4 nursing research projects exemplify a greater goal

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Projects are funded by DAISY Foundation grants

EDITOR'S NOTE: Grantees are required to submit their work to Sigma Theta Tau International's Virginia Henderson International Nursing Library.

In the words of The DAISY Foundation, providing grants that fund research and evidence-based practice projects, "links our yearning to impact treatment of patients with autoimmune diseases and cancer and our passion for the compassionate work nurses do in healthcare facilities all over the world.”

It is an admirable and altruistic goal that ultimately can be fulfilled by the nurses to whom grants are issued.

Here are a few examples of projects that have been accepted by The DAISY Foundation’s J. Patrick Barnes grants program, which is funded in part by GetWellNetwork.

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Study: Transfusional iron, anthracyclines and cardiac outcomes among childhood cancer survivors

This research project evaluated health-related quality of life and other patient-reported outcomes among childhood cancer survivors and their possible association with transfusion history, myocardial iron content, anthracycline exposure and impaired left ventricular function/pathologic remodeling. It was the first to examine the prevalence of transfusional iron deposition and cardiac dysfunction by MRI, and to evaluate associated HRQOL among a relatively large sample of childhood cancer survivors. The most important finding was that nearly 60% of the study participants had elevated liver iron concentration and nearly half had abnormal pancreatic R2* results. The study led to collaboration with hematology colleagues to develop guidelines for childhood cancer patients/survivors at risk of liver/pancreatic/cardiac adverse outcomes related to iron overload.

Principal investigator: Kathleen Ruccione, MPH, RN, CPON, FAAN

Children's Hospital Los Angeles

Items funded by grants

Grants may cover the cost of small equipment such as recording devices, some software, supplies and printed material for study. They may also fund buy-out of clinical/staff nurses’ time so they may participate as part of study team, data entry time, statistician time and incentives to participants.

Study: Energy in motion

This EPB project implemented and evaluated an exercise program for adult ambulatory oncology patients to reduce fatigue as a side effect of cancer treatment. The exercise program was a patient-friendly activity promotion program, designed to be sustainable in a busy oncology clinic in a tertiary care academic medical center serving patients locally and regionally. Quantifiable results led to expansion of the program and dissemination of findings at nursing and EBP conferences

Principal investigator: Linda Abbott, MSN, RN, AOCN, CWON

University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics

Study: Cardiovascular risks in cancer survivors

The purposes of this secondary data analysis were to provide clinicians with a tool to predict incidence of cardiovascular disease using the Framingham Risk Score, and to identify cancer treatment-related risk factors that may add to the traditional CVD risk factors in a population of breast and colorectal cancer survivors.

Principal investigator: Kyungeh An, PhD, RN

Virginia Commonwealth University Health Systems

Study: Breast cancer patients and their perceptions of changes after chemotherapy

This work researched the cognitive changes experienced by women with breast cancer who have undergone chemotherapy. The study aimed to explore the “chemo brain” phenomenon and the thoughts and feelings about cognitive functioning as related to quality of life. These findings may be key components to integrate into a cancer survivorship care plan. The vast majority of the symptoms are very similar to those of rehabilitation patients with a brain injury diagnosis or stroke. These patients often are referred to rehabilitation interventions for cognition assessment, exercise, daily activities and workplace re-entry. Other rehabilitation patients have the luxury of having 3-6 weeks of therapy in an outpatient setting to give them the edge to succeed. Cancer survivors with similar deficits routinely get very little intervention of this nature. This study led to closer collaboration with rehab to identify opportunities for earlier intervention with cancer patients in hopes to help with driving, work re-entry and general executive function activities.

Principal investigator: Valorie Brooks, BSN, RN, CRRN, CBIS

Greenville Health System