Cancer nursing
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Randomized Controlled Trial
The PRO-SELF pain control program improves family caregivers' knowledge of cancer pain management.
The majority of cancer treatment is provided in outpatient settings. Family caregivers' (FCs') knowledge and beliefs about pain and its management are critical components of effective care. ⋯ Oncology nurses can use FCs' responses to the FPQ to individualize teaching and spend more time on identified knowledge deficits. This individualized approach to FC education may save staff time and improve patient outcomes.
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The stress and coping theory suggests that the impact of caregiving on caregivers' life depends more on personal psychological resources (ie, sense of coherence [SOC]) than on objective caregiving demands or social resources. However, SOC's mediation roles in helping caregivers cope with the challenges of end-of-life care have never been explored. ⋯ Nursing interventions to enhance caregivers' SOC may decrease their depressive distress through increasing their confidence in providing end-of-life care and lightening their perceived caregiving burden.
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Women with breast cancer undergoing radiation therapy (RT) are at increased risk for depressive symptoms. However, only 4 studies specifically evaluated changes in and predictors of depressive symptoms in these patients. ⋯ Nurses could use knowledge of the predictors to identify patients at risk for depressive symptoms and to educate patients about how depressive symptoms may change during and following RT for breast cancer.