Oncology Nursing Forum

PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION: Patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) have significant learning needs that nurses must provide. The review question was "What teaching methods and strategies have been examined to deliver education to patients undergoing HSCT?" LITERATURE SEARCH: The review was conducted in November 2022 using the following databases: Scopus®, Embase®, MEDLINE®, CINAHL®, PsycINFO®, and ERIC. The search comprised two main concepts: HSCT and patient education...

OBJECTIVES: To examine how family caregivers' burden and patients' resourcefulness influence each other and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with colorectal cancer. SAMPLE & SETTING: This study was conducted in an outpatient clinic at a medical center in Taichung, Taiwan. A total of 84 patient-caregiver dyads were recruited, and 43 patients had advanced-stage cancer. Patients and their caregivers signed consent forms individually. Patients were aged 29-77 years, and caregivers were aged 22-75 years...

OBJECTIVES: To identify an empirical typology of social engagement and its association with depressive symptoms and life satisfaction among older cancer survivors. SAMPLE & SETTING: This was a cross-sectional study using data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging. METHODS & VARIABLES: Latent class analysis was used to categorize social engagement types. Hierarchical regression analysis then investigated the impact of older cancer survivors' social engagement on depressive symptoms and life satisfaction...

OBJECTIVES: To explore the utility of brief financial screening items to facilitate the implementation of routine financial toxicity screening. SAMPLE & SETTING: 50 women with breast cancer completed a one-time survey that included the Comprehensive Score for Financial Toxicity (COST): A FACIT Measure of Financial Toxicity, a visual analog scale, and a brief sociodemographic questionnaire. METHODS & VARIABLES: Survey responses were examined to assess the psychometric properties of individual COST items and the visual analog scale by calculating Cronbach's alpha and Pearson's correlation coefficients...

PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION: Most patients with breast cancer are diagnosed at an early stage, when surgery remains the primary treatment. This scoping literature review explores the frequency and severity of symptoms; which patients are at the highest risk for pain, nausea, and distress; and the relationships between coping strategies and these symptoms. LITERATURE REVIEW: This review included articles found in the MEDLINE®, CINAHL®, PubMed®, PsycINFO®, APA PsycArticles®, and Cochrane Library databases and published from 2010 through 2022, using combinations of the following keywords: coping, cancer, distress, surgery, and breast...

Recently, there have been several seemingly contradictory headlines in the national news regarding cancer incidence and intervals for screening practices. Most recently, a major study questioned whether cancer screening saves.

PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION: This scoping review aimed to explore symptom clusters (SCs) in patients with lung cancer and how included symptoms and symptom dimensions are measured. LITERATURE SEARCH: PubMed®, CINAHL®, Scopus®, and Cochrane Library were searched for studies published until December 31, 2021. Fifty-three articles were included. DATA EVALUATION: Data extracted included descriptive items and SC constellations. Patient-reported outcome instruments and measured symptom dimensions were described according to the middle-range theory of unpleasant symptoms...

PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION: To provide an overview of telenursing interventions, primary outcomes, and tools used in patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy, a scoping review was conducted. LITERATURE SEARCH: PubMed®, Embase®, and CINAHL® databases were searched using the following keywords: telenursing, adverse event, and drug therapy. DATA EVALUATION: From the screening process, 11 studies were identified. SYNTHESIS: In patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy, telenursing interventions were mainly used to monitor symptoms, particularly fatigue, anxiety, and depression...

OBJECTIVES: To compare the needs and issues faced by breast cancer survivors (BCSs) who received chemotherapy as part of their treatment with those who did not and assess satisfaction with a specialist breast care nurse-led survivorship clinic. SAMPLE & SETTING: BCSs who attended a specialist breast care nurse-led survivorship clinic at a Western Australian private, not-for-profit hospital. METHODS & VARIABLES: A multimethod evaluation included surveys, quality-of-life assessments, and reviews of wellness plans...

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effects of social network characteristics of individuals with a family history of cancer on the use of cancer-related services (e.g., screening, genetic counseling/testing). SAMPLE & SETTING: 170 family members of individuals with the most common hereditary or familial cancers. METHODS & VARIABLES: Data collection occurred between March and September 2021 using an online survey. RESULTS: Having strong within-immediate family relationships and family members who underwent more screening procedures was associated with increased breast cancer screening, and having more family members with cancer was associated with colorectal cancer screening...

PURPOSE: To describe the self-advocacy experiences of women from underrepresented groups who have advanced breast or gynecologic cancer. PARTICIPANTS & SETTING: To be eligible for the study, participants had to self-identify as vulnerable, which was defined as a member of a group considered at risk for poor cancer outcomes and underrepresented in clinical research. METHODOLOGIC APPROACH: This descriptive, longitudinal, qualitative study consisted of one-on-one interviews of women within three months of an advanced breast or gynecologic cancer diagnosis...

PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION: To map key concepts underpinning work-related studies about nurses with cancer and identify knowledge gaps. LITERATURE REVIEW: A search was conducted in the PubMed®, CINAHL®, and PsycINFO® databases for articles about nurses with cancer and work-related topics published through March 2023. DATA EVALUATION: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews Checklist was used to report results, and the JBI critical appraisal tools were used to assess the quality of studies...

PURPOSE: To understand the sources of social support and perceptions of cancer and the caregiving role for Korean American patients with cancer and their family caregivers. PARTICIPANTS & SETTING: Using convenience sampling, Korean American patients with cancer and their family caregivers were recruited from Korean American churches and community health agencies. METHODOLOGIC APPROACH: Semistructured interviews guided by the sociocultural stress and coping model were conducted with 12 dyads (N = 24) of Korean American patients with cancer and their family caregivers...

OBJECTIVES: To examine associations between a history of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and receiving preventive cervical cancer screening and to investigate whether number and type of ACE exposures were predictive of cervical cancer screening uptake. SAMPLE & SETTING: Data were from 11,042 adults who completed the 2020 Texas Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force guidelines were used to indicate whether individuals had received cervical cancer screening at recommended intervals...

In late July and early August, I had the opportunity to attend the International Academy of Nursing Editors annual conference in Dublin, Ireland. The International Academy of Nursing Editors is an international collaborative.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the relationships among family caregiver burden and workplace productivity and activity impairment among home hospice family caregivers of individuals with cancer who worked while providing end-of-life caregiving. SAMPLE & SETTING: Baseline data from a longitudinal study of communication between hospice providers and hospice family caregivers were used for this secondary analysis. METHODS & VARIABLES: Working family caregivers with complete workplace productivity and activity impairment data were included in this analysis (N = 30)...

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate for subgroups of patients with distinct symptom profiles and differences in demographic and clinical characteristics and stress and resilience among these subgroups. SAMPLE & SETTING: 1,145 patients with cancer aged 18 years or older completed a survey online. Data were collected between May 2020 and February 2021. METHODS & VARIABLES: Patients completed measures for depression, state anxiety, cognitive function, morning fatigue, evening fatigue, morning energy, evening energy, sleep disturbance, pain, stress, and resilience...

PURPOSE: To explore whether patients with multiple myeloma changed their construct of health-related quality of life during treatment. PARTICIPANTS & SETTING: 14 participants were selected from 10 hematology-oncology departments in Denmark. METHODOLOGIC APPROACH: This interview study used a prospective, longitudinal, exploratory design. Semistructured interviews were conducted while participants were undergoing active treatment for multiple myeloma and six months after the baseline interview...

OBJECTIVES: To explore the correlation between health-illness transition (HIT) experiences and distress among patients with pancreatic cancer. SAMPLE & SETTING: 55 patients with a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer receiving chemotherapy at a tertiary cancer center in New York. METHODS & VARIABLES: A prospective correlational study was performed to explore the frequency, extent, and management of HITs. HITs were evaluated using the Measurement of Transitions in Cancer Scale, and distress was measured with the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Distress Thermometer...

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the associations between women's health beliefs and their intention to use chemoprevention. SAMPLE & SETTING: Participants were postmenopausal women (N = 400) aged 50-64 years who were recruited for a study on mammographic breast density. METHODS & VARIABLES: Participants completed a screening mammogram and breast cancer health belief questionnaires. The authors regressed intention to use chemoprevention onto health belief scores (breast cancer fatalism, fear, perceived threat, perceived benefits, barriers, and self-efficacy)...