Oncology nursing forum
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To describe the experience of families when a member is diagnosed with cancer. ⋯ Nurses can facilitate patient and family learning by considering the interactive manner in which families acquire information. By acknowledging how past experiences with cancer inform the present, nurses can help families identify beliefs influencing the illness experience. By including families in teaching sessions; facilitating communication between patients, families, physicians, and nurses; and providing take-home learning materials, nurses can facilitate shared information gathering. Nurses should acknowledge the value of learning about illness by experience, accept patients and families as experts, and encourage revelation of patients' and families' perspectives of the illness to enhance feedback on support and coping.
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Oncology nursing forum · Jul 2002
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical TrialIntervention to improve psychological functioning for newly diagnosed patients with cancer.
To test the effects of a computer-based nursing intervention designed to provide patients and family caregivers with concrete, objective information on symptom management; provide education about disease and treatment; coordinate medical resources; and provide emotional support and counseling. ⋯ This nurse-directed intervention resulted in improved mental health for patients; however, physical subscales were not changed. Further work is needed to determine why depression and mental health were affected yet physical health and symptoms did not differ between groups. Results support the important role of nurses in addressing mental health issues in patients and families experiencing cancer.
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Oncology nursing forum · Jun 2002
ReviewIncorporating multiculturalism into oncology nursing research: the last decade.
To use the Oncology Nursing Society's cultural competence guidelines to review research studies conducted by oncology nurse researchers with racial and ethnic minorities and published in the Oncology Nursing Forum during 1990-2000. ⋯ Including cultural competence when designing and reporting research has a greater potential to inform oncology nursing practice, design future research studies, strengthen existing nursing curricula, and help to shape health policy related to racial and ethnic minority populations. The Oncology Nursing Society Multicultural Outcomes: Guidelines for Cultural Competence provides guidance for enhancing the next generation of oncology nursing research with ethnically and culturally diverse populations.
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Oncology nursing forum · Jun 2002
Learning and support preferences of adult patients with cancer at a comprehensive cancer center.
To identify content items for an inclusive education curriculum for adult patients with cancer, as well as describe their learning and support preferences, determine the level of information provided to them, and assess the patients' interest in potential new services. ⋯ This study confirms the importance of the learning and support preferences of patients with cancer. To implement a successful education program for their patients, nurses must be aware of patients' preferences for learning new information. Time must be set aside for one-on-one communication with patients, and print materials must be easily accessible to healthcare providers to support the patient-education process.