Perceptions of QOL among caregivers of Mexican ancestry of adults with advanced cancer

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on older cancer patients: Proposed solution by the International Geriatric Radiotherapy Group

Older cancer patients are disproportionally affected by the Coronavirus 19 (COVID-19) pandemic. A higher rate of death among the elderly and the potential for long-term disability have led to fear of contracting the virus in these patients. This fear can, paradoxically, cause delay in diagnosis and treatment that may lead to a poor outcome that could have been prevented. Thus, physicians should devise a policy that both supports the needs of older patients during cancer treatment, and serves to help them overcome their fear so they seek out to cancer diagnosis and treatment early. A combination of telemedicine and a holistic approach, involving prayers for older cancer patients with a high level of spirituality, may improve vaccination rates as well as quality of life during treatment. Collaboration between health care workers, social workers, faith-based leaders, and cancer survivors may be crucial to achieve this goal. Social media may be an important component, providing a means of sending the positive message to older cancer patients that chronological age is not an impediment to treatment.

'The experience of spirituality in family caregivers of adult and elderly cancer patients receiving palliative care: A meta-synthesis'

INTRODUCTION

Spirituality is a multidimensional aspect of human experience. In the context of palliative care, it is an individual resource that can be used to cope with illness and to assign new meanings to suffering. Qualitative studies that aim to investigate the experience of spirituality and the needs of family caregivers in this context are rare.

OBJECTIVE

This meta-synthesis aimed to synthesise qualitative studies on the experience of spirituality in family caregivers of adult and elderly cancer patients receiving palliative care.

METHODS

A systematic review was performed in six databases, and 14 studies were included in this meta-synthesis.

RESULTS

The results are presented as a thematic synthesis divided into two analytical themes: (1) The interweaving of spirituality with end-of-life care and (2) The dimensions of suffering and spirituality in the dying process of the loved one. Each analytical theme is explained by two descriptive themes. The results showed that family caregivers express their spirituality in a multidimensional way, giving meaning to the care provided and reassessing the meanings of their lives and their suffering.

CONCLUSION

Investigating the suffering and spiritual needs of family members in this context may be of value to inform comprehensive and multi-professional psychosocial care.

A review of family caregiving intervention trials in oncology

This article contains a review of literature published from 2010 to 2016 on family caregiving in oncology. An analysis of 810 citations resulted in 50 randomized trials. These trials describe the need to prepare family caregivers for the complex role they play in cancer care. Several studies have demonstrated improved quality of life for family caregivers and improved emotional support from interventions. Several studies addressed communication and relational intimacy, which are key concerns. An additional focus of these trials was in the area of caregiving tasks and ways to diminish the burden of caregiving and preparedness for this role. Further research is needed in this area given the shift to outpatient care and as family caregivers become the primary providers of care. Future research should include expanding tested models of family caregiver support in clinical practice and in diverse populations. CA Cancer J Clin 2017. © 2017 American Cancer Society. CA Cancer J Clin 2017;67:318-325. © 2017 American Cancer Society.

Calidad de vida de los cuidadores de personas con enfermedad crónica

El alto impacto epidemiológico, social, económico y cultural de las enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles afecta el significado de calidad de vida en las personas que las padecen y en sus cuidadores familiares. Objetivo: describir la forma como se construye el significado de calidad de vida de cuidadores de personas con enfermedad crónica. Método: investigación desarrollada con la propuesta de metasíntesis cualitativa de Sandelowski y Barroso. Resultados: se presentan tres momentos en la trayectoria: 1) se afecta (destrucción celular programada); 2) se trasforma (autocontrol del desarrollo y crecimiento), y 3) se resignifica (condensación); y cuatro factores condicionantes para la construcción del significado de calidad de vida para el cuidador como son el soporte social, la espiritualidad, la habilidad para cuidar y el tiempo. Conclusiones: la calidad de vida se afecta y se reconstruye en virtud del significado que el cuidador tenga de esta.

Iranian Nurses Perceptions of Cancer Patients Quality of Life

Background

Cancer is the third main cause of death in Iran only after cardiovascular diseases and accidents.

Objectives

The main aim of this research study was to identify nurses’ understanding of cancer patients’ Quality of Life (QoL) in an Iranian context.

Patients and Methods

This descriptive correlational study was conducted in an educative referral oncology center affiliated to Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran in 2013. 50 pairs of cancer patients and their nurses were conveniently recruited. The sample of nurses were selected based on consensus sampling which included more than 70 percent of eligible nurses in the hospital. Patients and nurses were requested to complete the Farsi version of the world health organization quality of life (WHOQoL-BREF) questionnaire, separately. QoL was measured across four dimensions including physical, psychological, social relationship and environmental.

Results

The QoL mean domain scores of patients were 10.06, 11.88, 12.76 and 11.96, respectively. The corresponding scores of nurses were 11.6, 11.23, 12.65 and 12.07. Pearson correlations between patients and nurses scores were 0.42, 0.5, 0.25 and 0.58 which revealed a fair to moderate agreement between nurses’ and patients’ scores in different domains. Paired samples t-test values indicated that physical QoL mean domain scores of patients were significantly lower than the corresponding drawings of nurses [t (49) = -3.41, P < 0.001].

Conclusions

The main finding of this QoL study was that nurses generally have a moderate understanding of cancer patients’ QoL. Therefore, in order to meet different physio-psycho-social needs of patients, nurses must enhance their understanding of patients’ QoL particularly in more subjective and personal domains like social domain using a holistic approach.