Cancer-Induced Bone Pain Management Through Buddhist Beliefs

The Role of Spirituality and Religion in Improving Quality of Life and Coping Mechanisms in Cancer Patients

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

This systematic review aimed to comprehensively evaluate the role of spirituality and religion in the journey of patients with cancer and assess their impact on various aspects of well-being and coping mechanisms.

METHODS

Systematic searches were conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar following the PRISMA guidelines. This study focused on the period from 2014 to 2024, the time chosen for the emerging integration of spirituality and religion in cancer treatment. Inclusion criteria targeted studies exploring the impact of spirituality and religion on cancer patients' quality of life, coping, and treatment outcomes.

RESULTS

A comprehensive search initially yielded 2591 papers, of which 1544 were excluded as duplicates, and 113 were further excluded based on the inclusion criteria. Ultimately, 53 papers were selected for review, including 8 prospective cohort, 17 cross-sectional, 16 observational descriptive, and 12 RCT studies. Encompassing 13,590 patients with various cancer types, including breast, gastrointestinal, prostate, brain, and others, the review highlighted spirituality and religion's significant role in improving cancer patients' well-being. Across different cancers, greater spiritual well-being and religious coping were consistently associated with an improved quality of life, reduced distress, enhanced coping, and better treatment outcomes. Interventions such as mindfulness therapy, yoga, and religious coping strategies positively impact patients' spiritual and emotional well-being.

CONCLUSIONS

This review highlights the vital role of spirituality and religion in cancer care. Integrating these aspects into patient plans offers comfort and support throughout treatment. Healthcare providers should prioritize spiritual support to enhance patient well-being and optimize outcomes.

Associated factors on physical activity among childhood cancer survivors in Mainland China: a qualitative exploration applied health belief model

PURPOSE

Regular physical activity (PA) is essential for childhood cancer survivors (CCS), yet most CCS have difficulty participating in it. The level of PA participation among CCS in China is lower than those of western countries, leading to a worse long-term survival of CCS in China. Here, the study aims to explore the associated factors on the PA performance among CCS.

METHODS

From September to December 2020, the study used purposive sampling to recruit 35 families (88.9%) as sampling units among two hospitals in Hangzhou City, China. The data collection conducted two designs on semi-structured interviews with different roles under family structure - children (n = 35) and parents (n = 35) - respectively. The design of predetermined questions relied on the health belief model (HBM) as a thematic framework. The qualitative analysis applied codebook thematic analysis and used the deductive approach to finalize the main findings.

RESULTS

The study only presented preliminary conclusions from interviews with CCS, which resulted in four themes (changes in PA performance; perceptions on participating PA; cognitions of PA; impacts from others) with eight sub-themes. In particular, CCS replied diversity changes in PA, but most of them mentioned the inactive PA after diagnosis, especially the decline of moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA). As for the "perceptions of PA," almost all CCS had substantial perceived benefits about PA, specifically on their physical well-being. All children also expressed perceived barriers to PA, including the side effects of disease and treatment, fatigue, academic burden, changes in psychological status, and lack of companions. On the cognitions of PA, the CCS had limited realizations of regular PA and low self-efficacy on MVPA. Furthermore, CCS expressed their need for support from their parents, school teachers, and healthcare providers. But in reality, they recieved less support on PA from these important people.

CONCLUSION

The changes in PA after illness among CCS are apparent and unavoidable because of the interaction impacts from internal factors (e.g., personal characters, cognization, perceptions of PA) and external factors (e.g., disease effects, interpersonal supports). The findings explained the main elements under HBM but also provided explored views as the evidence on developing theories and guiding motivations and practices on PA among CCS.

IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS

In this exploratory study of 35 CCS, we identified the current situation of PA among CCS in China and explored the associated factors. As the first qualitative study on the CCS in mainland China, the study considered particular effects on social culture and living environment.

Death anxiety as mediator of relationship between renunciation of desire and mental health as predicted by Nonself Theory

In the present paper, we report two studies examining the relationships among renunciation of desires, death anxiety, and mental health. In the first study, we constructed the Desire Questionnaire (DQ), which measures success in renouncing certain desire. The DQ has satisfactory psychometric properties. In the second study, 501 adults from a Chinese society ranging in age from 17 to 84 years (M = 35.58, SD = 14.76) completed the DQ, the Death Anxiety Scale (DAS), and the Chinese Health Questionnaire (CHQ), which measures mental health and the presence of psychiatric symptoms. As predicted, DQ had significant negative correlations with both DAS (p < 0.05) and CHQ (p < 0.01). DAS had a significant positive correlation with CHQ (p < 0.01). In the linear mediation model, DAS was found to partially mediate the relationship between DQ and CHQ (β = - 0.18, p < 0.001). These results suggest that the negative effect of poor control of desires on mental health can be partially accounted for by death anxiety. These findings imply that training in eliminating desires can be a successful strategy to improve mental health. These results also support the Nonself Theory as a theory of death anxiety and show its relevance to the relationship between nonself and mental health.

Knockdown of PAR2 alleviates cancer-induced bone pain by inhibiting the activation of astrocytes and the ERK pathway

OBJECTIVE

Cancer-induced bone pain (CIBP) is a kind of pain with complex pathophysiology. Proteinase-activated receptor 2 (PAR-2) is involved in CIBP. This study explored the effects of PAR-2 on CIBP rats.

METHODS

CIBP rat model was established by injecting Walker 256 rat breast cancer cells into the left tibia of female Sprague-Dawley rats and verified by tibial morphology observation, HE staining, and mechanical hyperalgesia assay. CIBP rats were injected with PAR-2 inhibitor, ERK activator, and CREB inhibitor through the spinal cord sheath on the 13th day after operation. CIBP behaviors were measured by mechanical hyperalgesia assay. On the 14th day after operation, L4-5 spinal cord tissues were obtained. PAR-2 expression, co-expression of PAR-2 and astrocyte marker GFAP, GFAP mRNA and protein levels and the ERK pathway-related protein levels were detected by Western blot, immunofluorescence double staining, RT-qPCR, and Western blot.

RESULTS

CIBP rats had obvious mechanical hyperalgesia and thermal hyperalgesia from the 7th day after modeling; mechanical hyperalgesia threshold and thermal threshold were decreased; PAR-2 was increased in spinal cord tissues and was co-expressed with GFAP. PAR-2 silencing alleviated rat CIBP by inhibiting astrocyte activation. p-ERK/t-ERK and p-CREB/t-CREB levels in CIBP spinal cord were elevated, the ERK/CREB pathway was activated, while the ERK/CREB pathway was inhibited by PAR-2 silencing. The alleviating effect of PAR-2 inhibitor on hyperalgesia behaviors in CIBP rats were weakened by ERK activator, while were partially restored by CREB inhibitor.

CONCLUSIONS

PAR-2 knockdown inhibited the ERK/CREB pathway activation and astrocyte activation, thus alleviating CIBP in rats.

Health-Care Professionals Perceived Barriers to Effective Cancer Pain Management in the Home Hospice Setting: Is Dying at Home Really Best?

Hospice health-care professionals (HCP) evaluate and manage cancer pain in patient homes. This study explores HCP's perceptions of barriers that affect pain management for home hospice cancer patients. A convenience sample of 20 experienced hospice HCP were recruited from a regional hospice agency. Data were collected through two focus groups using semistructured interviews and analyzed using a constant comparative approach to generate themes. An unexpected finding revealed patient's religious and cultural beliefs about suffering and family caregiver's beliefs that patients deserve to suffer due to past actions are barriers to pain management in home hospice. Hospice HCP can identify patients at risk for suffering at the end of life. Interventions targeting spiritual suffering and needs are needed. Home hospice HCP have an ethical obligation to address undue suffering through family's withholding of necessary pain medications and should consider alternative placement when home is not suitable for a peaceful death.