European journal of oncology nursing : the official journal of European Oncology Nursing Society
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High incidence rates of breast cancer (BC) emphasize the need to address health-related quality of life (QoL) in this population. The aim of this study was to evaluate the QoL, symptom prevalence and management, functional ability, and quality of care in Lebanese women with BC at a tertiary health care facility. ⋯ Strategies addressing symptom management in particular psychological symptoms need to be developed and implemented in addition to a holistic multidisciplinary palliative care approach.
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Our aim is to describe the number and distribution of requests addressed to an Advanced Practice Nursing team for functional problems of totally implantable venous access devices (TIVADs) and to describe, in detail, the malfunction management by the type and number of additional investigations and treatment modalities. ⋯ TIVAD malfunction-defined operationally in terms of injection and/or aspiration problems-reflect all functional complications encountered in practice. Adherence to the Leuven Malfunction Management Protocol can ensure that, in most cases, catheter patency can be fully restored without removing or replacing the TIVAD. The Advanced Practice Nursing team coordinates the following treatments, investigations, and procedures: radiological catheter tip verification; thrombolytic agent administration and, if necessary, subsequent injection of solutions to dissolve drug precipitates or lipid deposits; linogram; percutaneous sleeve stripping; and TIVAD removal/replacement.