摘要:

The incidence of oral complications among adult cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy varies from 12% to 80%. Adequate oral hygiene has been shown to be important in prevention, and an essential role is reserved for the nursing staff. These considerations prompted the decision to survey, by means of a questionnaire, the nurses who give care to cancer patients. The questions were concerned with multidisciplinary treatment, inspection methods, nursing interventions, and nursing education. Data emerged regarding a shortage of dentists and dental hygienists, and knowledge of oral inspection and the appropriate interventions by nurses are insufficient. Extra attention to oral hygiene during training is warranted.

ISSN:0162-220X    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1992

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Cancer screening is a national health priority, especially for colorectal cancer, the second leading cause of death due to cancer in the United States. The researchers measured colorectal cancer knowledge among 211 older Americans. A quasiexperimental pretest-posttest two-by-two factorial design was used to test the effect of knowledge on participation in fecal occult blood screening. The American Cancer Society's colorectal cancer educational slide-tape presentation served as the basis for all of the educational programs. Hemoccult II kits were distributed at no cost to the participants. Descriptive statistics, X2, and logistic regressions were used to analyze data. One-half of the participants had incomes below the poverty level.Almost one-half the subjects in the study sample stated that they had not received any information about colorectal cancer within the past year. Caucasians had more knowledge of colorectal cancer than African Americans [F(l, 78) = 7.92, p < 0.01] and persons with higher income had more knowledge than persons with less income [F(2, 76) = 3.01, p = 0.05]. Subjects showed significant increases in colorectal cancer knowledge 6 days after the colorectal cancer education program [t(79) = 2.59, p = 0.01] and this increased knowledge was a predictor of participation in free fecal occult blood screening [X2(1, n = 164) = 5.34, p = 0.02].

ISSN:0162-220X    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1992

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Cancer pain continues to remain a significant problem for oncology patients treated in both the university and the community setting. Nursing knowledge regarding pain management has advanced significantly in recent years. This article provides health care professionals with current factual information on cancer pain management. The information focuses on the emotional aspects of cancer pain, specific principles of analgesic management, opioid equianalgesics, multiple approaches to opioid administration, management of unwanted side effects, and a description of inappropriate drug therapies.

ISSN:0162-220X    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1992

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Extended periods of remission from cancer have led to an increasing number of patients coping with problems in day-to-day living. Attendance at group support programs that address these problems has been low, however, and only certain subgroups of cancer patients seem to be attracted to them. This study consisted of gathering qualitative and quantitative information from 73 cancer patients concerning factors that might influence participation in group support programs. Only 25% of the patients expressed an interest in group programs. The main reason for interest was the opportunity for mutual support and exchange of experiences. On the other hand, the most common reasons for lack of interest among the 75% who were not interested in group programs were doubts about the usefulness of patient groups and/or the impression that other kinds of support were more important. The ratio 1:3 (one person interested versus three persons not interested) was distributed across most of the analyzed sociodemographic and cancer-related variables. A logistic regression analysis showed that patients indicated significantly more interest in group programs when they had been diagnosed within the previous 14 weeks (p < 0.033). Less-educated individuals were more likely to be interested in groups (p < 0.055). Implications of the study findings are discussed with regard to the future design of support group programs.

ISSN:0162-220X    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1992

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

A large body of research shows that social support in general and of family members in particular plays an important role in determining cancer patients' quality of life. We assumed that the spouse's information about how the patient experiences the situation determines the spouse's ability to help. The present study was designed to examine how much the spouse knows about the attitudes and experiences of their husband or wife who is a cancer patient, and whether this knowledge depends on the questions' structure, disease duration, its severity, or level of patient's information about the disease and prognosis. A questionnaire with multiple-choice and open-ended questions assessing 13 domains (e.g., fears and worries concerning health, functioning in the family, and anxiety) was administered to patients and their partners. Subjects were 55 head-and-neck cancer patients, 40 men and 15 women, with disease stages I to IV, grade of tumors G1 to G3–4, and disease duration of 0.5 to 21 years. The results showed that correspondence between the patients' and their spouses' responses was very low, and was not affected by the structure of the questions or the disease's duration and severity. Correspondence was high only in patients informed about their disease. In the discussion, it was pointed out that when the patient is informed, communication channels in the family are opened and this brings about an increase in the spouses's information about the patient and hence in the spouse's ability to provide the patient the needed social support as a psychotherapeutic agent and a friend. The cancer nurse may play a crucial role in instituting the patient-spouse dialogue.

ISSN:0162-220X    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1992

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between uncertainty and anxiety in women after mastectomy for breast cancer and to describe women's responses to partial or complete mastectomy for breast cancer during the early rehabilitative phase after surgery. A theoretical framework for the study was derived from the Scott, Oberst, and Dropkin Stress-Coping Model and from a review of the literature. Major study variables and variable measures were uncertainty, measured by the Mishel Uncertainty in Illness Scale (MUIS), and anxiety, measured by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Twenty-five women admitted to two acute-care teaching hospitals for their first partial or modified radical mastectomy made up the convenience sample of this study. Data were collected 1–2 days before and' 1–2 weeks after hospital discharge. From study findings, it was shown that only at the postdischarge testing was there a significant positive correlation between uncertainty and state anxiety. The development of appropriate interventions to assist breast cancer patients in dealing with the fears of recurrence and uncertainties regarding treatment effectiveness and sequelae has relevance for nursing practice.

ISSN:0162-220X    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1992

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Constipation is a well-known side effect of narcotics and can add to the total burden of pain of cancer patients in need of pain medication. There is little literature on this topic, and it has been suggested that one reason is that the definitions are vague and socially bound. It has also been suggested that some physicians consider constipation a trivial problem, resulting in a relative lack of attention to the subject. Although this article addresses narcotic-induced constipation, other types related to poor dietary and exercise habits and to disease are mentioned and may be contributing factors. There are a number of drugs and treatments available to treat the problem, but the emphasis of nursing care should be on prevention of constipation. Senna derivatives have been noted to reverse the major constipating effect of narcotics, i.e., the decrease in propulsive movements of the colon, and it is recommended they be given right along with narcotics as a preventive measure. A protocol that incorporates a schedule of drugs and dosages and specific patient and nursing guidelines for daily evaluation of bowel function, with education about dietary, fluid, and exercise requirements, will help nurses practice prevention and contribute to patients' comfort.

ISSN:0162-220X    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1992

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

After implanting >150 totally implantable venous catheters, 40 patients were interviewed about their experiences by telephone using a standard questionnaire. There were 25 women and 15 men, all having or having had chemotherapy for nonresectable advanced cancer, 26 of them by means of a portable pump. Almost all patients thought that the advantages of the Port-a-Cath (PAC) outweighed its disadvantages; they were not hindered in their daily activities, and none of the patients experienced problems with sexual intercourse because of the PAC. Drawbacks of the method are that 40% of the patients found the operation for insertion of the PAC to be more painful than they had expected. Although PAC reduced the fear of repeated peripheral vein puncture, puncture of the PAC was viewed as painful by 15 of the 40 patients. We conclude that a PAC seems to be preferable to an external catheter but that pre- and postoperative patient information needs to be improved.

ISSN:0162-220X    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1992

数据来源: OVID

ISSN:0162-220X    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1992

数据来源: OVID

ISSN:0162-220X    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1992

数据来源: OVID