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- Strang, S, et al.
(författare)
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Spiritual thoughts, coping and 'sense of coherence' in brain tumour patients and their spouses
- 2001
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Ingår i: Palliative Medicine. - : SAGE Publications. - 0269-2163 .- 1477-030X. ; 15:2, s. 127-134
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- When a person is diagnosed with a life-threatening disease, existential questions are easily triggered. The aims of this study were to explore to what extent brain tumour patients and their next of kin were able to cope, understand and create meaning in their situation, to explore whether spirituality could be supportive and to analyse whether these concepts are related to Antonovsky's concept of sense of coherence. Using a purposive sampling technique, 20 patients and 16 of their next of kin look part in tape-recorded interviews. A content and context analysis was performed using a hermeneutic approach. We found that comprehensibility was to a large extent constructed by the patient's own thoughts and theories, despite an insecure situation. Manageability was achieved by active information-seeking strategies, by social support and by coping, including positive reinterpretation of the situation. Meaningfulness was central for quality of life and was created by close relations and faith, as well as by work. A crucial factor was whether the person had a 'fighting spirit' that motivated him or her to go on. As only three patients were believers, trust in God had generally been replaced by a belief and confidence in oneself, in science, in positive thinking and by closeness to nature. Sense of coherence as a concept can explain how exposed persons handle their situation. In its construction, sence of coherence integrates essential parts of the stress/coping model (comprehensibility, manageability) and of spirituality (meaning).
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| 7. |
- Blomqvist, P, et al.
(författare)
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Brain tumours in Sweden 1996 : care and costs.
- 2000
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Ingår i: Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry. - : BMJ. - 0022-3050 .- 1468-330X. ; 69, s. 792-798
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)
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| 9. |
- Carlsson, Maria, 1958-, et al.
(författare)
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Treatment modality affects long-term quality of life in gynaecological cancer.
- 2000
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Ingår i: Anticancer Research. - : The International Institute of Anticancer Research. - 0250-7005 .- 1791-7530. ; 20:1B, s. 563-568
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In order to survey the side effects after cancer treatment, quality of life data were collected from females in clinical remission. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study was cross-sectional; every patient that visited the outpatient clinic during a period of three months was asked to anonymously complete the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire and five additional specific questions related to gynaecological cancer. RESULTS In total, 235 patients (90%) returned the questionnaire. In general, both the levels of functioning and symptomatology were time-dependent. Patients with short treatment-free intervals reported more problems than the others. When using treatment modality as an independent variable in the statistical calculations, a treatment-related effect on functioning and symptomatology was demonstrated (p < 0.05 to p < 0.001). Patients previously treated with chemotherapy had poorer role- and cognitive functioning and more problems with fatigue, nausea, vomiting, dyspnoea, constipation and financial problems, compared with those not treated with chemotherapy (p < 0.05 to p < 0.01). Those patients who had been treated with external radiotherapy and/or brachytherapy had significantly more problems with flatulence and diarrhoea (p < 0.05 to p < 0.001). In conclusion, patients who underwent treatment for gynaecological cancer reported long-term side effects also many years after finishing treatment. The problems where related to treatment modality which should be considered, especially when planning adjuvant treatment.
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| 10. |
- Friedrichsen, Maria, et al.
(författare)
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Breaking bad news in the transition from curative to palliative cancer care : patient's view of the doctor giving the information.
- 2000
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Ingår i: Supportive Care in Cancer. - 0941-4355 .- 1433-7339. ; 8:6, s. 472-478
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In the transition from curative to palliative cancer care, communication is of special importance. The aim of this study was to explore how patients with a disseminated cancer disease experienced the information about their incurable state, focusing on the physician. The persons taking part were 30 patients admitted to a hospital-based home care unit in Sweden. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and analysed using a qualitative method. All patients described their doctors as experts, despite different qualities. Sire subcategories were identified: (1) the inexperienced messenger, (2) the emotionally burdened, (3) the rough and ready expert (4) the benevolent but tactless expert, (5) the "distanced" doctor and (6), the empathic professional. The relationship was described as very important to the patients' capacity to handle the information and was felt to have been built up during earlier meetings. The relationship was described in four subcategories: personal between well-acquainted individuals, impersonal between unacquainted individuals, personal between unacquainted individuals and impersonal between well-acquainted individuals. Both the character of the physician and his or her ability to create personal relationships influence patients' capacity to cope with this specific situation. Education and guidance are needed both in clinical practice and in medical schools.
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