Requests for Health Education From Chinese Cancer Patients During Their Recovery Period: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Requests for Health Education from Chinese Cancer Patients During Their Recovery Period: a Cross-Sectional Study.

J Cancer Educ. 2013 Jun 1;
Qiu WL, Lin PJ, Ruan FQ, Wu X, Lin MP, Liu L, Luo JY, Lin K

To determine the prevalence of posttreatment patient requests for health information from Chinese cancer patients during their recovery period, a cross-sectional, descriptive study using a mailed survey was conducted among 374 patients selected randomly. The survey addressed what types of information patients actually wanted but did not receive from their care providers. Questionnaires from 360 patients were received and analyzed. Approximately 76.0 % of the patients did not receive health information and expressed the need for the information. The information about how to reduce emotional distress (90.1 %), rehabilitation (76.2 %), disease symptoms (59.3 %), and nutritional support (56.8 %) were paramount among patients’ concerns. Only 12.8 % hoped to acquire information on sexual health. Health information for cancer patients at the recovery stage in China is poor. A tripartite involvement of the hospital-family-community and the combined intervention related to physical sequelae and psychosocial factors are needed at the recovery stage. HubMed – rehab

Practical recommendations for exercise training in patients with COPD.

Eur Respir Rev. 2013 Jun 1; 22(128): 178-186
Gloeckl R, Marinov B, Pitta F

The aim of this article was to provide practical recommendations to healthcare professionals interested in offering a pulmonary rehabilitation programme for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The latest research findings were brought together and translated into clinical practice. These recommendations focus on the description of useful assessment tests and of the most common exercise modalities for patients with COPD. We provide specific details on the rationale of why and especially how to implement exercise training in patients with COPD, including the prescription of training mode, intensity and duration, as well as suggestions of guidelines for training progression. HubMed – rehab

Tongue Pressure Generation During Tongue-Hold Swallows in Young Healthy Adults Measured with Different Tongue Positions.

Dysphagia. 2013 Jun 1;
Fujiu-Kurachi M, Fujiwara S, Tamine KI, Kondo J, Minagi Y, Maeda Y, Hori K, Ono T

Tongue-hold swallow (THS) has the potential to be a resistance exercise not only for the pharyngeal constrictor but for the tongue muscles. To elucidate the physiological mechanisms of THS, this study investigated intraoral pressure generation during THS in relation to different extents of tongue protrusion. Tongue pressure was measured by a 5-point pressure sensor sheet placed onto the hard palate of 18 healthy young subjects who performed three swallow tasks: normal dry swallow, THS with slight tongue protrusion, and THS with greater tongue protrusion. Subjects randomly repeated each task five times. Maximum range of tongue protrusion was also measured in each subject to estimate lingual flexibility. With an increase in the extent of tongue protrusion, pressure generation patterns became irregular and variable. Duration of pressure generation increased with statistical significance in the posterior circumferential parts of the hard palate (p < 0.05). Maximal magnitude and integrated value of the pressure recorded at these locations increased in eight subjects as the extent of tongue protrusion increased, but it decreased in nine. The former group showed greater lingual flexibility, while the latter group exhibited less flexibility. THS may place different amounts of load on the tongue muscles by adjusting the degree of tongue protrusion. HubMed – rehab

Quality of life before and after total laryngectomy: Results of a multicenter prospective cohort study.

Head Neck. 2013 Jun 1;
Singer S, Danker H, Guntinas-Lichius O, Oeken J, Pabst F, Schock J, Vogel HJ, Meister EF, Wulke C, Dietz A

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine what quality of life (QOL) areas improve and deteriorate during the first year after total laryngectomy and to identify predictors of these changes. METHODS: One hundred seventy-four patients completed the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QOL questionnaires before laryngectomy, n = 133 before discharge from hospital, n = 110 at the end of rehabilitation, and n = 86 1 year after laryngectomy. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to estimate the effect of potential predictors on QOL. RESULTS: Areas that did not recover to baseline level were physical functioning, role functioning, social functioning, fatigue, dyspnea, appetite loss, financial difficulties, senses, speech, and social contact, whereas global health status, coughing, and weight improved. There was no evidence for predicting effects of age, sex, education, and tumor site. Tumor stage, recurrent disease, radiotherapy, and mental health did display predicting effects. Smoking status before the treatment had marginally significant effects. CONCLUSION: QOL decreases initially after laryngectomy; some QOL areas recover slowly over the course of the year after surgery, and some remain significantly worse than at baseline. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2013. HubMed – rehab