European journal of oncology nursing : the official journal of European Oncology Nursing Society
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The effect of alopecia on men and women has not been fully documented in the literature, especially for Turkish cancer patients. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of chemotherapy-related alopecia and how it affects the body image and quality of life of Turkish male and female cancer patients, in order to identify variables that may be important in the perception of this problem. ⋯ This study contributes new knowledge on the cultural characteristics of Turkish patients, which may assist other researchers working with different international populations. Alopecia is a difficult side effect for both men and women. Health professionals should assess and educate patients differently from the current standard.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Differences in depression, anxiety, and quality of life between women with and without breast pain prior to breast cancer surgery.
Little is known about the relationships between pain, anxiety, and depression in women prior to breast cancer surgery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate for differences in anxiety, depression, and quality of life (QOL) in women who did and did not report the occurrence of breast pain prior to breast cancer surgery. We hypothesized that women with pain would report higher levels of anxiety and depression as well as poorer QOL than women without pain. ⋯ Our a priori hypotheses were only partially supported. Findings from this study suggest that, regardless of pain status, anxiety and depression are common problems in women prior to breast cancer surgery.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Supporting self-management of pain in cancer patients: methods and lessons learned from a randomized controlled pilot study.
The purposes of this paper are to describe the methods used and the knowledge gained during a pilot study that evaluated the effects of a self-management intervention for cancer pain, as well as the adaptations that were made for a larger clinical trial. ⋯ NCT00920504.
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Comparative Study
A comparative descriptive study examining the perceptions of cancer patients, family caregivers, and nurses on patient symptom severity in Turkey.
Perform a comparative descriptive study that aims to describe the symptom severity of patients receiving chemotherapy and to compare patient self-reports of symptom severity with inferences made by nurses and family caregivers. ⋯ Perceptions of formal or informal caregivers about symptoms in patients with cancer will help clinicians to develop strategies or approaches to improve the caregiver symptom assessment.
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The impact of childhood cancer on the family has been studied in different cultures and continues to be an object of study and concern, In Lebanon, a country of 4 million people 282 new pediatric cases of cancer age <20 years diagnosed in 2004 were reported in 2008. ⋯ The study contributes to the knowledge that would help health care professionals understand the experiences and challenges that are faced by Lebanese families living with a child with cancer. This awareness would serve as a basis for health care professionals in general and nurses in particular to understand parents' experiences, and offer support, elicit communication of feelings, and examine possibilities for forming a partnership during the challenging course of the child's illness. Supported parents are more likely to provide more effective care to their child with cancer.