Cancer nursing
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Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in Turkish women, and the use of breast self-examination (BSE) and mammography remains low in Turkey. Therefore, we need to identify the beliefs, influencing BSE and mammography, and a valid and reliable tool to measure constructs. The Champion's health belief model scale (CHBMS) is a valid and reliable tool to measure beliefs about breast cancer, BSE, and mammography in an English culture. ⋯ The Turkish version of the CHBMS showed adequate reliability and validity for use in Turkish women. It could easily be used to evaluate the health beliefs about breast cancer, BSE, and mammography. Further refinement is required to study Turkish women's health beliefs and breast cancer screening behaviors in various settings.
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The overall objective of this research was to obtain information through the use of open-ended interviews, about the diagnosis and treatment of children who had cancer. The interviews, completed with 29 parents whose children had been diagnosed with cancer within the previous 5-year period, were designed to allow mothers and fathers to share their experiences about childhood cancer. ⋯ Analysis of the CAM theme resulted in the identification of the following subthemes: (1) parents' opposition to CAM utilization; (2) parents' support of CAM use with their children with cancer; and (3) physicians' views of CAM as perceived by parents. Implications for the use or nonuse of CAM among pediatric populations will be discussed.
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Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical Trial
Investigating the effects of TTS-fentanyl for cancer pain on the psychological status of patients naïve to strong opioids: an open label study.
Few studies have investigated the effect of fentanyl delivered via the transdermal route with regard to the patient's psychological status. Patients who were naive to strong opioids and were attending a palliative care unit for pain relief from advanced cancer participated in this study to determine the effect of transdermal therapeutic system fentanyl (TTS-F) on their psychological condition. Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), the Karnofsky Performance Scale (100-0, optimum-death), and a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) (0: no pain; 10: worst pain) were used to measure the level of pain. ⋯ Furthermore, the Zung SDS showed a statistically significant correlation when compared with the Spielberger STAI (P < .01). These data provide some evidence that the psychological status, as measured with respect to depression and anxiety in patients with advanced cancer, is improved in patients receiving TTS-fentanyl. Future research should use a broad range of psychological measurements in order to assist the development of practices, which are aimed at the improvement of quality of life in these patients.
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Investigations of spiritual interventions for cancer patients are disproportionately few compared to the reported importance of religion to Americans. We report on the implementation and evaluation of a spiritual, community-based intervention developed with interdenominational community clergy. Approximately 1200 people attended a total of 3 gatherings: 2 at Roman Catholic and another at a Protestant Church. ⋯ Logistic regression models reveal that music was most appreciated by previously treated patients, and prayer by currently treated patients. Secular healthcare systems can offer a religious service that comforts and links attendees to a broader community, including clergy and cancer program clinicians. Surveys can identify service components that appeal to differing groups and can facilitate service development.
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Despite treatment advances over the past decade, long-term survival for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains poor, and treatment options available after second-line therapy are limited. Increased understanding of cancer biology has led to the identification of several potential targets for treatment. The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) belongs to a family of plasma membrane receptor tyrosine kinases that controls many important cellular functions, from growth and proliferation to cell death. ⋯ Data from phase 3 trials indicate that adding an EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor to chemotherapy does not provide an additional survival benefit, as compared with standard chemotherapy alone for first-line treatment of NSCLC. It appears that EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors are safe and well tolerated by patients with cancer. Further studies will elucidate how these new agents can best be used for NSCLC and other tumor types.