European journal of oncology nursing : the official journal of European Oncology Nursing Society
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The aim of the present study is to (a) describe the level of agreement between reports of health-related quality of life (HRQL) obtained from parents and young patients both on- and off-treatment and (b) explore the factors that may affect the level of agreement in the quality of life (QoL) between young patients and parental proxies. ⋯ Our findings suggest that the children and adolescents with cancer reported better QoL than their parents. The predictors found to be significant need to be examined extensively by further studies.
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Comparative Study
Health-related quality of life during adjuvant treatment for breast cancer among postmenopausal women.
The purpose of the present study was twofold: first, to describe changes of Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) during the adjuvant treatment among postmenopausal women with breast cancer; second, in the same population to identify the best predictors of Overall Quality of Life (QoL) after treatment, from perceived functioning, symptoms, emotional distress and clinical/demographic variables measured at baseline. The study group was 150 women (> or = 55 years of age) scheduled for adjuvant chemotherapy (CT, n=75) or radiotherapy (RT, n=75). They were examined before (baseline), during and after completing the treatment. ⋯ The general finding was that the adjuvant treatments were associated with decrease in overall QoL, physical and role functioning, anxiety and body image, as well as with increase in fatigue, dyspnoea, pain, nausea/vomiting, constipation and systemic therapy side effects measured over time. For women receiving CT, better emotional functioning and less pain at baseline predicted better overall QoL at the end of the treatment. For women receiving RT, better physical and emotional functioning, less breast symptoms and lower tumour stage at baseline predicted better overall QoL at the end of the treatment.
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There is little research exploring nurses' experiences of, and attitudes towards, the chemotherapy administration process. There is also limited work investigating practitioners' educational preparation for this aspect of cancer nursing. The aim of this study was to describe nurses' experiences, attitudes and educational preparation for the chemotherapy administration process. ⋯ Findings highlight the value of formal educational preparation in chemotherapy prior to undertaking this aspect of nursing. Positive role models for novice practitioners would appear important and role models themselves require continued professional development. Wide variations in educational preparation and practice exist and a co-ordinated education and training strategy for chemotherapy practice is warranted to underpin safe and effective practice in this area.
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The quality of life of a colorectal cancer patient and his family is deeply modified when faced with this diagnosis as a result of physical and psychological changes induced by it. The aim of this study was to identify and assess the impact of colorectal cancer patients and their families. The study was a descriptive cross-sectional study and the sample consisted of 153 patients and 96 informal caregivers. ⋯ The caregivers of stoma patients had more depression and anxiety when compared with the caregivers of non-stoma patients. To sum up, it seems unquestionable that the presence of a stoma significantly alters the patients' quality of life, psychological morbidity, sexuality and body image. The stoma patients' caregivers also suffer from high levels of anxiety and depression.