Oncology nursing forum
-
Oncology nursing forum · Sep 2010
Challenges in pain assessment in cognitively intact and cognitively impaired older adults with cancer.
To describe approaches to pain assessment in cognitively intact and cognitively impaired older adults with cancer. ⋯ Pain assessment is a core competency for nurses in all clinical settings. Comprehensive, individualized, and ongoing assessment provides the information necessary so that clinicians can develop interventions to relieve patients' pain and improve their quality of life. Nurses have the knowledge, skills, and tools to adequately screen and comprehensively assess pain in older adult patients, including those with cognitive impairment. By using this knowledge, nurses can change systems and practices, have a significant effect on improving pain care, and increase quality of life and function of older adults with pain.
-
Oncology nursing forum · Jul 2010
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyPilot study of cranial stimulation for symptom management in breast cancer.
To examine the feasibility, relationships among variables, and preliminary outcomes of a self-directed complementary modality, cranial electrical stimulation (CES), for symptom management in women receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer. ⋯ Interventions that are effective at minimizing more than one target symptom are especially needed to provide optimal symptom management for women with breast cancer.
-
Oncology nursing forum · May 2010
Feasibility of a patient-controlled cognitive-behavioral intervention for pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbance in cancer.
To evaluate the feasibility of a patient-controlled cognitive-behavioral intervention for pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbance during treatment for advanced cancer and to assess initial efficacy of the intervention. ⋯ A randomized, controlled trial is needed to test efficacy of the intervention for co-occurring pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbance. Meanwhile, based on previous efficacy studies, cognitive-behavioral strategies can be recommended for certain individual symptoms.
-
Oncology nursing forum · May 2010
Decision-making process of women carrying a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation who have chosen prophylactic mastectomy.
To explore the decision-making process of women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation who have chosen to undergo prophylactic mastectomy. ⋯ Supportive interventions for women in this population should explicitly address the individual and the inter-relationships of contextual factors that shape decision making about prophylactic mastectomy while recognizing important affective components involved.
-
To examine how oncology nurses define palliative care, views about who should and should not receive palliative care, and beliefs about palliative care decision making, including who should be involved and how decisions should be managed. ⋯ Education and clinical experience embedded in a continuous quality-improvement model are needed to ensure sustained change that will overcome the multiple, interwoven barriers to providing appropriate palliative care.