European journal of oncology nursing : the official journal of European Oncology Nursing Society
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Caregiving burden affects the lives of family members providing care to patients with advanced cancer, with a host of factors possibly contributing to this. The aim of this study was to explore the effects of patient and caregiver variables on the perceptions of burden in families caring for a loved one living with advanced cancer in Greece. ⋯ Greek family caregivers reporting greater depressive mood and difficulty with caregiving tasks, those married, those not employed, and those who cared for patients who had not undergone surgery were found at greater distress and disadvantage. Systematic assessment and intervention strategies are required to identify these vulnerable carers and help them cope when sharing in patient's cancer experience.
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Pain is an unpleasant human experience, often associated with underlying medical conditions, and a key reason for individuals experiencing pain to seek medical advice. However, the pain experience is unique and subjective, and affects people's quality of life, as well as impacting on their concerned family members. Optimal pain management requires adequate knowledge, a positive attitude, and competent pain assessment measures. It has been reported that oncology nurses in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) have inadequate knowledge, assessment skills and management of pain. ⋯ The results indicate the urgency needed to reform pain management education for oncology nurses in the KSA.
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Psychological distress is prevalent in patients with breast cancer and is viewed as a non-pathological occurrence. Severe distress and mental disorder display a substantial overlap in both conceptual contexts and studies in oncological settings. A domain that may contribute to distinguishing non-pathological distress from signs of potential disorder is the transiency of distress. ⋯ The average decrease in caseness of anxiety and depression a year following surgery lends support to the view of distress as a transient non-pathological response. A subgroup of patients, however, displayed enduring or recurrent severe distress indicating the presence of potential disorder. The findings emphasize the importance of screening and follow up monitoring of distress.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Complex decongestive therapy and taping for patients with postmastectomy lymphedema: a randomized controlled study.
The purpose of our study was to investigate the effects of Kinesio Taping(®) Application with Complex Decongestive Therapy (CDT) in patients with lymphedema. ⋯ Kinesio Taping(®) Application along with CDT may have a better effect on decreasing lymphedema which can stimulate the reduction of edema for long term effects.
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Nurses working with cancer patients in end of life care need to be prepared to encounter patients' psychosocial and spiritual distress. ⋯ This study points out that health care professionals need to be aware of patients' feelings of abandonment in exposed situations such as patients' feelings of existential loneliness. That there are some patients that express a desire to die and this makes the nurses feel uncomfortable and difficult to confront these occurrences and its therefore important to listen to patients' stories, regardless of care organization, in order to gain access to patients' inner existential needs.