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M. Cummins

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    MS 21 - Being Mortal: Learning from ZEN (ID 543)

    • Event: WCLC 2017
    • Type: Mini Symposium
    • Track: Nursing/Palliative Care/Ethics
    • Presentations: 3
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      MS 21.01 - Spirituality in Asia (ID 7742)

      11:00 - 11:40  |  Presenting Author(s): Nanrei Yokota

      • Abstract
      • Presentation

      Abstract:
      Human being is mortal. However, people don’t want to think about death and prefer to live without considering it. Death has actually been hated in society. In general, death is thought as LOSS. Indeed, healthy body, time as a gift of life, society meaning, several experience, all achievements including money, house, family, friends, status and honor are LOST at death. In medicine which prolongation of life has been a primary purpose, death is considered as defeat. However, if we consider death as loss or defeat, theoretically goal of life itself would be futile definitely toward loss and defeat. “Human beings, who are all mortal and their own deaths are inevitable, seriously think, worry, are embarrassed and hate when they encounter death of other person. They think that death is not appropriate for them.” Gautama Buddha who was born in India 5[th] century BC thought as above, tried to find the cause of death throes and search for how to deal with terror of death throes. Teaching of Buddha from India was introduced to China in where that was developed as ZEN. Teaching of ZEN has been growing calls in the world. ZEN stresses the importance of staring DEATH. In other words, that is to learn how to live responding enough to DEATH as inquiry. It is never to pursue a world after death, just to actively find meaning of life through staring death. We would like to learn how to live while reacting DEATH that tends to evade in modern society, through historical teaching of ZEN. アジアにおける精神性 ー死から勉強するー 人は誰しも死を逃れることはできない。それにも拘わらず、人は死を見つめようとはしていない。できれば死を忘れて暮らしたいと思っている。実に死は、現代社会においても忌み嫌われていると言えよう。 一般に、死は「喪失」であると思われている。たしかに健康な肉体も、人生において与えられた時間も、社会における存在意義も、さまざまな体験も、手に入れたものすべて、貯めたお金や家、家族、友人や恋人、地位名誉などを「喪失」してしまう。 また生命を一日でも長く生かすことを考える医療において、死は「敗北」と認識されている。しかし、もしも死が「喪失」や「敗北」でしかないとしたならば、人生は「喪失」と「敗北」に向かって確実に進んでゆく空しいものとなるであろう。 「愚かな人間は、自分が死ぬものであって、また死を免れないのに、他人が死んだのを見ると、考え込んでしまい、悩み、恥じ、嫌悪している。じつは自分もまた死ぬものであって、死を免れないのに、他人が死んだのを見ては、考えこんで、悩み、恥じ、嫌悪する。このようなことは自分にはふさわしくないであろう」。 このように考えて、死の苦しみの原因を求め、死の恐怖や苦しみから如何に逃れることができるか、その道を求めたのが、紀元前五世紀にインドに生まれた、ゴータマ・ブッダであった。 ブッダの教えは、インドから中国に伝わり、中国においては「禅」という道に発展していった。「禅」の教えは、今日においても広く世界で求められている。 「禅」においては、「死」を見つめることを大切に説いている。死を問いとして、それに応えるに足る生き方を学んでいると言ってよい。それは決して死後の世界の探求ではない。あくまでも死を見つめて、積極的に生の意味を見いだすことを目指している。 現代においても、ともすれば忌避されがちな「死」について、古来の「禅」の教えを参照しつつ、「死」をどう受け止めて生きるかを学んでみたい。

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      MS 21.02 - Meditation: From the Temples to the Clinic (ID 7743)

      11:40 - 12:00  |  Presenting Author(s): Alejandro Chaoul

      • Abstract
      • Presentation
      • Slides

      Abstract:
      The Buddhist traditions are rich in meditation practices, utilizing them for their spiritual development as a tool towards enlightenment, and also for physical, emotional and mental wellbeing. For centuries, these practices were only for a select group of yogis in caves or nuns and monks in monasteries, but globalization and other movements of the Twentieth century helped bring these practices to a wider population, including people with illnesses such as cancer. This presentation will focus on how some of the philosophical Buddhist concepts, like the understanding of our own mortality or impermanence, and some of the meditation practices had been applied in a non-religious way as part of the offerings for cancer patients and their caregivers within contemporary western clinical settings in our Integrative Medicine Center at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. George Engel’s seminal 1977 paper in Science provides the background for a bio-psycho-social approach at our Integrative Medicine Center that is now part of the Department of Palliative, Rehabilitation and Integrative Medicine at MD Anderson. In other words, a healing focused not just on the physical (i.e., bio) but also on the psycho-social-spiritual aspects of the person, which sometimes seems to be forgotten in conventional allopathic medicine. The bio-psycho-social approach is very much in accordance to the Buddhist approach, and palliative care and integrative medicine are optimal settings. I will share how we bring these into our group classes as well as individual clinic sessions, where people with different kinds of cancers, including lung cancer, participate. In particular I will address cases of people with lung cancer, and issues of stigma, of facing one’s own mortality, and how the concepts and practices that stem from a Buddhist perspective can have positive impact in their quality of life, overall survival, and better relationship to others, in particular their family members and caregivers. In addition I will share the results of a single arm clinical study of Tibetan Yoga (meditation and simple movements) for people with lung cancer and their caregivers that was held at MD Anderson Cancer Center in collaboration with the Ligmincha Texas Center for the Tibetan Meditative and Healing Arts. The purpose of this study was to establish feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a mind-body intervention in lung cancer patients and caregivers. Patients with stage I-III non-small cell lung cancer undergoing radiotherapy and their family caregiver participated in a 15-session Tibetan Yoga (TY) program that included breathing exercises, guided visualizations, and gentle movements. This single-arm trial assessed pre/post intervention levels of mental health (CESD; BSI), fatigue (BFI), sleep disturbances (PSQI), spiritual well-being (FACT-SP) and overall QOL (SF-36). Patients (mean age: 73 yrs., 62% male, 85% stage III) and caregivers (mean age: 65 yrs., 73% female, 85% spouses) completed a mean of 12 TY sessions (range: 6-15) and 95.5% of them rated the program as useful or very useful. Paired t-tests revealed a significant increase in spiritual well-being (P=.03; d=1.12) for patients and decrease in fatigue (P=.03; d=.87) and anxiety (P=.04; d=.91) for caregivers. This first couple-based Tibetan yoga program appears to be a safe, feasible, acceptable and subjectively useful supportive care strategy for patients and their caregivers. Based on these promising preliminary findings regarding treatment gains, the next step is to conduct a randomized controlled pilot trial. Furthermore, based on this and other Tibetan meditation and Tibetan yoga studies with other cancer populations (namely, lymphoma and women with breast cancer), we have incorporated this as a new class of Tibetan meditation and movement as part of our free offerings for people with cancer and their caregivers in our Integrative Medicine Center.

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      MS 21.03 - Self-Care: "Provider, Heal Thyself" (ID 7744)

      12:00 - 12:20  |  Presenting Author(s): Maria Ftanou

      • Abstract
      • Presentation
      • Slides

      Abstract:
      This paper discusses the prevalence of burnout in oncology settings and strategies that can be implemented at both an individual and organizational level to maintain and create a healthy workforce. Background Lung cancer is the leading cause of death by cancer for both men and women worldwide. Most lung cancers are diagnosed at advanced stage and approximately 16% of lung cancer patients will be alive five years post-diagnosis [1]. Working in lung cancer can be gratifying and very rewarding; however it requires high levels of emotional engagement. Oncology professionals work intensively with patients, they provide sophisticated treatments, emotional support, and comfort to patients and their family across the cancer trajectory [2]. Burnout, which refers to feeling emotionally and physically exhausted is common in oncology settings. In a random sample of 1000 US oncologists, 56% experienced burnout at some point in their career [3]. In an Australian sample, 33% of staff with direct patient contact and 27% of staff with non-direct patient contact displayed high levels of emotional exhaustion [4]. Oncology staff who are younger, female, isolated and who work longer hours are more likely to experience burnout [5]. Predictors of stress and burnout include increased work demands, staff shortages, lack of communication training, lack of control or autonomy and dissatisfaction with leave arrangements [6]. Burnout has serious consequences for oncology professionals including elevated rates of mental and physical health concerns, suicidal ideation, difficulties sleeping, frequent bouts of illness, and addiction, intimacy and relationships problems. As a result, patient care is often compromised due to increased errors, turnover and absenteeism and reduced empathetic care. Assessment and strategies to combat burnout A number of tools can assist in better understanding levels of burnout in oncology staff. The most frequently used tool to determine rates of burnout is the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI-HSS). The MBI-HSS is a 22-item self-report questionnaire. It measures three distinct dimensions of burnout: (1) emotional exhaustion (EE) characterised by feeling emotionally overextended; (2) depersonalisation, which includes feeling disconnected, detached; and (3) personal accomplishment, the negative judgements one makes about their career and levels of success [7]. Assessing burnout can lead to early identification and interventions for stress management. To reduce burnout, both individual and organisational factors need to be implemented. Developing personal resilience is essential for combating stress and burnout. A number of individual strategies that can assist in developing and maintaining resilience, include creating a work-life balance and adopting self-care and relaxation routines [8]. At an organisational level, coping can be enhanced by the provision of supports such as supervision, professional development opportunities, and the development of work schedules that promote team engagement and address staff shortages and adequate leave arrangements. Furthermore, formal education on how to better manage stress, including mindfulness-based stress reduction, cognitive behaviour therapy and communication training interventions can improve stress management and staff wellbeing [8]. Conclusion Working in oncology can be very rewarding, but can also be emotionally and physically exhausting. The workforce is the most important resource in any organization and burnout needs to be addressed both at the individual and organisational level. At an individual level, oncology professionals need to acknowledge stress, create a work-life balance and adopt self-care and relaxation practices. To maintain a healthy workforce, organizations need to ensure adequate staffing, leave arrangements and provide access to appropriate training, professional and emotional supports. References 1. Cancer Australia. Lung cancer statistics: Australian Govenrment; 2017 2. Diggens J, Chesson T. Do factors of emotion-focussed patient care and communication impact job stress, satisfaction and burnout in radiation therapists? Journal of Radiotherapy in Practice 2014;13(1):4-17. doi: 10.1017/S146039691300006X 3. Whippen DA, Canellos GP. Burnout syndrome in the practice of oncology: results of a random survey of 1,000 oncologists. Journal Of Clinical Oncology: Official Journal Of The American Society Of Clinical Oncology 1991;9(10):1916-20. 4. Girgis A, Hansen V, Goldstein D. Are Australian oncology health professionals burning out? A view from the trenches. European Journal Of Cancer (Oxford, England: 1990) 2009;45(3):393-99. doi: 10.1016/j.ejca.2008.09.029 5. Kamal AH, Bull JH, Wolf SP, et al. Prevalence and Predictors of Burnout Among Hospice and Palliative Care Clinicians in the U.S. Journal Of Pain And Symptom Management 2016;51(4):690-96. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2015.10.020 6. Isikhan V, Comez T, Danis MZ. Job stress and coping strategies in health care professionals working with cancer patients. European Journal Of Oncology Nursing: The Official Journal Of European Oncology Nursing Society 2004;8(3):234-44. 7. Maslach C, Jackson S E, P. LM. Maslach Burnout Inventory Manual, 3rd edition. Mountain View, CA: CPP Inc, 1 1996:1–52. 8. Gillman L, Adams J, Kovac R, et al. Strategies to promote coping and resilience in oncology and palliative care nurses caring for adult patients with malignancy: a comprehensive systematic review. JBI Database Of Systematic Reviews And Implementation Reports 2015;13(5):131-204. doi: 10.11124/jbisrir-2015-1898

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