摘要:

&NA;A review of literature concerning relaxation and imagery interventions for cancer pain is necessary because major review articles have excluded nursing research or were written prior to the publication of controlled studies in cancer pain conducted by nurses. This review of published nursing/medical/psychological literature of adults with cancer pain conducted over the past 14 years(1982-95) revealed few controlled studies, weak theoretical frameworks, few complete descriptions of the nature of the pain problem, and lack of control over the interventions. Most had very small sample sizes and could not demonstrate significant effects. Additionally, the intervention methods and length of the interventions were highly variable. Despite these design shortcomings, relaxation and imagery appear to reduce the sensory experience of pain, have equivocal effects on affective measures, and appear to have no effect on functional status. Suggestions for improvement include the need for more experimental studies, more complete descriptions of pain, improved statistical reporting, controls over adequacy of and compliance to the intervention, use of single interventions, and use of more complex measures of affective outcomes. Additionally, the paper contains a discussion of the problems of measuring selected outcome variables in this type of research.

ISSN:0162-220X    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1997

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

&NA;The ability to quantify pain intensity is essential when caring for individuals in pain in order to monitor patient progress and analgesic effectiveness. Three scales are commonly employed: the simple descriptor scale (SDS), the visual analog scale (VAS), and the numeric (pain intensity) rating scale (NRS). Patients with English as a second language may not be able to complete the SDS without translation, and visually, cognitively, or physically impaired patients may have difficulty using the VAS. The NRS has been found to be a simple and valid alternative in some disease states; however, the validity of this scale administered verbally, without visual cues, to oncology patients has not yet been established. The present study examined validity of a verbally administered 0-10 NRS using convergence methods. The correlation between the VAS and the NRS was strong and statistically significant (r = 0.847, p < 0.001), supporting the validity of the verbally administered NRS. Although all subjects were able to complete the NRS and SDS without apparent difficulty, 11 subjects (20%) were unable to complete the VAS. The mean opioid intake was significantly higher for the group that was unable to complete the VAS (mean 170.8 mg, median 120.0 mg, SD = 135.8) compared to the group that had no difficulty with the scale (mean 65.6 mg, 33.0 mg, SD = 99.7) (Mann-Whitney test, p = 0.0065). The verbally administered 0-10 NRS provides a useful alternative to the VAS, particularly as more contact with patients is established via telephone and patients within the hospital are more acutely ill.

ISSN:0162-220X    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1997

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

&NA;This study focused on the physiopsychological reactions to the stress of parents of children with cancer in China. Eighty-nine families who had a child with cancer were recruited into four groups: group A, the child was newly diagnosed with cancer; group B, the child was under treatment for cancer; group C, the child had relapsed and was not expected to live; and group D, the child with cancer had already died. Interviews were conducted in Cantonese. The semistructured interviews were conducted in the hospital or in the home. Specific questions were asked regarding colds, headaches, dizziness, loss of appetite, and weight loss. The Parent Stress Rating Scale(PSRS) and the Parent's Support Scale (PSS) were administered. Results indicated that parents most often reported symptoms of loss of appetite, weight loss, and sleeping difficulty, followed by headache, dizziness, and, least of all, colds. Mothers experienced more symptoms than fathers. Only in the newly diagnosed group and the under treatment group did the fathers report having had more colds than the mothers. Parents rated the child's death as having caused the highest stress, followed by the terminal stage and the diagnosis. Spouses received the highest rating for being supportive, across all groups.

ISSN:0162-220X    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1997

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

&NA;There is a need to understand and explain why quality of life (QOL) is experienced and viewed differently by those with acute and chronic leukemia. A total of 23 adults with either acute or chronic leukemia were interviewed about their experience of QOL. Adults with acute leukemia described QOL as a positive attitude to life, whereas those with chronic leukemia described QOL as life satisfaction. In order to elucidate why there are differences in their experience of QOL, a qualitative text analysis was used. The narrated interviews, tape-recorded and transcribed verbatim, were interpreted based on the following three questions: Why are there differences in these individuals' description of QOL? What are they talking about? Which phenomenon are they describing? The findings were interpreted, "a feeling of uncertainty," which made the difference to their experience of QOL. This uncertainty was expressed in different forms and could be seen in different degrees. Uncertainty is an important factor affecting the QOL of these adults. Nurses who work with these patients have a major role to play in minimizing uncertainty by offering coping skills to deal with feelings and improving QOL, since QOL is one of the outcomes of nursing care.

ISSN:0162-220X    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1997

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

&NA;After discharge from the hospital, patients with cancer can have several problems at home. In this project, patients with cancer, who at time of discharge from the hospital were not indicated for nursing care at home, were offered three home visits by a community nurse. A prospective, descriptive study was undertaken to assess indicators of usefulness of these "continuity visits." It was registered how many and what patients [sex, age, (time of) diagnosis, social support, therapy] wanted to receive the visit. Care needs, as mentioned by the patients during the continuity visits, were reported after the visit by the community nurse. Both patients and community nurses completed an evaluation form after the first visit. A continuity visit was offered to 337 patients; 112 patients received a first, 50 a second, and 24 a third continuity visit. Older patients, patients without social support, and those diagnosed less than half a year before more often agreed to receive a first visit. Reasons for patients not receiving a second or third visit were either that patients did not want one or on the contrary they were in need of immediate nursing care or had died before the visit. Two weeks after discharge, 93% of the patients experienced one or more physical, psychological, or social problems; 70% mentioned a need for information; and 47% needed emotional support. Both patients and community nurses evaluate the first visit positively. The findings suggest that continuation of the offer of the first continuity visit could be useful.

ISSN:0162-220X    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1997

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

&NA;Little is known about how nurses experience caring for dying patients. Yet, entering the patient's world often involves dealing with death and dying and is a major challenge to oncology nurses. The purpose of this article is to describe the shared practices of oncology nurses caring for dying patients. Stories from staff nurses on an oncology unit were analyzed using a hermeneutic method to identify and describe four themes: knowing the patient, preserving hope, easing the struggle, and providing for privacy. The four themes contribute to knowledge development about how nurses enter into and experience caring for dying patients. The growing body of knowledge previously reported has included descriptions of critical behaviors in caring for dying patients, coping strategies nurses used when caring for dying patients and their families, and the meaning of oncology nursing practice. The four themes described in this article expand our understanding of the nurses' experience in caring for dying patients.

ISSN:0162-220X    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1997

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

&NA;The aim of this phenomenological study was to explore caring and uncaring encounters with nurses and other health professionals from the perspective of the person who has been diagnosed and treated for cancer. Through thematic analysis of in-depth dialogues with five women and four men in the remission or recovery phase of cancer, three major categories regarding caring and uncaring encounters were identified. The essential structure of a caring encounter was found to be threefold: 1. the nurse/health professional perceived as caring: an indispensable companion on the cancer trajectory; 2. the resulting mutual trust and caring connection; and 3. the perceived effect of the caring encounter: a sense of solidarity, empowerment, well-being, and healing. The essential structure of an uncaring encounter is also threefold: 1. the nurse/health professional perceived as uncaring: an unfortunate hindrance to the perception of well-being and healing; 2. the resulting sense of mistrust and disconnection; and 3. the perceived effect of the uncaring encounter: a sense of uneasiness, discouragement, and a sense of being broken down. The findings emphasize the primacy of competence in professional caring, as well as that of genuine concern, openness and a willingness to connect with others. The often devastating effects of uncaring encounters on the recipient of nursing and health care raises the question whether uncaring as an ethical and a professional problem should perhaps be dealt with as malpractice in nursing and health care.

ISSN:0162-220X    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1997

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

&NA;The information gained from the Human Genome Project and related genetic research will undoubtedly create significant changes in health care practice. It is becoming increasingly clear that nurses in all areas of clinical practice will require a fundamental understanding of basic genetics. This self-learning module provides the oncology nurse with an overview of basic genetic concepts including inheritance patterns of single gene conditions, pedigree construction, chromosome aberrations, and the multifactorial basis underlying many common diseases of adulthood. Normal gene structure and function will be introduced and the biochemistry of genetic errors will be described.

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