Paola del Río-Rodríguez

Background: Toolkits/toolboxes represent a promising intervention tool for cancer care and mental health. However, research is needed to identify their key components and effective implementation strategies. Methods: Following PRISMA-ScR, the search was conducted across five databases using key terms. Included studies addressed mental health or cancer care using toolboxes or toolkits for adults, documented their delivery or implementation strategies, and were experimental or quasi-experimental in Spanish or English. Excluded studies involved adaptations, relied solely on qualitative methods, did not address the specified population, or were systematic reviews. Three independent reviewers conducted title/abstract screening, full-text review, and data charting, with discrepancies resolved by a senior reviewer. The review protocol was prospectively published in the Open Science Framework (OSF). The Downs and Black’s checklist was used to evaluate quality and assess for bias. Results: A total of 33 studies were included in the final review. The toolkits/toolboxes primarily consisted of themes related to mental health and wellness in cancer care. Most mental health diagnoses reported consisted of depression or depressive symptomatology (14, 20.3%) followed by anxiety (12, 17.4%). Educational (13, 15.1%) and cognitive and behavioral strategies (13, 15.1%) were the most frequently used, followed by self-management (10, 11.6%). A total of 13 (39.3%) included Hispanics/Latinos in their sample. In terms of quality appraisal, representation of the entire population was the least frequently met criterion (10, 30%). Conclusions: This review identified important methodological gaps in implementation and population representation, as well as intervention components that can represent promising key aspects of toolkits/toolboxes.

Objective. This quantitative, cross-sectional, and correlational study explores the relationship between perceived social support, specifically examining support from family, friends, and partners, and the severity of suicidal ideation in a sample of 129 adult Latina women diagnosed with breast cancer in Puerto Rico. Methods. The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) and the Frequency of Suicidal Ideation Inventory (FSII) were utilized to measure perceived social support and suicidal ideation, respectively. According to the literature, female breast cancer survivors have a higher risk of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation compared to those without a history of oncology, highlighting the necessity of assessing these variables concurrently. Results. Spearman correlation analysis revealed a significant negative relationship between overall perceived social support and suicidal ideation (r = -.241, p = .006). Partner support showed the strongest correlation (r = -.259, p = .003), followed by friend support (r = -.218, p = .013), while family support did not achieve statistical significance (r = -.164, p = .063). Additionally, a moderate and significant correlation was found between educational level and annual income (ρ = 0.614, p < 0.001), indicating a significant association between educational attainment and annual income within the sample. These results highlight the vital role of social support, especially from partners, in possibly reducing suicidal ideation. Conclusions.This study sheds light on important aspects of cancer care that should be taken into consideration when developing culturally sensitive interventions that incorporate social support into psycho-oncological care for Latina breast cancer survivors in Puerto Rico.

Background/Objectives: Lay Community Health Workers (CHWs) play a critical role in reducing mental health disparities, particularly among underserved and vulnerable populations, by bridging gaps in care and promoting mental well-being. This narrative review aimed to identify and characterize training programs designed for CHWs, with a focus on those targeting cancer patients and individuals with chronic conditions. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted across databases including PubMed, EBSCOhost, Scielo, Redalyc, and Google Scholar. From an initial pool of 10,372 references, 27 relevant articles were selected, encompassing research articles, training materials, curricula, and other resources. Results: The identified training methods included role-playing, instructional videos, and manuals designed to equip CHWs with skills in mental health intervention, prevention, management, education, and stigma reduction. Training programs also incorporated evidence-based interventions and psychological skill training. This review highlights a notable gap in research on CHW-led interventions in cancer palliative care and mental health. Conclusions: The findings support the development of a specialized mental health training program tailored for CHWs working with cancer survivors, to enhance their capacity to address mental health challenges, reduce stigma, and promote psychological well-being. Future efforts involve developing a training intervention for CHWs to support the needs of cancer survivors.

Objective: The present study explored the association between the losses incurred due to breast cancer diagnosis, symptoms of depression, PANIC/GRIEF, and contextual factors within the context of Hispanic/Latina (H/L) patients diagnosed with breast cancer (BC). Methods: This study was a cross-sectional study of adult H/L BC patients (n = 129). The participants were H/L women diagnosed with breast cancer (stages 0–4) in the past five years. Sociodemographic variables were assessed, as well as depression symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-9; Spanish version), grief (The Affective Neuroscience Personality Scales, Grief subscale; Spanish version), and general losses (Grief diagnostic instrument for general practice, loss categories section). Results: The mean age for the sample was 55.37 (SD = 11.57). The most frequent non-death-related losses were loss of liberty (f = 63, p = 48.8%), followed by fear of own death (f = 67, p = 51.9%) and loss of quality of life (f = 65, p = 50.4%). A higher mean rank was observed in depressive symptomatology scores for those who experienced loss of liberty (U = 73.91, p < 0.008), quality of life (U = 77.30, p < 0.001), and fear of their own death (U = 74.88, p < 0.002). The results indicate a significant positive relationship between the number of reported losses and depressive symptomatology (r = 0.340, p < 0.001). In terms of contextual factors, the participants who reported their income not being enough to cover their expenses reported a greater number of losses related to diagnosis (U = 74.67, p < 0.001) and more depressive symptomatology (U = 69.84, p = 0.041). Moreover, a relationship was observed between grief and academic levels (r = −0.234, p = 0.008). Likewise, a relationship was observed between age and the number of losses (r = −0.461, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Our results provide new evidence on how primary non-death-related losses due to a breast cancer diagnosis impact the mental health of H/L BC patients.