摘要:

A semistructured measure was developed from early descriptive work by Lipowski to elicit the meaning of breast cancer using eight preset categories: challenge, enemy, punishment, weakness, relief, strategy, irreparable loss, and value. This measure was applied in two studies: a cross-sectional survey of 1012 Canadian women at various points after diagnosis and a follow-up study 3 years later of 205 women from the previous study who were close to the time of diagnosis at the first testing. The majority of the 1012 women chose “challenge” (57.4%) or “value” (27.6%) to describe the meaning of breast cancer, whereas fewer chose the more negative “enemy” (7.8%) or “irreparable loss” (3.9%). At the 3-year follow-up assessment, 78.9% of the women who had indicated positive meaning by their choices of “challenge” or “value” did so again. Verbal descriptions provided by the women were congruent with those reported in previous qualitative studies of meaning in breast cancer with respect to the two most prevalent categories: challenge and value. At follow-up assessment, women who ascribed a negative meaning of illness with choices such as “enemy,” “loss,” or “punishment” had significantly higher levels of depression and anxiety and poorer quality of life than women who indicated a more positive meaning. The meaning-of-illness measure provides an approach that can be applied in large surveys to detect women who ascribe less positive meaning to the breast cancer experience, women who may be difficult to identify in the context of small, qualitative studies.

ISSN:0162-220X    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2003

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

After mastectomy, the provision of an appropriate breast prosthesis can help to improve body image and quality of life and reduce associated emotional distress. Although up to 90% of women use an external breast prosthesis after mastectomy, little is known about their experiences and satisfaction with breast prosthesis use. Focus groups were conducted with women who had been fitted with an external breast prosthesis, breast care nurses, and prosthesis fitters to explore women’s experiences of prosthesis use. Qualitative thematic content analysis of focus group transcripts indicated that whereas women’s initial reaction to the prosthesis generally was negative, this improved over time. Provision of adequate information and support, characteristics of the fitter and the fitting experience, and relationships with breast care nurses and prosthesis fitters were important to women’s acceptance and satisfaction with their prosthesis. The study results highlighted the key role that breast care nurses play and the underestimation of the prosthesis fitter’s role. Common themes concerning the impact of prosthesis use included body image, appearance, and feminine identity. These findings have important implications for professionals involved in the delivery of breast prostheses services.

ISSN:0162-220X    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2003

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

The purpose of this study was to develop and test the Role-Related Meaning Scale for Staff in Pediatric Oncology (RRMS) to determine the internal consistency and the content and construct validity of this two-phase instrument. During phase 1 (item generation, content validation, and initial field testing), 23 nurses from two cancer centers participated, and during phase 2 (instrument testing), 89 nurses from one pediatric research center participated. The nurses completed either the RRMS only (phase 1) or six instruments including the RRMS (phase 2) to assess the following research variables: role-related meaning, group cohesion, organizational commitment, work satisfaction, and intent to leave. The RRMS was revised after phase 1 because the results yielded a ceiling effect and three overlapping items. The Cronbach alpha for the phase 2 total RRMS was .83, and four of the five hypothesized relations were confirmed (P= .04). Therefore, the RRMS was concluded to be an internally consistent instrument that has content validity and beginning construct validity. Future studies will examine whether the RRMS adequately measures the change in meaning brought about by interventions designed to increase role-related meaning among nurses.

ISSN:0162-220X    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2003

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

When cancer is diagnosed in a parent, this may also have consequences for the children. The purpose of this pilot study was to gain more insight into the psychosocial consequences for children of a parent with cancer, from the perspective of both the children and their parents. For this study, 14 families participated in semistructured interviews and completed standardized questionnaires. Interviews were tape-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using content analysis techniques. No significant difference was found in behavioral and emotional problems between the children in these families and the normative sample. However, parents reported problems on a borderline and clinically elevated level in one third of the children, and three of seven children self-reported problems on these levels. The interview results showed that parents reported (temporary) behavioral problems in most children during the acute stage of their parents’ illness. Other problems, such as anxiety, sleeping disorders, and compulsive behavior, persisted for longer. Parents reported that their children had more problems than the children themselves reported. This finding was not supported by the quantitative analysis. The results from the Child Behavior Checklist and the Dutch version of the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales showed that children of families with poor family functioning were more vulnerable. In particular, extremely high adaptation (chaotic) and extremely low family cohesion (disengaged) seemed related to the prevalence of emotional and behavioral problems in these children. Absence of home healthcare was an additional burden for adolescent children.

ISSN:0162-220X    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2003

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Aspects of care and assistance important for siblings of children treated for cancer were examined. Parents (n = 97) and nurses (n = 105) were asked: “What aspects of care are important for the siblings to feel cared for?” and “What help, if any, do the siblings need outside the hospital?” Data were analyzed by content analysis. The following care aspects were identified: amusement, emotional support, family life, information, normal life, participation, social competence, and time. Most parent and nurse answers were categorized as participation, information, and social competence. Parents more frequently than nurses (χ2= 6.1;df= 1;P= .05) mentioned answers categorized as information and nurses more often than parents (χ2= 12.3;df= 1;P= .001) mentioned that they did not know about any important care aspects. The following assistance aspects were identified: emotional support, fair attention, family life, normal life, practical support, and school support. Most parent and nurse answers were categorized as emotional support, fair attention, and family life. Parents more often than nurses (χ2= 7.9;df= 1,P= .01) mentioned answers categorized as practical support and siblings not needing any assistance (χ2= 8.3;df= 1;P= .05). Nurses more frequently than parents (χ2= 25.1;df= 1;P= .001) mentioned that they did not know about any important aspects of assistance. Parents and nurses agree fairly well on what aspects of care and assistance are important for siblings of children with cancer.

ISSN:0162-220X    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2003

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Fatigue is reported to be a major symptom for many patients with cancer. However, little is known about this symptom among Chinese people who have cancer. A cross-sectional design was used to examine the intensity of fatigue in patients who underwent bone marrow transplantation for a hematologic malignancy, and to determine whether fatigue affected the quality of life in a Chinese sample (N = 157). The Revised Piper Fatigue Scale-Chinese Version was used to measure fatigue, and the Chinese version of the SF-36 Health Survey was used to measure quality of life. Overall, the subjects perceived a moderate level of fatigue (mean total fatigue score, 4.7 ± 1.7). More than 15% reported experiencing a high level of fatigue. Subjects more likely to perceive a high level of fatigue were older, married, not employed, and on lower incomes. On post hoc tests, the group with a high level of fatigue scored significantly lower on quality-of-life domains than the other two groups (P< .05). The results may help nurses working with Chinese populations in identifying patients at risk for increased fatigue and in planning fatigue-relieving strategies.

ISSN:0162-220X    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2003

数据来源: OVID

ISSN:0162-220X    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2003

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Radiation therapy remains the primary method of treatment for patients with head and neck cancer. The tissue destruction and functional alterations in the oral cavity lead to the development of oral mucositis. The purpose of this review is to describe the mechanisms, risk factors, prevalence, and magnitude of radiation therapy-related oral mucositis and its morbidities in patients with head and neck cancer. The review concludes with a discussion of the implications for clinical practice. This review provides cancer nurses with the information necessary to identify patients with head and neck cancer who are at high risk for oral mucositis and the significant comorbidities associated with this complication of radiation therapy.

ISSN:0162-220X    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2003

数据来源: OVID

ISSN:0162-220X    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2003

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Interest in complementary-alternative medicine therapies is growing rapidly in Turkey. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to determine the types and prevalence of alternative therapies used by the patients with a diagnosis of cancer, and to determine factors influencing the choices of their therapies in Erzurum, Turkey. Approximately 10-minute face-to-face interviews were conducted with each subject in the radiation oncology department. The factors associated with the use of alternative therapies after a diagnosis of cancer were assessed by chi-square analysis. The findings indicated that complementary-alternative medicine therapies were used by 41.1% of the subjects after their diagnosis, and that all of the alternatives they used were herbs. The most commonly used herb was stinging nettle leaf (urtica dioica) or seed of nettle. Almost all (93.2%) of the herbs used were nettle. In general, especially the women and the younger patients of both genders were more likely to be using alternative therapies. There was no difference in demographic and cancer characteristics between users of alternative therapy and nonusers. More than the half of the patients using alternative therapies (54.5%) reportedly did not discuss the use of herbs with their healthcare professionals. Most of the patients using stinging nettle and other herbs therapies reported that they had heard about the use of herbs from friends or relatives (52.3%), or from the other patients in this clinic (43.2%). This study found that there is a high prevalence of alternative therapies used by patients with cancer in eastern Turkey. The use of these alternative therapies requires that nursing professionals rethink staff competency, patient assessment, and patient-focused care. Communication between patients and healthcare professionals should initiate dialogues on this topic for a better understanding of patient choices with regard to treatment options.

ISSN:0162-220X    

出版商:OVID    

年代:2003

数据来源: OVID