摘要:

Fatigue has been recognized as the most frequently reported symptom of cancer and cancer therapy. There is a lack of research on such aspects as the pattern of fatigue which accompanies treatment, its exacerbating and relieving factors, the different mechanisms of fatigue and its relationship with the factors purported to be related to the fatigue experience. It has been suggested that cancer patients may be those best placed to reveal the likely causes of fatigue. As part of a larger study examining the pattern of fatigue in cancer patients who were undergoing a course of chemotherapy treatment, patients’perceptions of fatigue and tiredness and the nature, pattern and causes of fatigue in relation to cancer and its treatment were obtained. In addition to a diary, interviews were conducted at two time points, at the beginning and end of a cycle of chemotherapy, with over 100 cancer patients. Just under 90% of the sample reported fatigue at some point during a cycle of chemotherapy. The majority of the sample did not consider tiredness and fatigue to constitute the same feelings. Subjects attributed their fatigue to a combination of factors but most frequently mentioned treatment, changes in sleep patterns and other symptoms. Implications for practice and research are outline

ISSN:0961-5423    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2354.1996.tb00248.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1996

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

Academics need to address the facilitation of nurses in practice to research and develop the care given to patients if nursing is to move closer towards a research‐based profession. This paper describes a project involving collaboration between an academic department of nursing and nurses working in clinical practice providing care at home for children with cancer. The project involved an audit of the nursing care records for the service, and the development of a new style of record‐keeping which described and quantified complex nursing care. The authors discuss the method and results of the project, describing the benefits of research and practice collaborat

ISSN:0961-5423    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2354.1996.tb00202.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1996

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

Fatigue is a common complaint that many of us experience at one time or another, and which is normally relieved by a good night's sleep. For the cancer patient this is not often the case. Several studies have focused on the causes and objective and subjective manifestations of fatigue. The aetiology may be physiological, psychological or pathological. The frequency and severity of the symptoms depend on the cause of the fatigue. Because of the complexity of the situation, a comprehensive knowledge of the possible causes and contributing factors permits a more thorough assessment by the nurse. This leads to a precise nursing diagnosis which allows a nursing strategy to be tailored to the individual patient.

ISSN:0961-5423    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2354.1996.tb00249.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1996

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

Six cancer support groups in the West of Scotland were studied. All 31 patients attending these groups were interviewed. The majority of participants were married females, middle class, 50–65 years old and were long‐time survivors. Fifty‐two per cent stated that they were very satisfied with the support they received. A high proportion of patients reported that they did not receive any counselling during their treatment from their cancer specialists (90%) or at present from a professional counsellor (84%). The general perceived health and ‘global quality of life’ among participants were found to be moderately good or good. Concerns of patients were studied and they reported optimistic changes. Needs assessment indicated that most patients (52%) require symptom relief and family support. Most patients (32%) reported that they had no problem at that time while the rest identified difficulties in home duties, shopping and transportation, and financial problems. The study suggests there is value in encouraging cancer patients and their relatives to take part in existing cancer suppo

ISSN:0961-5423    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2354.1996.tb00203.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1996

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

Fatigue is the most frequently reported symptom of cancer and cancer treatment, which can significantly impair the patient's quality of life. It may also interfere with cancer therapy compliance and even limit the amount of treatment that a patient receives. There is little information on, and research into, the mechanisms of fatigue and the relationships between its multiple causes, patterns and the many factors that may improve or worsen the condition. The management of fatigue, therefore, represents a major nursing challenge. The nurse's role in combating cancer‐related fatigue spans the treatment continuum from prevention to research. It includes: patient assessment to identify those at high risk and to evaluate potential causes of fatigue; and the implementation of interventions to manage the fatigue, such as patient and family education, self‐care activities and treatment of specific problems. Continued research on the multiple aspects of cancer‐related fatigue, together with multifaceted projects such as the fatigue initiative, will lead to improved oncology nursing care of patients with cancerrelated fa

ISSN:0961-5423    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2354.1996.tb00250.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1996

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

Our objective was to review the quality of service delivered by a national cancer information service–the British Association of Cancer United Patients (BACUP)–and to consider the implications for future policy and practice. We used a sample of callers over a 10‐day period, responding to a structured postal questionnaire. The sample included patients, relatives, friends, and general public who called the service with any concern relating to cancer. Of the 406 invited to take part, 282 responded (69%). The questionnaire was designed to evaluate the callers' perceptions of the information they received, their perceptions of the nurse's communication skills, the emotional impact of the call, and their overall satisfaction with the service.The results indicate that over 90% of callers evaluated the information they received and the nurse's communication skills positively, and there was no difference between the two major groups of callers, i.e. patients and relatives/friends. Both groups reported that the call had a positive emotional impact on them and that they were satisfied with the service. Emotional impact was predicted by quality of information for patients and nurse's communication skills for friends/relatives; overall satisfaction was predicted by nurse's communication skills for patients and both measures for relatives/friends. We conclude that the telephone is an effective medium for conveying information about cancer, and BACUP is meeting its needs. The needs of patients and relatives/friends are different–principally information for patients and support for relatives/friends–and it may be possible to improve training still further by focusing on those differences. The main challenge for cancer information services is to meet the ever‐increa

ISSN:0961-5423    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2354.1996.tb00204.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1996

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

The concept of clinical supervision has received considerable attention in the nursing literature of late, enjoying favour not only with many practitioners and managers, but academics and policy makers alike. The following paper considers the utility of clinical supervision within the cancer nursing setting, concentrating particularly on the development of self‐awareness and the facilitation of responsive, reflective, therapeutic relationships. The paper is predicated on the belief that clinical supervision not only provides a valuable means of peer review and support, for nurses both in the pre‐ and post‐ registration spheres, but that a structured process of systematic supervision sustains the necessary environment for the protection and enhancement of quality nursing interventions (Butterworth, 1992). The potential of clinical supervision, as regards the wider development of nursing as a practice discipline, is illustrated by the incorporation of an extensive literature review which explores the theoretical and practical imperatives pertaining to the notion of clinical supervision, not only in relation to the individual, but to cancer nursing and nursingp

ISSN:0961-5423    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2354.1996.tb00205.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1996

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

A retrospective case note audit was conducted in order to determine the most prevalent symptoms in terminal dementia and to assess the palliation given. Seventeen case notes were audited. Pain and dyspnoea were the most common symptoms. The palliation and treatment of constipation and oral candidiasis was within current accepted practice. Palliation of other symptoms were inadequate compared to current accepted practice. There appeared to be a reluctance to prescribe opiate analgesia, and when this was prescribed the doses were not modified to achieve full pain or symptomatic relief. Many patients were unable to take medication orally, but syringe drivers were not used. The conclusions include the need for education of both nursing and medical staff as to the current principles of palliative care.

ISSN:0961-5423    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2354.1996.tb00206.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1996

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

Data for 714 patients referred during a 5‐year period to a specialist lymphoedema service in Oxford, UK, have been recorded on a database. The annual number of new patients almost doubled from 103 to 195. In addition to initial assessments, there were over 1000 follow‐up appointments per year. Most patients were seen as out‐patients. Fifty‐six per cent of the referrals were from Oxfordshire and the rest from further afield. The two largest groups referring patients to the service were general practitioners (43%) and the radiotherapy department (26%). Most referrals were female (84%), and the main cause of lymphoedema was cancer and cancer treatments (68%). After 2 years, only 15% of patients were still attending the clinic regularly. The number of patients receiving intensive treatment increased by almost 40%. These findings emphasize the need to target resources and expertise selectively in order to provide an optimal sericice to patients needing speciali

ISSN:0961-5423    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2354.1996.tb00207.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1996

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

Book reviewed in this article:Genetics of Malignant Disease. Bruce Ponder.Cancer and its Management. Robert Souhami&Jeffrey Tobias.Patient No More. The Politics of Breast Cancer. Sharon Batt.Radiographic Imaging. Chnstine Gunn.Handbook of Cancer Chemotherapy. Roland T. Skeel&N.A. Lachant, 1995.A Practical Guide to Human Cancer Genetics. S.V. Hodgson&E.R. Maher.

ISSN:0961-5423    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2354.1996.tb00208.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1996

数据来源: WILEY