Research in nursing & health
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Although researchers have identified beneficial coping strategies for cancer patients, existing coping measures do not capture the preferred coping strategies of older African American cancer survivors. A new measure, the Ways of Helping Questionnaire (WHQ), was evaluated with 385 African American cancer survivors. ⋯ Evidence regarding hypothesized relationships with measures of well-being and another coping measure was mixed. The WHQ's content coverage makes it especially relevant for older African American cancer survivors.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Randomized controlled trial of SPIRIT: an effective approach to preparing African-American dialysis patients and families for end of life.
This randomized controlled trial tested an intervention, Sharing Patients' Illness Representations to Increase Trust (SPIRIT), designed to enhance communication regarding end-of-life care between African Americans with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and their chosen surrogate decision makers (N = 58 dyads). We used surveys and semi-structured interviews to determine the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of SPIRIT on patient and surrogate outcomes at 1 week and 3 months post-intervention. We also evaluated patients' deaths and surrogates' end-of-life decision making to assess surrogates' perceptions of benefits and limitations of the SPIRIT while facing end-of-life decisions. We found that SPIRIT promoted communication between patients and their surrogates and was effective and well received by the participants.
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We examined the experience of 21 women diagnosed with breast or ovarian cancer who received inconclusive BRCA1/2 genetic test results. Although these women received similar information on the technical meaning of an inconclusive result, their interpretations of personal risk for a probable, inherited cancer mutation differed. Their interpretations ranged from confidence that they probably carried an undetected gene mutation to believing that their cancer had no genetic basis. Women drew from their personal experience with genetic testing and from distinctive perceptions and beliefs in attempting to understand their test results; they variously drew upon such evidence as observations of similarities and differences within familial breast/ovarian cancer patterns to explain their ultimate conclusions as to their own genetic status.
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The purpose of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of three versions of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS; American Sociological Association) in adults who had survived the death of a family member or significant other by suicide. Reliability and validity were examined. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted to assess dimensionality of the underlying constructs. ⋯ Two shorter versions retained good psychometric properties and demonstrated convergent and concurrent validity with measures of posttraumatic stress symptoms and mental health quality of life. Factor analysis provided further evidence of their usefulness as brief and valid measures of perceived stress in acutely bereaved adult survivors of suicide. In a sub-sample of closely related survivors, the psychometric properties of the 4-item version of the PSS were retained.