European journal of oncology nursing : the official journal of European Oncology Nursing Society
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Chemotherapy can result in many unpredictable and often debilitating side-effects hence patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment may have to rely on their loved ones to support them through this most challenging period. In view of this possibility then good communication skills between patients, healthcare providers and family members is of paramount importance for effective patient outcomes. The aim of this study therefore, was to explore patients' perceptions of how healthcare providers communicate with them and their family members whilst undergoing chemotherapy treatment for cancer. ⋯ The data highlights in particular the positive communication encounters between patients with cancer and their healthcare providers and family members. Oncology nurses were identified as being particularly supportive to both patients and their family members. Despite chemotherapy units being a difficult place to be a part of, this study highlights that healthcare providers can help make this a less daunting place for patients and their family members through their appropriate use of professional communication.
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To analyse the psychometric properties and performance of existing instruments that aim to measure benefit finding in adult cancer populations. ⋯ One instrument reported validation statistics for all the identified criteria. While existing instruments provide a range of operationalisations of the benefit finding concept and have been more or less used in previous research, a majority are in the early stages of development and require further validation work in adult cancer populations. Given the increasing interest in the role benefit finding in clinical practice, researchers are urged to use these instruments further and to report relevant validation statistics when using them.
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The Mini-Mental Adjustment to Cancer Scale (Mini-MAC) is a 29-item instrument designed to evaluate the responses developed by cancer patients during their mental adjustment to diagnosis and treatment. ⋯ Nurses can use the Mini-MAC Scale in research and clinical practice in order to evaluate the mental adjustment of Portuguese end-of-life cancer patients receiving palliative care.
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Comparative Study
Personal determinants of nurses' burnout in end of life care.
Our aim is to identify socio-demographic, professional exposure to dying, training degree and personal factors relevant to burnout dimensions in nurses coping with death issues. ⋯ We conclude for the protective value of factors such as meaning and purpose in life, secure attachment and attitude towards death, through the various burnout dimensions that shows the need to develop under and postgraduate training strategies in these specific areas.
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Comparative Study
Cytokine gene variations associated with subsyndromal depressive symptoms in patients with breast cancer.
This study explored the relationships between variations in cytokines genes and depressive symptoms in a sample of patients who were assessed prior to and for six months following breast cancer surgery. Phenotypic differences between Resilient (n = 155) and Subsyndromal (n = 180) depressive symptom classes, as well as variations in cytokine genes were evaluated. ⋯ A variation in TNFA that was associated with Subsyndromal depressive symptoms in a sample of patients and their family caregivers was confirmed in this sample. Variations in cytokine genes may place these patients at higher risk for the development of Subsyndromal levels of depressive symptoms.