Cancer nursing
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This study aimed to compare cognitive function of cancer pain patients being given opioids during their cancer treatment (n = 14) with that of patients receiving treatment without opioids (n = 12). Correlations between cognitive function, pain intensity, and opioid dose were analyzed. Patients were assessed 3 times in a 1-month period, using the Trail-Making Test, Mini-Mental State Examination, Digit Span, and Brief Cognitive Screening Battery. ⋯ Opioid dose did not correlate with any of the measures of cognitive performance. However, the patients with the worst performance scores were those with more severe pain. Further studies are needed to clearly distinguish between the effects of opioids versus the effects of pain.
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The aim of this study was to understand present knowledge, attitudes, and behavioral intentions of clinical nurses providing artificial nutrition and hydration (ANH) for terminal cancer patients. Study subjects were composed of 197 nurses from the gastroenterology, general surgery, and intensive care units of Taipei Veterans General Hospital in Taiwan. Subjects were surveyed between April and June 2005 via self-developed structural questionnaires. ⋯ In subjective norms, "attending physicians and/or superiors" (45.3%) and, secondarily, "patients" (38.4%) were important influencing persons on nurses' support for ANH. Other influencing factors were communication difficulties with patients and/or family members (3.40 [0.83]), staff disagreements (3.01 [0.78]), and fear of medical dispute (3.42 [0.95]). Study results suggest that reinforcing in-service education to enhance nurses' knowledge of providing ANH for terminal cancer patients and building up positive attitudes and behavioral intentions may strengthen nurses' efforts to actively communicate and cooperate with physicians in assisting patients and families to make the most appropriate medical decisions.
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Experiencing a diagnosis of cancer has the potential to dramatically alter the way in which a person experiences intimate and sexual aspects of their lives. This article draws on data from a larger study into issues of intimacy and sexuality from the perspectives of patients and health professionals in cancer and palliative care. ⋯ Many patients were disappointed by the lack of information, support, and practical strategies provided by health professionals to assist them to live with the sexual and intimate changes they had experienced in the face of a life-limiting disease. Implications for nursing practice are discussed.
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The helping professions have always been associated with high levels of stress and burnout because of the emotional intensity of the relationships with patients. The nature of hospice work can be both rewarding and challenging. Hospice workers encounter a variety of work- and client-related stressors. ⋯ The findings of this study suggest that hospice workers do experience a great deal of burnout, which affects their work performance and general functioning. The burnout is mainly the result of work-related stressors. Recommendations to alleviate this problematic situation are made.
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Cancer is the leading cause of death among Asian American women, and the death rate has increased almost 200% since 1990. Previous research has applied the transtheoretical model constructs to examine cancer screening behavior; however, to our knowledge, this is the first such investigation to examine relationships between stages of mammography adoption and decision balance among Asian American women. This article presents study findings from a convenience sample of 228 women aged 40 to 81 years (mean = 55.0, SD = 9.6) residing in southeastern Michigan. ⋯ Results from confirmatory factor analysis also support the factor structure derived from exploratory factor analysis with good model fit indices. This study also provides some support on transtheoretical model-hypothesized relationships in this sample of Asian American women that, as the stages of adoption of mammography proceeded from earlier to later ones, the decisional balance would become more favorable. The specific beliefs (both positive and negative) associated with the various stages of mammography adoption have implications for health professionals in developing stage-matched interventions to motivate women in adopting regular mammography.