OBJECTIVES: To identify symptom clusters in breast cancer survivors and to determine sociodemographic and clinical characteristics influencing symptom cluster membership. SAMPLE & SETTING: The authors performed a cross-sectional secondary analysis of data obtained froma community-based cancer registry-linked survey with 1,500 breast cancer survivors 6-13 months following a breast cancer diagnosis. METHODS & VARIABLES: Symptom clusters were identified using latent class profile analysis of four patient-reported symptoms (pain, fatigue, sleep disturbance, and depression) with custom PROMIS® short forms. RESULTS: Four distinct classes were identified: symptoms within normal limits (class 1), pain with fatigue and sleep disturbance (class 2), depression with fatigue and sleep disturbance (class 3), and all high symptom burden (class 4). The authors identified four clinically relevant and actionable symptom clusters in early-stage breast cancer survivorship. Certain sociodemographic and clinical characteristics place patients at risk for physical late effects and mental health issues. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Common symptom clusters may lead to better prevention and treatment strategies that target a group of symptoms. Results also suggest that certain factors place patients at high risk for symptom burden, which can guide tailored interventions. jumin.park@nih.gov. Lee, Ross, and Griffith contributed to the conceptualization and design. Jensen completed the data collection. Lee provided statistical support. All authors provided analysis and contributed to the manuscript preparation. No financial relationships to disclose.

Background Antenatal care (ANC) is critical to decrease maternal and neonatal mortality. However, little is known about the utilization of ANC services in Pakistan. This study assessed the utilization of ANC in Sindh province, Pakistan, and identified the factors that affect its use. Methods We analysed a subset of data from Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Program Indicator Surveys conducted in Sindh province, Pakistan in 2013 and 2014. Respondents included 10,200 women who had given birth in the past two years. The outcome measure was making at least four ANC visits. Logistic regression models were used to identify demographic, socioeconomic, characteristics of ANC, and informational factors associated with ANC use. Results Most women (83.5%) received one or more ANC, mostly by doctors (95%), but only 57.3% of them made the recommended four or more visits, and just 53.7% received their initial ANC care during the first trimester. Making four or more ANC visits was associated with: fewer household occupants (odds ratio [OR] = 0.98; 95% confidence interval [CI] = [0.97, 0.99]), large city residence (OR = 1.92; 95% CI = [1.57, 2.35]), higher women’s education (OR = 1.70; 95% CI = [1.33, 2.15]), greater household wealth (OR = 5.66; 95% CI = [4.22, 7.60]), and receiving MCH information from lady health worker (OR = 1.17; 95% CI = [1.00, 1.37]), mother-in-law (OR = 1.17; 95% CI = [1.01, 1.36]), other relatives/friends (OR = 1.19; 95% CI = [1.03, 1.38]), or nurse/midwife (OR = 1.31; 95% CI = [1.06, 1.61]). Conclusions This study demonstrates that both socioeconomic factors and health information sources are associated with women’s use of ANC. Therefore, programs should target socially disadvantaged and vulnerable groups, particularly rural, less educated, and poor women, to improve utilization of ANC. In addition, strategies to increase exposure to MCH information sources should be a priority in Sindh, Pakistan.

ObjectiveUntimely vaccination refers to receiving the given dose before (early) or after (delayed) the recommended time window. The purpose of this study was to assess the extent of timeliness of childhood vaccinations and examine the determinants of vaccination timeliness in Sindh province, Pakistan.DesignCross-sectional analysis of data from the 2013 and 2014 Maternal and Child Health Program Indicator Surveys.SettingCommunity-based maternal and child health surveys.ParticipantsAmong 10 200 respondents of Maternal and Child Health Program Indicator Surveys, 1143 women who had a live birth in the 2 years preceding the survey were included.OutcomesAt the participants’ home, an interviewer asked mothers to show their children’s vaccination cards, which contained information regarding vaccinations. Children’s vaccination status was categorised into timely or early/delayed compared with vaccination schedule. A logistic regression analysis using Firth’s penalised likelihood was performed to identify factors associated with timeliness of vaccinations.Results238 children (20.8% of children who received a full set of basic vaccinations) received all vaccinations on schedule among children who received a full set of basic vaccinations. The percentages of timely vaccinations ranged from 2.3% for second measles vaccination to 89.3% for bacillus Calmette-Guérin. Child’s age and place of delivery were associated with timely vaccinations. Older child age and institutional delivery were associated with decreased timely vaccination rate.ConclusionsHome-based vaccination record is a key tool to improve the timeliness of vaccinations. The redesigned vaccination cards, the new electronic registries for vaccination card information and the vaccination tracking system to remind the second/third vaccination visits may be helpful to improve timely vaccinations for children under 2 years old.

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Background Retirement is one of the most important later-life status transitions related to changes in workforce participation, lifestyle, and social roles among older adults. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of retirement on depressive symptoms by gender in middle-aged and older adult Koreans, using a large, nationally representative sample. Methods Using year 2010 and 2012 data from the Korea Longitudinal Study of Aging, we investigated the relationship between adults’ retirement status and depressive symptoms measured by the 10-item Center for Epidemiological Studies–Depression (CES-D10) scale. A series of propensity score matching models were calculated to test the potential retirement effect on adults’ depressive symptoms. Results Overall, the level of depressive symptoms of the retired group was not different from that of the employed counterpart. In gender-stratified models, the gain of CES-D10 scores in the retired group was higher than that of the employed group for males, which was in the opposite direction among females. However, the propensity score matching model showed that the relationship between retirement status and CES-D10 score gain was significant for males but not for females. Conclusions Our study reinforces the assertion that retirement could worsen depressive symptoms and could differ by gender. Intervention programs focused on the mental health of retired men need to be actively developed and widely implemented.

Breastfeeding practices are critical for child health and growth. This paper investigates demographic factors, socioeconomic status, and information sources that affect breastfeeding practices in Sindh Province, Pakistan. A secondary analysis was performed of data on 10,028 women with a birth in the preceding two years who had participated in the 2013–14 Maternal and Child Health Program Indicator Survey. Multiple logistic regressions were used to test the association between breastfeeding status (ever breastfed and still breastfeeding) and age, number of living children, residence, education, wealth, information sources about breastfeeding, assistance during delivery, and place of delivery. Of the 9955 women included in the analysis, 97.9% had breastfed and 83.9% were still breastfeeding at the time of the survey. Being in the second, third, or fourth wealth quintiles and receiving breastfeeding information from relatives and friends were associated with ever breastfeeding. Women who were 35 years or older, living in a town/small city, higher maternal education, middle wealth quintile, and receiving breastfeeding information from the media were associated with still breastfeeding. The findings suggest the need to develop interventions considering maternal socioeconomic status and peer counseling interventions. Mass media campaigns to promote breastfeeding practices should be accompanied by governmental restrictions on the marketing of infant formula.

Background A symptom cluster is a group of 2 or more symptoms that occur together and are related to each other. Although family caregivers of individuals with cancer experience multiple concurrent symptoms, the majority of symptom research has focused on assessing and managing individual, isolated symptoms. Objective The study purpose was to investigate symptom clusters in cancer caregivers and to explore factors that influence symptom clusters. Methods Cluster analysis was performed using cross-sectional survey data from 129 family caregivers of individuals receiving cancer treatment at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center. PROMIS (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System) measures of 5 common symptoms in caregivers (fatigue, sleep disturbance, depression, anxiety, impaired cognition) were used to identify symptom clusters. Results Two symptom cluster groups were identified: low symptom burden (n = 106, 82.2%) and high symptom burden (n = 23, 17.8%). Individuals who reported higher levels of caregiving burden (impact on health subscale) (β = 1.31, P = .005) and loneliness (β = 0.18, P = .024) were significantly more likely to be in the high symptom burden group. Conclusions This study provides evidence that 5 key symptoms among cancer caregivers appear to cluster into 2 groups, those with low symptom burden and those with high symptom burden. Caregiving burden (impact of health) and loneliness were significant factors differentiating symptom cluster membership. Implications for Practice Identifying symptom clusters may lead to better prevention and treatment strategies that target symptoms in cancer caregivers. Identifying factors that place a group at high risk of symptom burden can be used to guide individualized and tailored interventions.

Virtual reality is a novel technology that provides users with an immersive experience in 3D virtual environments. The use of virtual reality is expanding in the medical and nursing settings to support treatment and promote wellness. Nursing has primarily used virtual reality for nursing education, but nurses might incorporate this technology into clinical practice to enhance treatment experience of patients and caregivers. Thus, it is important for nurses to understand what virtual reality and its features are, how this technology has been used in the health care field, and what future efforts are needed in practice and research for this technology to benefit nursing. In this article, we provide a brief orientation to virtual reality, describe the current application of this technology in multiple clinical scenarios, and present implications for future clinical practice and research in nursing.