Expressive writing interventions (EWIs) are associated with important psychological and physical outcomes in patients with cancer. However, EWIs have not been widely integrated into routine psychosocial care of cancer populations. A review of the current literature on EWIs’ impact on the cancer patient experience, including qualitative analyses of patient perspectives, will increase our understanding of barriers and facilitators to adoption in clinical settings.

To bridge existing gaps in the literature by examining quantitative and qualitative studies on EWIs for patients with cancer. To present recent data examining the benefits of EWI’s for patients with cancer.To provide strategies for clinicians engaging in EWI’s for their patients.

Informed by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines, we completed a scoping review of relevant quantitative and qualitative articles published from 2015 to 2025 to assess the impact of EWIs on health-related outcomes (e.g., physical symptoms and quality of life [QOL]) as well as approaches to improve their use in patients with cancer.

Of the 28 studies with 3527 patients that we analyzed, 24 were quantitative and 4 were qualitative. Most studies were conducted in the USA (42.8%) or China (28.6%) and included patients with breast cancer (71.4%) or only included women (71.4%). Of the patients in the studies, 46.8% identified as White, 42.8% as Asian, 5.5% as Black, and 4.5% as Latino. Twenty-one of the quantitative studies found that EWIs were positively associated with cancer patients’ QOL and/or physical health outcomes. Of the 4 qualitative studies, themes of narrative reconstruction, cultural disclosure norms, and intervention delivery format emerged. The characteristics of EWI methods can be tailored to maximize therapeutic benefits through cultural adaptation, timing, and privacy.

Despite promising associations between EWIs and health-related outcomes in patients with cancer, EWIs for cancer populations are heterogeneous and randomized clinical trials are limited. Larger trials that establish the efficacy of EWIs in diverse cancer populations are warranted.

As cancer incidence and survival rates rise, caregivers responsible for providing diverse support face increased burden and reduced quality of life (QoL). Although research on web-based interventions for this group is expanding, the impact of these interventions on caregiver burden and QoL remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the effects of web-based interventions on the caregiver burden and QoL of caregivers of patients with cancer.

Searches were conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Embase, and PsycINFO from database inception to 10 June 2024. Two reviewers independently assessed each study and extracted data. The risk-of-bias in the studies was evaluated using Cochrane’s Risk-of-Bias tool for randomized controlled trials. The intervention effects were calculated using R package Meta version 4.0.3, utilizing standardized mean differences (SMD; Hedge’s ĝ) to calculate pooled effect sizes with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Publication bias assessment and sensitivity analysis were conducted to ensure the robustness of the results.

We reviewed 13 randomized controlled trials; our analysis indicated a small effect size of web-based interventions on caregiver burden (SMD = −0.19, 95% CI: −0.36 to −0.01). However, sensitivity analysis concluded that the effect was very small or nearly absent. Additionally, there was no statistically significant effect on QoL (SMD = 0.15, 95% CI: −0.05 to 0.36).

Web-based interventions did not significantly reduce caregiver burden or improve caregivers’ QoL. To improve caregiver burden and QoL in the future, comprehensive and tailored web-based interventions for this population are needed.

Previous meta-analysis of the efficacy of mobile phone applications (mHealth apps) for depression has several limitations, including high risk of bias and heterogeneity in effect sizes across studies, and gaps in understanding of variability in treatment outcomes. We aimed to provide more reliable and clinically relevant findings by conducting a systematic literature search on PubMed, Embase and PsycInfo, focusing on newer studies with minimal risk of bias.

Analysing 17 randomised controlled trials (n = 2821) published between 2020 and 2025, we found a pooled standardised mean difference (s.m.d.) of –0.46 (95% CI –0.64 to –0.28; P < 0.001) relative to the control groups, which indicates a significant reduction in depressive symptoms. Subgroup analyses confirmed efficacy in both adolescents (s.m.d. = –0.42) and adults (s.m.d. = –0.49). Despite evidence of publication bias, 70% of the studies had a low risk of bias, supporting the robustness and reliability of these findings.

The results underscore the clinical relevance of mHealth apps as scalable and accessible tools for bridging gaps in mental healthcare. Their effectiveness across age groups highlights their potential for broad implementation, with future research needed to refine personalisation, engagement strategies and methodological rigour.

The present study examines the quality of life (QoL) of transgender and gender-diverse individuals receiving versus not receiving gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) in those assigned male at birth (AMAB) and assigned female at birth (AFAB). It also explores the relationship between QoL and concentrations of oestradiol and testosterone.

This cross-sectional study used the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire to assess QoL. Participants were categorised into four groups based on assigned sex at birth (AMAB or AFAB) and GAHT status, with non-GAHT participants serving as controls. MANOVA and t-tests were used to compare QoL between groups, and linear regression analyses examined associations between QoL and oestradiol/testosterone concentrations in AMAB and AFAB participants.

The study included 360 participants: 169 AMAB (143 receiving GAHT and 26 controls) and 191 AFAB (141 receiving GAHT and 50 controls). GAHT recipients had significantly higher QoL than controls in both AMAB (p < 0.01) and AFAB (p = 0.02) groups, particularly in the psychological health domain (D2). AFAB participants reported higher overall QoL than AMAB in both GAHT (p = 0.01) and control (p = 0.04) groups, with significance in the social relationship domain among GAHT participants. No significant relationship was found between oestradiol concentrations and QoL for participants AMAB. However, a significant relationship between testosterone concentrations and QoL was observed only in the social relationship domain (D3) for participant AFAB.

This study highlights the benefits of GAHT for QoL and differences in QoL between individuals AMAB and AFAB.

Radiotherapy is a critical component of head and neck cancer (HNC) management that requires reliable patient immobilization. Using thermoplastic masks helps to ensure reproducible patient positioning during radiotherapy, thus reducing the risk of a geographical miss. However, the use of these masks can also induce anxiety and distress, which can negatively impact treatment adherence and quality of life outcomes.

The research was a quantitative cross-sectional study that determined the prevalence and severity of thermoplastic mask-induced anxiety and assessed the scope of coping mechanisms used by HNC patients. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire from recruited participants and analysed with the Statistical Package for Social Sciences software, version 26·0. Relevant clinical and treatment-related data were retrieved from patients’ hospital-based medical records. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses such as chi-square tests and likelihood ratios were conducted, with p-values < 0·05 considered statistically significant.

In all, there were 145 HNC patients with a male to female ratio of 1·9:1 and a median age of 52·8 years (IQR 20·7), ranging from 18 to 82 years. There was a high prevalence of thermoplastic mask-induced anxiety both during mask moulding (93·8%) and radiation therapy sessions (94·5%). Most participants (95·2%) adopted coping mechanisms including distraction (58%) and visualization techniques (46%).

Even though there was a high level of awareness and utilization of coping mechanisms, the high prevalence of thermoplastic mask-induced anxiety highlights a critical aspect of HNC patient care that may be overlooked in resource-limited settings.

COVID-19 caused individual and social measures to be taken at the global level, and changed the social life, especially due to effects on interpersonal relations, the environment, and psychological and physical conditions. It was aimed to determine the feelings, thoughts, and behaviors related to the disease and the quality of life of people who applied to the COVID-19 vaccine unit of a state hospital.

Descriptive and cross-sectional research was carried out with 360 individuals. Data collection tools were the Individual Information Form, Multidimensional COVID-19 Scale, and Impact of COVID-19 on Quality of Life Scale. Statistical analysis of the data was made using SPSS 20.0.

Multidimensional COVID-19 and Quality of Life Scale mean scores were found to be 80.50±18.14 and 3.16±1.00, respectively. A positive correlation was determined between the emotions, behavior, and thoughts related to COVID-19 and Quality of Life Scale.

Considering society’s perceptions of COVID-19 and the impact of the pandemic process on quality of life, it was thought that the trainings carried out by nurses and other health professionals may affect the adaptaion of protective processes related to COVID-19.

Medical advances in the management of CHD have shifted the focus from childhood mortality to life-long morbidity; therefore, clinical research in paediatric cardiology tends to replace mortality outcomes with functional and patient-reported outcomes. Despite these advances, the stratification of disease severity using a simple and reproducible CHD classification has not been established. The aim was to determine which classification best predicts functional status in children with CHD, in terms of cardiopulmonary fitness.

This retrospective cohort study was assessed from a cohort study of 296 children (mean age 11.3 ± 3.1 years, 129 female), who underwent a baseline and final cardiopulmonary exercise tests with a mean follow-up of 4.1 ± 1.6 years.

Seven CHD classifications were identified, assessing anatomical, physiological, therapeutic, or functional parameters in foetal, paediatric, or adult CHD populations. The four-stage paediatric CHD disease severity classification established by Uzark et al. best predicted functional status at the final cardiopulmonary exercise test assessment, with an area under the receiver operating characteristics curves of 0.62 (0.55–0.69) for impaired cardiopulmonary fitness (maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max) or ventilatory anaerobic threshold < −1.64 Z-score). The best inter-judge classification agreement was also observed for Uzark classification, with a Kappa coefficient of 0.88 (0.78–0.98).

The CHD classification by Uzark is reliable in terms of functional status prediction and reproducibility in children with CHD. This simple classification may contribute to identifying children with CHD most at risk of cardiopulmonary fitness impairment and initiating early preventive cardiovascular interventions in paediatric cardiology.

Despite advances in antiretroviral treatment (ART), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) can detrimentally affect everyday functioning. Neurocognitive impairment (NCI) and current depression are common in people with HIV (PWH) and can contribute to poor functional outcomes, but potential synergies between the two conditions are less understood. Thus, the present study aimed to compare the independent and combined effects of NCI and depression on everyday functioning in PWH. We predicted worse functional outcomes with comorbid NCI and depression than either condition alone.

PWH enrolled at the UCSD HIV Neurobehavioral Research Program were assessed for neuropsychological performance, depression severity (≤minimal, mild, moderate, or severe; Beck Depression Inventory-II), and self-reported everyday functioning.

Participants were 1,973 PWH (79% male; 66% racial/ethnic minority; Age: M = 48.6; Education: M = 13.0, 66% AIDS; 82% on ART; 42% with NCI; 35% BDI>13). ANCOVA models found effects of NCI and depression symptom severity on all functional outcomes (ps < .0001). With NCI and depression severity included in the same model, both remained significant (ps < .0001), although the effects of each were attenuated, and yielded better model fit parameters (i.e., lower AIC values) than models with only NCI or only depression.

Consistent with prior literature, NCI and depression had independent effects on everyday functioning in PWH. There was also evidence for combined effects of NCI and depression, such that their comorbidity had a greater impact on functioning than either alone. Our results have implications for informing future interventions to target common, comorbid NCI and depressed mood in PWH and thus reduce HIV-related health disparities.

Anxiety and depression in epilepsy are common and impactful. Screening with validated measures at every epilepsy visit is a quality measure, yet screening remains limited due to time constraints.

This study aimed to develop an implementation strategy for anxiety and depression screening at an epilepsy center and evaluate it in a pre-post design with RE-AIM (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance). Guided by the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation-Behavior behavior change wheel framework, the strategy incorporated electronic health record tools and support staff activation of electronic screeners during visit check-in. Outcomes were evaluated over five months post-implementation and compared with two 3-month pre-implementation timeframes.

Post-implementation, 29.2% of 943 visits met the anxiety and depression screening quality measure, a significant increase from 12.6% immediately pre-implementation (p < 0.0001) and 6.28% before any screening interventions (p < 0.0001). Patients who completed electronic screeners post-implementation were younger than non-completers (mean 39.3 vs. 43.4 years, p = 0.001) and more likely to be white than other race/ethnicity categories (p = 0.002). There was substantial variability in screening rates among clinic staff (0–80% for support staff, 10.1–55.3% for providers), with higher screening among neurology support staff than temporary staff. Only 0.23% of post-implementation visits had screeners initiated but left incomplete. A shift to virtual visits during COVID-19 complicated Maintenance.

This framework-based implementation strategy effectively increased screening rates by epilepsy specialists, though challenges remain, including variability across clinic team members and lower reach among older and non-white patients. This study describes a feasible strategy for epilepsy centers to use for improved performance on an American Academy of Neurology quality measure (depression and anxiety screening for patients with epilepsy).