• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.60-66
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyse the level of sexual function among breast cancer survivors as compared with that among healthy women. Method: A total of 208 women participated in this study: 103 breast cancer survivors attending self-help group and 105 community-residing healthy women in G city. A self-reported questionnaire with the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) was used to obtain data. Data were analyzed using the SPSS Win 14.0 $K^+$ for descriptive statistics, t-test, and two-way ANOVA. Results: The sexual function score of breast cancer survivors was significantly lower than that of healthy women, respectively $14.9{\pm}9.9$ and $20.6{\pm}11.1$ (p<0.001). The sexual function of recurrent breast cancer survivors was significantly lower than that of women without recurrence. However, there were no significant differences in the sexual function score according to the cancer stage, period since diagnosis, and types of cancer treatment modality. Conclusion: The findings indicate the importance of sex-related counseling and educational programs to improve the quality of life of breast cancer survivors.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.131-139
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• 2007

Purpose: This study was to compare the perceptions about hospice and the meaning of life between the participants and non-participants of the hospice volunteer education program. Method: Descriptive survey research design was used. Participants were 63, and the data collecting period was from October to December, 2006. Instrument developed by Jung-Hee Kim(1990) and Eun-Ja Lee(1998) was modified to measure the perceptions about hospice. To measure the meaning of life, P.I.L (Purpose In Life) instrument by Crumbaugh and Maholick(1969) was utilized. The data were analyzed using $X^2-test$, t-test and Pearson-Correlation Coefficient. Results: 1. The participants in the hospice volunteer education program demonstrated higher perception scores about hospice than the non-participants (t=5.193, p= .001). 2. The program participants also showed higher scores of the meaning of life than non-participants (t=3.084, p=.005). 3. The perception about hospice and the meaning of life had positive correlation (r= .46, p= .01). Conclusion: Therefore, hospice education program must be established in a continual and systematic way in order to standardize the hospice system in Korea.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.150-161
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• 2007

Purpose: This study was to assess the degree of infection prevention behaviors at home, and a relationship between those behaviors and barrier factors among cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Method: The data were collected from 92 cancer patients who were undergoing chemotherapy with more than two kinds of immunosuppressive agents at G university hospital in J city from February 17 to April 4, 2003. The instruments were the infection prevention behavior scale developed by researchers and the barrier factor scale by Gu et al. (2003). The data were analysed using mean, standard deviation, t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson's correlation coefficient by SPSS program. Results: The mean score of the behaviors for infection prevention was 2.61 of 4. The highest score was on the subscale 'rest and exercise', and the lowest score was on the subscale 'monitoring sign and symptom of infection'. And a negative correlation(r= -.208, p= .023) was found between infection prevention behaviors and barrier factors. The barriers correlated to infection prevention behaviors were mainly 'no habits' and 'no interest'. Conclusion: It seems that the degree of the behaviors for infection prevention was not performed enough to prevent infection among cancer patients. And there was negative relationship between infection prevention behaviors and barriers. We suggest to develop a nursing intervention program to enhance infection prevention behaviors through reducing the barrier factors.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.107-115
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• 2005

Purpose: The present study was designed to identify cancer patients' needs when chemotherapy ends. Method: In-depth interview with focus questions was applied for the study. The participants were recruited from the patients receiving cancer chemotherapy in a university hospital. They were seven cancer patients with stomach cancer and two with liver cancer at the ending period of their chemotherapy protocol. Participants were interviewed on discharge date of last treatment and when they returned for the first outpatient follow-up. The focus question was 'what are your needs at this point?' The interviews were audio-taped and transcribed before analysis. The data were analyzed for common categories, special analytic categories, and conceptual categories. Results: Thirty two common categories, ten special analytic categories, and six conceptual categories were identified as patient's needs. The six conceptual categories were comfort needs, social needs, information needs, humanism needs, environmental needs, and self-efficacy needs. Conclusion: There were characteristic specific patients' needs when chemotherapy ends. There are needs to develop and to apply nursing intervention for cancer patients.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.146-155
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• 2010

Purpose: This study was conducted in order to analyze themes, concepts, research methods and results of previous domestic research on the nursing of hematologic patients conducted through the last 10 yr, to find trends in the research, and to provide basic materials for setting the direction of future research on the nursing of hematologic patients. Methods: This study analyzed a total of 72 nursing theses related to hematology sampled from domestic theses for a master's or doctoral degree and papers published in six nursing journals registered in Korea Research Foundation from January 2000 to July 2009. Results: Of the 72 theses, 51 were for a master's degree, 7 for a doctoral degree, and 14 not for an academic degree. The concept covered most frequently in correlation research was 'quality of life' and concepts found in comparative research were stress and quality of life. In experimental research, the most common nursing intervention was oral care. The scale used most frequently was Spielberger's Anxiety Scale. Conclusion: It is necessary to expand experimental research applying nursing interventions, and to use objective physiological indexes for more effective assessment in experimental research. Furthermore, interdisciplinary research is required for enhancing the quality of clinical nursing research.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.153-158
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• 2013

This paper reports on part of a large study to identify competencies of oncology nurses in Malaysia. It focuses on oncology nurses' communications-related competency. As an important cancer care team member, oncology nurses need to communicate effectively with cancer patients. Literature shows that poor communication can make patients feel anxious, uncertain and generally not satisfied with their nurses' care. This paper deliberates on the importance of effective communication by oncology nurses in the context of a public hospital. Four focus group discussions were used in this study with 17 oncology/cancer care nurses from Malaysian public hospitals. The main inclusion criterion was that the nurses had to have undergone a post-basic course in oncology, or have work experience as a cancer care nurse. The findings indicated that nurses do communicate with their patients, patients' families and doctors to provide information about the disease, cancer treatment, disease recurrence and side effects. Nurses should have good communication skills in order to build relationships as well as to provide quality services to their patients. The paper concludes by recommending how oncology nursing competencies can be improved.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.16
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• pp.7117-7121
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• 2015

Background: The effects of home nursing intervention on the quality of life in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) after radiotherapy and chemotherapy are unclear. According to the characteristics of nursing home patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma, we should continuously improve the nursing plan and improve the quality of life of patients at home. Materials and Methods: We selected 180 patients at home with NPC after radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The patients were randomly divided into experimental and control groups (90 patients each). The experimental group featured intervention with an NPC home nursing plan, while the control group was given routine discharge and outpatient review. Nursing intervention for patients was mainly achieved by regular telephone follow-up and home visits. We use the quality of life scale (QOL-C30), anxiety scale (SAS) and depression scale (SDS) to evaluate these patients before intervention, and during follow-up at 1 month and 3 months after the intervention. Results: Overall health and quality of life were significantly different between the groups (p<0.05), Emotional function score was significantly higher after intervention (p<0.05), as were cognitive function and social function scores after 3 months of intervention (p<0.05). Scores of fatigue, nausea and vomiting, pain, appetite and constipation were also significantly different between the two groups (p<0.05). Rates of anxiety and depression after 3 months of intervention were 11.1%, 22.2% and 34.4%, 53.3%, the differences being significant (p<0.05). Conclusions: NPC home nursing plan could effectively improve overall quality of life, cognitive function, social function (after 3 months) of patients, but improvement regarding body function is not suggested. Fatigue, nausea and vomiting, pain, appetite, constipation were clearly improved. We should further pursue a personalized, comprehensive measurements for nursing interventions and try to improve the quality of life of NPC patients at home.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.135-142
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• 2004

Purpose: To examine informational needs of cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Methods: A cross-sectional survey design was utilized. The sample was 198 cancer patients receiving chemotherapy for a diagnosis of stomach or lung cancer at a university hospital. A modified version of Toronto Informational Needs Questionnaire was applied. Results: Subjects reported highest informational needs in prognosis dimension, followed by the treatment dimension including side effects and alternative therapy. Information about medical tests and follow-up care after the treatment was also in great need. Dimensions of support for patients/family and sexuality were low in need. The degree of informational needs was negatively correlated with patient's age and number of children. Differences were found in informational needs according to the educational level employment status, and gender of the patients, while diagnosis and treatment options did not make differences in informational needs. Conclusion: Health care professionals need to perceive informational needs of cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, and to provide them with information especially in the area of prognosis and treatment. Informational intervention would be effective when it is given with consideration of patient's characteristics.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.186-192
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• 2011

Purpose: The primary prevention for cervical cancer, the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination, has been available in South Korea and its importance has been emphasized publicly. The purpose of this study was to investigate the knowledge regarding HPV vaccination and identify the factors associated with HPV vaccination in female university students. Methods: A sample of 200 women among university students in Seoul was asked to answer a questionnaire on HPV-related knowledge and attitude, and influencing factors on HPV vaccination. Results: Among the respondents, 12.0% were HPV vaccinated. Overall HPV-related knowledge was low, and knowledge was not different between the vaccinated and unvaccinated groups. The vaccinated group demonstrated a higher score on the knowledge about the place where people could receive HPV vaccination and the cost of the vaccination than that of the unvaccinated group. The major influencing factor on vaccination was the parent's recommendation and the major barrier for vaccination was the cost of the vaccination. Conclusion: A broadened public campaign is recommended to increase the knowledge and positive attitude towards HPV vaccination for university female students as well as their parents.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.317-328
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• 2012

Purpose: This study was done to provide oncology nurses systemic guidelines designed to perform telephone counseling in outpatient settings treating patients with chemotherapy. Methods: Symptoms which are frequently questioned were identified through case reports recorded by 4 clinical nurse specialists from January 4 to December 31. 2010. Fifteen clinical experts and two hemato-oncologists reviewed the developed draft. Their opinions were synthesized to arrive at consensus on the ideal guidelines. This process confirmed content validity. The two hemato-oncologists also verified the face validity. Results: The six symptoms which were most frequently asked about were identified through 4,644 case reports and concerned pain, fever, skin alteration, nausea/vomiting, stomatitis and diarrhea. Evidence-based telephone triage guidelines for the 6 major symptoms in patients receiving chemotherapy were developed. Conclusion: These guidelines will help oncology nurses from novice to expert incorporate evidence-based telenursing into their practice.