School of Nursing and Midwifery Scholarly Impact Report 2021

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CATHERINE MCAULEY SCHOOL OF NURSING AND MIDWIFERY, UCC

TRANSLATING EVIDENCE & INNOVATION FOR HEALTH

survivorship. Research by the ECASP team yields widespread benefit, supporting policy makers and health care professionals in delivering improved patient outcomes and better quality of life for patients and their families before, during and post cancer treatment.

Theme 2 – Enhancing Cancer Awareness and Survivorship Programme (E-CASP)

Full details of the group members and associated research projects are outlined on our webpage

https://www.ucc.ie/en/nursingmidwifery/research/ enhancingcancerawarenesssurvivorshipprogrammesecasp/ The twitter page for the ECASP is: https://twitter.com/e_casp The following stories provide examples of some of the work undertaken as part of this research group in 2021. Dr Saab and Team Successfully Secure Prestigious HRB DIFA 2020 Grant

The three major research foci within the ECASP group are:

1. Cancer awareness within the broader spectrum of health promotion. 2. Support of patients and their significant others on the cancer survivorship journey, with a particular focus on understanding the needs of individuals on the cancer journey and the development and testing of targeted interventions. 3. The sustained translation of evidence-based interventions into routine clinical practice as part of a cancer survivorship pathway which ultimately enhances the health and wellbeing of individuals living with, through and beyond cancer. Almost one in three individuals will develop cancer during their lifetime. Just under half of these cancers are preventable. Detecting cancer early can effectively reduce the mortality associated with cancer. Due to population ageing and trends in risk factors (e.g. increasing obesity), the number of people diagnosed with cancer is growing with the number of people newly diagnosed with cancer every year in Europe projected to reach 4.3 million by 2035. Concurrently, advances in diagnoses and treatment have led to significant improvements in cancer survival rates. Over half of individuals diagnosed with cancer survive for 10 years or more and this figure is increasing by approximately 3% per year. The ECASP research team is interested in exploring the patient’s cancer trajectory from initial symptom appraisal through treatment and beyond with the goal of ultimately improving individuals’ experience of cancer Impact

DrMohamadM. Saabanda teamofNational and International Researchers and Public Representatives were successful in securing a Health Research Board Definitive Interventions and Feasibility Award (HRB DIFA) grant titled: “Enhancing Men’s Awareness of Testicular Diseases (E-MAT): A Feasibility Study and Study Within A Trial (SWAT)” to the value of €391,821. This 30-month project will commence in June 2021. Data will be collected from young men in Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) clubs in Ireland. This project will help raise young men’s awareness of testicular diseases using a bespoke and innovative virtual reality intervention. Lead Researcher: Dr Mohamad M. Saab Co-Applicants: Dr Frances Shiely; Dr Janas Harrington; Professor Josephine Hegarty; Dr Darren Dahly; Dr Aileen Murphy; Mr David Murphy; and Dr Martin Davoren. Collaborators: Dr Margaret Landers; Dr Serena FitzGerald; Dr Gillian Shorter; Mr Eoghan Cooke; Mr Alan O’Connor; Mr Stephen Goggin; Professor Steve Robertson; and Dr Michael Rovito.

Highlights

• The Frailty Care Bundle has increased patient daily step count, nutrition opportunities, while introducing distraction activities have reduced patient distressed behaviour and use of antipsychotic drug prescribing. • The FCB is only possible because of the enormous commitment of nursing teams to provide the best care they can despite the many challenegs of the past 24 months.