiety was decreased in a subset of patients who responded to treatment. These symptoms were not affected in the sham arm. The safety profiles were similar between groups.ConclusionsScrambler therapy is an effective, feasible, and safe intervention for central neuropathic pain in patients with NMOSD. Decreasing pain with Scrambler therapy may additionally improve depression and anxiety.Clinicaltrials.gov identifierNCT03452176.Classification of evidenceThis study provides Class II evidence that Scrambler therapy significantly reduces pain in patients with NMOSD and persistent central neuropathic pain.

Introduction: Advance care planning (ACP) discussions help guide future medical care consistent with patient wishes. These discussions should be a part of routine care and should be readdressed frequently as a patient’s medical condition changes. Limited literature exists supporting structured processes for identifying persons who may benefit from these conversations. The purpose of this integrative review was to understand whether targeting patients with episodic disease trajectories in the acute care setting will increase their willingness to participate in ACP discussions. Methods: Using the Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice Model as a guideline, this integrative review focused on the research query “In the acute care setting, does targeting patients with heart failure or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease for ACP lead to increased willingness to participate in these discussions.” Articles from 2009 to September 2019 were considered for review. Results: Six articles met inclusion criteria for final analysis. Articles outside of the United States were excluded. Four themes emerged from the literature: (1) improved patient attitudes toward ACP, (2) effective communication surrounding care preferences, (3) strengthened connection between preferred and delivered care, and (4) increased patient involvement in ACP. Conclusion: Chronic diseases such as heart failure and COPD have a high symptom burden punctuated by exacerbations, making it difficult to know when introduction of ACP discussions would be most beneficial. Future research should focus on a deeper evaluation of when to introduce ACP conversations in this population and which ACP interventions are effective to facilitate these discussions.

The emergency department is a primary portal to care for persons after an opioid overdose and those with an opioid use disorder. The aim of this integrative review was to provide best practice recommendations for nurses caring for this highly stigmatized and often undertreated population.An integrative review was conducted using studies focusing on adults treated with opioid agonist-antagonist medications in the emergency department. The integrative review method by Whittemore and Knafl was used to guide this review and enhance its rigor.Twelve studies were included in the review. Opioid care begins with identifying opioid use risk, followed by implementing tailored strategies including opioid agonist-antagonist treatment if indicated, referral to treatment when warranted, and follow-up opioid use monitoring when feasible. Eleven recommendations provide guidance on integrating best practices into routine emergency care.The emergency department is an ideal setting for addressing the opioid crisis. Nurses can use the recommendations from this review to lead system change and more effectively manage the care of persons with opioid use and opioid withdrawal, and those at risk for opioid overdose.

To determine the effect of an evidence-based Pain Stoppers bundled intervention on pain management satisfaction scores and actual pain intensity scores of hospitalized patients with cancer, as well as nurses' knowledge and attitudes on pain.Participants and nurses took part in a preintervention group (n = 173 and 11, respectively) and a postintervention group (n = 157 and 9, respectively) at a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center.A pre- and postintervention design was used. Evidence-based strategies included staff education, improved staff communication, adoption of caring behaviors and timely responses, improved patient education, and efforts to maintain patients' analgesic levels.Patient satisfaction with staff improved from preintervention to postintervention. No statistically significant differences were noted in actual pain intensity scores between the groups; however, fewer patients in the postintervention group received chemotherapy within 30 days, and more were admitted for symptom management versus chemotherapy administration. In addition, no difference was noted between RN group scores, although there was statistically significant improvement on individual questions in the postintervention group.Implementation of a Pain Stoppers bundled intervention may be effective in improving the pain experience for hospitalized patients with solid tumor cancers.

BACKGROUND The optimal surgical treatment of suprasellar meningiomas remains controversial. While successful surgery has historically been measured by extent of tumor resection (EOR), surgeons must also balance tumor- and patient-specific characteristics with quality of life (QoL) outcomes when considering either an open craniotomy or endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA). METHODS We conducted 28 in-depth individual interviews with patients diagnosed with suprasellar meningioma and treated via EEA (n=14) or craniotomy (n=14). We used a structured interview script and the transcribed interviews were independently coded by two researchers. Consensus was used to identify themes and domains of interest. RESULTS The overall sample (80% between 40-69 years old, 70% female, and 82% white) was largely similar between craniotomy and EEA cohorts. Tumor volumes were not different between both cohorts (p=0.2), with a combined average of 4.4 cm3 (standard error ± 0.7). Suprasellar meningiomas caused a wide range of symptoms with 21 concepts elicited. The most frequently endorsed concepts were “Vision” (n=22), “Headaches” (n=11), “Fatigue” (n=11), “Cognitive Symptoms” (n=10), “Pituitary Dysfunction – including Trouble Sleeping and Frequent Urination” (n=9), “Sinus Problems” (n=7), and “Personality Changes” (5). Both surgical approaches demonstrated improvements in vision (69.2% EEA, 66.7% craniotomy) and headaches (100% EEA, 80% craniotomy). Compared to EEA, craniotomy yielded a longer list of complications (3 vs.14) and surgery-specific symptoms (9 vs.16). More craniotomy patients reported having negative emotions (5 vs.1), new depression and anxiety (6 vs.1), financial difficulties (3 vs.1), and reduced desire/ability to pursue fun activities (12 vs.7) after surgery relative to EEA counterparts. CONCLUSION Suprasellar meningiomas can be debilitating with significantly impact on patients’ health and QoL. Our findings demonstrate differential effects upon patients’ post-operative QoL associated with type of surgery. Our findings support the need for measuring patient-centered, disease-specific QoL outcomes in patients undergoing craniotomy versus EEA for suprasellar meningioma resection.

Little is known about the effects of burdensome symptoms dur- ing chemotherapy treatment in African-American women. This study explored the symptom burden occurring during chemotherapy treatment and how these symptoms impacted functional well-being and quality of life (QOL). A sample of 30 African-American women with breast cancer (BC) completed a battery of questionnaires that were used to collect the data at baseline, midpoint, and at the completion of chemotherapy. There were significant differences in the severity of symptoms for worse pain, pain inteiference with activities of daily living (ADLs), present fatigue and history offatigue, present nausea and history of nausea and insomnia as well as lower intensity of QOL measures over the course of chemotherapy treatment. All symptoms had greater intensity at midpoint and completion than at baseline. Worst pain had a significant negative effect on functional well-being. Both pain and depression each had significant negative effects on QOL.

Purpose/objectives To test the effects of a computer-based nursing intervention designed to provide patients and family caregivers with concrete, objective information on symptom management; provide education about disease and treatment; coordinate medical resources; and provide emotional support and counseling. Design Two-site, randomized clinical trial. Settings A large, urban, midwestern, tertiary-cancer center and a community-based cancer center in a medium-sized midwestern city. Sample 109 patients newly diagnosed with breast, colon, or lung cancer who were receiving chemotherapy; 54 received standard care, and 55 participated in the intervention group. Methods Outcome data were collected via structured telephone interviews at three time points: baseline, midway through the intervention, and one month postintervention. The intervention consisting of nine visits, five in person and four by telephone, was conducted over 18 weeks by advanced practice oncology nurses. Main research variables Psychosocial functioning, anxiety, and depression. Findings Patients who received the intervention had significantly less depression between baseline and the midway point, as well as less anxiety and greater improvement in the role-emotional and mental health subscales of the Medical Outcomes Study 36 Short Form. Conclusions Cancer-care nursing interventions can decrease psychosocial morbidity and improve quality of life for newly diagnosed patients with cancer undergoing treatment. Additional research is needed to understand who benefited most from the intervention. Implications for nursing This nurse-directed intervention resulted in improved mental health for patients; however, physical subscales were not changed. Further work is needed to determine why depression and mental health were affected yet physical health and symptoms did not differ between groups. Results support the important role of nurses in addressing mental health issues in patients and families experiencing cancer.

This study, guided by an adaptation of the theory of unpleasant symptoms, examined the complex relationships of childhood maltreatment, intimate partner violence (IPV), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and physical health symptoms with global sleep quality and disruptive nighttime behaviors. Data were analyzed using covariance structure analysis. A convenience sample of 157 women currently experiencing IPV was recruited from crisis shelters and community agencies. Findings provide empirical support that women concurrently experiencing PTSD, depression, and stress-related physical health symptoms demonstrated poor global sleep quality and frequent disruptive nighttime behaviors. Posttraumatic stress disorder and stress health symptoms functioned as mediators of childhood maltreatment and IPV effects on both global sleep quality and disruptive nighttime behaviors, but depression did not.