Oncology nursing forum
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To describe the symptom concerns of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and pancreatic cancer and explore the effect of symptoms on patients' quality of life (QOL). ⋯ The identification of specific symptom and QOL concerns in hepatobiliary cancers will enhance clinical care and aid in the future development of multidisciplinary interventions for this understudied cancer population.
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Oncology nursing forum · May 2008
Understanding the meaning of social well-being at the end of life.
To advance understanding of the social well-being domain, a dimension of quality of life, from the perspective of dying individuals. ⋯ Nurses can support terminally ill patients by understanding the importance of social relationships at the end of life. The relationships may be enhanced when nurses raise patients' conscious awareness of the relationships and encourage them to express their importance.
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Oncology nursing forum · Mar 2008
Trends in clinical practice and nurses' attitudes about fertility preservation for pediatric patients with cancer.
To examine trends in fertility preservation attitudes and behaviors of pediatric oncology nurses and evaluate their awareness of fertility preservation guidelines published in June 2006 by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). ⋯ Nurses play a key role in survivorship discussions for pediatric patients with cancer and their families. Increased knowledge of fertility preservation guidelines may help promote the fertility preservation concept and lead to improved dissemination and implementation of training programs that focus on current ASCO fertility preservation guidelines and address the psychosocial needs of children aged 12-16 years.
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Oncology nursing forum · Mar 2008
Randomized Controlled TrialAnimal-assisted activity among patients with cancer: effects on mood, fatigue, self-perceived health, and sense of coherence.
To identify to what extent an animal-assisted activity (i.e., visits with a dog) affects the mood, self-perceived health, and sense of coherence among patients undergoing radiation therapy. ⋯ Patients may want and express benefit from animal-assisted activity dog visits, but the outcomes of the visits may not be measureable. Nurses should assess to what extent patients believe that such visits are beneficial by asking them. The visits may be valued by patients as helping to relieve their anxiety and as distractions from their disease and therapy.
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Oncology nursing forum · Mar 2008
Randomized Controlled TrialStorytelling intervention for patients with cancer: part 2--pilot testing.
To evaluate symptom reports and the impact of a nurse-led storytelling intervention in a supportive group setting on mood, stress level, coping with stress, pain, self-efficacy, and satisfaction with life in patients with cancer. ⋯ After additional testing, the intervention could be used to enhance storytelling groups for patients with cancer or for individuals who are uncomfortable in or do not have access to storytelling groups.