摘要:

Fatigue can be a prevalent and serious problem for the individual with cancer and can negatively impact on the individual's quality of life. Little is known about the prevalence of clinical fatigue among patients with cancer and how the fatigue cancer patient's experience compares with the fatigue people experience as a function of their normal daily activities. This study, which utilized a control group, investigated the prevalence of fatigue among patients receiving treatment with radiotherapy (n = 54) and chemotherapy (n = 47) over two measurement points. The level of fatigue experienced by cancer patients was compared with the level of fatigue experienced by apparently healthy auxiliary staff (n = 53) working at three cancer treatment facilities. There were no differences in the mean level of fatigue experienced by cancer patients and the mean level experienced by healthy controls before the start of cancer treatment.

ISSN:0162-220X    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1994

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

In-depth interviews with a sample of 10 nurses working permanent night duty in a British regional oncology and radiotherapy hospital reported that a significant part of their job involved psychological support for those patients who were awake and experiencing stress. The respondents explained that this psychological work was often disregarded and/or went unrecognized by the nursing staff on day duty, an attitude that could jeopardize the continuity of care of cancer patients. The findings stem from the author's doctoral dissertation concerning the role of the cancer nurse in relation to stress and the person with cancer, and they lay the foundation for further studies into the nature of the nurse's support role of cancer patients at night and in different health-care settings.

ISSN:0162-220X    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1994

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

This study reports the findings of how district nurses (n = 23) and hospital nurses (n = 9) in cancer care experienced social support in immediate connection with demanding care situations, as well as the effect of systematic clinical supervision. The study is based on their own accounts. The data were collected by means of semi-structured interviews. The findings indicate that there is a great need to unburden oneself of job-related thoughts and feelings, and to receive support after having been in emotionally demanding care situations. The nurses were of the opinion that the supervision had provided relief, confirmation, and professional development. These findings can be understood in the light of Antonovsky's theory, “sense of coherence,” which comprises the components: comprehensibility, manageability, and meaningfulness. More research is needed to discover further ways to support the personnel.

ISSN:0162-220X    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1994

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Cervical cancer is one of the leading causes of death among women in Thailand. It also has been observed that women who suffered from the illness seek care from various types of care givers including doctors, herbalists, and spiritual mediums. This article has two major aims. The first aim is to describe the types of healers from whom women seek care. The second aim is to explain women's perception of the illness regarding etiology, time and onset of symptoms, pathophysiology, course of illness, and treatment. One hundred and twenty women who sought treatment at Songkla Nagarind Hospital, a teaching hospital in southern Thailand, were interviewed. An interview schedule that consisted of both open-ended and close-ended questions was designed and used in the in-depth interview. Results showed that most women who suffered from cervical cancer illness at the hospital were from low socioeconomic levels. Approximately 50% of the women received care from both western-trained care givers and other types of care givers such as those who were traditionally trained and themselves. The number of care givers ranged from one to eight persons. The average number of care givers was four per woman. The initial symptom for the women in the study was abnormal vaginal discharge. The cervical cancer caused physical and psychological problems. Seventy percent of the women recognized they would die if the illness was not treated. Most women had a positive attitude about the illness if they were treated. About 80% perceived that they would be cured regardless of the method of treatment used. There was little influence of traditional beliefs on women's perceptions of the illness.

ISSN:0162-220X    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1994

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Bone marrow transplantation (BMT) is a treatment modality associated with a wide spectrum of gastrointestinal complications. One effect is painful stomatitis. Stomatitis is defined as an inflammatory and ulcerative reaction of the oral cavity. Stomatitis in the transplant patient is attributable to one, several, or all of the following: effects of high-dose chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy delivered pretransplant; infection; acute or chronic graft-versus-host disease (in the allogeneic transplant recipient); the condition of the oral cavity pretransplant; and side effects of other medications or treatments used during the transplant process. Frequency of oral complications in the BMT population has been looked at in several studies. Most studies showed changes beginning immediately before transplant day, peaking 1–2 weeks posttransplant, and gradually improving. Published studies have not included colony-stimulating factors in the treatment regime, nor have they addressed the effect of these agents on oral complications. A survey of BMT centers showed that no standard protocol is in place for stomatitis prevention and management. The literature shows that no agent has been shown to be superior to any other. Frequency of care given and reinforcement of care needed have been shown to be related to Improvement in oral condition. Based on the review of the literature, a protocol for oral care is proposed. This protocol would then establish a program to which other agents can be compared.

ISSN:0162-220X    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1994

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Severe fungal infections have become increasingly common over the past 10 years, largely due to the greater number of immunocompromised patients, such as those infected with HIV and those undergoing immunosuppressive therapy for malignancies. Between 60% and 80% of people with AIDS, for example, develop at least one fungal infection. Other predisposing factors for these infections include mechanical defects such as indwelling catheters, surgery, and burns. Candidiasis, aspergillosis, cryptococcoses, coccidioidomycosis, and histoplasmosis are among the fungal infections most commonly encountered in the clinical setting. Diagnosis is often elusive and treatment difficult. Amphotericin B has been the standard therapy for most life-threatening fungal infections for almost three decades but has significant drawbacks, including severe adverse reactions. Other systemic antifungal agents have proved useful in certain situations. Fluconazole, a new broad-spectrum agent, has shown particular promise in the treatment of candidiasis and cryptococcal meningitis.

ISSN:0162-220X    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1994

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

The aim of the investigation was to study psychological and psychosocial aspects of breast cancer. A literature search was done covering the period 1989–1992. The following research areas were studied: the relationship between psychological characteristics and breast cancer, and between psychosocial interventions and breast cancer; quality of life after breast cancer surgery and treatment; and the relationship between social support and breast cancer. The results showed that the medical community is divided into “believers” and “nonbelievers” with respect to whether or not psychosocial factors influence breast cancer outcomes. One of the best predictors of a woman's postcancer adjustment is her psychological state before the breast cancer. The results also showed that the difference in psychological outcome between mastectomy and breast-con-serving surgery was small and nonsignificant. Another finding was that the social context and social support from partner, family, friends, relatives and medical professions are important for survival. In conclusion, methodological problems were common in studying psychological and psychosocial aspects of breast cancer.

ISSN:0162-220X    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1994

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

The Oncology Nurses Study Group (ONSG) of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) initiated a survey to document the involvement of nurses in clinical trials. An English-language questionnaire was sent to 312 nurses in > 15 European countries. Results indicate that nurses lack training in oncology and in research methods. Nurses' tasks and activities are mainly oriented toward patient care. Nurses are rarely involved in activities related to protocol preparation and review. The circulation of information about clinical studies varies according to the center and the investigator responsible. Proposals to optimize nurse participation in clinical trials that were rated highly included (a) the availability of nursing protocol summaries translated into the local language, (b) contact with colleagues involved in the same trials, and (c) additional training in aspects of clinical trials related to nursing.

ISSN:0162-220X    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1994

数据来源: OVID

ISSN:0162-220X    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1994

数据来源: OVID

ISSN:0162-220X    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1994

数据来源: OVID