Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer
-
Support Care Cancer · May 2014
Randomized Controlled TrialExperience of meaning in life in bereaved informal caregivers of palliative care patients.
Providing care for terminally ill family members places an enormous burden on informal caregivers. Meaning in life (MiL) may be a protective factor, but is jeopardised in caregiving and bereavement. This study evaluates the following questions: To what extent do bereaved informal caregivers of palliative care (PC) patients experience meaning in their lives? What differences emerge in carers compared to the general German population? How does MiL relate to well-being in former caregivers? ⋯ Coping with the loss of a loved one is associated with changes in MiL framework and considerably impairs a carer's experience of MiL fulfillment. Individual MiL is associated with well-being in PC caregivers during early bereavement. Specific interventions for carers targeted at meaning reconstruction during palliative care and bereavement are needed to help individuals regain a sense of meaning and purpose.
-
Support Care Cancer · May 2014
A time to weep and a time to laugh: humour in the nurse-patient relationship in an adult cancer setting.
The literature highlights the value of humour in health-care settings. Humour impacts on the physiological, psychosocial and cognitive well-being of a person. The diagnosis of cancer is extremely stressful, and treatments are difficult. Patients and nurses may use humour as a coping mechanism to contend with the stresses caused directly or indirectly by cancer. This study investigated the use of humour during interactions between patients and nurses in an adult cancer ward. ⋯ The benefits of humour are recognised by both adult cancer patients and nurses. A deeper understanding of patient and nurse perceptions of the use of humour can inform strategies for its therapeutic use in the clinical setting.
-
Support Care Cancer · May 2014
Symptom prevalence, frequency, severity, and distress during chemotherapy for patients with colorectal cancer.
Early detection and improvements in treatment have increased survival after colorectal cancer (CRC), but studies investigating the multidimensional nature of treatment-related symptoms are rare. The aim of this study was therefore to describe the prevalence, frequency, and severity of symptoms and the distress they cause during the early treatment of patients with CRC undergoing chemotherapy. ⋯ This study shows that patients with CRC receiving chemotherapy experience several distressing symptoms early in the treatment phase. In order to provide symptom control, oncology staff should consider evaluating the patient's symptoms early during treatment and plan adequate measures to minimize the impact of treatment-induced toxicity.
-
Support Care Cancer · May 2014
Modifiable factors associated with caregiver burden among family caregivers of terminally ill Korean cancer patients.
Higher caregiver burden is associated with poor quality of life among family caregivers. However, in Korea, very few studies have examined factors associated with caregiver burden. The present study investigated factors associated with caregiver burden among family caregivers of terminally ill Korean cancer patients, particularly modifiable factors as a potential target of intervention strategies. ⋯ Our study has practical significance in that it identifies modifiable factors that can be used to devise intervention strategies. Developing and applying such intervention strategies for alleviating the factors associated with high caregiver burden could be important for improving the quality of life of both patients and their families.
-
Support Care Cancer · Apr 2014
Changes in compliance with Japanese antiemetic guideline for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting: a nationwide survey using a distributed research network.
Prophylaxis of chemotherapy (CT)-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) is important for patient's quality of life and adherence to CT. Neurokinin receptor antagonist (NK1 antagonist) was marketed in Japan in December 2009 and the first guideline for antiemetics for CINV was released in May 2010 from Japan Society of Clinical Oncology (JSCO). We assessed changes in compliance with the JSCO guideline during the first 18 months from the launch of NK1 antagonist in Japan. ⋯ A multi-hospital survey revealed that more than half of the HER CTs remained without accompanying the standard antiemetic therapies. Association with the compliance and CINV outcomes would be also interesting to explore.