Annual Report 2017
Division of Health Care Research
Yutaka Matsuoka, Yosuke Uchitomi, Maiko Fujimori, Miki Kawahara, Ryo Okubo, Saho Wada, Tempei Miyaji, Takuhiro Yamaguchi, Yoichi Shimizu, Ayako Sato, Hiroko Noguchi, Keisuke Inoue, Masanori Mori, Ryoichi Sadahiro, Miyuki Kanamaru, Hiroko Takagi, Kyoko Akutsu, Mihoto Umehashi, Sayaka Jinno, Tomomi Narisawa, Naomi Inomata, Maki Minemura, Asami Satake, Kai Ueno, Kotone Hata
Introduction
The Division of Health Care Research was established in January 2016 by the National Cancer Center (NCC) in recognition of the large number of individuals surviving cancer for long periods of time and their unmet health care needs to be studied. Our division works to enhance the quality and length of survival of all persons diagnosed with cancer and to minimize or stabilize adverse effects experienced during cancer survivorship. Our division supports clinical research that examines the effectiveness of supportive, palliative, and psychosocial care among cancer survivors and their families.
Our team and what we do
We have two teams, i.e., an original research team and a clinical research support team. Our division focuses on epidemiological, interventional, and behavioral and public health translational research in cancer survivorship to enhance the quality of survival and psychosocial well-being among all persons diagnosed with cancer and their family caregivers. Our division initiates interdisciplinary research program ranging from basic bio-behavioral science to the development, testing and delivery of behavioral interventions in areas such as nutrition, physical activity, patient-physician communication, nursing, and public mental health. Our division manages the J-SUPPORT (Japan Supportive, Palliative and Psychosocial Oncology Group) as a central support office.
Research activities
1. Health behavior research
We investigated the association of dietary fish and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) consumption with the risk of major depression by using JPHC study. We found a reduced risk of MDD in the third quartile for fish intake (111.1 g/day, OR = 0.44, 95%CI = 0.23-0.84), the second quartile for eicosapentaenoic acid (307.7 mg/day, OR = 0.54, 95%CI = 0.30-0.99), and the third quartile for docosapentaenoic acid (123.1 mg/day, OR = 0.42, 95%CI = 0.22-0.85). We published the review article that focuses on the hypothetical effects of PUFAs against the fear of cancer recurrence in cancer survivors.
2. Patient-physician communication research
To promote communication and decision-making process based on patients' values and pre-ferences between patients, caregivers, and physicians, we are conducting experimental psychological studies and clinical trials.
3. Supportive care clinical research
To clarify the therapeutic effect of Yokukansan which is a Japanese herbal medicine for pre-operative anxiety and its preventive effect on postoperative delirium in cancer patients, as well as to confirm its safety profile, we have started a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
4. Suicide prevention research
To identify risk factors for suicide in cancer patients, we conducted a forensic investigation in cooperation with the Tokyo Medical Examiner's Office. To investigate attitudes toward suicide prevention, suicide intervention skills and confidence in communicating with patients of medical staff, we conducted an online survey by self-administered questionnaire.
5. QOL outcome research
To enhance the quality of J-SUPPORT endorsed trials, we provide design consultation, data management, monitoring, and statistical analysis. We tackle the selection of clinical outcome assessments through systematic reviews.
6. Family nursing and psychosocial support research
To clarify the relationship between family caregivers' resilience and their psychiatric distress, we conducted a self-administered questionnaire survey in four palliative care units.
Education
We have supervised one doctoral student from the Department of Palliative Nursing, Tohoku University School of Medicine.
Future prospects
We are planning to start an evaluation research with a view of provision for making a cancer survivorship guideline. We plan to promote behavioral research for bridging evidence-practice gaps in the field of cancer survivorship. And we will continue to provide a consultation on research design and statistical analysis and support clinical trials in terms of quality management.
List of papers published in January 2017 - March 2018
Journal
1. Fujimori M, Hikiji W, Tanifuji T, Suzuki H, Takeshima T, Matsumoto T, Yamauchi T, Kawano K, Fukunaga T. Characteristics of cancer patients who died by suicide in the Tokyo metropolitan area. Jpn J Clin Oncol, 47:458-462, 2017
2. Noguchi H, Nishi D, Matsumura K, Hamazaki K, Hamazaki T, Matsuoka YJ. Limited effect of omega-3 fatty acids on the quality of life in survivors of traumatic injury: A randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids, 127:1-5, 2017
3. Kawaguchi T, Azuma K, Sano M, Kim S, Kawahara Y, Sano Y, Shimodaira T, Ishibashi K, Miyaji T, Basch E, Yamaguchi T. The Japanese version of the National Cancer Institute's patient-reported outcomes version of the common terminology criteria for adverse events (PRO-CTCAE): psychometric validation and discordance between clinician and patient assessments of adverse events. J Patient Rep Outcomes, 2:2, 2017
4. Tang WR, Hong JH, Rau KM, Wang CH, Juang YY, Lai CH, Fujimori M, Fang CK. Truth telling in Taiwanese cancer care: patients' and families' preferences and their experiences of doctors' practices. Psychooncology, 26:999-1005, 2017
5. Higuchi Y, Inagaki M, Koyama T, Kitamura Y, Sendo T, Fujimori M, Kataoka H, Hayashibara C, Uchitomi Y, Yamada N. Emotional Intelligence and its Effect on Pharmacists and Pharmacy Students with Autistic-like Traits. Am J Pharm Educ, 81:74, 2017
6. Nishi D, Su KP, Usuda K, Chang JP, Chiang YJ, Guu TW, Hamazaki K, Nakaya N, Sone T, Hashimoto K, Hamazaki T, Matsuoka YJ. Differences between Japan and Taiwan in the treatment of pregnant women with depressive symptoms by omega-3 fatty acids: An open-label pilot study. Nutr Neurosci, 1-9, 2017
7. Fujimori M, Akechi T, Uchitomi Y. Factors associated with patient preferences for communication of bad news. Palliat Support Care, 15:328-335, 2017
8. Nagamine M, Noguchi H, Takahashi N, Kim Y, Matsuoka Y. Effect of cortisol diurnal rhythm on emotional memory in healthy young adults. Sci Rep, 7:10158, 2017
9. Fujiwara M, Inagaki M, Nakaya N, Fujimori M, Higuchi Y, Hayashibara C, So R, Kakeda K, Kodama M, Uchitomi Y, Yamada N. Cancer screening participation in schizophrenic outpatients and the influence of their functional disability on the screening rate: A cross-sectional study in Japan. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci, 71:813-825, 2017
10. Yamashita A, Noguchi H, Hamazaki K, Sato Y, Narisawa T, Kawashima Y, Usuki M, Nishi D, Yoshimasu H, Horikawa N, Matsuoka YJ. Serum polyunsaturated fatty acids and risk of psychiatric disorder after acute coronary syndrome: A prospective cohort study. J Affect Disord, 218:306-312, 2017
11. Matsuoka YJ, Sawada N, Mimura M, Shikimoto R, Nozaki S, Hamazaki K, Uchitomi Y, Tsugane S. Dietary fish, n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid consumption, and depression risk in Japan: a population-based prospective cohort study. Transl Psychiatry, 7:e1242, 2017
12. Miyaji T, Iioka Y, Kuroda Y, Yamamoto D, Iwase S, Goto Y, Tsuboi M, Odagiri H, Tsubota Y, Kawaguchi T, Sakata N, Basch E, Yamaguchi T. Japanese translation and linguistic validation of the US National Cancer Institute's Patient-Reported Outcomes version of the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (PRO-CTCAE). J Patient-Reported Outcomes, 1:8, 2017
13. Matsumura K, Noguchi H, Nishi D, Hamazaki K, Hamazaki T, Matsuoka YJ. Effects of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on psychophysiological symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder in accident survivors: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. J Affect Disord, 224:27-31, 2017
14. Wada S, Inoguchi H, Hirayama T, Matsuoka YJ, Uchitomi Y, Ochiai H, Tsukamoto S, Shida D, Kanemitsu Y, Shimizu K. Yokukansan for the treatment of preoperative anxiety and postoperative delirium in colorectal cancer patients: a retrospective study. Jpn J Clin Oncol, 47:844-848, 2017
15. Fujiwara M, Inagaki M, Nakaya N, Fujimori M, Higuchi Y, Kakeda K, Uchitomi Y, Yamada N. Association between serious psychological distress and nonparticipation in cancer screening and the modifying effect of socioeconomic status: Analysis of anonymized data from a national cross-sectional survey in Japan. Cancer, 124:555-562, 2018
16. Susukida R, Nishi D, Kawashima Y, Koido Y, Mojtabai R, Matsuoka YJ. Generalizability of Findings from a Randomized Controlled Trial of Fish Oil Supplementation for Attenuating Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms among Rescue Workers in Japan. Psychother Psychosom, 87:114-115, 2018
17. Inagaki M, Fujiwara M, Nakaya N, Fujimori M, Higuchi Y, Hayashibara C, So R, Kakeda K, Kodama M, Uchitomi Y, Yamada N. Low Cancer Screening Rates among Japanese People with Schizophrenia: A Cross-Sectional Study. Tohoku J Exp Med, 244:209-218, 2018
18. Watanabe N, Matsuoka Y, Kumachi M, Hamazaki K, Horikoshi M, Furukawa TA. Omega-3 fatty acids for a better mental state in working populations - Happy Nurse Project: A 52-week randomized controlled trial. J Psychiatr Res, 102:72-80, 2018
19. Watanabe YS, Miura T, Okizaki A, Tagami K, Matsumoto Y, Fujimori M, Morita T, Kinoshita H. Comparison of Indicators for Achievement of Pain Control With a Personalized Pain Goal in a Comprehensive Cancer Center. J Pain Symptom Manage, 55:1159-1164, 2018
20. Furuno T, Nakagawa M, Hino K, Yamada T, Kawashima Y, Matsuoka Y, Shirakawa O, Ishizuka N, Yonemoto N, Kawanishi C, Hirayasu Y. Effectiveness of assertive case management on repeat self-harm in patients admitted for suicide attempt: Findings from ACTION-J study. J Affect Disord, 225:460-465, 2018
21. Mori M, Fujimori M, Hamano J, Naito AS, Morita T. Which Physicians' Behaviors on Death Pronouncement Affect Family-Perceived Physician Compassion? A Randomized, Scripted, Video-Vignette Study. J Pain Symptom Manage, 55:189-197.e4, 2018
22. Hayashibara C, Inagaki M, Fujimori M, Higuchi Y, Fujiwara M, Terada S, Okamura H, Uchitomi Y, Yamada N. Confidence in communicating with patients with cancer mediates the relationship between rehabilitation therapists' autistic-like traits and perceived difficulty in communication. Palliat Support Care, 1-9, 2018