Cancer patients' experiences of communicating and dealing with their older parents: A qualitative study

Protective Buffering: Nurses Facilitating Communication Between Adults With Cancer and Their Adult Family Caregivers Who Overprotect One Another-An Integrative Review

The aim of this study was to explore how nurses can alleviate protective buffering between adult patients with cancer and their adult family caregivers (PROSPERO No. CRD42020207072). An integrative review was conducted. PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched for primary research articles published between January 2010 and April 2022. Only research conducted in oncology, hematology, or multiple settings and investigating communication between adult patients with cancer and their adult family caregivers and/or the communication between patients, family caregivers, and nurses was included. The constant comparison method outlined the approach to the analysis and synthesis of the included studies. Titles and abstracts of 7,073 references were screened; 22 articles (19 qualitative and three quantitative studies) were included in the review. Three themes emerged during data analysis: (a) family coping, (b) an isolating journey, and (c) the nurse's role. A study limitation was that "protective buffering" is not a common term in the nursing literature. There is a need for further research on protective buffering in families with cancer, particularly on psychosocial interventions that focus on the whole family across various cancer types.

Openness and topic avoidance in interpersonal communication about ovarian cancer: An uncertainty management perspective

This study examined openness and topic avoidance in interpersonal communication about ovarian cancer. Guided by the uncertainty management theory, the researchers analyzed qualitative data from 28 ovarian cancer patients/survivors and found openness and topic avoidance to be complex communication behaviors which are connected to patients/survivors’ uncertainty. Participants appraised uncertainty about disease prognosis and effectiveness of treatments as a threat; thus, they avoided topics such as treatment side effects and fears about death and disease recurrence to manage such uncertainty. Furthermore, findings showed that communication about ovarian cancer is layered with degrees of openness and avoidance relative to respective audiences and changing illness trajectories. Overall, the findings indicate connections between interpersonal communication about ovarian cancer and uncertainty management practices, suggesting that intervention efforts should help cancer patients/survivors and relational others practice sensitivity when discussing topics such as death and dying.

Anxiety and related factors among parents of patients with breast cancer after surgery in Japan: A multi-informant and multilevel study

AIM

Anxiety and its correlates in parents of patients with breast cancer have rarely been studied. We explored anxiety among parents of postoperative patients with breast cancer and its relationship with parents' social support and care needs and patients' anxiety.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey using self-report questionnaires and medical records was conducted among patients with breast cancer after surgery and their parents at four designated cancer care hospitals between September 2015 and June 2016. Anxiety was measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Parents provided information about social support and care needs. Multilevel analysis was performed on patient-parent paired data controlling for patient-level variation.

RESULTS

Participants included 107 patients, 83 mothers, and 51 fathers. The mean HADS anxiety scores reported by mothers and fathers were 7.2 and 6.5, respectively, which were higher than patients' HADS anxiety scores. Fulfillment of important care needs was related to lower anxiety among mothers and fathers (estimate = -1.38, p = .01). Lower family support and higher patient anxiety were associated with higher anxiety in mothers, but not fathers.

CONCLUSIONS

Parents of patients with breast cancer had high anxiety. Communication, providing cancer-related information, and fulfilling care needs can alleviate anxiety in parents of patients with breast cancer after surgery. Furthermore, increasing family support and decreasing patients' anxiety are essential to alleviating mothers' anxiety.

Patient perspectives on relatives and significant others in cancer care: An interview study

PURPOSE

In this study, patient perspectives on their relative's involvement in gynaecological cancer treatment and care are investigated.

METHODS

In total 17 women participated in two qualitative research interviews each during their treatment period. By applying a phenomenological-hermeneutic text interpretation methodology, the findings were systematically identified, interpreted, and discussed. This process gave rise to two main themes: "Relatives include more than family members" and "Interactions with relatives and significant others".

RESULTS

The findings showed that, besides family members, in particular neighbours and people who had experienced cancer themselves were an important and valuable support to the patients. Help with daily activities and errands, and providing informal company, represented a substantial support in difficult times, and generated a sense of social belonging and the experience of fellowship. Interactions with relatives were influenced by the patients' personal reflections and experiences and posed several positive as well as negative challenges. Firstly, the patients had many concerns about passing on the news of their cancer disease to their social network. Loneliness, in various representations, was a persistent theme, which reflected various experiences of vulnerability.

CONCLUSION

Positive family relations represented a unique resource during cancer treatment; however, due to relatives' worries or lack of support, patients could experience strain. This perspective on relatives' involvement - from the patient's point of view - seems to be understudied.