3,195 research outputs found
Integrated psychological intervention to support the emotional well being of oncological patients under standard and exceptional circumstances
No full textSupportive care, including exercise, nutritional and psycho-oncological interventions, is becoming increasingly important in cancer given their impact on ‘patients’ quality and quantity of life. The purpose of this study was to explore willingness, preferences barriers and facilitators for a multimodal intervention in patients with cancer.
An anonymous questionnaire was proposed on randomly selected days to the patients visiting the cancer outpatients’ facilities at the Oncology Unit of the University Hospital of Verona. The questionnaire investigated willingness, preferences, barriers, and facilitators associated with participation in a multimodal program designed for patients with cancer. Exercise level was estimated using two open questions, nutritional risk was identified using the Nutritional Risk Screening 2002, while distress was evaluated with the Distress Thermometer.
Based on 324 participants, 65% were interested in starting a multimodal intervention. Patients declared to prefer to receive instructions from dedicated experts, with a face-to-face approach, and during the anticancer treatment. Treatment-related side effects were the major obstacles for a multimodal program, while the availability of a specialized staff as exercise kinesiologists, dietitians, and psycho-oncologists was found to be an important facilitator for increasing ‘patients’ participation.
Patients patients with cancer are interested in participating in a multimodal supportive care program specifically designed for them. Information from this study may help to design a tailored multimodal intervention for patients with cancer
Variations on the Author
No full text“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Imparare le lingue per abbracciare il mondo
No full textL’autrice che si colloca, come Daniela Zorzi, tra i fautori di una linguistica “impegnata”, propone in ricordo della studiosa amica, una riflessione sul ruolo cruciale del multilinguismo e delle lingue- culture, per il successo professionale e il benessere sociale, nella società contemporanea. Il multilinguismo appare come un’urgenza educativa che interpella studiosi e formatori a tutti i livelli al fine di promuovere nei giovani un apprendimento consapevole efficace ed autonomo.Multilingualism constitutes an urgent objective for education, which needs to involve teachers and researchers at all levels if we are to promote effective and autonomous learning in the young. Like Daniela Zorzi, the author considers herself a socially engaged linguist, and in memory of her friend’s work, offers a reflection on the key roles of languages and cultures and of multilingualism for professional success and social welfare today
Exercise and anemia in cancer patients: could make the difference?
No full textAnemia is one of the most common hematological manifestations occurring in cancer patients, related to a poorer prognosis. Among supportive care in cancer, exercise is emerging as a crucial tool demonstrating to reduce mortality risk, as well as to counteract several diseases and treatment-related adverse events. Nevertheless, the effect of exercise on anemia in cancer is still a relatively unexplored area
Reclamações ambientais em Aveiro, Portugal: atores, preocupações, padrão territorial e resoluções
No full textThis paper presents an environmental diagnosis based on public complaints on environmental
issues submitted to the Environmental Department of the Aveiro City Council, Portugal, between
2000 and 2005. It discusses the potential influences of these in local environmental planning
and governance. The paper has been organised into five sections. The first of these introduces
the study. The second section focuses on the conceptual approaches relating to environmental
grassroots movements, the main actors involved in these movements and the role played by
local government. It also contains a brief review of the most recent urban environmental
quality challenges in the European context together with a description of the main features of
the associated political and legal framework in Portugal. The third section describes the case
study and the methodology used. The results of the empirical study are detailed in the fourth
section. The final section critically analyses these results with emphases on the temporal
evolution of the submission of complaints, the actors involved, the local environmental problems
and their associated spatial pattern as well as the responses given by the City Council. This
information may then be used to provide a useful indicator for the perception of environmental
quality as well as a credible instrument for the visualisation and evaluation of local performance
in terms of environmental planning and management.AlBan Programme - n. E05M053040B
A multimodal approach to cancer-related cachexia: from theory to practice
No full textIntroduction: Cachexia represents a relevant issue in oncological care, which is still lacking effective therapies. Although the incidence of cancer cachexia varies across cancer types, it is responsible for approximately a quarter of cancer-related deaths. The pathophysiology of this syndrome is multifactorial, including weight loss, muscle atrophy and impairment of the pro-/anti-inflammatory balance.Areas covered: Diagnostic criteria and optimal endpoints for cachexia-dedicated trials are still debated, slowing the identification of interventions counteracting cachexia sequaele. The multifaceted features of this syndrome support the rationale for personalized therapy. A multimodal approach is likely to offer the best option to address key cachexia-related issues. Pharmacologic agents, physical exercise, nutritional and psycho-social interventions may have a synergistic effect, and improve quality of life.Expert opinion: A personalized multimodal intervention could be the best strategy to effectively manage cancer cachexia. To offer such a comprehensive approach, a specialized staff, including health professionals with different expertise, is necessary. Each specialist plays a specific role inside the multimodal intervention, with the aim of delivering the best cancer care and access to the most effective therapeutic options for each patient
Physical Activity for Oncological Patients in COVID-19 Era: No Time to Relax
No full textWhereas the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) storm is relentlessly progressing worldwide, a great effort from scientific societies has been made to give recommendations for safely continuing oncological care, prioritizing the interventions according to patients' condition and type and stage of tumor. Nevertheless, to date no specific suggestions regarding physical activity and exercise in cancer patients during the COVID-19 era have been released, neglecting the potential deleterious effects of quarantine and sedentary behaviour (imposed as containment measures against COVID-19), particularly in these subjects. Moreover, literature is constantly consolidating the crucial impact of regular physical activity in cancer in reducing recurrence and mortality risk. In this commentary, we discuss possible adaptations of the recently published exercise guidelines to the current pandemic emergency, proposing various modalities to prevent or mitigate the physical inactivity risk in cancer patients
Development of Educational Print Materials for Physical Activity in Cancer: Evaluation of Readability and Suitability
No full textEducational health materials may be important tools to increase physical activity in cancer patients. Nevertheless, most of the available resources regarding physical activity for cancer patients were found not suitable, had a low grade of readability, and thus, represent a significant barrier to behavior change. To date, little data about development criteria and evaluation of physical activity resources for cancer before their spread exist. The purposes of this study were (i) to describe the development of a physical activity guidebook designed for cancer patients and (ii) to test its readability and suitability. The guidebook was developed through multi-step passages, including group discussions, a literature review, identification of a motivational theory, and using previous research on exercise preferences, barriers, and facilitators to target the information. Two validated formulae were used to assess the readability, whereas thirty-four judges completed the Suitability of Assessment Materials questionnaire to evaluate the suitability of the guidebook. The guidebook was found readable for patients having at least a primary education, and the judges scored it as "superior" material. Our guidebook, following a rigorous method in the development phase, was considered to be suitable and readable. Further evaluations through clinical trials could investigate its effectiveness for behavior change and its impact on cancer patients
- …
