Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer
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Support Care Cancer · May 2014
Patterns and predictors of symptom incongruence in older couples coping with prostate cancer.
Prostate cancer survivors (PCSs) may experience persistent symptoms following treatment. If PCSs and spouses differ in their perceptions of symptoms, that incongruence may cause mismanagement of symptoms and reduced relationship quality. The purpose of this study was to examine symptom incongruence and identify the PCS and spouse characteristics associated with symptom incongruence in older couples coping with prostate cancer. ⋯ This study is among the first to show that PCSs and spouses may perceive cancer-related persistent symptoms differently. Among this older sample, younger PCS age and spouse caregiver strain were associated with incongruence in symptoms perceptions in couples. These and other factors may inform future interventions aimed at preserving relationship quality in older couples who have experienced prostate cancer.
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Support Care Cancer · May 2014
A time to weep and a time to laugh: humour in the nurse-patient relationship in an adult cancer setting.
The literature highlights the value of humour in health-care settings. Humour impacts on the physiological, psychosocial and cognitive well-being of a person. The diagnosis of cancer is extremely stressful, and treatments are difficult. Patients and nurses may use humour as a coping mechanism to contend with the stresses caused directly or indirectly by cancer. This study investigated the use of humour during interactions between patients and nurses in an adult cancer ward. ⋯ The benefits of humour are recognised by both adult cancer patients and nurses. A deeper understanding of patient and nurse perceptions of the use of humour can inform strategies for its therapeutic use in the clinical setting.
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Support Care Cancer · May 2014
Clinical TrialChlorhexidine for the prevention of bloodstream infection associated with totally implantable venous ports in patients with solid cancers.
To evaluate the preventive effects of topical skin disinfection with chlorhexidine on bloodstream infection (BSI) associated with totally implantable venous port (Port-A). ⋯ Chlorhexidine topical skin disinfection may prevent PABSI caused by Gram-positive bacteria in patients with solid cancers. The nonsignificant effect on preventing overall PABSI may be attributed to the high incidence of Gram-negative bacteria related PABSI.
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Support Care Cancer · May 2014
Symptom prevalence, frequency, severity, and distress during chemotherapy for patients with colorectal cancer.
Early detection and improvements in treatment have increased survival after colorectal cancer (CRC), but studies investigating the multidimensional nature of treatment-related symptoms are rare. The aim of this study was therefore to describe the prevalence, frequency, and severity of symptoms and the distress they cause during the early treatment of patients with CRC undergoing chemotherapy. ⋯ This study shows that patients with CRC receiving chemotherapy experience several distressing symptoms early in the treatment phase. In order to provide symptom control, oncology staff should consider evaluating the patient's symptoms early during treatment and plan adequate measures to minimize the impact of treatment-induced toxicity.
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Support Care Cancer · May 2014
Physical exercise and therapy in terminally ill cancer patients: a retrospective feasibility analysis.
Physical exercise (PE) and/or therapy (PT) shows beneficial effects in advanced cancer patients and is increasingly implemented in hospice and palliative care, although systematic data are rare. This retrospective study systematically evaluated the feasibility of PE/PT in terminally ill cancer patients and of different modalities in correspondence to socio-demographic and disease- and care-related aspects. ⋯ PE/PT were feasible in >90 % of terminally ill cancer patients to whom PE/PT had been offered. Physical exercises, relaxation therapy, and breathing training were the most frequently applicable methods. Prospective trials are needed to evaluate the efficacy of specific PE/PT programs in terminally ill cancer patients.