European journal of cancer care
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Eur J Cancer Care (Engl) · Sep 2016
Multicenter StudyEvaluate the subjective experience of the disease and its treatment in the partners of young women with non-metastatic breast cancer.
The impact of the disease experience on the quality of life of the relatives of patients with cancer is now well documented. However, few scales specifically address the partners' subjective quality of life. This study aims to validate a questionnaire assessing the impact of cancer on the quality of life of the partners of young women with breast cancer. ⋯ Internal consistency, test-retest reliability and concurrent validity were assessed. The final Partner-YW-BCI contained 36 items and assessed eight dimensions of the subjective experience of partners: (1) feeling of couple cohesion, (2) negative affectivity and apprehension about the future, (3) body image and sexuality, (4) career management, (5) deterioration of the relationships with close relatives, (6) management of child(ren) and of everyday life, (7) financial difficulties, and (8) sharing and support from close relatives. The scale showed adequate psychometric properties, and will help clinicians to identify the problems of partners and to respond to them by an optimal care management.
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Eur J Cancer Care (Engl) · Nov 2018
Changes in and modifiable patient- and family caregiver-related factors associated with cancer patients' high self-perceived burden to others at the end of life: A longitudinal study.
This prospective, longitudinal study explored changes in and modifiable factors associated with high self-perceived burden to others (SPB) among a convenience sample of 276 dyads of terminally ill Taiwanese cancer patients and their family caregivers over patients' last year of life. High SPB was evaluated by scores ≥20 on the Self-Perceived Burden Scale. Modifiable factors of high SPB included factors related to both patients (i.e., symptom distress, functional dependence and coping capacity) and caregivers (i.e., caregiving burden, depressive symptoms and quality of life [QOL]). ⋯ In contrast, the likelihood of high SPB was significantly lower if patients had greater coping capacity and their caregivers reported better QOL. High SPB was not associated with patients' functional dependence, caregivers' caregiving burden and depressive-symptom level while providing end-of-life (EOL) care, and time proximity to death. Healthcare professionals may alleviate terminally ill cancer patients' high SPB at EOL through palliative care that adequately manages patients' physical symptom distress, enhances patients' coping capacity and improves family caregivers' QOL.
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Eur J Cancer Care (Engl) · Jan 2013
Review Meta AnalysisComparative efficacy and safety of palonosetron with the first 5-HT3 receptor antagonists for the chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting: a meta-analysis.
A number of studies have reported the difference between the 5-HT3 receptor antagonists and palonosetron in preventing the chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). Through analysing the efficacy and safety in palonosetron-treated patients, it can provide evidence for palonosetron administration. We identified randomised controlled clinical trials comparing palonosetron with the first-generation 5-HT3 receptor antagonists in the prevention of CINV in cancer patients. ⋯ Compared with the first-generation 5-HT3 receptor antagonists, the cumulative incidences of emesis were significantly reduced in the patients treated with palonosetron (0.25 mg i.v.) on the first day [relative risk (RR) = 1.11, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.05-1.17], from 2 to 5 days (RR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.16-1.36) and the overall five days (RR = 1.23, 95% CI: 1.13-1.34). Regarding the drug safety, there was no significant difference between palonosetron-treated group and the first-generation 5-HT3 receptor antagonists-treated group. Results from the analysis suggest that palonosetron is highly effective in preventing nausea and vomiting in the days after administration of moderately or highly emetogenic chemotherapy agents.
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Eur J Cancer Care (Engl) · Sep 2017
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyComparison of efficacy of cryotherapy and chlorhexidine to oral nutrition transition time in chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis.
The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of cryotherapy and chlorhexidine to oral nutrition transition time in chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis. This randomised controlled trial with random assignments to the experimental and control groups was conducted with cancer patients. Study data were collected from 90 cancer patients. ⋯ Following the tests, we detected a significant shortening in oral nutrition transition time of patients in first group who used chlorhexidine gargle as compared to the second group and control group. There was no significant difference between cryotherapy application and control group. In parallel with these findings, we detected that the degree of oral mucositis decreased.
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Eur J Cancer Care (Engl) · May 2016
Randomized Controlled TrialOlder people living alone at home with terminal cancer.
This study describes the lived experiences of older people coping with terminal cancer and living alone, focusing on how they face challenges of the biographical life changes from their disease progression. Face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted in two phases with palliative care clients of a community-based service in Western Australia (2009-2011): Brief interviews with 43 cancer patients who live alone and then in-depth interviews with 8 of them. ⋯ Understanding the factors associated with the individual's need to maintain their own identity will enable nurses working with this population to tailor support plans that meet the individuals' needs while maintaining or restoring the person's sense of self. Interventions that directly address end-of-life suffering and bolster sense of dignity and personhood need to be considered.