Oncology nursing forum
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Oncology nursing forum · Mar 2006
Patterns of symptom distress in older women after surgical treatment for breast cancer.
To describe patterns of symptom distress over time in older women receiving surgical treatment for breast cancer and to examine the relationship of selected patient and clinical characteristics to symptom distress. ⋯ Clinicians should inquire about symptom distress at each encounter, expect multiple symptoms, and anticipate greater symptom distress in patients who are younger, more educated, or married or living with a partner. In women with more severe, earlier symptom distress, nurses should intervene promptly. Research should determine interrelationships of symptoms and how they might be affected by contextual variables, describe critical attributes of the nurse-patient interaction that might mitigate symptom distress, characterize the relationship of symptom intensity and distress, clarify the mechanism of the relationship between marital status and symptom distress, and identify the effect of symptoms, individually and collectively, on survival and quality of life.
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Oncology nursing forum · Mar 2006
ReviewOral transmucosal fentanyl citrate for cancer breakthrough pain: a review.
To review the dose titration, efficacy, and safety of oral transmucosal fentanyl citrate (OTFC). ⋯ Breakthrough pain in patients with cancer is a common problem with characteristics that make it difficult to treat. Oncology nurses should familiarize themselves with OTFC's unique characteristics to be able to best help patients manage their therapy.
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Oncology nursing forum · Mar 2006
Randomized Controlled TrialPromoting enhanced patient and family caregiver congruence on lung cancer symptom experiences.
To test the effects of different perspective-taking instructional sets, gender, caregivers' personal histories with cancer, and caregiving relationship factors on family caregiver and patient perceptual agreement of symptom experiences of patients with lung cancer. ⋯ Further exploratory work should identify interpersonal conditions that negatively hamper the effects of caregiver perspective-taking on their reasonable understanding of patient symptoms.
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Oncology nursing forum · Mar 2006
Clinical TrialMeaning-making and psychological adjustment to cancer: development of an intervention and pilot results.
To develop an intervention that uniquely addresses the existential impact of cancer through meaning-making coping strategies and to explore the intervention's impact on psychological adjustment. ⋯ The MMI offers a potentially effective and structured approach to address and monitor cancer-related existential issues. Findings are useful for designing future randomized, controlled trials.
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Oncology nursing forum · Mar 2006
Comparative StudySymptoms, symptom beliefs, and quality of life of older breast cancer survivors: a comparative study.
To compare symptoms, symptom beliefs, and quality of life (QOL) of older breast cancer survivors to those of older women without breast cancer. ⋯ A broader assessment of symptoms is needed to assist older breast cancer survivors with symptom management. Symptom interventions in older women should address patients' beliefs about symptoms if QOL is to be enhanced.