Showing 20 results for Cancer
M Shaban , Z Monjamed , A Mehran , A Hasanpour Dehkordi ,
Volume 10, Issue 3 (7-2004)
Abstract
Introduction: Gathering information about quality of life is an essential step in designing more effective treatments and also helps developing better supportive and rehabilitation programs.
Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional to investigate the relation between cancer characteristics and quality of life in patients under chemotherapy, 200 patients with different types of cancers were selected by simple sampling method. The data were collected through interview, reviewing patients’ files and patients’ self-reports. The data were collected by a questionnaire consisted of three parts: part one, demographic characteristics part two, questions about cancer type, stage and duration, pain, acceptance or refusal of cancer by patient, decrease or loss of organs’ function and degree of fatigue, and part three, designed to investigate different aspects of quality of life, including questions about general appearance, physical activity, occupational status, social function and sleep. Descriptive and analytic statistics were used.
Results: The results showed that quality of life in majority of the subjects (66%) was moderate. There was a meaningful relationship between some of cancer characteristics like type of cancer (p=0.007), intensity of pain (p=0.007), decrease or loss of organs’ function (p=0.001) and degree of fatigue (p=0.0) with quality of life, but there was no meaningful correlation between acceptance or refusal of disease, duration of disease from diagnosis time and stage of cancer with quality of life.
Conclusion: It seems that there is a relationship between some cancer characteristics and quality of life. Attention must be paid to these aspects to improve quality of life in cancer patients.
M Rezaei, N Seyedfatemi, F Hosseini,
Volume 14, Issue 4 (3-2009)
Abstract
Background & Aim: Spiritual well-being harmonizes several dimensions of human's life and is essential for coping with diseases. Chronic illnesses such as cancer cause crisis in physical, psychological, and spiritual dimensions of ones life. This study aimed to measure the spiritual well-being in cancer patients who undergo chemotherapy.
Methods & Materials: In this cross-sectional, descriptive-correlational study, Paloutzian & Ellison's Spiritual Well-being Self-report questionnaire was completed by 360 cancer patients. Patients were recruited using sequential sampling method. The inclusion criteria were being more than 20 years old, and being able to read and write. Data were analyzed using chi-square and Pearson tests in SPSS (version 11).
Results: The study findings revealed that the mean scores for spiritual well-being, religious well-being, and existential well-being were (98.35±14.36), (54.67±5.92), (43.67±10.01), respectively. Also, statistically significant relations were found between age, marital status, and educational levels with spiritual well-being (P<0.001).
Conclusion: Findings showed that the level of spiritual well-being was high in cancer patients. Moreover, as it is expected in Iranian culture, the level of religious well-being was more than existential well-being. There were significant relationships between spiritual well-being and personal characteristics. Hence, nurses should consider personal characteristics in their caring programs and choose a comprehensive and holistic approach toward their patients' care.
L Hasani, T Aghamolaei, Ss Tavafian, Sh Zare,
Volume 17, Issue 1 (4-2011)
Abstract
Background & Aim: Early diagnosis of breast lumps through breast self-examination (BSE) is important for early detection of breast cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate factors predict the BSE behavior using Health Belief Model constructs in women referred to health centers in Bandar abbas, Iran.
Methods & Materials: In this cross-sectional study, 240 eligible women were randomly selected from eight health centers. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire including demographic characteristics and Champion&aposs Health Belief Model Scale (CHBMS). The CHBMS measures the HBM concepts of susceptibility (3 items), seriousness (6 items), benefits (4 items), barriers (8 items) and self-efficacy (10 items). All items were ranged in a Likert scale ranging from ‘‘strongly disagree (score: one)&apos&apos to ‘‘strongly agree (score: five)&apos&apos.
Results: A total of 240 women took part in the study. The mean age of participants was 37.2 (SD=6.1). Of all, 32.5% had high school education and 95.8% were married. The results showed that 31.7% of the women had performed the BSE however, only 7.1% had performed it regularly. Perceived BSE benefits, perceived BSE barriers and perceived BSE self-efficacy of the participants who performed the BSE were significantly higher than those who did not (P<0.03). The results from regression analysis indicated that the perceived BSE self-efficacy and perceived BSE barriers predicted breast self-examination behavior (P<0.001).
Conclusion: The findings of this study indicated that perceived BSE barriers and perceived BSE self-efficacy were influencing factors in predicting the BSE behavior. Therefore, in order to improve self-efficacy and decrease the barriers, BSE training programs are strongly recommended.
Esfandiyar Baljani, Javad Khashabi, Elham Amanpour, Neda Azimi,
Volume 17, Issue 3 (9-2011)
Abstract
Background & Aim: Spiritual well-being, religion, and hope are important factors in coping with cancer among patients. Nurses need to understand these concepts within a cultural context. This study aimed to determine the relationship between spiritual well-being, religion, and hope in patients with cancer.
Methods & Materials: In this cross-sectional study, 164 patients with cancer were selected using sequential convenience sampling method. Data were collected using a four-part questionnaire. Descriptive analysis, Pearson correlation and multivariate regression analysis were used to analyses the data.
Results: There were significant correlations between the existential well-being, religious well-being, and the hope. There were also significant correlations between the intrinsic religious, religious practices, and the hope. Existential well-being, organizational religiousness and intrinsic religious beliefs predicted hope.
Conclusion: The results of this study emphasized on the importance of the spiritual well-being and religion as variables affecting on hope in patients with cancer. This would help nurses and clinical specialists to focus on religion and spirituality well-being in order to increase hope in the patients.
Tahereh Najafi Ghezeljeh, Agha Fatemeh Hosseini,
Volume 18, Issue 1 (3-2012)
Abstract
Background & Aim: Pain can detrimentally affect physical functioning, psychological well-being and social interaction. Various attitudinal factors may be associated with inadequate pain control. Hence, studies should be undertaken to gain a better understanding of association between pain control attitudes and use of analgesics and cancer pain intensity. This study aimed to determine relationship between pain control attitudes and use of analgesics and pain intensity in cancer patients with pain.
Methods & Materials: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 200 cancer patients who underwent chemotherapy or radiotherapy and experienced pain in previous 24 hours. The pain control attitudes, use of analgesics, worrisome about using analgesics and physical and psychological impacts of pain were measured using questionnaires. The cancer pain intensity was measured using the visual analogue scale. Validity and reliability of the instruments were evaluated. Data were analyzed using independent t-test and ANOVA.
Results: About 58% of patients agreed that they would wait before asking for help. Beside, the findings indicated that willing to tolerate pain and perceived control over pain were associated with the time and frequency of taking analgesic and pain intensity in previous 24 hours and last week. Also concerns about addiction to pain-relieving medications were related to the analgesic type and pain intensity within last week (P=0.03), and fear of injection was related to analgesic use and pain intensity within last week (P<0.001).
Conclusion: Many cancer patients had attitudes which could interfere with pain relieving. Suggestions are made for developing patient education programs, accessing effective cancer pain controls and decision making for cancer pain relief.
Shiva Sadat Bassampour, Fatemeh Bahramnezhad, Eisa Mohammadi, Mohammad Hassan Larizadeh, Shadan Pedram Razi, Hamid Haghani,
Volume 18, Issue 2 (6-2012)
Abstract
Background & Aim: Oral care and using mouthwash help to prevent stomatitis. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of two mouth wash protocols on prevention of head and neck radiotherapy induced-stomatitis.
Methods & Materials: In this single blind clinical trial, 120 individual were recruited. The experiment group (N=40) gurgled with 3cc of Matrices mouthwash and the control group used water mouth wash. The participants were assessed using the WHO grading scale. Data were analyzed using the Fisher exact test and Mann-Whitney U test as appropriate.
Results: There was not significant differences between the experimental and control groups regarding stomatitis intensity in the first day (P=0.371). Tere were significant differences between the two groups regarding stomatitis intensity in days 7 and 14 (P<0.001).
Conclusion: Oral stomatitis is a common condition in patients with head and neck radiotherapy. It makes painful ulcers, dehydration, malnutrition, and potentially life-threatening infection. Matrica mouth wash could prevent and treat induced-radiotherapy ulcer stomatitis.
Ravanbakhsh Esmaeili, Fazlollah Ahmadi, Eesa Mohammadi, Abdolhakim Tirgari Seraj,
Volume 18, Issue 5 (2-2013)
Abstract
Background & Aim: Increase in cancer prevalence results in feeling fear of being diagnosed with cancer among individuals. Understanding concerns of patients diagnosed with cancer helps health care professionals to provide appropriate caring plans. This study aimed to understand main concerns of patients who confront cancer diagnosis.
Methods & Materials: This was a qualitative study with content analysis approach. Fifteen patients with cancer were selected from a specialized hospital, an oncology clinic, and Emdad Center of Cancer patients in Sari using a purposeful sampling method during May 2011 to June 2012. The sample size was completed regarding data saturation. Data were collected using interviews, observations and recording field notes. All interviews were tape-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were analyzed using descriptive content analysis and the Granhim and Landmann method.
Results: Three categories including 485 primary codes were emerged. The derived codes were as follows: 1) sever personal and family disturbance 2) imagination of despair and 3) unclear imagination of future. The main code included in all derived codes was life threatening nature of cancer.
Conclusion: The findings showed that life threatening nature of cancer is a source of fear that makes the disease frightening. Clinical staff and nurses should pay more attention to concerns of patients with cancer and design their care plan accordingly.
Shoelh Rahimi, Kolsoom Fadakar Soghe, Rasool Tabari , Ehsan Kazem Nejad Lili,
Volume 19, Issue 2 (11-2013)
Abstract
Background & Aim : Childhood cancer discloses family, and mother in particular, to a number of challenges. It consumes a lot of time, energy, and money of parents to fulfill their caring responsibilities. In some cases and along with increase of caring pressure, mental health of parents deteriorates. The vesting consequences of such events may alter the process of children caring and their quality of life (QoL). The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between mother’s general health status with the QoL of the child diagnosed with cancer.
Methods & Materials : In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 124 mothers of children diagnosed with cancer and aged 6-14 years old, referred to Imam Reza and Amir Hospitals in Shiraz during a four month period (from early November to late February) were selected to the study. Data were gathered using the following instruments: 1) the questionnaire of factors related to QoL in children 2) mother's general health status form 3) TNO_AZL Children Quality of Life (TACQOL) and 4) Ped QL Cancer Module. Data were collected through interviewing with mothers and reviewing the medical records of the hospitals. Data were analyzed using the Kruskal–Wallis, Spearman correlation coefficient, Mann-whiteny test and logistic regression in the SPSS-19.
Results: : A few number of mothers (7.3%) reported good general health status and a large number described their general health status as moderate (55.6%) and poor (37.1%). The mean of health related QoL score and the specific QoL score for children were 78.45±10.05 and 65.51±17.54, respectively. According to the multi-factorial logistic regression, demographic and social factors such as child’s age and treatment-related factors including the period of radiotherapy, along with the duration of disease were more correlated with health and specific QoL scores in children, compared to the mothers’ general health status score.
Conclusion : Results from this study suggested that emotional support is as important as financial empowerment. The QoL in these patients and their families may improve by identifying the families who are at risk of mental problems.
Afsaneh Sahraee, Azita Noroozi, Rahim Tahmasebi,
Volume 19, Issue 2 (11-2013)
Abstract
Background & Aim: Although breast self-examination (BSE) is no longer recommended for screening of breast cancer, its training and practicing is a gateway to health promotion and provides women with knowledge and attitudes that set the stage for clinical breast examination and mammography screening later in life. The aim of this study was to recognize predicting factors of the BSE based on the Health Belief Model (HBM) and the locus of control model among women aged 20-50 years old.
Methods & Materials : Inthis cross-sectional study,400 women were selected through theconvenience sampling method from health centers. Data were collected using four questionnaires including the Champion’s Scale, health locus of control, and demographic and functional questionnaires. Data were analyzed in the SPSS using independent T-test, Chi-squared test, logistic and linear regression models.
Results: The results showed that 10.9% of the participants reported performing BSE regularly. Perceived self-efficacy was the strongest positive predictor in the BSE performance (Exp (B) =1.863). Awareness had direct and indirect effects on the BSE. The locus of control did not predict the BSE (p=0.05).
Conclusion : Improving self-efficacy, especially in young women, and increasing awareness about cancer among women is necessary to increase the rate of the BSE.
Zohreh Khakbazan, Robab Latifnejad Roudsari, Ali Taghipour, Eesa Mohammadi,
Volume 20, Issue 3 (11-2014)
Abstract
Background & Aim: Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in women in both developed and developing countries. Long-term prognosis of breast cancer strongly depends on the stage of disease at diagnosis. More than three months after detecting breast symptoms by Iranian women, they go to visit a doctor. The understanding of life-threatening symptoms and the subsequent responses are differently affected by social interaction networks as well as cultural and social contexts. This study aimed to explore the role of social interactions on health-seeking behaviors among Iranian women with breast cancer symptoms .
Methods & Materials: A qualitative study was conducted using purposive sampling method. Twenty Iranian w omen who attended the Cancer Institute in Imam Khomeini hospital at Tehran University of Medical Sciences and complained of symptoms of breast cancer were recruited to the study du ring 2012-2013. Data were collected through semi-structured and in-depth interviews. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed using conventional content analysis in the MAXqda .
Results: The results revealed three themes including: 1) effectiveness of social learning 2) seeking social support and 3) feedback with a supportive approach which included seven categories of informative social learning, reliable social learning, selective disclosure, seeking information, seeking emotional support , giving reassurance and social support for decision making .
Conclusion: E ffective social learning and supportive interactions have influential role on health seeking behavior. Thus it is necessary to improve public awareness and correct clients' social beliefs about breast cancer to shorten the patients' delay .
Mohammad Eghbali, Shokoh Varaei, Seyedeh Fatemeh Jalalinia, Mozhgan Aalam Samimi, Kiarash Sa’atchi, Mir Saeed Yekaninejad,
Volume 21, Issue 2 (9-2015)
Abstract
Background & Aim: Approximately 75% of patients with cancer experience acute nausea and vomiting (24 hours after chemotherapy). The aim of this study was to determine the effect of auricular acupressure in relieving acute nausea and vomiting among women with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy .
Methods & Materials: This study was a posttest only randomized clinical trial conducted on 48 women with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy in Imam Khomeini and Hazrat Rasoul Akram hospital. Before chemotherapy and after obtaining informed consent, the patients were randomly allocated into intervention and control groups. Intervention group received routine medications for controlling nausea and vomiting as well as auricular acupressure. Meanwhile, the control group received only the routine medications. The data were gathered using demographic and Morrow Standard questionnaire and were compared using statistical tests in the SPSS-21 .
Results: T he results showed that using auricular acupressure led to a decrease in the number and the intensity of nausea at acute phases (P=0.001). Acupressure application did not lead to any complications in the patients .
Conclusion: According to the results of this study, using auricular acupressure on Shenmen, Point zero, stomach, Brainstem, and cardia points can relieve nausea and vomiting at acute phase of chemotherapy. It is suggested that nurses use this pressure technique as a complementary treatment for relieving nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy.
Rahim Tahmasebi, Fatemeh Hosseini, Azita Noroozi,
Volume 21, Issue 4 (3-2016)
Abstract
Background & Aim: Pap smear test is an effective screening method for early detection of cervical cancer. This study aimed to determine the effect of education based on the health belief model on women’s belief and practice regarding Pap smear test.
Methods & Materials: In this quasi experimental study, 100 married women under coverage of Bushehr health centers participated in the study in 2014-2015. The data collection instrument was a questionnaire consisted of demographic information, the questions concerning knowledge and the HBM constructs regarding Pap smear. The training program was performed in two group sessions. Three months after the intervention, women’s practice about Pap smear test was evaluated in both groups. After data collection, data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, repeated measure analysis of variance, independent t-test and Chi square on SPSS software v.20.
Results: Before the study, both groups had not any significant differences in all variables and constructs. After the intervention, the mean scores of knowledge (P<0.001), perceived seriousness (P=0.015) and perceived barriers (P<0.001) were significantly different between two groups. Three months after the intervention, 42 (85.7%) in the intervention group and 4 (8.2%) in the control group had performed Pap smear test (P<0.001).
Conclusion: Designing and implementing educational program based on health belief model can promote women’s awareness and reduce their perceived barriers and as well as enhance their practice regarding Pap smear test.
Samira Moradipour, Mohammad Ali Soleimani, Maryam Mafi, Mohammad Reza Sheikhi,
Volume 24, Issue 4 (1-2019)
Abstract
Background & Aim: Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers in women and is regarded as a chronic disease with various psychological complications including death anxiety. This study aimed to examine the effect of Benson’s relaxation technique on death anxiety among women with breast cancer.
Methods & Materials: In this randomized clinical trial, 100 patients with breast cancer referred to Velayat Hospital in Qazvin in 2017 were selected using the consecutive sampling and randomly assigned into groups of experimental and control. A questionnaire on demographic information and the Templer Death Anxiety Scale were used. Benson’s relaxation technique was taught to the patients in the experimental group. Afterward, they were asked to perform the technique for three months and were monthly followed up using checklists. The Templer Death Anxiety Scale was completed again by both groups. Data were analyzed via the SPSS software version 23 using descriptive and analytical statistics.
Results: There was no significant difference in demographic variables between the two groups (P>0.05). Before the intervention, no statistically significant difference was observed between the mean scores of death anxiety in the patients of the experimental group (46.4±10.3) and the control group (49.6±10.07) (P>0.05). However, after the intervention, a statistically significant difference was observed between the mean scores of death anxiety in the experimental group (44.5±10.2) and the control group (48.9±11.2) (P<0.05).
Conclusion: According to the results of the study, it can be concluded that Benson’s relaxation technique is effective in reducing death anxiety among patients with breast cancer.
Clinical trial registry: IRCT20170610034435N8
Fereshteh Mollaei, Fariba Borhani, Abbas Abbaszadeh, Mehdi Khabazkhoob,
Volume 24, Issue 4 (1-2019)
Abstract
Background & Aim: Cancer as one of the most common illnesses in the world is associated with mental, physical, social and financial problems, which affects not only the patients, but also the family caregivers and creates a burden of care. Some studies have shown that spiritual well-being is effective in reducing the burden of care. Therefore, this research was conducted to determine the correlation between spiritual well-being and burden of care in family caregivers of cancer patients.
Methods & Materials: In this cross-sectional correlational study, 150 family caregivers of cancer patients referred to Taleghani, Shohadaye Tajrish, Masih Daneshvari and Imam Hossein hospitals in Tehran were selected by the convenience sampling method from August to November 2017. The data gathering tool was a questionnaire, and data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients, independent t-test, analysis of variance and multiple regression analysis at a significance level of 0.05.
Results: The mean and standard deviation of spiritual well-being score and burden of care were 90.36±17.70 and 25.54±11.79, respectively. There was a significant relationship between spiritual well-being (and its components including religious well-being and existential well-being) and burden of care (r=-0.421, P˂0.001). The result of regression test showed that spiritual well-being significantly predicted the burden of care.
Conclusion: The burden of care is experienced by family caregivers during caring for cancer patients, which is related to their spiritual well-being. Therefore, paying attention to the spiritual well-being of these caregivers is emphasized.
Nader Aghakhani, Afshin Hazrati Marangaloo, Davoud Vahabzadeh, Faraz Tayyar,
Volume 25, Issue 2 (7-2019)
Abstract
Background & Aim: Diagnosis of cancer can cause emotional problems such as stress, anxiety, depression and incompatibility with the disease in the patient and his/her family, leading to adverse consequences in the improvement process and an increase in the complications of the disease. Considering the importance of this topic, the study was conducted to investigate the effect of Roy’s adaptation model-based care plan on the severity of depression, anxiety and stress in patients with colorectal cancer hospitalized in the treatment and educational centers of Urmia.
Methods & Materials: In this randomized clinical trial study, 36 patients with colorectal cancer (at the third or fourth stage of disease) hospitalized in the treatment and educational centers of Urmia were selected by a convenience sampling and were assigned to the intervention group or control group in 2016. Data collection tools were a form for assessing the Roy’s adaptation model and the depression, anxiety, and stress scale (DASS-21). The Roy’s adaptation model-based care plan was administered to the intervention group. Data analysis was performed using the SPSS software version 18 and t test and Chi-square test.
Results: The study results showed before the intervention, the mean scores of depression, anxiety and stress were 12.7±4.5, 13.9±4.8, 16.4±4.7 for the control group and were 15.7±4.5, 13.0±4.6, 12.6±4.2 for the intervention group, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05). However, after the intervention, the mean scores of the studied variables increased in the control group (13.7±4.8, 13.93±4.9, 17.16±4.4) and decreased in the intervention group (10.46±3.1, 11.00±3.4, 13.8±5.2). There was a significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Due to the severity of depression, anxiety, and stress among cancer patients, more cost-effective and non-pharmacological methods such as the Roy’s adaptation model, can be useful to control these complications and create a less stressful environment for these patients.
Clinical trial registry: IRCT20160220026662N5
Hakimeh Eskandari Sabzi, Azam Shirinabadi Farahani, Maryam Rassouli, Leila Khanali Mojen, Raziyeh Beikmirza, Maryam Heidari,
Volume 27, Issue 2 (7-2021)
Abstract
Background & Aim: Being diagnosed with cancer during adolescence can cause disabilities and disrupt the achievement of important tasks during this period. Given the complex spiritual issues that adolescents face, emphasizing them can provide a unique framework for understanding and coping with illness. The purpose of this study was to determine factors related to spiritual coping in adolescents with cancer based on the "Reed self-transcendence theory".
Methods & Materials: In this descriptive, correlational study, 270 adolescents with cancer referred to hospitals affiliated to Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in Tehran in 2018-19 were selected using the convenience sampling method. Data was collected using the demographic and clinical characteristics questionnaire, the “Adolescents Spiritual Coping Scale”, “Adolescents Hope Scale”, “Self-transcendence Scale: Adolescent version and “Adolescent Coping Scale”. Data was analyzed using the SPSS software version 19 through descriptive statistical methods, Kruskal–Wallis test, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, the Spearman's correlation test and Path analysis.
Results: Based on the Spearman correlation coefficient, the relationship of hope (rs=0.440, P<0.001), coping (rs=0.149, P=0.015) and self-transcendence (rs=0.143, P=0.019) was positive and significant with the spiritual coping. Also, the results of path analysis of the Reed self-transcendence model showed that hope and self-transcendence had direct effects on spiritual coping and coping had an indirect effect on spiritual coping in adolescents through the intermediate variable of self-transcendence.
Conclusion: The variables hope, coping and self-transcendence are the factors related to spiritual coping in adolescents with cancer, and the model of self-transcendence in Iranian adolescents with cancer is appropriate. Therefore, nurses as the first providers of care can enhance spiritual coping in adolescents by focusing on this model and manipulating its various variables.
Shima Kohansal, Fariba Tabari, Shahrzad Ghiyasvandian, Shima Haghani, Kamran Roudini,
Volume 27, Issue 3 (10-2021)
Abstract
Background & Aim: Anxiety is one of the most common complications in cancer patients that can affect the physical and mental health of patients and disrupt the treatment process. For this reason, cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy need education about the disease and ways to cope with its complications and problems. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of video and written training methods on anxiety in patients with gastric and esophageal cancer undergoing outpatient chemotherapy.
Methods & Materials: This study is a randomized clinical trial that was conducted on 58 patients with gastric and esophageal cancer who underwent outpatient chemotherapy in Shariati and Imam Khomeini hospitals in Tehran. Participants were randomly assigned to either the video training group (n=28) or the written training group (n=30). Data was collected using the Spielberger State Anxiety Inventory (STAI), at the beginning of the study and then weekly for 12 weeks. The SPSS software version 20 was used to analyze the data.
Results: The results showed that the level of anxiety in both groups was significantly lower compared to before the intervention (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the anxiety mean score between the video group (56.07±9.85) and the written group (56.40±8.13) after the intervention (P=0.89).
Conclusion: In general, the results of this study showed that self-care education using video and written methods reduces the anxiety of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and both methods can be effective in reducing patients' anxiety.
Clinical trial registry: IRCT20181115041669N1
Hadi Hassankhani, Javad Dehghannezhad, Azad Rahmani, Mansour Ghafourifard, Fariba Valizadeh,
Volume 28, Issue 4 (1-2023)
Abstract
Background & Aim: Cancer is a disease that affects the quality of life of the patient, and palliative care is a solution that can improve it. However, home palliative care program has not developed in most countries of the world. The aim of this study is to improve a home palliative care program for cancer patients.
Methods & Materials: This research is an action research study that was conducted through quantitative and qualitative approaches in Tabriz over 2018-2020. Eighteen home care nurses were selected for interviews using purposive sampling in order to identify the care needs of cancer patients and the barriers to palliative care at home. In addition, a questionnaire to determine the attitude and knowledge was distributed among 60 home care nurses before and after the action stage. The qualitative data were analyzed using conventional content analysis method, and the SPSS software version 14 was used to analyze the quantitative data.
Results: The care needs of cancer patients were determined in five categories and barriers to palliative care in three categories. Cancer patients have physical, psychological, educational, financial and spiritual needs, and barriers to palliative care include poor instruction, families' desperation, and unprofessional caregivers. In the quantitative phase, nurses had average knowledge and negative attitude towards palliative care. Training through virtual space improved the knowledge and attitude of nurses, and the paired t-test showed that the mean score of nurses' knowledge after the action stage was significant.
Conclusion: according to the findings, to improve palliative care at home, the physical, psychological, educational, financial and spiritual needs of cancer patients should be considered. Removing barriers to palliative care including developing guidelines, supporting the families of cancer patients and training special nurses for palliative care at home can improve care in these patients.
Tahereh Abdian, Fatemeh Ebrahimi, Sareh Ghorbani, Najmeh Abedishargh,
Volume 29, Issue 4 (1-2024)
Abstract
Background & Aim: Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in the world, imposing significant physical problems and psychological burdens on sufferers. Education is one of the ways to reduce the psychological problems of these patients. Therefore, the current study was conducted to compare the efficacy of Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT) and Positive Psychology (PP) in enhancing the mental health and resilience among women with breast cancer.
Methods & Materials: This study employed a two-group quasi-experimental design with a pretest-posttest design, involving 60 women with breast cancer at Khatamolanbia cancer center in Jahrom during 2020-2021. Participants were selected through convenience sampling and randomly assigned to either the Acceptance and Commitment Training group (focused on accepting uncontrollable factors and committing to enriching life) or the Positive Psychology group (emphasizing individual abilities and positive emotions). Prior to and one week following the sessions, participants completed questionnaires evaluating resilience and mental health. Data analysis was performed using MANCOVA with a significance level set at 0.05.
Results: Based on the MANCOVA findings, there was no statistically significant difference in resilience and mental health scores (F=2.318, P=0.110) between the two intervention groups after adjusting for pretest scores. However, clinically significant improvements were observed in mental health and resilience for 75% and 42% of the ACT group, and 65% and 46% of the Positive Psychology group, respectively.
Conclusion: According to the findings, both group therapies, ACT and Positive Psychology, are effective in enhancing resilience and mental health in breast cancer patients. These findings provide more opportunities for healthcare providers to tailor interventions to the characteristics of caregivers and the personality characteristics of the patients.
Zahra Fotokian, Sobhan Rahimi Esbo, Zahra Jannat Alipour, Ali Pourhabib, Fatemeh Ghaffari, Mojtaba Qanbari Qalesari, Shahrbanoo Keyhanian, Mohsen Vakili Sadeghi,
Volume 30, Issue 3 (9-2024)
Abstract
Background & Aim: Post-treatment follow-up care for breast cancer is crucial in reducing mortality rates, minimizing treatment costs, and enhancing patients' quality of life. This study aims to identify the psychosocial factors affecting post-treatment follow-up care in breast cancer patients.
Methods & Materials: This descriptive-analytical study involved 180 breast cancer patients from Babol and other cities of western Mazandaran province. Participants were selected using a simple random sampling method between 2021 and 2022. Data were collected through personal information questionnaires, the Zigmond Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Psychological Distress Thermometer, the Fear of Cancer Recurrence Scale, and a post-treatment breast cancer follow-up care checklist. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 18, employing descriptive and inferential statistical methods.
Results: The average age of the participants was 51.49 years (SD=12.01). The mean and standard deviation scores for depression, anxiety, and psychological distress were 6.16±2.71, 10.70±4.13, and 5.98±2.54, respectively. The results showed that individuals with higher levels of anxiety, depression, psychological distress, and fear of recurrence are less likely to engage in follow-up care (P<0.05).
Conclusion: The results suggest that health policymakers should address the psychological challenges faced by breast cancer patients. Specifically, providing insurance coverage for the screening and treatment of mental health problems may improve mental well-being, encourage self-care behaviors, and promote overall health.
