Oncology nursing forum
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Oncology nursing forum · Jan 2009
Multicenter StudySpiritual needs of Taiwan's older patients with terminal cancer.
To explore the core constitutive patterns from the perspective of the older patient with terminal cancer, the major foci of spiritual needs, and professional actions that manifest tangibly as spiritual care. ⋯ The knowledge gained in this study and the six major spiritual care actions identified may empower oncology nurse educators to develop culturally valid spiritual care courses. Research-based guidance for nurse clinicians who are taking care of older Taiwanese patients with terminal cancer will be provided.
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Oncology nursing forum · Jan 2009
Examining the impact of socioeconomic status and socioecologic stress on physical and mental health quality of life among breast cancer survivors.
To examine how physical and mental health quality of life (QOL) varies in relation to the socioeconomic status and ethnicity among breast cancer survivors; to determine key socioecologic factors influencing outcomes. ⋯ Practice and research implications include the need for greater attention to QOL outcomes among at-risk lower socioeconomic status survivors and the recognition of the unique contributions of socioeconomic status, socioecologic stress, and ethnicity on physical and mental health QOL.
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To review strategies to optimize the management of chronic pain in patients with cancer, with an emphasis on the role of opioid analgesics. ⋯ Opioid rotation may be useful for opening the therapeutic window and establishing a more advantageous analgesic-to-toxicity ratio in patients with cancer.
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Oncology nursing forum · Nov 2008
Physical symptoms of children receiving pediatric hospice care at home during the last week of life.
To identify symptoms of greatest parental concern on the last day and during the last week of their children's lives, the five most common symptoms of parental concern, and symptom-management strategies used during the last week of the children's lives. ⋯ Symptoms experienced by dying children during the last week of life and symptom-management strategies used by pediatric hospice programs to support dying children and their families have not been well described. Additional research is warranted to further identify pediatric symptoms at the end of life and effective symptom-management strategies.
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Oncology nursing forum · Nov 2008
ReviewOpioids and cancer survivors: issues in side-effect management.
To describe the most common side effects associated with the use of opioid treatment in patients with moderate to severe cancer pain; to discuss research findings specific to the use of opioids for cancer pain in long-term cancer survivors. ⋯ Oncology nurses recognize that patients often require the long-term use of opioids when they experience chronic pain as a result of their disease or its treatment. The long-term physical and cognitive effects of such opioid use are not well known, despite the advances that have been made in cancer pain control and research. Survivors should communicate their concerns about side effects to the treatment team. In addition, patients and family members must be encouraged to inform their providers about personal attitudes, beliefs, and practices that may affect decisions about taking their analgesics as prescribed. Most importantly, oncology nurses must teach patients and their families to self-advocate for optimal pain relief with minimal side effects.