• 성인간호학회지
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• 제18권5호
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• pp.746-759
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• 2006

Purpose: This study was designed to systematically explore and elicit information about terminally ill cancer patients' and primary family caregivers' subjectivity of death. Method: Using Q-methodology, 21 terminally ill cancer patients and 19 primary family caregivers sorted 40 statements during personal interviews. Results: The results of this study show that terminally ill cancer patients have four factors ('Attachment to life', 'Hope for heaven', 'Resignation to reality', 'Avoidance of pain') of response and primary caregivers have four factors('Dependence on religion', 'Faithfulness to reality', 'Obedience to fate', 'Agony of reality'). Comparing the subjectivities of death of terminally ill cancer patients and primary family caregivers, 'Hope for heaven' and 'Dependence on religion' reveal the similarities of their outlook. On the other hand, 'Attachment to life', 'Resignation to reality', 'Avoidance of pain', 'Faithfulness to reality', 'Obedience to fate', 'Agony of reality' reveals different aspects of their outlook. The group of terminally ill cancer patients and their families divided into four types. Type A was 'Attachment to life and Agony of reality', type B was 'Attachment to life and Obedience to fate', type C was 'Hope for heaven and Dependence on religion' and type D was 'Resignation to reality and Faithfulness to reality'. The positive group was C or 'Hope for heaven and Dependence on religion'. Conclusion: There are significant differences found in the subjective structure of death among terminally ill cancer patients and primary family caregivers. Therefore, it is necessary to develop an individualized nursing intervention for terminally ill cancer patients and family caregivers.

• 대한한의학회지
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• 제25권4호
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• pp.152-160
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• 2004

Objective : Recently, an increasing portion of cancer patients use various therapies of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) including traditional oriental medicine, which is believed to improve the consequence of cancer according to clinical experience and laboratory data. But the clinical-based systemic statistic validity of these therapies is lacking, so this study was aimed to validate the traditional oriental therapies (TOT) for terminally ill cancer patients. Patients and methods : This retrospective study was performed on 273 patients who were diagnosed with terminally ill cancer in Korea and treated with TOT in the oriental hospital of Daejeon University, from March 1997 to June 2003. We examined the median duration of the terminal period and the correlations between 9 factors and survival of terminally ill cancer patients. Results : During the study period, we could confirm 142 patients' death (52.01%) in 273 subjects. The median length of survival in terminally ill cancer patients was 16 weeks (95%CI 14.0∼20.0) and 40.15% (95%CI 40.07∼40.22) of patients had survived more than 24 weeks. According to Cox's proportional hazard model including gender, age, conventional therapies (chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery), performance status and clinical symptoms as independent variables, history of conventional therapies (RR 0.581, 95%CI 0.381∼0.885), higher performance status (RR 1,855, 95%CI 1.454∼2.366) and absence of ascites and pleural effusion (RR 1.631, 95%CI 1.047∼2.538) showed independent prognostic value of survival. Conclusion : Our findings suggest that TOT offer potential benefits for cancer patients at the terminal stage.

• Healthcare Informatics Research
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• 제24권4호
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• pp.317-326
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• 2018

Objectives: The demand for hospice has been increasing among patients with cancer. This study examined the current hospice referral scenario for terminally ill cancer patients and created a data form to collect hospice information and a modified health information exchange (HIE) form for a more efficient referral system for terminally ill cancer patients. Methods: Surveys were conducted asking detailed information such as medical instruments and patient admission policies of hospices, and interviews were held to examine the current referral flow and any additional requirements. A task force team was organized to analyze the results of the interviews and surveys. Results: Six hospices completed the survey, and 3 physicians, 2 nurses, and 2 hospital staff from a tertiary hospital were interviewed. Seven categories were defined as essential for establishing hospice data. Ten categories and 40 data items were newly suggested for the existing HIE document form. An implementation guide for the Consolidated Clinical Document Architecture developed by Health Level 7 (HL7 CCDA) was also proposed. It is an international standard for interoperability that provides a framework for the exchange, integration, sharing, and retrieval of electronic health information. Based on these changes, a hospice referral scenario for terminally ill cancer patients was designed. Conclusions: Our findings show potential improvements that can be made to the current hospice referral system for terminally ill cancer patients. To make the referral system useful in practice, governmental efforts and investments are needed.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• 제15권2호
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• pp.99-107
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• 2012

목적: 말기암환자의 여명 예측은 치료의 이득과 위해를 판단하는 잣대가 되고, 적절한 의료 중재 제공 및 환자의 자율성에 기초한 의사결정에 중요한 기준이 된다. 특히 많은 수의 말기암환자는 암성 식욕부진-악액질 증후군으로 사망에 이르기 때문에 본 연구에서는 이를 반영할 수 있는 혈장 렙틴 농도와 생존기간과의 연관성을 알아보고자 하였다. 방법: 2009년 7월부터 2010년 7월까지 13개월 동안, 만 20세 이상의 말기암환자 69명을 대상으로 혈장 렙틴 농도를 측정하고, 생존기간을 조사하였다. 나이, 성별, 원발암 부위, 암 치료 경력, 전이여부, 투약상황 및 활력증후, 백혈구 수, 혈색소, Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), C-반응성 단백질, 총 빌리루빈, 총 콜레스테롤, 알부민, 렙틴 등의 혈액검사를 시행하였다. 결과: 혈장 렙틴 농도와 성별, 나이, 백혈구 수, 혈색소, AST, ALT, 총 빌리루빈, C-반응성 단백질, 통증강도 등의 상관 관계 분석 결과 렙틴과 생존기간에는 통계적으로 유의한 양의 상관 관계를 보였으며, 단변량 분석한 결과 혈장 렙틴 농도는 생존기간과 통계적으로 경계수준의 유의한 관계를 보였으나, 단변량 분석에서 생존 기간에 유의한 영향을 미치는 성별, 백혈구 수, AST, ALT, 총 빌리루빈, 알부민, C-반응성 단백질을 포함하여 시행한 다변량 분석에서 혈장 렙틴 농도는 생존기간과 통계적으로 유의한 관계가 없는 것으로 나타났다. 결론: 암성 식욕부진-악액질 증후군과 관련이 있는 혈장 렙틴 농도와 말기암환자의 생존기간과는 통계적으로 유의한 연관성을 보이지는 않았다. 그러나, 소화기계암환자에 있어서는 혈장 렙틴 농도가 생존기간 예측인자로서 쓰일 수 있는 가능성을 보여주었다.

• 대한간호학회지
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• 제53권3호
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• pp.340-358
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• 2023

Purpose: This study aimed to develop an instrument to showcase Dignity in Care of Terminally Ill Patients for Nurses and to examine its validity and reliability. Methods: A total of 58 preliminary items on dignity in care of terminally ill patients for nurses were selected using content validity analysis and expert opinions on 97 candidate items derived through a literature review and qualitative focus group interviews. Questionnaires were administered to 502 nurses caring for terminally ill cancer patients at hospice and palliative care institutions. The data were analyzed using item analysis, exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, convergent and discriminant validity, and Pearson correlation for criterion validity, reliability was tested using Cronbach's alpha. Results: The final instrument consisted of 25 items, with four factors identified through confirmatory factor analysis. Four factors-ethical values and moral attitudes, interaction-based communication, maintaining comfort, professional insight and competence-accounted for 61.8% of the total variance. Cronbach's α for total items was .96, and test-retest reliability of intraclass correlation coefficient was .90. Conclusion: Since its validity and reliability have been verified through various methods, the Dignity in Care Scale of Terminally Ill Patients for Nurses can be used for develop nursing interventions and improve dignity in care of terminally ill patients.

• 지역사회간호학회지
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• 제12권1호
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• pp.175-186
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• 2001

To evaluate the effect of informational support by hospice team on family caregivers of terminally ill cancer patients. 22 family caregivers of D University Hospital in Daegu city were participated. The research was conducted from Aug. 16th to Oct. 28th 2000 by using self-reported questionnaires. The instruments used in this study were the Weinert's scale of perceived social support. Spielberger's state anxiety inventory. CES-D. and Ellison and Paloutzian's spiritual well-being scale. The intervention was designed to give educational and counselling program up to 7 times within 4 weeks. Educational and counselling booklets which made by the researcher were used step by step by hospice team, he data were analysed frequency. percentage. Wilcoxon Singed Ranks Test with SPSS Win l0.0/PC. The results obtained from this study were as follows; 1. The perceived social support of family caregivers was significantly increased after ready planned informational support was applied by hospice team(z=-3.045. p=0.002). 2. The anxiety of family caregivers was significantly reduced after ready planned informational support was applied by hospice team(z =-3:348. p=0.001). 3. The depression of family caregivers was significantly reduced after ready planned informational support was applied by hospice team(z=-3.641. p=0.000). 4. The spiritual well-being score of family caregivers was not significantly improved after ready planned informational support was applied by hospice team(z=-0.422. p=0.673). In conclusion. the results of this study clearly suggests that the informational support provided by hospice team not only increased the family caregivers' who are caring for terminally ill cancer patients. Therefor the informational support program designed by researcher for family caregivers who are caring for terminally ill cancer patients should be utilized and expended.

• 한국호스피스완화의료학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국호스피스완화의료학회 2000년도 동계학술대회
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• pp.162-174
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• 2000

The purpose of this hermeneutic study was to investigate the meaning of "good dying" of Chinese terminally ill cancer patients in Taiwan; the factors related to this morning; and the strategies cancer patients used to ensure "good dying". Indepth unstructured interviews, prolonged participant observations, and review of clinical records were selected as the methods for data collection. In the four and one-half month period of data collection, the researcher was in the role of a full time clinical nurse specialist who directly took care of the subject patients in 4 hospitals and in patients' homes. The 20 subject were selected purposively according to selection criteria and various demographic backgrounds. Interview transcripts and field notes comprised the data for analysis. The results were composed by 3 constitutive patterns and 12 themes. Achieving inner peace appeared to herald the good dying state. The "good dying" for Chinese terminally ill cancer patients in Taiwan meant peace of body, peace of mind, and peace of thought. The constitutive pattern of peace of body included 4 themes: (1)minimizing the agony of physical symptoms; (2)short period of dying process without lingering death; (3) cleanliness, neatness, and integrity of the body; and (4) mobility. The constitutive pattern of peace of mind included 5 themes: (1) yielding; (2) non-attachment; (3) not to be lonely; (4) settle down all affairs; and (5) being in a preferred environment and enjoying nature. The third constitutive pattern of peace of thought included 3 themes: (1) getting through day by day without thinking; (2) meaningful life; and (3) expectation that the suffering would be ending. Through understanding of the terminally ill cancer patient' needs in their meanings of "good dying", recommendations can be made for humanistic care. The findings of this study have recommendations for care givers daily contact with dying patients and for medical and nursing education.

• 대한간호학회지
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• 제31권2호
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• pp.206-220
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• 2001

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of depression, discomfort, spirituality, physical care, and opioid use on pain with terminally ill cancer patients residing in hospice units. The convenient sample of this study consisted of 41 terminally ill cancer patients at three hospice units in university affiliated hospitals. Patients were interviewed with structured questionnaires three times at predetermined intervals: admission to the hospice unit (Time 1), one week later (Time 2), and two weeks later (Time 3). The data was collected from January 1998 to January 1999 and was analyzed using ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient, and multivariate multiple regression. 1. The mean age of the participants was approximately 55 years old. In terms of diagnosis, lung cancer showed the highest frequency (19.5%), followed by stomach cancer and rectal cancer (17.1%). The motive of seeking hospice unit admission was control (72. 2%), followed by spiritual care (50%), and symptom relief (38.9%). 2. Regarding the type of pain felt, the highest pain frequency the participants experienced was deep pain (55%), followed by multiple pain (25%), intestinal pain (10%), then superficial (5%) and neurogenic pain (5%). For the level of pain measured by VAS, there was no significant difference among the three time points; Time 1 (5.04$\pm$2.21), Time 2 (4.82$\pm$2.58) and Time 3(4.73$\pm$2.51). 3. There was significant change seen in spirituality and physical care in each time interval. Namely, the longer the length of admission at the hospice unit, the higher the importance of spirituality (p=0.0001) and the more the physical care the participants received (p=0.01). The opioid use at the three time points showed the following frequencies : Time 1 (75.6%), Time 2 (85.4%) and Time 3 (75.6%). 4. Regarding factors influencing pain, the pain level was significantly affected by the depression level (p〈0.01) and the opioid use (p〈0.1). These results were the most significant at the two time points (Time 1 and Time 2). At Time 3 (two weeks later), the pain level was significantly affected by the depression level (p〈0.05) and the amount of physical care the participants received (p〈0.1). In conclusion, the terminally ill cancer patients had moderate pain, were generally depressed, and were treated with opioid analgesics. As approaching death, the patients received more physical care due to increased physical symptoms experienced and they had a higher perception of the importance of spirituality. Thus, health care professionals need to provide continuous care for each of them to die comfortably physically, psycho- logically, and spiritually.

• 재활간호학회지
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• 제17권1호
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• pp.18-26
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• 2014

Purpose: To improve the family functioning, fear of death and depression among the terminally ill cancer patients, the effects of letter as an independent nursing intervention were identified. Methods: Non-equivalent control group pre and post test design was used. Subjects were 60 patients and their family members who were hospitalized at hospice units of an university-affiliated hospital. Patients and their family members were encouraged to write a letter to each other at least 4 times for 2 weeks. Results: Family functioning, fear of death and depression in the experimental group were significantly more improved after intervention than those of control group, even depression of experimental group before intervention was worse than that of control group. Conclusion: Writing a letter to family members is worth to use as an independent nursing intervention for terminally ill patients. It is recommended that further study to identify the potential of letters as an independent nursing intervention is implemented for various patients.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• 제11권4호
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• pp.181-187
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• 2008

목적: 말기 암 환자에게 있어서 정확한 여명 예측은 환자의 효율적인 치료 계획을 세우고 환자의 삶의 질을 높이는데 있어서 중요하다. 본 연구에서는 말기 암 환자에서 호중구-림프구 비가 생존기간 예측을 위한 예후 인자로서 유용한가를 알아보고자 한다. 방법: 2004년 1월부터 2007년 6월까지 말기 암 환자로 완화 치료를 목적으로 영동세브란스병원 가정의학과에 입원 혹은 전입되어 치료를 받는 중 사망한 67명의 환자를 대상으로 하였다. 호중구-림프구 비에 따라서 3개의 군으로 나누어 과거 병력, 신체 계측, 임상 증상, 혈액검사 소견, 생존기간을 분석하였다. 결과: 호중구-림프구 비가 가장 높은 군(${\geq}12.5$)에서 환자의 생존기간이 단변량 분석에서 통계적으로 유의하게 짧았으며(hazard ratio (HR)=3.270, P=0.001)), 저하된 활동도, 호흡 곤란 증상을 보정한 다변량 분석에서도 통계적 유의성을 보였다(HR=2.907, P=0.007). 완화 치료를 위해 입원 혹은 전입된 시점에 비하여 사망이 임박한 시점에서 호중구-림프구 비는 의미 있는 증가를 보였다(P=0.001). 결론: 호중구-림프구 비는 말기 암환자에서 생존기간 예측을 위한 독립적인 예후 인자로 확인 되었다.