Fluctuation in physical symptoms, coping, and mood in patients following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: assessing mediation effects using a daily diary approach

Survival protection of patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: grounded theory

PURPOSE

For patients with blood malignancies, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a significant challenge. These patients have hope to be completely cured after the transplantation, but deal with the dread of dying at the same time. This study presents a deep understanding of the psychological process of the treatment including perception, emotion, interactions, and its consequences in patients undergoing HSCT.

METHODS

This study utilized a qualitative method based on the Strauss and Corbin Approach toward the grounded theory. The research population comprised all patients undergoing HSTC in Taleghani Hospital (Tehran, Iran) who were able to communicate effectively. The data were collected through deep and unstructured interviews with consenting patients. The sampling started with a purposive method and continued until the theoretical saturation was met. The 17 participants were interviewed individually and the data were analyzed via Strauss and Corbin Approach (2015).

RESULTS

According to the findings of the present study, the threat to survival was the main concern of patients during the transplant process. The patients tried to cope with the threat to survival through strategies that were conceptualized as survival protection. These strategies led to the consequences such as debris removal and fondness for life, through which the patients rebuilt themselves, while on the alert for transplant rejection.

CONCLUSION

The results suggested that dealing with HSCT affects personal and social aspects of a patient's life. This means, taking measures to facilitate psychological affairs and financial expenses, increasing the nursing manpower, and helping patients to reduce tension play a vital role to improve their fighting spirit.

Factors related to the resilience and mental health of adult cancer patients: a systematic review

PURPOSE

It has been reported that maintaining the mental health of cancer patients is a critically important issue, and that resilience is related to mental health. This study conducted a systematic literature review in order to fully understand the relationships between resilience and anxiety, depression, and quality of life (QOL) in adult cancer patients, as well as identify factors associated with resilience.

METHODS

The PubMed, CINAHL, Psychology Database, and ICHUSHI Web databases were searched for articles related to resilience in cancer patients published between 2014 and 2019 using the keywords "cancer" and "resilience," connected with "and." The extracted articles that met inclusion criteria were organized using a matrix. To understand the resilience status of adult cancer patients, meta-analyses were performed using resilience scores measured with the most commonly used resilience scale, Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale 25.

RESULTS

Thirty-nine articles were included in the analysis. A higher resilience score is associated with lower anxiety and depression scores and higher QOL scores. Factors related to resilience include personal factors such as age and gender, disease-related factors such as the presence or absence and severity of physical symptoms, and internal factors such as self-efficacy and hopefulness.

CONCLUSIONS

It was found that it is important for cancer patients to improve resilience to maintain mental health and QOL. The findings suggest that providing interventions for factors that will reduce resilience will provide support for patients with cancer.