• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
• /
• v.36 no.7
• /
• pp.1224-1231
• /
• 2006

Purpose: This study was conducted to identify comprehensive predictors of fatigue in cancer patients. Methods: One hundred ten cancer patients visiting in-patient or out-patient clinics of a university hospital located in Incheon participated in this study. Results: The hematologic indicators (WBC and Hemoglobin) were significant fo. explaining fatigue. The psychological factors of fatigue were statistically significant. Both anxiety and depression, included as psychological factors, were significant in explaining fatigue in cancer patients. The influence of physical factors on fatigue was also statistically significant. Among the variables included as physical factors, pain, nausea/vomiting/anorexia, and sleep disturbance were significant whereas, dyspnea was not significant. The influence of the daily activity factor on fatigue was statistically significant. Among the variables included as daily activity factors, regular exercise or not and the usual activity level were significant in explaining fatigue of cancer patients, while the level of rest was not statistically significant. Conclusions: From the study results fatigue of cancer patients appeared to be influenced by multidimensional factors, such as physiological, physical, psychological, and activity related factors.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.787-795
• /
• 1997

This descriptive study was conducted to ascertain whether the needs of patients with cancer, their caregivers and their nurses changed according to the illness phases and if the perceived needs of the three groups were different for three categories of nursing needs. At two hospitals in Seoul and Choongnam, three groups of subjects, -patients with cancer(79), caregivers(92), and nurses(72) - responded to a questionnaire consisting of items on educational need(11 items), physical need(8 items), emotional need(9 items) using a 4-point Likert scale. The patients and caregivers were selected according to the phase of the cancer (initial, intermediate or recurred, terminal phases). Finding revealed that the level of perception and degree of satisfaction of the needs were low, just around two points in patients and caregivers. Of the three categories of needs, physical needs were received the highest score and the degree of satisfaction of physical needs was also the highest. There was no significant difference between the level of perception and satisfaction of needs in patients and caregivers according to the phases of the illness and the degree of per reception and the satisfaction of the patients were not significantly different and caregivers showed the same result. There was a significant difference in the level of importance of the needs of nurses according to the phases of the cancer. They perceived emotional needs were the most important in first phase and second phase, physical needs in third phase and the educational needs were more important in the first phase than in any other phase. The degree of importance of needs was significantly lower than the degree to which needs were addressed, according to the nurses response. In a comparison of patient and caregiver's perceived degrees of need, and need satisfaction, and nurse's perceived degree of need provision, patient and caregiver scores were lower than the nurses.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.317-326
• /
• 2001

The purpose of this study was to identify correlation of stress, coping patterns and physical symptoms in cancer patient's caregiver. The stress was measured by VAS(Visual Analogue Scale). The coping methods were measured using the modified Ways of Coping Questionnaire by Yang (1998) and the actual physical symptoms were investigated. The phases of patient illness consisted of 1st (initial) stage, and 2nd (recurred) stage and 3rd (terminal) stage based on literature (Lewandowski & Jones, 1988). The data were collected by a survey conducted from March to July, 2000 and which included 196 cancer patients' caregivers from two hospitals in Seoul. The data were analyzed using paired t-test, unpaired t-test, ANOVA, Scheffe test and Pearson correlation coefficient. The results were as follows: 1. The average of caregivers' stress scores was 62.5. Problem-focused coping methods were significantly used more than emotion-focused coping methods by the cancer patients' caregiver. The mean number of caregivers' physical symptom was 1.03. 2. There were significantly high level of stress in women, those who were more than 60 years old, those who had a low education level, those who had no job, those who are patients' wives' and those who are terminal patients' caregiver. There were significantly low levels of coping in women, those who were more than 60 years old, those who had low education levels, those who had no job and those who are patients' wives. There were significantly higher number of physical symptoms in women, and those who have no job. 3. Caregivers' stress was significantly correlated to problem-focused coping methods (r=-.21, p=.006), and physical symptom (r=-.28, p=.0001). In conclusion, attempts to develop nursing interventions for cancer patients' caregiver in women, those who are more than 60 years old, with a low education level, have no job, and are cancer patients' wives could have an improvement on positive coping methods and provide relaxation from stress in the patients' experience.

• The Korean Journal of Rehabilitation Nursing
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.50-58
• /
• 2005

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to increase our understanding of the terminal cancer patients and their families concerns. I analyzed the counseling contents of terminal cancer patients and their relatives who referred to hospice office. Method: Data was collected from January 2004 to November 2004. During the counseling, I took notes the key points and contents. 109 patients and/or their families's counseling records were analyzed with the descriptive statistics and content analysis. Result: 73.4% of patients knew their current terminally ill status. The mobility of 86.2% of the patients was worse than ECOG 3 level. Patients have uncontrolled pain(28.4%), emotional distress(55.0%), and physical distress(49.5%). Caregivers of the patients were spouse(46.8%), sons and daughters(24.8%). Family members had problems to tell the bad news to their family cancer patient. 95.4% of the patient and family members was informed about the hospice and palliative care services, and 35.8% of them was referred to the hospice and palliative organizations. Frequently asked questions were 'what is hospice?', 'how much is the cost of hospice services?' etc. Conclusion: Care planning for terminal cancer patients must include patient. Also, professionals should consider and offer accessible, effective and empathetic counseling services to patients and families.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.8
• /
• pp.3153-3157
• /
• 2015

Background: Incidence and mortality rates for cancer have increased dramatically in the recent 30 years in Taiwan. However, not all patients receive treatment. Treatment refusal might impair patient survival and life quality. In order to improve this situation, we proposed this study to evaluate factors that are related to refusal of treatment in cancer patients via a cancer case manager system. Materials and Methods: This study analysed data from a case management system during the period from 2010 to 2012 at a medical center in Northern Taiwan. We enrolled a total of 14,974 patients who were diagnosed with cancer. Using the PRECEDE Model as a framework, we conducted logistic regression analysis to identify independent variables that are significantly associated with refusal of therapy in cancer patients. A multivariate logistic regression model was also applied to estimate adjusted the odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). Results: A total of 253 patients (1.69%) refused treatment. The multivariate logistic regression result showed that the high risk factors for refusal of treatment in cancer patient included: concerns about adverse effects (p<0.001), poor performance(p<0.001), changes in medical condition (p<0.001), timing of case manager contact (p=.026), the methods by which case manager contact patients (p<0.001) and the frequency that case managers contact patients (${\geq}10times$) (p=0.016). Conclusions: Cancer patients who refuse treatment have poor survival. The present study provides evidence of factors that are related to refusal of therapy and might be helpful for further application and improvement of cancer care.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.5
• /
• pp.1955-1960
• /
• 2014

Background: This study was performed to determine the experiences of nursing students in caring for paediatric cancer patients and their families. Materials and Methods: This qualitative survey was carried out with 14 students studying in the nursing department of the Faculty of Health Sciences of a university in Edirne, Turkey. Data were obtained through focus group interviews and evaluated based on a qualitative content analysis. Results: It was determined that students, for the most part, experienced problems related to communication, sadness, helplessness, fear, anxiety, resentment and anger. In addition, the students were affected most often by effects of the disease and invasive procedures on paediatric cancer patients and their families during the process of caring for them in the oncology clinic. Conclusions: It would be useful to inform nursing students, prior to clinical practice, about the special needs of paediatric cancer patients and families who stay in oncology clinics, and to follow up with appropriate guidance during the clinical practices.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
• /
• v.32 no.6
• /
• pp.888-896
• /
• 2002

The purpose of this study wsa to necessitate auricular acupressure therapy as an independent nursing intervention on cancer paitents by confirming its effectiveness. Method: The experimental study was unequivalently controlled pre-post measure study. The subjects were 40 cancer patients who were hospitalized in K medical center in Seoul. The experimental group (20) and the control group (20) were randomly assigned. As measured tools, Spielberger's State-trait Anxiety (1976) measured tool by Kim's transplation (1978). The auricular acupressure therapy was applied to experimental group, and the pre-post measure was performed to both group. The data was analyzed by using SPSS computer program that included descriptive statistics, 2-test, and t-test. Result: 1) The experimental group with the auricular acupressure therapy showed lower trait anxiety scores in comparison with the control group (t= 8.036, p=.000). 2) The experimental group which applied the auricular acupressure therapy showed lower state anxiety scores in comparison with the control group (t= 19.616, p=.000). This result showed that cancer patients with the auricular acupressure therapy applied cancer patients decreased state anxiety and trait anxiety. Therefore , effectiveness of the auricular acupressure therapy was confirmed through this study. Conclusion: According to the result, anxiety of cancer pateint should be decreased and controlled by the auricular acupressure therapy as independent nursung intervension. In addition, the auricular acupressure therapy will provide effective independent nursing intervention that will decrease anxiety on patient with other disease and will improve quality of their lives.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.31-39
• /
• 2005

Purpose: This study was to identify the levels of functional status, depression, family support and their relationship among those variables in head and neck cancer patients. Method: The subjects were 100 patients with head and neck cancer patients who visited at outpatients clinic in one university hospital in Taegu. The instrument used for this study were Functional Status in Head & Neck Cancer - Self Report Scale developed by Baker(1995), Self-Rating Depression Scale by Zung(1965) and Family support assessment tool by Kang hyun-suk(1984). The data were analysed percentage, mean, t-test, ANOVA and pearson's corelation using SAS program. Result: There was significantly negative correlation between functional status and depression(r=-.71) and between depression and family support(r=-.56). The relationship of functional status and family support was significant as r= .33. Conclusion: It was found that functional status, depression and family support of head and neck cancer patient were closely related each other. Therefore it is necessary to design nursing intervention to enhance family support or decrease depression for improving quality of life in head and neck cancer patient.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.21
• /
• pp.9427-9432
• /
• 2014

Background: Delayed presentation of symptomatic breast cancer is a public health issue in Iran, making a major contribution to low survival. Despite the importance of this problem, current knowledge is insufficient to inform interventions to shorten patient delay. The aim of this study was to explore factors influencing patient delay in Iranian women with self-discovered breast cancer symptom. Materials and Methods: This qualitative study was conducted during 2012-2013. Purposeful sampling was used to recruit 20 Iranian women with self-discovered symptoms of breast cancer who attended the Cancer Institute of Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Data were collected through semi-structured in-depth audiotaped interviews, which were transcribed and analyzed using conventional content analysis with MAXqda software version 10. Findings: Content analysis of the data revealed four main themes related to the delay in seeking medical help including: 1) attributing symptoms to the benign conditions; 2) conditional health behavior; 3) inhibiting emotional expression; and 4) barriers to access to health care systems. Conclusions: These results suggest that patient delay is influenced by complex and multiple factors. Effective intervention to reduce patient delay for breast cancer should be developed by focusing on improvement of women's medical knowledge, managing patients' emotional expression and reform of the referral system.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.14 no.3
• /
• pp.1905-1909
• /
• 2013

Objective: The aim of the current study was to evaluate changes in treatment outcomes in terms of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and symptom burden at zero, one, three, and six months after an initial diagnosis of colorectal cancer. The demographic and clinical characteristics that account for outcome changes in patients were investigated using a repeated measures framework. Methods and Materials: A cohort study was performed of 134 colorectal cancer patients followed from diagnosis to 6 months post-treatment in Central Taiwan. HRQoL and symptoms were assessed at diagnosis and one, three, and six months thereafter. The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Colon (FACT-C) questionnaire, VAS pain, and the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale (MSAS) were used for data collection. A generalized estimating equation (GEE) was applied for statistical analysis. Results: The majority of the patients were male (55%) and married (91.5%). The mean age was 60.4 years (SD = 11.71). Most were diagnosed stage III and IV colorectal cancer (54.5%). All underwent surgery; some also received chemotherapy (CT) or concurrent chemoradiation therapy (CCRT). The results of the GEE showed that overall, the HRQoL, pain, and symptoms of the patients significantly improved over the treatment period. Patients with stage IV disease who had received surgery and CCRT showed the worst HRQoL. Females, patients with comorbidity, and stage IV patients had higher pain scores over time. Female and stage IV patients had more severe physical symptoms, whereas stage II and IV patients had worse psychological symptoms over time. Conclusion: The patients' HRQoL, pain, and symptoms significantly improved over the 6-month treatment period. Certain patient and clinical variables accounted for changes in treatment outcomes regarding HRQoL and symptom burden in colorectal cancer patients.