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- Appelin, G, et al.
(author)
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A comprehensive picture of palliative care at home from the people involved
- 2005
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In: European Journal of Oncology Nursing. - : Elsevier BV. - 1462-3889 .- 1532-2122. ; 9:4, s. 315-324
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The purpose of this study was to identify the comprehensive picture of palliative care in the home, as experienced by the people involved. The study is a secondary analysis of three phenomenological studies including six cancer patients, six next of kin and six district nurses. Data were collected in qualitative interviews using an interview guide. The interviews were tape-recorded and transcribed verbatim. In this secondary analysis, data were analysed by hermeneutic analysis guided by Gadamer. The guiding questions during the reading were: Is there an advantage receiving palliative care at home? Is there a disadvantage receiving palliative care at home? The findings indicate that the advantages of palliative care at home is, striving for normal life, including the care in the home composed of physical care and emotional/mental care. Striving for normal life also includes emotional feelings, safety and resources and policies which regulates this activity. Disadvantages of palliative care at home are commitment, composed of adaptation and extra work, and demands, composed of frustration and uncertainty. If the people involved are to be able to manage the situation and optimize living while dying, there must be support and resources facilitating the situation. © 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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- Bergkvist, Karin, et al.
(author)
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Symptom experiences during chemotherapy treatment-With focus on nausea and vomiting
- 2006
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In: European Journal of Oncology Nursing. - : Elsevier BV. - 1462-3889 .- 1532-2122. ; 10:1, s. 21-29
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Nausea and vomiting are common and well-studied symptoms in cancer care. Most previous studies have focused on the frequency and management of these symptoms. The aim of the study was to acquire a deeper understanding of cancer patients' symptom experiences with a focus on nausea and vomiting during chemotherapy treatment, and the consequences these have on their daily lives. Nine women with different types of cancer and chemotherapy treatments were admitted for chemotherapy treatment and participated in the study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and analysed using content analysis inspired by Kvale's methods of clarifying and developing new meaning. Five main categories were identified as ''before cancer diagnosis'', ''being ill-consequences on daily life'', ''going through chemotherapy treatment'', ''coping with treatment'' and ''after treatment-looking forward to a normal life''. The present findings suggest that the individual experiences of nausea and vomiting during chemotherapy treatment may have a profound effect on how treatment is perceived and may influence future decisions concerning further treatment. (C) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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- Björklund, Margereth, 1950-, et al.
(author)
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Health promotion and empowerment from the perspective of individuals living with head and neck cancer
- 2008
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In: European Journal of Oncology Nursing. - 1462-3889 .- 1532-2122. ; 12:1, s. 26-34
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The aim of this study was to shed light on health promotion from the perspective of individuals living with head and neck cancer. Eight informants were interviewed and latent content analysis was used. Individuals living with head and neck cancer experienced many problems that had a negative impact on their health. One overarching main theme was demonstrated; the ability to regain control and empower oneself. Three themes emerged: (1) Being enabled by dialogue with one's inner self, including three sub-themes: transformed and improved self-esteem, recognising and embracing existentiality, and increased self-determination. (2) Being enabled by means of contact with a social network, including two sub-themes: emotional support and practical support. (3) Being enabled by means of contact with and a passion for the environment, including two sub-themes: nature, hobbies and activities. Empowerment, the goal of health promotion, was understood as an ongoing process, and the ability to promote health varied and was dependent on internal and external enabling of acting and doing. The interpretation of this ongoing process demonstrates interplay assisted by a dialogue with one's inner self, contact with a social network and a passion for the environment. Altogether, these findings may inspire nurses and other health care professionals to support the individual's empowerment process and pose non-pathology-oriented questions such as "what improves your health?" or "what makes you feel good?"
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8. |
- Björklund, Margereth, et al.
(author)
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Health promotion and empowerment from the perspective of individuals living with head and neck cancer
- 2008
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In: European Journal of Oncology Nursing. - : Elsevier BV. - 1462-3889 .- 1532-2122. ; 12:1, s. 26-34
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The aim of this study was to shed light on health promotion from the perspective of individuals living with head and neck cancer. Eight informants were interviewed and latent content analysis was used. Individuals living with head and neck cancer experienced many problems that had a negative impact on their health. One overarching main theme was demonstrated; the ability to regain control and empower oneself. Three themes emerged: (1) Being enabled by dialogue with one's inner self, including three sub-themes: transformed and improved self-esteem, recognising and embracing existentiality, and increased self-determination. (2) Being enabled by means of contact with a social network, including two sub-themes: emotional support and practical support. (3) Being enabled by means of contact with and a passion for the environment, including two sub-themes: nature, hobbies and activities. Empowerment, the goal of health promotion, was understood as an ongoing process, and the ability to promote health varied and was dependent on internal and external enabling of acting and doing. The interpretation of this ongoing process demonstrates interplay assisted by a dialogue with one's inner self, contact with a social network and a passion for the environment. Altogether, these findings may inspire nurses and other health care professionals to support the individual's empowerment process and pose non-pathology-oriented questions such as "what improves your health?" or "what makes you feel good?"
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9. |
- Browall, Maria, et al.
(author)
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Health-related quality of life during adjuvant treatment for breast cancer among postmenopausal women
- 2008
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In: European Journal of Oncology Nursing. - : Elsevier. - 1462-3889 .- 1532-2122. ; 12:3, s. 180-189
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The purpose of the present study was twofold: first, to describe changes of Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) during the adjuvant treatment among postmenopausal women with breast cancer; second, in the same population to identify the best predictors of Overall Quality of Life (QoL) after treatment, from perceived functioning, symptoms, emotional distress and clinical/demographic variables measured at baseline. The study group was 150 women (>= 55 years of age) scheduled for adjuvant chemotherapy (CT, n=75) or radiotherapy (RT, n=75). They were examined before (baseline), during and after completing the treatment. Data about QoL, perceived functioning, symptoms and emotional distress were collected with the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC)-QLQ-C30, BR23 and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) questionnaires. The general finding was that the adjuvant treatments were associated with decrease in overall QoL, physical and role functioning, anxiety and body image, as well as with increase in fatigue, dyspnoea, pain, nausea/vomiting, constipation and systemic therapy side effects measured over time. For women receiving CT, better emotional functioning and less pain at baseline predicted better overall QoL at the end of the treatment. For women receiving RT, better physical and emotional functioning, less breast symptoms and lower tumour stage at baseline predicted better overall QoL at the end of the treatment.
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- Ekedahl, MarieAnne, et al.
(author)
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Nurses in cancer care - coping strategies when encountering existential issues.
- 2006
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In: European Journal of Oncology Nursing. - : Elsevier Ltd.. - 1462-3889 .- 1532-2122. ; 10, s. 128-139
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This paper is a presentation of general/secular coping strategies and strategies related to the caritas orientation that nurses in cancer care use when encountering stress. As a concept, caritas indicates the will to do good. The paper tries to provide an answer to the quesion of which functional and dysfunctional coping strategies nurses use when coping with work-related stress. The study is qualitative and hypothesis-generating. The material analysed consists of 15 interviews with Swedish registered nurses and is based on a life-story approach. Pargament´s coping theory related to the psychology of religion has been applied for interpretation purposes. The nurses use several coping strategies with the dominant strategy being a general boundary demarcation. Other strategies that were used for coping included emotional outlets, caritas-oblivion and periodically changing activity. The strategies can be used in a functional or dysfunctional way; e.g. dysfunctional coping was present when there was a lack of human support and boundary demarcation.
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13. |
- Engström, J., et al.
(author)
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Palliative sedation at end of life - A systematic literature review
- 2007
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In: European Journal of Oncology Nursing. - : Elsevier BV. - 1462-3889 .- 1532-2122. ; 11:1, s. 26-35
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Palliative sedation at the end of life to handle unmanageable symptoms has been much debated. A systematic literature review in three phases including a content analysis of 15 articles published between the years 1990 and 2005 has been conducted. The aim was to describe the phenomenon of 'palliative sedation at the end of life' from a nursing perspective. The results can be summarised in three themes: 'Important factors leading to the patient receiving sedation at the end of life', 'Attitudes to palliative sedation at the end of life' and 'Nurses' experience of palliative sedation at the end of a patient's life'. Together, the themes show that palliative sedation is a phenomenon that could be described as sedation given to fewer than 40% of dying patients during their Last 4 days of life. It is usually given because of the patient's pain, agitation and/or dyspnoea. Professionals usually have positive attitudes towards it and their view differs from that of the public's view regarding it as continuously deep sedation, whereas the public regards it as being close to euthanasia. Studies focusing on nursing care during palliative sedation are hard to find and this underlines the importance of further research in this area to elucidate the nurses' role during palliative sedation.
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14. |
- Enskär, Karin, et al.
(author)
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Prevalence of aspects of distress, coping, support and care among adolescents and young adolescents undergoing and being off cancer treatment
- 2007
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In: European Journal of Oncology Nursing. - : Elsevier BV. - 1462-3889 .- 1532-2122. ; 11:5, s. 400-408
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The overall aim is to describe the prevalence of physical and psychosocial distress, coping, support and care among adolescents and young adults who are both undergoing and off cancer treatment, and who find life satisfying or less satisfying. Prevalence of distress, coping, support and care were investigated using the Life Situation Scale for Adolescents (LSS-A) answered by 15 adolescents and young adults undergoing cancer treatment and 39 adolescents and young adults off cancer treatment. More adolescents and young adults receiving treatment reported problems with fatigue, eating, hair toss, taking medications/ tablets and having to plan everything according to hospital visits than those adolescents and young adults off treatment. Fewer adolescents and young adults who reported finding Life satisfying reported problems with fatigue, eating, not having any influence on their own Life, often being sad and problems with school/work than those finding life less satisfying. Whether adolescents and young adults find life satisfying or not is not related to whether they are undergoing or off cancer treatment. The findings indicate the importance for those working with adolescent cancer victims to be alert of the fact that the treatment period is connected with more problems related to physical distress than the period after treatment, whereas aspects of psychosocial distress are as prevalent during the treatment period as they are after.
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16. |
- Henoch, Ingela, 1956, et al.
(author)
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Dyspnea experience in patients with lung cancer in palliative care
- 2008
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In: European Journal of Oncology Nursing. - : Elsevier BV. - 1462-3889 .- 1532-2122. ; 12:2, s. 86-96
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The aim of this study was to describe the dyspnea experience and examine its relation to other symptoms, personal and health-related factors and its predictors in patients with lung cancer. The subjects were 105 patients diagnosed with lung cancer, approached when active anti-tumour treatment was closed. The patients completed a battery of questionnaires about several aspects of dyspnea experience, intensity of other symptoms and coping capacity. Medical data including performance status were obtained from medical records. Above 50% of the patients perceived dyspnea. Coping capacity, performance status and other symptoms correlated with different aspects of dyspnea experience. Dyspnea dimensions and activity-related dyspnea correlated with anxiety, depression, fatigue and cough as well as negatively to coping capacity. Performance status correlated with dyspnea intensity and activity-related dyspnea. Lower coping capacity predicted dyspnea; additional predictors were higher levels of anxiety and fatigue. Dyspnea in this group of patients was a complex experience, including physical and psychological aspects and should preferably be assessed in a comprehensive way. A nursing intervention to decrease dyspnea experience and anxiety could use knowledge from this study about the importance of coping capacity to better help patients with lung cancer to cope in their palliative phase of the disease
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17. |
- Jonsson, Annikki, 1949, et al.
(author)
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Men's experience of their life situation when diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer.
- 2009
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In: European journal of oncology nursing : the official journal of European Oncology Nursing Society. - : Elsevier BV. - 1532-2122 .- 1462-3889. ; 13:4, s. 268-73
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- AIM: The aim was to improve the knowledge and understanding of how newly diagnosed advanced prostate cancer affects the men and their life situation and perhaps causes fatigue before the side effects of any treatment has an impact on them. METHOD: The qualitative study where ten men, newly diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer and at an early stage in their treatment, were interviewed. The interviews were analysed by using Gadamer's hermeneutics. RESULTS: The men in the present study did not experience fatigue specifically because they had been diagnosed for advanced prostate cancer. Three topics were identified during the analysis and interpretations: awareness of mortality, the influence on their emotions and the influence on their normal life. These topics offered a structure presenting the essence; the need to get back to as normal a life as possible, albeit with a new perspective. The topics together confirmed an affected life situation, which in turn helped the participants to form a new perspective on life. CONCLUSION: The knowledge and understanding of the study is that advanced prostate cancer affects men's lives: they are placed in a new life situation, against their will, and in their new situation they form a new life perspective. Healthcare professionals need to evaluate, perceive and furthermore understand the men's apprehensions and expectations, on an individual basis, for their future and empower them to formulate a new life perspective.
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18. |
- Kearney, Nora, et al.
(author)
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WISECARE plus : results of a European study of a nursing intervention for the management of chemotherapy-related symptoms
- 2008
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In: European Journal of Oncology Nursing. - : Elsevier BV. - 1462-3889 .- 1532-2122. ; 12:5, s. 443-448
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- While the use of chemotherapy has significantly improved survival rates, the symptoms associated with chemotherapy remain a major burden for patients. Preventing or appropriately managing side effects significantly improves patients' functional status and quality of life, ultimately leading to greater patient acceptance of chemotherapy. However, symptom assessment and management are fraught with difficulties such as poor patient recall, retrospective assessment conducted by clinicians and lack of appropriate, clinically relevant and patient friendly symptom assessment and management tools. Furthermore the differences between clinician and patient perceptions of stresses and distress during chemotherapy are well recognised. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a nursing intervention incorporating structured symptom assessment and management, facilitated by information technology, on chemotherapy-related symptoms, nausea, vomiting, fatigue and mucositis. This pan-European study, involved 8 clinical sites from Belgium, Denmark, England, Ireland and Scotland. Adults (n = 249) receiving first line chemotherapy for breast, lung, ovarian or colorectal cancer, osteosarcoma, acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) or lymphoma were recruited to the study. Patients completed daily symptom assessment questionnaires for 14 days following consecutive cycles of chemotherapy. Symptom outcomes were compared before and after the introduction of the intervention with positive impact on patients' experiences of nausea, vomiting and oral problems. Fatigue was not significantly improved. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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20. |
- Kenne Sarenmalm, Elisabeth, 1956, et al.
(author)
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Changes in health-related quality of life may predict recurrent breast cancer.
- 2009
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In: European Journal of Oncology Nursing. - : Elsevier BV. - 1532-2122 .- 1462-3889. ; 13:5, s. 323-329
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Patient-reported outcomes incorporated in cancer clinical trials, are increasingly hypothesized to be predictors of disease-free survival. Previous research supports health-related quality of life (HRQoL) as an independent predictor of survival in patients with advanced or metastatic breast cancer. In contrast, recent studies provide evidence that baseline HRQoL scores are not associated with increased risk of relapse or survival in women with early-stage breast cancer. One plausible assumption might be that baseline HRQoL scores are limited as predictors of a recurrence of breast cancer several years after the initial diagnosis. In this explorative study, we examined whether changes in HRQoL over time may predict breast cancer recurrence. As a supplement, we investigated whether baseline HRQoL predicted recurrence. METHODS: The study sample consisted of 141 participants in the International Breast Cancer Study Group adjuvant Trial 12-93 and Trial 14-93, from the Western region of Sweden. HRQoL was assessed, during a 5-year follow up. Poisson regression analysis was used to estimate the hazard function of recurrence depending on time since primary diagnosis and on HRQoL variables. RESULTS: According to the Poisson multivariable regression analysis changes in physical well-being (beta=0.00439, p-value=0.0470), and nausea/vomiting (beta=-0.00612, p-value=0.0136) significantly predicted recurrence. Baseline HRQoL outcomes were not predictors of recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Changes of HRQoL during adjuvant therapy may be associated with recurrence. This explorative finding needs prospective investigation.
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21. |
- Koinberg, Inga-Lill, et al.
(author)
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The usefulness of a multidisciplinary educational programme after breast cancer surgery : A prospective and comparative study
- 2006
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In: European Journal of Oncology Nursing. - London : Elsevier. - 1462-3889 .- 1532-2122. ; 10, s. 273-82
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The aim of the study was to compare and evaluate a multidisciplinary educational programme with traditional follow-up visits to a physician after breast cancer surgery in terms of well-being, aspects of self-care and coping ability 1 year after diagnosis. A reduction in the intensity of follow-up after breast cancer surgery is recommended. New follow-up models are being debated and could be of interest. The study design was non-randomised and comparative. Ninety-six consecutively selected women with newly diagnosed breast cancer, classified as stage I or stage II, participated in either a multidisciplinary educational programme (n = 5 0), or traditional follow-up by a physician (n = 4 6). Three questionnaires were used: Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G), a study specific questionnaire regarding self-care aspects (SCA) and Sense of Coherence (SOC). With the exception of physical well-being at baseline there was no significant difference between the groups. The women in the multidisciplinary educational programme increased their physical and functional well-being (P < 0.0 1). The women in traditional follow-up by a physician increased their functional well-being while social/family well-being (P < 0.0 1) decreased over time. There was a statistically significant difference in SOC (P < 0.0 0 1) in the traditional follow-up by a physician between baseline (mean=74.4, SD=12.4) and the 1-year follow up (mean=67.7, SD=11.4). Thus, women in the traditional follow-up by a physician scored lower in the area of SOC 1 year after diagnosis. A multidisciplinary educational programme may be an alternative to traditional follow-up by a physician after breast cancer surgery, but more research is needed about the financial benefits and effectiveness of such a programme.
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22. |
- Larsson, Maria, et al.
(author)
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A supportive nursing care clinic: Conceptions of patients with head and neck cancer
- 2007
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In: European Journal of Oncology Nursing, 11,(1), 49-59. - : Elsevier BV. ; 11:1, s. 49-59
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Patients with head and neck cancer have complex long-lasting physical and psychosocial needs due to illness and treatment, and studies have shown deficiencies concerning support in these respects. The purpose of this study was to describe how head and neck cancer patients with eating problems conceived the significance of a supportive nursing care clinic before, during and after completion of radiotherapy. Thematic interviews were carried out in an open dialogue with twelve patients treated with radiotherapy for head and neck cancer. The phenomenographic method was used in the analyses. The findings showed that the nurse clinic could meet head and neck cancer patients' needs of safety and security, which was especially important before and after completion of treatment when no other regular contacts in the health care system existed. The significance of the nurse clinic varied depending on where in the trajectory the patients were, what needs and problems they experienced, and how severe these were experienced by the individual patient. The supportive nursing care clinic could meet these patients' needs of knowledge, care and support both concerning practical measures related to the disease and its treatment, and emotional needs. This way of organising the care can contribute to these patients' health and wellbeing.
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23. |
- Lindqvist, Olav, et al.
(author)
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Experiences of symptoms in men with hormone refractory prostate cancer and skeletal metastases
- 2008
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In: European Journal of Oncology Nursing. - : Elsevier. - 1462-3889 .- 1532-2122. ; 12:4, s. 283-290
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Advanced prostate cancer with skeletal metastases entails significant symptoms from both treatment and the disease itself. Although the diagnosis is a common one, knowledge of the symptom experience late in the disease trajectory is limited. The aim of the present study was to describe the experience of physical symptoms in men with hormone refractory prostate cancer and skeletal metastases. Twenty men answered a quality of life questionnaire before participating in semi-structured interviews. The interviews were analyzed using qualitative description. Findings show that the dominant symptoms were lack of energy and pain. Interestingly when talking about lacking energy the men described three different variants; lack of mental energy or initiative, lack of strength and stamina, and tiredness or sleepiness. Also, three different types of pain were described; pain from skeletal metastases, a diffuse moving pain, and pain not directly caused by the prostate cancer. Though a majority of the men scored being dissatisfied with their sex life; in the interviews, this was not described as a major distress. The findings also showed that the men experienced different symptoms despite the same diagnosis, skeletal metastases, stage, and androgen deprivation treatment, and that these symptoms are not necessarily experienced as problems or causing distress.
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24. |
- Nilsson, Stefan, 1972, et al.
(author)
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The use of Virtual Reality for needle-related procedural pain and distress in children and adolescents in a paediatric oncology unit.
- 2009
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In: European journal of oncology nursing : the official journal of European Oncology Nursing Society. - : Elsevier BV. - 1532-2122 .- 1462-3889. ; 13:2, s. 102-9
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- AIM: It is essential to minimize pain and distress during painful procedures in children. This study examined the effect of using non-immersive Virtual Reality (VR) during a needle-related procedure on reported pain or distress of children and adolescents in a paediatric oncology unit and surveyed their response to the use of VR-equipment during the procedure. METHOD: Twenty-one children and adolescents were included in an intervention group with non-immersive VR and another 21 children and adolescents in a control group where they underwent either venous punctures or subcutaneous venous port devices. Self-reported pain and distress, heart rate and observational pain scores were collected before, during and after the procedures. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted in conjunction with the completed intervention. RESULTS: Self-reported and observed pain and distress scores were low and few significant differences of quantitative data between the groups were found. Two themes emerged in the analysis of the interviews; the VR game should correspond to the child and the medical procedure and children enjoyed the VR game and found that it did distract them during the procedure. CONCLUSION: The interviews showed that non-immersive VR is a positive experience for children undergoing a minor procedure such as venous puncture or a subcutaneous venous port access.
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25. |
- Nolbris, Margaretha, 1956, et al.
(author)
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Experience of siblings of children treated for cancer.
- 2007
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In: European journal of oncology nursing : the official journal of European Oncology Nursing Society. - : Elsevier BV. - 1462-3889 .- 1532-2122. ; 11:2
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The aim was to obtain an understanding of the experience in everyday life of being a sibling when a brother or sister is receiving treatment for a cancer disease or has completed treatment. In order to illuminate the experience of the siblings themselves a phenomenological-hermeneutic method was used. Ten siblings were asked, in the form of a broad-based, open question, to tell about their experience of being the sibling of a brother or sister in this situation. There was an awareness of sibling-ship as a special relation since the brother or sister had got cancer. This feeling was very strong and close, and when needed the sibling admitted a protective and advocacy role. The siblings felt difficulties to always be loyal with the brother or sister needs and demands from other interests. They lived a new life and periods of ups and down following the condition of the brother or sister. Everyday life varied from joy to a life filled with worries and anxiety. Siblings experienced feelings of an existential nature, such as quality of life and death.
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