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- Ahlberg, Karin, 1965, et al.
(author)
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Fatigue, psychological distress, coping resources, and functional status during radiotherapy for uterine cancer.
- 2005
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In: Oncology nursing forum. - 1538-0688. ; 32:3, s. 633-40
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To evaluate how patients diagnosed with uterine cancer experience fatigue, psychological distress, coping resources, and functional status before, during, and after treatment with radiation therapy and to study whether significant correlations exist among these variables. DESIGN: Longitudinal, descriptive, and correlational. SETTING: The Department of Oncology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden. SAMPLE: 60 women diagnosed with uterine cancer who were receiving curative external radiation therapy. Typical participants were 64 years old, married, and on sick leave or retired from work. METHODS: Data were collected through self-report instruments. Demographic and clinical data were extracted from the patients' records. Main Research Variables: Cancer-related fatigue, psychological distress, coping resources, and functional status. FINDINGS: Patients' fatigue scores increased significantly during and after completion of radiotherapy. The participants reported normal levels of anxiety and depression, and their coping resources changed over time. After completing therapy, all dimensions of function had decreased; for social function, the decrease was significant. The correlation over time was significant among fatigue and physical function, role function, and cognitive function. The variation of the change in fatigue after therapy was completed was explained only by the level of fatigue experienced at baseline. CONCLUSIONS: Fatigue is a symptom that increases in connection with radiotherapy. Functional status is influenced by the variation in fatigue levels. Fatigue level before treatment may be an important variable when trying to find a risk factor for the development of fatigue over the course of treatment. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Nurses must inform patients receiving radiotherapy about the expected changes in fatigue and functional status. Pretreatment screening for fatigue is needed to identify patients at risk for developing fatigue.
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| 2. |
- Ahlberg, Karin, 1965, et al.
(author)
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The importance of participation in support groups for women with ovarian cancer.
- 2006
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In: Oncology nursing forum. - 1538-0688. ; 33:4
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To explore the experience of participation in support groups for women recently diagnosed with ovarian cancer. RESEARCH APPROACH: Exploratory, qualitative. SETTING: Oncology department in a hospital in western Sweden. PARTICIPANTS: 10 Swedish women, aged 42-76, who recently had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer and had participated in support groups. METHODOLOGIC APPROACH: Data were collected by semistructured interviews and analyzed using grounded theory. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES: Ovarian cancer, support group experience. FINDINGS: Three categories emerged from the data analysis: sharing experiences and emotions, exchanging informational support, and exchanging emotional support. The core category was the experience of being in the same boat. Trust, openness, and willingness to create space for each other were experienced. CONCLUSIONS: Support groups offer an opportunity to share experiences and emotions as well as exchange information. They are also a possible source of emotional support and therefore can contribute to quality of life of patients with ovarian cancer. INTERPRETATION: Knowing that others had similar symptoms and reactions, and that those experiences are normal, was very important for support group participants. Nurses can reduce patients' fears and uncertainties by confirming normality. Oncology nurses need to be aware that cancer support groups offer a unique opportunity to interact with others in a similar situation. Participation in support groups can be an important source of emotional and informational support for patients. The support program in this study may be used as a model when planning for extended emotional and informational support.
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- Jakobsson, Sofie, 1968, et al.
(author)
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Components that influence assessment and management of cancer-related symptoms: an interdisciplinary perspective.
- 2008
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In: Oncology nursing forum. - 1538-0688. ; 35:4, s. 691-8
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To describe, from an interdisciplinary perspective, how cancer-related symptoms are assessed and managed in a cancer care setting and to describe the components that influence symptom management. DESIGN: Descriptive, qualitative, and cross-sectional. SETTING: An oncology and hematology department in a university hospital in western Sweden. SAMPLE: 31 nurses, physicians, physical therapists, dietitians, occupational therapists, and a medical social worker who all cared for patients with cancer-related symptoms. METHODS: Data were collected in focus groups and analyzed using content analysis. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES: Cancer-related symptoms and symptom management. FINDINGS: Symptom management, from a clinician's perspective, is a process involving different components. Four themes emerged from the data analysis: creating a relationship with the patient, understanding the patient, assessing the symptoms, and cooperating as a team. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights several components that should be discussed in an effort to enhance symptom management. Discussion will help ensure that barriers to effective symptom management are acknowledged and addressed when implementing clinical routines designed to enhance management of different symptoms. In addition, these components should be acknowledged in the interest of facilitating adherence to symptom management strategies. Whether these components are important factors from patients' perspectives remains unknown. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Enhancing symptom management is not only a matter of implementing clinical guidelines; it must be preceded by teamwork, assessment, and evaluation method discussions and the ability to create a relationship with the patient. Nurses should be aware that their understanding of a patient affects their assessment of that patient's symptom experience.
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| 8. |
- Langegård, Ulrica, 1969, et al.
(author)
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Consolation in conjunction with incurable cancer.
- 2009
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In: Oncology Nursing Forum. - 0190-535X. ; 36:2
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To increase knowledge of what patients with incurable cancer have found consoling during the course of the disease. DESIGN: Descriptive, cross-sectional analysis. SETTING: Hospice in western Sweden. SAMPLE: 10 patients (8 women, 2 men) aged 30-90 years. METHODS: Data were collected through semistructured interviews and analyzed with the constant comparative method of analysis. FINDINGS: Four categories emerged from the interview data: connection, self-control, affirmation, and acceptance. The core variable of the study was developed and defined as "being seen." To be seen and, therefore, consoled results from experiencing a sense of connection, self-control, affirmation, and acceptance. To be consoled is a step toward increased well-being. When patients feel their suffering is seen and understood by another person, they are filled with relief. CONCLUSIONS: Raising the issue of consolation and what consolation means to the patient is essential. Physical contact is not as important as mental presence. The act of listening is the most important factor when it comes to being seen, and what the nurse communicates is what defines the patient/nurse relationship. Nurses should be clear that they have the time and interest to deal with the patient. In addition, a nurse who is concerned with patients and has the courage to stay with them during difficult situations develops an attitude marked by presence, understanding, and commitment. Creativity, knowledge, and, most of all, courage are needed from the nurse as a caregiver to recognize the patient's need for consolation. Creativity and knowledge are needed to determine what point the patient has reached, and courage is needed to be present with the patient during difficult times. Results show that the caregiver, without having an established long-term relationship with the patient, can still bring consolation to the patient. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Creativity, knowledge, and courage are needed to comprehend and accept a patient's need for consolation. By using simple interventions, the nurse can console the patient with little effort. Words become less important when consolation is done through body language.
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| 9. |
- Olofsson, Anne, et al.
(author)
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Perspectives on music therapy in adult cancer care : a hermeneutic study
- 2009
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In: Oncology Nursing Forum. - 1538-0688. ; 36:4, s. E223-31
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To explore perspectives on music therapy as a nursing intervention in adult cancer care and to expand and integrate knowledge and understanding about music therapy as an adjunctive intervention in adult cancer nursing care. DATA SOURCES: Published nursing articles. DATA SYNTHESIS: Medical and nursing journals have reported on research related to music and its effect as a nursing intervention. However, this research often lacks a musical context (i.e., knowledge and understanding from a musical perspective). CONCLUSIONS: Music therapy is not a consistent concept. Perspectives on the meanings of music therapy vary according to knowledge and scientific orientation. The perspective may influence the character and methodology of the music therapy intervention as well as the understanding of its results. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: To fully develop music therapy as an adjunct intervention in adult cancer care, interdisciplinary cooperation between nurses and music therapists should be supported on clinical and educational levels.
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