Accuracy of the Defining Characteristics of the Sexual Dysfunction Nursing Diagnosis in Women with Breast Cancer

Telenursing in the sexual function of women with breast cancer: A study protocol

INTRODUCTION

Most women with breast cancer have sexual function problems related to cancer diagnosis and treatment. These problems harm the quality of life and relationships. However, most patients do not receive care or guidance regarding sexuality from healthcare providers. This study aimed to test the effect of telenursing counseling on sexual functioning in women undergoing breast cancer treatment.

METHODS

This randomized clinical trial was conducted at 2 reference hospitals for cancer treatment. One hundred eight women with stage I-IV breast cancer undergoing treatment (surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy or hormone therapy) with a partner will be included in this study. The study was authorized by the Ethics Committee of the Federal University of Ceará (Opinion number: 46,13,609) and the Maternity School Assis Chateaubriand (Opinion number: 47,42,687). Patients will be allocated to the following groups: the control group, which will not receive an active intervention, and the intervention group, which will receive 3 telenursing counseling sessions for 6 weeks. The levels of sexual function in these patients before the intervention, soon after the intervention and at 12 weeks were compared and analyzed. All data will be collected and analyzed by the JASP program.

RESULTS

Differences in levels of sexual function among women allocated to the control and intervention groups in the analyzed periods.

CONCLUSION

This evidence-based nursing care strategy can be used to improve the sexual function of breast cancer patients and consequently their quality of life and marital relationship.

Filling a gap in standardized nursing terminology. Development of a new nursing diagnosis proposal on heart failure self-care

PURPOSE

Heart failure is a highly prevalent chronic health problem associated with poor quality-of-life and negative outcomes. Self-care is a cornerstone in patients suffering from heart failure. Nurses are commonly engaged in enhancing patients' self-care behaviors, but the specific condition of deficit on self-care is not clearly identified by nurses. No nursing diagnoses focused on self-care of heart failure patients is currently available. This study aimed to develop a new nursing diagnosis that focuses on self-care in heart failure patients.

DATA SOURCES

A concept and content analysis were used. Some steps of the concept analysis were performed through an integrative literature review conducted searching in PUBMED and CINAHL databases to identify attributes, antecedents, and consequences of the diagnosis. Forty-five articles were selected from the 1450 studies found. Then, the content analysis was performed by an international panel of 29 experts. Two Delphi rounds were used to achieve consensus and an item content validity index was calculated for each diagnostic element.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Integrative review proposed four diagnostic labels, two definitions, 15 defining characteristics, and 44 related factors. After the two Delphi rounds a consensus was reached for each diagnostic indicator with a content validity index ranging from 82.8% to 100%. The nursing diagnosis-labeled heart failure self-care deficit-was validated with a definition, eight defining characteristics, 15 related factors, and five at-risk populations.

CONCLUSIONS

This diagnosis allows nurses to document patients' self-care in daily clinical practice through a standard nursing terminology, by naming this health problem, describing its etiology, and clinical manifestations.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE

This new diagnosis is expected to assist nursing clinicians, educators, and students in clinical reasoning with the aim to improve diagnostic accuracy in identifying patients with a heart failure self-care deficit, to select the most appropriate interventions and pursue better outcomes.