27 research outputs found
sj-docx-2-dhj-10.1177_20552076231210663 - Supplemental material for Barriers to and facilitators of online health information-seeking behaviours among cancer patients: A systematic review
No full textSupplemental material, sj-docx-2-dhj-10.1177_20552076231210663 for Barriers to and facilitators of online health information-seeking behaviours among cancer patients: A systematic review by Giulia Ferraris, Dario Monzani, Veronica Coppini, Lorenzo Conti, Silvia Francesca Maria Pizzoli, Roberto Grasso and Gabriella Pravettoni in DIGITAL HEALTH</p
sj-docx-1-dhj-10.1177_20552076231210663 - Supplemental material for Barriers to and facilitators of online health information-seeking behaviours among cancer patients: A systematic review
No full textSupplemental material, sj-docx-1-dhj-10.1177_20552076231210663 for Barriers to and facilitators of online health information-seeking behaviours among cancer patients: A systematic review by Giulia Ferraris, Dario Monzani, Veronica Coppini, Lorenzo Conti, Silvia Francesca Maria Pizzoli, Roberto Grasso and Gabriella Pravettoni in DIGITAL HEALTH</p
Methods for acquisition and integration of personal wellness parameters
No full textWellness indicates the state or condition of being in good physical and mental health. Stress is a common state of emotional strain that plays a crucial role in the everyday quality of life. Nowadays, there is a growing individual awareness of the importance of a proper lifestyle and a generalized trend to become an active part in monitoring, preserving, and improving personal wellness for both physical and emotional aspects. The majority studies in this field relies on the evaluation of the changes of sensed parameters passing from rest to “maximal” stress. However, the vast majority of people usually experiences stressing circumstances in everyday life. This led us to investigate the impact of mild cognitive activation which can be somehow comparable to usual situations that everyone can face in daily life. Several signals and data can be useful to characterize the state of a person, but not all of them are equally important. So it is crucial to analyse the mutual relevance of the different pieces of information. In this work we focus on a subset of well-established psychophysical descriptors and we identified a set of devices enabling the measurement of these parameters . The design of the experimental setup and the selection of sensing devices were driven by qualitative criteria such as intrusiveness, reliability, and ease of use. These are deemed crucial for implementing effective (self-)monitoring strategies. A reference dataset, named “Mild Cognitive Activation” (MCA), was collected. The last aim of the project was the definition of a quantitative model for data integration providing a concise description of the wellness status of a person. This process was based on unsupervised learning paradigms. Data from MCA were integrated with data from the “Stress Recognition in Automobile Drivers” dataset . This allowed a cross validation of the integration methodology
Understanding Reasons for Cancer Disparities in Italy: A Qualitative Study of Barriers and Needs of Cancer Patients and Healthcare Providers
No full textBackground: The second leading cause of death in Italy is cancer. Substantial disparities persist in the level of care and outcomes for cancer patients across various communities, hospitals, and regions in Italy. While substantial progress has been made in medical research and treatment options, these advancements tend to disproportionately benefit the wealthier, better-educated, and more privileged areas and portions of the population. Therefore, the primary aim of the current study is to explore possible reasons for inequalities in access to and utilisation of care from the perspective of cancer patients, who are recipients of these treatments, and healthcare providers, who are responsible for their administration. Methods: After being recruited through social media platforms, patients' organisations, and hospital websites, cancer patients (n = 22) and healthcare providers (n = 16) from various Italian regions participated in online focus group discussions on disparities in access to and provision of care. Video and audio recordings of the interviews were analysed using Thematic analysis. Results: Among cancer patients, 7 themes were identified, while 6 themes emerged from the healthcare providers highlighting encountered barriers and unmet needs in cancer care. Most of these emerging themes are common to both groups, such as geographical disparities, information deficiencies, and the importance of psycho-oncological support. However, several themes are specific to each group, for instance, cancer patients highlight the financial burden and the poor interactions with healthcare providers, while healthcare providers emphasise the necessity of establishing a stronger specialists' network and integrating clinical practice and research. Conclusion: Current findings reveal persistent challenges in cancer care, including long waiting lists and regional disparities, highlighting the need for inclusive healthcare strategies. The value of psycho-oncological support is underscored, as well as the potential of the Internet's use for informational needs, emphasising the imperative for improved awareness and communication to overcome disparities in cancer care
Author Response to Letter to Editor regarding “Why are osteoporosis patients treated with antiresorptive therapies considered like oncology patients regarding their oral health care?”
No full textDear Editor,
we have read with great interest the Letter to the Editor by Cordova et al. “Why are osteopoporosis patients treated with antiresorptive therapies considered like oncology patients regarding their oral care?”.
We strongly agree with the Authors claiming for “differentiated guidelines for osteoporosis and oncology patients” regarding their risk of Antiresorptive-Related Osteonecrosis of the the Jaw (ARONJ), that is the main form of what is recently known as Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (MRONJ)
Addressing disparities in European cancer outcomes: a qualitative study Protocol of the BEACON project
No full textIntroduction: Health disparities represent a crucial factor in cancer survival rates, awareness, quality of life, and mental health of people receiving a cancer diagnosis and their families. Income, education, geographic location, and ethnicity are some of the most important underlying reasons for health disparities in cancer across Europe. Costs of healthcare, access to information, psycho-oncological support options, integration of cancer research and innovative care, and multidisciplinary cancer teams are the main target areas when it comes to addressing disparities in the cancer context. As part of the Beacon Project (BEACON), we developed a protocol for a qualitative study to explore and identify any relevant reasons for cancer inequalities and disparities in Europe. Methods: Our four stakeholders namely, cancer patients, healthcare providers, researchers, and policymakers will be recruited online, facilitated by collaborative efforts with cancer organizations from various European countries, including but not limited to Italy, Croatia, Estonia, and Slovenia. Qualitative online focus group discussions for each stakeholder will be conducted and transcribed. Subsequently, thematic analysis will be used to identify reasons and aspects that may contribute to the existing disparities in cancer outcomes at various levels of engagement and from different stakeholders' perspectives. Results from focus groups will inform a subsequent Delphi study and a SWOT analysis methodology. Discussion: Although advances in medical research, cancer screening and treatment options are constantly progressing, disparities in access to and awareness of healthcare in cancer patients are even more noticeable. Thus, mapping the capacity and capability of cancer centres in the European Union, creating decision support tools that will assist the four stakeholders' information needs and improving the quality of European cancer centres will be the main objectives of the BEACON project. The current protocol will outline the methodological and practical procedures to conduct online focus group discussions with different stakeholders
Recognition of Stress Activation by Unobtrusive Multi Sensing Setup
No full textIt is recognized that stress conditions play an important role in the definition of individual wellness and represent a major risk factor for most non-communicable diseases. Most studies focus on the evaluation of response to maximal stress conditions while a few of them reports results about the detection/monitoring of response to mild stimulations. In this study, we investigate the capability of some physiological signs and indicators (including Heart Rate, Heart Rate Variability, Respiratory Rate, Galvanic Skin Response) to recognize stress in response to moderate cognitive activation in daily life settings. To achieve this goal, we built up an unobtrusive platform to collect signals from healthy volunteers (10 subjects) undergoing cognitive activation via Stroop Color Word Test. We integrated our dataset with data from the Stress Recognition in the Automobile Drivers dataset. Following data harmonization, signal recordings in both datasets were split into five-minute blocks and a set of 12 features was extracted from each block. A feature selection was implemented by two complementary approaches: Sequential Forward Feature Selection (SFFS) and Auto-Encoder (AE) neural networks. Finally, we explored the use of Self-Organizing Map (SOM) to provide a flexible representation of an individual status. From the initial feature set we have determined, by SFFS analysis, that 2 of them (median Respiratory Rate and number peaks in Galvanic Skin Response signals) can discriminate activation statuses from resting ones. In addition, AE experiments also support that two features can suffice for recognition. Finally, we showed that SOM can provide a comprehensive but compact description of activation statuses allowing a fine prototypical representation of individual status
Dynamical systems applied to economic science. A Sraffian supermultiplier model with the addition of inventory dynamics
No full textThe dynamic study of economic systems is an area of Economics that is now a century old, starting with the first economic growth models of Harrod-Domar. Through thework of economist Nicholas Kaldor and the eclectic Richard M. Goodwin, non-linear relationships have made their appearance in endogenous growth models, which are, we might say, the gateway to complex systems. In this work, we will study a series of models that
deal with the mathematisation of the business cycle and the study of its fluctuations.
In particular, the absolute protagonist will be the dynamic model of the Sraffian Supermultiplier, belonging precisely to the school of economic thought initiated by the work of Italian economist Piero Sraffa. Although the author will attempt to explain the differences
between the various schools of thought and introduce notions of economics, the central theme of the work will be the addition of inventory fluctuations to the Sraffian Supermultiplier model developed by Freitas and Serrano (2015). We firmly believe
that this topic deserves detailed investigation within the Sraffian School, not only for its mathematical content, but, above all, for the addition of an element of realism to the study of economic fluctuations and endogenous growth
Exploring Barriers to Inclusivity: Systematic Analysis of Exclusion Criteria and Potential Bias in Clinical Cancer Trials for Psychiatric and Neurological Conditions in European Protocols
No full textBackground
Cancer clinical trials often employ exclusion criteria that can impact vulnerable populations, particularly individuals with psychological, psychiatric, or neurological conditions.
Aims
This study aimed to analyze the prevalence and nature of exclusion criteria in clinical trials for prostate, breast, and lung cancers.
Methods
The EU Clinical Trials Register identified 51 protocols uploaded between 2022 and 2024. Thematic content analysis categorized exclusion criteria, and the justifications provided, while frequency analysis quantified their prevalence.
Results
After excluding five protocols (two non-English and three inaccessible), the final dataset comprised 46 protocols: 13 for prostate cancer (22.8%), 24 for breast cancer (42.1%), and 9 for lung cancer (15.8%). Exclusion criteria targeting vulnerable populations were present in 78.3% of protocols, categorized into five themes: psychiatric conditions (24.6%), neurological conditions (22.8%), other psychological conditions (22.8%), legal/guardianship status (5.3%), and unspecified conditions (24.6%). Compliance concerns (39.1%) were the most common justification, followed by informed consent challenges (32.6%), safety risks (13%), drug interference (10.9%), and not in the best interest (4.3%). Notably, 29.1% of protocols lacked justification for exclusions, raising ethical and transparency concerns.
Conclusions
The exclusion of vulnerable populations may limit the inclusivity and generalizability of cancer research. Heuristic biases and systemic practices can potentially influence this. Exploring the role of these factors and considering adaptive trial designs, along with providing detailed justifications for exclusion criteria, could support more equitable and representative clinical research
