摘要:

The purpose of this correlational study was to examine factors related to cognitive late effects of treatment that may be predictors of decision making and risk behaviors for cancer-surviving adolescents. A convenience sample of 52 survivors (ages 14-19 years, disease-free for 5 years, no treatment for 2 years, and with all types of cancer except primary brain tumors) participated in this study at two regional survivor follow-up clinics. A medical record review, a semistructured interview with the teen, and intelligence testing on a separate day were used to collect data. A history of cancer therapy threatening cognitive function (defined as ≥18 gy of radiotherapy, intrathecal or high-dose systemic methotrexate, or both) was a marginally significant predictor of poorer-quality decision making in the first regression model. Poorer-quality decision making was a significant predictor of one or more risk behaviors in the second model. Younger age at initial treatment and lower cognitive ability (full-scale IQ) were not significant predictors for either of the models. There were no significant differences for the Wechsler IQ subtests related to abstract and analytic ability by cognitive threat status. Post hoc analysis indicated that lack of sensitivity to change of the Wechsler IQ measure may have affected outcomes. Abstract and/or analytic ability may be important links for decision making and risk behaviors of teen survivors, thus warranting further examination within a larger sample. Intervention to improve decision making needs to be provided for teen survivors; this may be true especially when there is a history of therapy threatening cognitive function.

ISSN:0162-220X    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1997

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Breast cancer mortality is significantly greater in African American women than in their Caucasian counterparts. The purpose of this study was to identify variables associated with the breast cancer screening behaviors of mammography utilization and breast self-examination (BSE) in a convenience sample of low income African American women. A total of 328 African American women, living in a large midwestern metropolitan area, who were at≤150% of poverty level, and between the ages of 45 and 64 years were included in this study. Data were collected over a period of 18 months. Predisposing, enabling, and need variables from Anderson's theoretical framework included perceived susceptibility, benefits, barriers, confidence, knowledge, physician recommendation, demographic characteristics, and past experiences, as well as health-care and insurance information. Variables that significantly predicted mammography utilization included perceived barriers, mammography suggested by health-care professionals, recent thoughts about mammography, and a regular medical doctor. Variables that significantly predicted either frequency or proficiency of BSE included susceptibility, benefits, confidence, knowledge, barriers, and a regular physician. Implications for clinical practice include (a) recognizing predictors of screening among low-income African American women; (b) addressing culturally specific barriers, e.g., cancer fatalism, in order to increase compliance with screening; (c) establishing consistency in primary care providers; and (d) increasing confidence and knowledge through education.

ISSN:0162-220X    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1997

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Mammography, physical examination by a health care professional, and breast self-examination (BSE) may increase the probability of detection of breast cancer at an early stage and thus increase long-term survivor rates. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of supportive coaching as an intervention to enhance compliance with these breast cancer screening guidelines. The following research questions were identified:(a) what are the attitudes of women toward breast cancer screening? (b) what are the barriers to compliance identified by women in breast cancer screening? and (c) what are the effects of supportive interventions by a professional nurse and of compliance with breast cancer screening in women? A quasi-experimental design was used to study the research questions. The population chosen for the study included female employees in a state university setting. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups. All participants were asked to complete a prestudy questionnaire measuring attitudes and beliefs, gathering demographic and health information, and surveying breast cancer screening practices. The experimental group then received coaching and supportive interventions over the course of the academic year. The remainder of the sample served as a control group. A poststudy questionnaire was then sent to the entire sample to identify behaviors related to breast cancer screening. A variety of beliefs and attitudes were observed in the groups. No significant difference was found between the experimental and control groups on compliance with mammography and the clinical breast examination. A difference was noted on compliance with BSE by the experimental group evidencing more compliance.

ISSN:0162-220X    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1997

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

This article sheds light on the meaning of the lived experience of being a hospice nurse, as interpreted from in-depth interviews with 18 hospice nurses. The nurses' stories were analyzed using a phenomenologic-hermeneutic approach inspired by the philosophy of Ricoeur. Findings were synthesized into two themes: pursuing meaningful hospice care and pursuing spiritual integrity. Results indicated that it was the nurses' conceptions of "ideal" hospice practice that seemed to be the lens through which the nurses experienced and interpreted"real" practice as being either vitalizing or devitalizing. Results also indicated that being a hospice nurse means being visible as a person, in the sphere between the sacred and the profane and on the border between eternity and the finite. In narrating these experiences, the nurses used metaphors pointing towards "the sacred" and a "consciousness of fault." The tension between"ideal" and "real" hospice practices, and the nurses' vitalizing and devitalizing experiences and their use of metaphors in narrating these experiences are interpreted in the light of Bauman's two "life strategies" of deconstructing mortality and immortality, and Ricoeur's Symbolism of Evil.

ISSN:0162-220X    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1997

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) in reducing the nausea, vomiting, and anxiety induced by chemotherapy in Japanese patients. Subjects comprised 60 cancer chemotherapy patients who were hospitalized in a cancer center. These subjects were randomly assigned to either the experimental or control group. In addition to routine nursing care, subjects in the experimental received PMR training, while those in the control received contact with the investigator. Results from this study verified the effectiveness of PMR in reducing total scores used to measure nausea, vomiting, and retching; subscale scores of nausea; and subjective feelings of anxiety. The efficacy of PMR to reduce subscale scores of vomiting was not verified, partly due to an extremely low incidence of vomiting.

ISSN:0162-220X    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1997

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Although nurses claim that psychosocial aspects of care are an important part of their practice, it is not clear that the psychosocial aspect of care is evident in clinical practice. This raises the question as to whether a gap exists between the theoretical literature and what is occurring at the bedside. This survey was designed as a means to examine (a) the importance staff nurses place on intervening with patient and family members' psychosocial needs, and (b) nurses' perceived skill level in meeting those psychosocial needs. The questionnaire, psychosocial interventions: perceived importance and skill level, was developed for this study. Questionnaires were distributed to 310 nurses, and 112 questionnaires were returned (37%). Data analyses included the use of descriptive statistics, independentt-tests, and analysis of variance. Nurses noted that each psychosocial need identified was quite important when providing care to patients with cancer and their families. However, nurses identified a moderate skill level for intervening with these aspects of care. A variety of individuals and factors were identified as promoting psychosocial care. Time was identified as the number one barrier to psychosocial care. Implications include the need for continuing education and preceptorship models that can be used to enhance nurses' skill in intervening with psychosocial needs of patients and their families.

ISSN:0162-220X    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1997

数据来源: OVID

ISSN:0162-220X    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1997

数据来源: OVID

ISSN:0162-220X    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1997

数据来源: OVID