Oncology nursing forum
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Oncology nursing forum · Mar 2008
Randomized Controlled TrialAnimal-assisted activity among patients with cancer: effects on mood, fatigue, self-perceived health, and sense of coherence.
To identify to what extent an animal-assisted activity (i.e., visits with a dog) affects the mood, self-perceived health, and sense of coherence among patients undergoing radiation therapy. ⋯ Patients may want and express benefit from animal-assisted activity dog visits, but the outcomes of the visits may not be measureable. Nurses should assess to what extent patients believe that such visits are beneficial by asking them. The visits may be valued by patients as helping to relieve their anxiety and as distractions from their disease and therapy.
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Oncology nursing forum · Mar 2008
Nurse coaching to explore and modify patient attitudinal barriers interfering with effective cancer pain management.
To describe a complex coaching intervention to help patients with cancer pain explore beliefs and attitudinal barriers interfering with pain management. Patients were coached to explore beliefs about pain, communications about pain management, and the use of analgesics and nonpharmacologic interventions. ⋯ A coaching intervention incorporating assessment of patient beliefs promotes self-management, self-efficacy, and adherence to pain management treatment plans. Advanced practice nurses should consider incorporating this intervention into their communications with patients experiencing cancer pain.
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Oncology nursing forum · Mar 2008
Randomized Controlled TrialStorytelling intervention for patients with cancer: part 2--pilot testing.
To evaluate symptom reports and the impact of a nurse-led storytelling intervention in a supportive group setting on mood, stress level, coping with stress, pain, self-efficacy, and satisfaction with life in patients with cancer. ⋯ After additional testing, the intervention could be used to enhance storytelling groups for patients with cancer or for individuals who are uncomfortable in or do not have access to storytelling groups.
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Oncology nursing forum · Mar 2008
Trends in clinical practice and nurses' attitudes about fertility preservation for pediatric patients with cancer.
To examine trends in fertility preservation attitudes and behaviors of pediatric oncology nurses and evaluate their awareness of fertility preservation guidelines published in June 2006 by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). ⋯ Nurses play a key role in survivorship discussions for pediatric patients with cancer and their families. Increased knowledge of fertility preservation guidelines may help promote the fertility preservation concept and lead to improved dissemination and implementation of training programs that focus on current ASCO fertility preservation guidelines and address the psychosocial needs of children aged 12-16 years.