European journal of cancer care
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Eur J Cancer Care (Engl) · Jul 2009
Experiences of parents of children surviving brain tumour: a happy ending and a rough beginning.
Despite a large number of studies reporting distress in parents after successfully completed cancer treatment of a child, few have explored the influence of current matters. The objective of this study was to explore parents' perceptions of post-treatment influence of childhood brain tumour. Semi-structured individual interviews were performed with the parents of seven children who had completed treatment for various types of brain tumour. ⋯ The key themes relate to: (1) survivor needs related to training and everyday life activities, where parents invested a large amount of time and commitment; (2) the everyday family life was restricted: family life in focus; (3) parenting role and routines had become more demanding; (4) for the parent as an individual daily routine as well as the view of life had changed; and (5) parental concerns and worries regarding the survivor's current and future well-being were amplified. Findings of the study suggest that the parents in the study struggle with the consequences of tangible strain, as well as existential challenges. Follow-up support should include updated information about the child's present state, and how it can be improved, as well as coaching when assisting and supporting the child.
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Eur J Cancer Care (Engl) · Jul 2009
Randomized Controlled TrialRandomized interventions for needle procedures in children with cancer.
The aim of this study was to examine whether children experience less fear, distress and pain connected to a routine needle insertion in an intravenous port when subjected to an intervention: blowing soap bubbles or having a heated pillow vs. standard care. Twenty-eight children, 2-7 years, cared for at a paediatric oncology unit, undergoing a routine needle insertion in an intravenous port were included consecutively. All children were subjected to two needle insertions; at the first they received standard care, and at the second standard care + a randomized intervention. ⋯ Children also experienced less fear (P < 0.05) and distress (P < 0.05) when subjected to standard care + blowing soap bubbles vs. standard care (n = 14), and less fear when subjected to standard care + heated pillow vs. standard care (P < 0.05). Nurses' reports did not show any differences for standard care + intervention vs. standard care. Blowing soap bubbles or having a heated pillow is more effective than standard care in reducing children's fear and distress in needle procedures, according to parents' report.
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Eur J Cancer Care (Engl) · Mar 2009
The frequency of fibromyalgia syndrome and quality of life in hospitalized cancer patients.
To explore the frequency of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) among hospitalized cancer patients and address the relationships between pain, fatigue and quality of life with regard to the extent of pain, a cross-sectional and descriptive study was carried out in the Oncology Supportive Care Unit on 122 hospitalized cancer patients. Pain, sleep, disease impact (Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire), fatigue (Brief Fatigue Inventory), quality of life (Short Form 36 and European Organization for Research on Treatment of Cancer questionnaires Quality of Life-C30) were gathered using standardized measures. Thirteen of the hospitalized cancer patients (10.7%) included in the study were diagnosed with FMS. ⋯ There were significant differences among groups with regard to the presence of metastasis, fatigue, sleep disorder, pain, Brief Fatigue Inventory, Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire, most of subscores of Short Form 36 and European Organization for Research on Treatment of Cancer questionnaires Quality of Life-C30 scores (P < 0.05). In the present study, we have calculated the frequency of FMS among patients admitted to the oncology hospital in addition to establishing the relationships between pain, fatigue and quality of life with regard to the extent of pain. We believe that the descriptive data presented in this study would be helpful in future studies and therapeutic approaches.
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Eur J Cancer Care (Engl) · Jan 2009
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyLong-term glutamate supplementation failed to protect against peripheral neurotoxicity of paclitaxel.
Toxic peripheral neuropathy is still a significant limiting factor for chemotherapy with paclitaxel (PAC), although glutamate and its closely related amino acid glutamine were claimed to ameliorate PAC neurotoxicity. This pilot trial aimed to evaluate the role of glutamate supplementation for preventing PAC-induced peripheral neuropathy in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded clinical and electro-diagnostic study. Forty-three ovarian cancer patients were available for analysis following six cycles of the same PAC-containing regimen: 23 had been supplemented by glutamate all along the treatment period, at a daily dose of three times 500 mg (group G), and 20 had received a placebo (group P). ⋯ However, this difference reached statistical significance only with regard to reported pain sensation (P = 0.011). Also the frequency of abnormal electro-diagnostic findings showed similarity between the two groups (G: 7/23 = 30.4%; P: 6/20 = 30%). This pilot study leads to the conclusion that glutamate supplementation at the chosen regimen fails to protect against peripheral neurotoxicity of PAC.
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Eur J Cancer Care (Engl) · Jan 2008
Understanding the reliability and validity of the EORTC QLQ-C30 in Turkish cancer patients.
Quality of life (QOL) has become an important area to address. The most commonly used QOL tool in oncology is the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QOL measure (EORTC QLQ-C30). The aim of this study is to examine the reliability and validity of this widely used questionnaire in Turkish language. ⋯ Although score of emotional functioning subscale was significantly correlated with HADS-A, no correlation was found with HADS-D. The correlations between general health/QOL and HADS-A and HADS-D were significant though Pearson's coefficients were below 0.4. The EORTC QLQ-C30 version 3.0 is a reliable and valid instrument and suitable for measuring the QOL in cancer patients in Turkey.