• Asian Oncology Nursing
• /
• v.4 no.2
• /
• pp.103-109
• /
• 2004

The disease occurrence rate of the cancer is rapidly increased and It is becoming the main factor for the death The chemical therapy for preventing the cancer is recently used for many patients and thus extended the life of the patients. However, the side effect caused by the medical substances when performing the chemical therapy for preventing the cancer and the consequent mental and social problem are incurred to deteriorate the quality of the life. Therefore, it is needed to help the patient In order to reduce the above problems, and so this study was executed in order to examine the effect of the individual education on the quality of the life of the patients who are treated by the chemical therapy for preventing the cancer. The study was performed from Jan. 19. 2004 to Apr. 18. 2004 for the patients who were firstly treated by the chemical therapy for preventing the cancer in a university hospital located in the downtown in Seoul. The individual education on the chemical therapy for preventing the cancer was provided to 40 patients of the experimental group. The study plan is the experimental plan before and after the sole group, and it is the beginning experimental plan. The title of the booklet on the chemical therapy for preventing the cancer is "Cancer, The more you know, the more you can be cured", and the book was composed up of the side effect of the chemical therapy for preventing the cancer, treatment way for the side effect, and guide of the daily life. The survey with the questionnaire sheet was distributed to the experi- mental group before the education, the survey sheet was made out when they were hospitalized for 3-4 weeks after the education, and the data were examined by using SPSS statistical program with making our the survey questionnaires and the change of the quality of the life before and after the education of the patients who are treated by the chemical therapy for preventing the cancer was analyzed by using the parred t-test. The research result was verified that it has the meaningful that the quality of the life for the physical field, mental field, social field, and spiritual field after the individual education. The suggestion concluded by the above research result is as follows. First, there is the limitation to interpret the result since it was the beginning experimental plan for the sole group. Thus, it is suggested that the similar experimental plan should be executed with the expansion of the research subject and also with the contrast group. Second, it is suggested that the study on the change of the quality of the lifeaccording to the support of the individual education and family of the patients who are treated by the anti-cancer therapy.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.21
• /
• pp.9307-9312
• /
• 2014

Background: Hope is an important coping resource for cancer patients. Types and sources of hope and hope-inspiring strategies are not well investigated among Iranian cancer patients. The aims of present study were therefore to investigate the nature of hope and some demographic predictors of hope among Iranian cancer patients. Materials and Methods: This descriptive-correlational study was undertaken among 200 cancer patients admitted to an educational center affiliated to Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Participants were selected using a convenience sampling method. The Herth Hope Index and other validated questionnaires were used to investigate level of hope and types and sources of hope, as well as hope-inspiring strategies. Data were analyzed using SPSS statistical software. Results: The overall score for hope was 31 from total scores ranging between 12 and 48. Some 94% of patients mentioned 'return to normal life' and 'complete healing of disease by drugs and physicians' as their main hopes. The most important sources of hope reported by patients include spiritual resources, family members, healthcare workers, and medicines and treatments available for the disease. Relationship with God, praying/blessing, controlling the signs and symptoms of the disease, and family/health care workers' support were the main hope-inspiring strategies. Patients who had a history of metastasis, or who were older, illiterate, divorced/widowed and lived with their children reported lower levels of hope. On the other hand, employed patients and those with good support from their families had higher levels of hope. Conclusions: The study findings showed moderate to high levels of hope among Iranian cancer patients. Accordingly, the role of spiritual/religion, family members and health care workers should be considered in developing care plans for these patients.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.13 no.7
• /
• pp.3135-3141
• /
• 2012

This study was designed to adapt the Turkish versions of scales to evaluate fatigue in children with cancer from the perspectives of the children, parents and staff. The objective of this study was to validate "Child Fatigue Scale-24 hours" (CFS-24 hours), "Parent Fatigue Scale-24 hours" (PFS-24 hours) and "Staff Fatigue Scale-24 hours" (SFS-24 hours) for use in Turkish clinical research settings. Translation of the scales into Turkish and validity and reliability tests were performed. The validity of the translated scales was assessed with language validity and content validity. The reliability of the translated scales was assessed with internal consistency. The scales were evaluated by considering the following: calculation of the Cronbach alpha coefficient for parallel form reliability with 52 pediatric cancer patients, 86 parents and 43 nurses. The internal consistency was estimated as 0.88 for the Child Fatigue Scale-24 hours, 0.77 for the Parent Fatigue Scale-24 hours, and 0.72 for the Staff Fatigue Scale-24 hours (Cronbach's ${\alpha}$). The Turkish version of the Child Fatigue Scale -24 hours, the Parent Fatigue Scale -24 hours and the Staff Fatigue Scale -24 hours were judged reliable and valid instruments to assess fatigue in children and showed good psychometric properties. These scales should assist in understanding to what extent initiatives can minimize or eliminate fatigue. Our scales are recommended for further studies and use in pediatric oncology clinics as routine measurements and nursing initiatives should be planned accordingly.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.9
• /
• pp.3933-3938
• /
• 2014

Background: Assessment of supportive needs is the requirement to plan any supportive care program for cancer patients. There is no evidence about supportive care needs of Iranian breast cancer patients. So, the aims of present study were to investigate this question and s predictive factors. Materials and Methods: A descriptive-correlational study was conducted, followed by logistic regression analyses. The Supportive Care Needs Survey was completed by 136 breast cancer patients residing in Iran following their initial treatment. This assessed needs in five domains: psychological, health system and information, physical and daily living, patient care and support, and sexuality. Results: Patient perceived needs were highest in the health systems and information (71%), and physical and daily living (68%) domains. Logistic regression modeling revealed that younger participants have more un-met needs in all domains and those with more children reported fewer un-met needs in patient care and support domains. In addition, married women had more un-met supportive care needs related to sexuality. Conclusions: The high rate of un-met supportive care needs in all domains suggests that supportive care services are desperately required for breast cancer patients in Iran. Moreover, services that address informational needs and physical and daily living needs ought to be the priority, with particular attention paid to younger women. Further research is clearly needed to fully understand supportive care needs in this cultural context.

• 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.16 no.8
• /
• pp.3313-3317
• /
• 2015

The purpose of this study is to describe the relationship between caregiver burden and perceived social support among caregivers of patients with cancer. The research was conducted in a university hospital in ${\dot{I}}zmir$, Turkey. Eighty patient relatives who provided care service to patients with cancer who were admitted at hematology and oncology clinics participated in the study. The findings indicated that the care burden score was mild level. The mean of the perceived social support score was $58.4{\pm}21.0$ supporting the conclusion that there is a weak and negative-direct relation between caregiver and perceived social support and that as the perceived social support increased, conversely, care burden decreased.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
• /
• v.28 no.3
• /
• pp.314-322
• /
• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the quality of life reported by patients with multiple myeloma and secondly to identify the factors that impact the quality of life (QoL). Methods: 189 patients with multiple myeloma completed survey questionnaires. Quality of life was evaluated using European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core (EORTC QLQ-C) 30 and Multiple Myeloma (MY) 20. The data were analyzed using the t-test, ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis test, Duncan test and the Mann-Whitney test. Results: The mean score for each subscale of EORTC QLQ-C30 was 53.35 for global health status, 73.37 for functional scale, and 31.29 for symptom scale. The mean score for each subscale of EORTC QLQ-MY20 was 60.49 for future perspective, 59.78 for body image, 20.25 for disease symptom and 24.99 for side effect of treatment. Quality of life was reported to be significantly lower among females, unemployed, dependence on a sibling for financial support for treatment, a diagnosis of anemia, having treatment, high score on Eastern Coorperative Oncology Group and high grade peripheral neuropathy. Conclusion: The results of the survey can identify characteristics impacting the QoL of patients with multiple myeloma. Developing appropriate educational strategies and nursing interventions would enhance their QoL.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
• /
• v.45 no.4
• /
• pp.604-612
• /
• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the levels of physical symptoms, anxiety, depression, and quality of life (QOL) during chemotherapy for colorectal cancer patients in South Korea and to identify factors influencing their QOL. Methods: Data were collected from 144 colorectal cancer patients receiving chemotherapy during 2012 at one general hospital located in Seoul. Physical symptoms were measured by the M. D. Anderson Symptom Inventory-Gastrointestinal Cancer Module, and anxiety and depression were measured by the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale. QOL was measured by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Colorectal. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, one-way ANOVA, $Scheff{\acute{e}}$ post hoc test, Pearson correlation and stepwise multiple regression. Results: Mean age of the participants was 56.6 and most of them were not employed. In terms of cancer stage, 38.2% were in stage 3, followed by stage 4 (34.7%). The most frequent symptom was lack of appetite, followed by sleep disturbance and fatigue. The mean score for anxiety was 5.40 with a prevalence of 23% and that of depression 8.85 with a prevalence of 64.6%. The mean score for quality of life was 81.93 out of 136 and 75.3% of the variance in QOL was explained by depression, symptoms, anxiety, treatment place, and occupational status. Depression was the strongest predictive factor. Conclusion: Oncology professionals need to pay special attention to relieving depression as well as physical symptoms to improve QOL during chemotherapy for colorectal cancer patients.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.2 no.3
• /
• pp.260-272
• /
• 2011

Objectives: The promotion of health and safety (H&S) awareness among hospital staff can be applied through various methods. The aim of this study was to assess the risk level of physical hazards in the hospital sector by combining workers' perception, experts' evaluation and objective measurements. Methods: A cross-sectional study was designed using multiple triangulation. Hospital staff (n = 447) filled in an H&S questionnaire in a general hospital in Athens and an oncology one in Thessaloniki. Experts observed and filled in a checklist on H&S in the various departments of the two hospitals. Lighting, noise and microclimate measurements were performed. Results: The staff's perception of risk was higher than that of the experts in many cases. The measured risk levels were low to medium. In cases of high-risk noise and lighting, staff and experts agreed. Staff's perception of risk was influenced by hospital's department, hospital's service, years of working experience and level of education. Therefore, these factors should be taken into account in future studies aimed at increasing the participation of hospital workers. Conclusion: This study confirmed the usefulness of staff participation in the risk assessment process, despite the tendency for staff to overestimate the risk level of physical hazards. The combination of combining staff perception, experts' evaluation and objective measures in the risk assessment process increases the efficiency of risk management in the hospital environment and the enforcement of relevant legislation.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.14 no.12
• /
• pp.7229-7235
• /
• 2013

Background: To determine whether the Health Partner Program is effective in training long-term cancer survivors to be health coaches. Materials and Methods: We randomly assigned cancer survivors who were selected through a rigorous screening process to either the Health Partner Program or the waiting-list control group. The program consisted of 8 weeks of training in health management, leadership, and coaching. At baseline, 8, and 16 weeks, we measured primary outcomes using the Seven Habit Profile (SHP), the Korean Leadership Coaching Competency Inventory (KCCI), Ed Diner's Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), and the Posttraumatic Growth inventory (PTGI) and secondary outcomes using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), and the Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) short form 36-item questionnaire (SF-36). Results: We recruited 70 subjects and randomly assigned 34 to the intervention group. The Sharpen the Saw habit of the SHP increased significantly more in intervention group than in the control group (p=0.049), as did most PTGI factors. The intervention group also showed a significantly greater enhancement of vitality (p=0.015) and mental health (p=0.049) SF-36 scores but no improvement in KCCI, SWLS, HADS, or IES-R scores. The intervention group also showed a greater clinically meaningful improvement in the "Think Win-Win" of SHP (p=0.043) and in the personal strength score (p=0.025) and total score (p=0.015) of the PTGI. Conclusions: Long-term cancer survivors can benefit from the Health Partner Program to become health coaches.