• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.159-168
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the impacts of end-of-life care competency and ethical dilemmas on psychological burnout in nurses who care for terminal cancer patients. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 160 nurses who cared for terminal cancer patients was conducted. The participants were recruited from the hospice-palliative care wards, hematology or oncology wards, or intensive care units of three general hospitals in a single metropolitan area. Data were collected using a self-administered survey to assess end-oflife care competency, ethical dilemmas, psychological burnout, and general sociodemographic characteristics. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the independent ttest, analysis of variance, Pearson correlation coefficients, and hierarchical linear regression analysis using SPSS for Windows (version 26.0). Results: Psychological burnout was significantly correlated with end-of-life care competency (r=-0.23, P=0.003) but not with ethical dilemmas. The results of the hierarchical linear regression analysis indicated that endof-life care competency (β=-0.280, P=0.010) and ethical dilemmas (β=0.275, P=0.037) were significant predictors of psychological burnout, after adjusting for age, religious status, clinical experience, and unit type. Conclusion: The current study's findings demonstrate that end-of-life care competency and ethical dilemmas are crucial factors that affect psychological burnout in nurses who care for terminal cancer patients. Substantive education programs must be developed to improve nurses' competencies in end-of-life care and ethical dilemmas to decrease psychological burnout.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.147-154
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• 2011

Purpose: This study was performed to evaluate Korean nurses' knowledge about hereditary colorectal cancer (HCRC). Methods: A modified 15-item HCRC knowledge questionnaire was developed based on previous research. One hundred and forty-eight nurses have completed the questionnaire from February to April, 2011. Results: The average score of nurses' knowledge was $11.25{\pm}1.54$. Ninety-seven percent of nurses knew about colonoscopy check up schedule and family pedigree. However, only 20% of nurses knew about the rate of passing on mutation genes to offspring and risk of developing CRC among carriers. Only 13.5% of nurses had previous genetic education experiences. Working in oncology units, taking care of CRC patients, and participating in genetic education were not associated with nurses' HCRC knowledge. Conclusion: Various factors influence nurses' knowledge about HCRC. Repeated study with larger national sample of nurses is recommended to identify the factors affecting nurses' knowledge level in order to develop efficient genetic education programs for HCRC patients and their families by nurses.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.597-609
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• 2023

Purpose: The degree of caring behavior of oncology nurses is a crucial factor in the care provided to patients with cancer. In this study, we aimed to investigate factors related to oncology nurses' caring behavior, including their resilience and professional quality of life. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted with 107 oncology nurses at an urban tertiary hospital from May 18 to 24, 2015. We used a self-report questionnaire to measure resilience, professional quality of life, and degree of caring behavior. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, correlations, and multiple regression analysis using SPSS/WIN 20.0. Results: Oncology nurses presented with low levels of resilience and caring behavior, and high levels of compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress. There was a statistically significant relationship between the degree of caring behavior, resilience (r = .43, p < .001), compassion satisfaction (r = .51, p < .001), and burnout (r = - .42, p < .001), as well as between secondary traumatic stress and burnout (r = .34, p < .001). Factors associated with oncology nurses' degree of caring behavior were compassion satisfaction (t = 6.00, p < .001) and educational level (t = 3.45, p = .001). Conclusion: This study demonstrates that oncology nurses' degree of caring behavior is related to their professional quality of life and education. These findings suggest that enhancing oncology nurses' healthy coping strategies at both the individual and organizational levels can further develop holistic nursing care. Additionally, it is necessary to examine the factors affecting nurses' compassion satisfaction and to try to promote this aspect.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.240-246
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• 2010

Purpose: Advancing genetic knowledge for oncology nurses is especially important in Korea because physicians have launched to incorporate genetic risk assessment and genetic testing into their practice. The purpose of this paper was to identify the effect of the first academic cancer genetic risk assessment and counseling course for Korean nurses. Methods: Thirty-five nurses were recruited and educated from June 8 to 14, 2006 in Seoul, Korea. Two measurement tools were used: 'knowledge about the hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC)' and 'knowledge about the cancer genetics'. Results: Students' score of knowledge about HBOC at pre-education was $12.22{\pm}2.23$ and after education, it increased to $13.62{\pm}1.76$. This change was statistically significant (t=-3.253, p=.003). The score of knowledge about cancer genetics at pre-education was $11.31{\pm}3.44$, and after education it has increased to $16.17{\pm}1.94$. It also was statistically significant (t=-6.92, p=.000). Conclusion: This program was effective to be a starting point for establishing genetic educational planning for the oncology nurses in Korea. This academically-based course is recognized as valuable by oncology nurses. With this new knowledge, nurses can begin to expand their role in delivering comprehensive cancer care services in Korea.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.20-25
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• 2011

Purpose: The study was aimed to review and understand the meaning of cancer cachexia. Methods: Using the keywords "cachexia" and "cancer cachexia" 30 oncology research published from 1974 to 2009 were selected for the review. Results: The mechanism of cancer cachexia has not been fully understood, but various pathogenesis appears to be involved in the development cachexia including altered metabolism of carbohydrate, lipid, and protein associated with cytokines and hormone. As a result, muscle strength, food intake and resting energy expenditure (REE) are reduced. Most medications for the treatment of cachexia show debating results except some drugs such as megace. Supportive care including nutritional education, nursing care, and social support are found another effective treatment options. Conclusion: The results of this study would help oncology nurses to understand the mechanism of cancer cachexia and its management.

• The Korean Journal of Rehabilitation Nursing
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.56-63
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• 2006

Purpose: The objectives of this study were to investigate perception of touch therapies among nurses who looking after cancer patients, ultimately to probe possibility of utilization of touch therapies as nursing interventions. Method: A descriptive study conducted from Dec. 2005 to Jan. 2006. 270 nurses taking care of cancer patients in 2 urban hospital were completed self-report questionnaire about general characteristics, utilization of touch therapies, willingness to adopt touch therapies in their practice, and perception of safety and effectiveness of touch therapies. Result: The participants were average 27.97 year-old, 60% of them had bachelor's degree, most of them were staff nurses(83.0%), and 34.6% of them were 3-5 years experienced in oncology nursing. Among 5 touch therapies(therapeutic touch, massage, reflexology, acupressure, and acupuncture), massage was the most positively perceived therapy not only the aspects of safety(67.1%) and effectiveness(65.9%), but also willingness to utilize in their practice(71.2%). There was no significant difference in willingness to utilize in their practice per age and years of working in oncology nursing. Older and more experienced groups perceived more positively to massage and reflexology. Conclusion: Massage might be readily adopted as a nursing intervention in oncology nursing practice. Strategies to encourage the utilization of touch therapies as nursing intervention should be established.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.11
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• pp.4653-4658
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• 2015

Background: Palliative therapies have an important role in increasing the quality of healthcare and in dealing with physical and psychosocial problems due to cancer. We here aimed to evaluate the managerial perspectives and opinions of the hospital managers and clinical directors about specialized palliative care centers. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted in two large-scale hospitals in which oncology care is given with medical directors (n:70). A questionnaire developed by the researchers asking about demographic characteristics and professional experience, opinions and suggestions of medical directors about providing and integrating palliative care into healthcare was used and responses were analyzed. Results: Potential barriers in providing palliative care (PC) and integrating PC into health systems were perceived as institutional by most of the doctors (97%) and nurses (96%). Social barriers were reported by 54% of doctors and 82% of nurses. Barriers due to interest and knowledge of health professionals about PC were reported by 76% of doctors and 75% of nurses. Among encouragement ideas to provide PC were dealing with staff educational needs (72%), improved working conditions (77%) and establishing a special PC unit (49)%. An independent PC unit was suggested by 27.7% of participants and there was no difference between the hospitals. To overcome the barriers for integration of PC into health systems, providing education for health professionals and patient relatives, raising awareness in society, financial arrangements and providing infrastructure were suggested. The necessity for planning and programming were emphasized. Conclusions: In our study, the opinions and perspectives of hospital managers and clinical directors were similar to current approaches. Managerial needs for treating cancer in efficient cancer centers, increasing the capacity of health professionals to provide care in every stage of cancer, effective education planning and patient care management were emphasized.

• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.104-114
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• 2006

Genetic knowledge for oncology nurses is important in Korea because oncologists are incorporating genetic counseling and genetic testing into their practice. The purpose of this paper is to describe our method of developing the first academic cancer genetic risk assessment and counseling course for Korean nurses. A one-week (non-credit) cancer genetics counseling program was constructed for master's level Korean oncology nurses. The course emphasized basic genetic concepts and principles the genetics of cancer; hereditary cancer syndromes; family history assessments; pedigree construction; risk calculation; surveillance recommendations and treatment options ethical, legal, social, and psychological issues inherent in genetic testing. The goals of this program are to: 1) provide a comprehensive knowledge base for nurses who are currently expanding their scope of practice into the genetic counseling role 2) introduce this knowledge to nurses who want to use it in their practice; and 3) provide cancer genetic knowledge and resources to Korean nursing faculty who plan to incorporate this knowledge into existing master's courses. This academically-based course is recognized as valuable by nurses, nursing faculty, and physicians. With this new knowledge nurses can begin toexpand their role in delivering comprehensive cancer care services.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.18
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• pp.8211-8214
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• 2016

Background: Having a conscience is one of the main pre-requisite of providing nursing care. The knowledge regarding levels of conscience among nurses in eastern countries is limited. So, the purpose of this study was to examine the level of conscience and its related factors among Iranian oncology nurses. Materials and Methods: This descriptive-correlational study was conducted in 3 hospitals in Tabriz, Iran. Overall, 68 nurses were selected using a non-probability sampling method. The perceptions of conscience questionnaire was used to identify the levels of conscience among nurses. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 13.0. Results: The mean nurses' level of conscience scores was 72.7. In the authority and asset sub-scales nurses acquired higher scores. The mean of nurses' scores in burden and depending on culture sub-scales were the least. Also, there were no statistical relationship between some demographic characteristics of participants and their total score on the perceptions of conscience questionnaire. Conclusions: According to study findings Iranian nurses had high levels of conscience. However, understanding all the factors that affect nurses' perception of conscience requires further studies.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.100-109
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• 2012

Purpose: This study was done to understand the meanings and nature of experiences of the burnout of nurses working in oncology wards. Methods: The hermeneutic phenomenology developed by van-Manen was used. The period for data collection was from November, 2006 to May, 2007. This study took place in 3 university hospitals in B & U cities. Nine nurses working in oncology wards participated. Data collection was done through individual in-depth interviews. Results: The eight most common themes demonstrated by participants from this study were 'being fed up with endless demands', 'collapsing in front of deaths', 'gasping for breath due to overwhelming tasks', 'uncontrollable suffering of body', 'gradually loosing self-esteem', 'frustration from the work world', 'beleaguered relationships', and 'desire to escape'. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that there is a need to develop a preventive burnout program for nurses working in oncology wards.