Digital Commons Network^™

Exercise To Improve Cancer-Related Fatigue, Jennifer Watson

MSN Capstone Projects

For the average patient, medical professionals typically recommend exercise to enhance the health of their patients in multiple ways. Oncology patients, however, often have different issues that the treating physicians are more concerned about, so physical activity gets placed on the back burner. The need for exercise in oncology patients is certainly a decision that should be part of an individualized treatment plan, but it is reasonable to believe that most of these patients will benefit from participating in an exercise program. With the high demanding need to decrease chemotherapy side effects and improve lives of those undergoing it, this …

Interactive Health Literacy And Self-Management Of Lung Cancer Symptoms, Julie Kieffer Campbell

Theses and Dissertations

Patients with lung cancer experience multiple symptoms requiring self-management. Health literacy skills are necessary for obtaining and processing information related to symptom self-management. Interactive health literacy involves communicating with healthcare providers regarding health-related information, but the role of interactive health literacy in self-management is not clear. This study used a critical realist approach to address these specific aims: 1) explore interactive health literacy and how it relates to symptom self-management for patients with lung cancer; and 2) describe patients’ experiences of interactive with healthcare providers regarding symptom self-management for lung cancer. The study was conducted using a cross-sectional mixed methods …

Improving Code Response Time Through Strategic Positioning Of Nursing House Supervisors: Results Of A Nurse-Led Intervention, Noah R. Zanville, Paula T. Smith, Albis A. Aguiar, Joan Simon-Smith, Jessenia Menendez, Alice J. Cockerel, Rosalina P. Butao, Marguerite Rowell

Nursing & Health Sciences Research Journal

Background: In many settings, the nursing house supervisors (NHS) are a critical part of the entity’s code response team. To date, much of the research on code response has focused on improving response times through staff-focused interventions such as simulation training. However, use of data to determine where to physically place NHS in the building to optimize code response times has received little attention, especially in an outpatient oncology setting.

Purpose: To test whether using data on code frequency/location to strategically position NHS could reduce mean code response times in large (450,000-ft2) outpatient cancer center.

Methods: Data on code volume, …

Oncology Nurse Compassion Fatigue Benchmark Project, Jessica R. Hayward

MSN Capstone Projects

Oncology nurses provide care to patients during some of the toughest times in their lives. This care places nurses at risk of developing compassion fatigue which can have negative long-term health impacts. There is currently no formal compassion fatigue education offered to oncology nurses. This lack of training leaves nurses vulnerable to the impacts of unmanaged stress, burnout, and compassion fatigue. This benchmark project was completed to bring awareness to the need for a mindfulness-based compassion fatigue course. This course will provide oncology nurses with the knowledge and skills necessary to manage these difficult emotions.

The Effect Of Hope On The Relationship Between Personal And Disease Characteristics And Anxiety And Depression In Adolescents And Young Adults With Cancer, Sharon B. Mcneil

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer face physical, psychosocial, emotional, and developmental challenges that are unique to their age group. In facing the crisis of a cancer diagnosis, both social support and hope have been shown to be tools utilized by some AYAs. However, AYAs have higher rates of anxiety and depression than in older adults which may have an effect on their levels of hope.

This cross-sectional study examined the mechanistic effects of hope on the relationship between personal characteristics of age, gender, and social support, the disease characteristics of type of cancer and length of time since …

Determining The Effectiveness Of System-Based Solutions To Improve Fragmented Care For Oncology Patients Living In Rural And Remote Regions: An Integrative Review, Andrea Nicole Fulmer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this integrative review is to review, critique, and synthesize the current literature to determine the state of the science related to the established systems approach for improving healthcare management and care coordination of the oncology patient population in rural and remote regions. The oncology patient population with co-existing chronic disease living in rural and remote regions experience fragmented health care. New cancer diagnoses take precedence over other existing comorbidities and require focused and specialized care for lengthy periods of time. Research is significantly limited for the current state of science for the identified patient population living in …

Utilization Of Evidence-Based Telehealth For Routine Follow-Up Visits In Outpatient Palliative Care, Nienke Sahelijo Bsn, Rn, Dnp-Fnp Student, Kori Fitzgerald Dnp, Fnp-C, Joseph F. Burkard Dncs, Crna

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Objectives: Palliative care services constitute a vital part of the oncology treatment plan. Much of the suffering associated directly with cancer itself or as a result of treatments can be mitigated with the early incorporation of palliative services. Unfortunately, access to palliative care remains elusive due to a lack of qualified providers. This evidence-based project was implemented in an effort to address gaps in care for advanced cancer patients. The goal was to provide telehealth visits for follow-up of stable patients to manage symptoms and psychosocial challenges with equivalent or improved satisfaction as compared to their last in-office visit …

Predictors Of Nonadherence To Radiation Therapy Schedules Among Head And Neck Cancer Patients, Jennifer Lynn Miller

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Nonadherence to radiation therapy schedules is a documented problem among head and neck cancer patients. This retrospective dissertation study examined whether demographics, clinical characteristics, or physical and psychological symptoms were related to nonadherence in head and neck cancer patients. The electronic medical records of 262 head and neck cancer patients at a southeastern U.S. cancer center were reviewed to determine whether nonadherence was related to symptom scores and other patient and clinical-related factors. Nonadherent patients were more likely to be female, be admitted to the cancer center as inpatients during treatment and receive outpatient IV fluids during treatment. Nonadherent patients …

Utilization Of Peer-Led Education To Enhance Advance Care Planning And Advance Directive Completion, Jenna Juenger

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Background: The integration of advance care planning (ACP) and palliative care (PC) into oncology plays a critical role in symptom management and quality of life. Studies reveal a large subset of oncology patients with unmet needs regarding ACP and advance directive (AD) completion. Successful ACP helps to promote congruent medical treatment with patients’ values and preferences and motivates patients to complete ADs.

Objective: An evidence-based practice project was conducted to assess the effectiveness of peer-led education to nursing staff to improve ACP and AD completion among inpatient oncology and PC patients

Design: A standardized survey created from the …

Early Initiation Of Palliative Care, Ann R. Phillips

MSN Capstone Projects

The overall aim of this project, based upon the best available evidence, clinical experience of oncology nurses, and patient preferences for information about palliative care, is to propose the creation and initiation of a protocol which empowers oncology/palliative care nurses to be able to initiate early discussions about palliative care for patients with advanced stage cancer (III-IV) diagnoses.

By having frank conversations surrounding palliative care early on in the treatment process, patients are better able to make informed decisions about treatment, depending on the trajectory their disease takes. Such conversations provide patients with a clearer picture of what is likely …

Treatments For Cancer Given Orally: Patients' Perceptions Of Distress Due To Financial Toxicity, Ellen Carr

Dissertations

Purpose/Aims: For adult participants who have received or are receiving treatment for hematologic and solid tumor malignancies given orally, this study describes the relationship between participants’ experience of financial toxicity (FT), the participants’ perception of distress associated with FT, and participants’ self-identified adherence to prescribed treatments in the context of FT.

Background: FT has emerged as an additional source of distress for cancer patients. The costs of treatments given orally can be prohibitively expensive for patients. Therefore, these patients may experience considerable distress and may not adhere to treatments as prescribed.

Method: Descriptive cross-sectional correlational design study of a sample …

Caring For Young Adults With Cancer: A Systematic Review, Sarah M. Pelletier

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Young adulthood is unique period of life in which critical developmental milestones are achieved amid dynamic physical, emotional, and social changes. During this period of life, young adults are charged with establishing personal and social independence. When challenged with a cancer diagnosis, the already turbulent late teens, twenties, and thirties are dramatically and permanently altered. Hence, the needs of young adults vary from that of their pediatric and older adult counterparts. The aim of this systematic review of the literature was to identify what age-specific needs must be addressed by healthcare professionals to enhance quality of care and outcomes for …

Gene Editing In Healthcare As It Relates To Oncological Practices, Jennamarie Scanlon

Honors College Theses

No abstract provided.

Suicidal Risk Education In Hospice Care, Shannon Jones

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

It is well-documented that oncology patients experience greater rates of suicidality including suicidal ideation, actions, or completions, as compared to the general population. The small, rural county which was the setting for this project has a higher rate of lung and colon cancers as compared to regional, state, and national rates. A review of the literature revealed best practices for suicide screening including universal education and screening and targeted education and screening for at-risk populations. The rate for suicides in the county is also higher than the rates for the region, state, and nation. The purpose of this project was …

A Systematic Review: Effectiveness Of Complementary Therapies On Mental Status Of Pediatric Oncology Patients, Sara Fredricks, Jessica Lloyd, Whitney Wendling

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Children with cancer frequently suffer from depression, anxiety, feelings of hopelessness, and psychological stresses related to knowledge of potential risks, associated treatments, and the illness itself. These psychological problems can cause many additional physiological problems for these already chronically ill patients and may be detrimental to their overall health. The purpose of this systematic review is to review and critically appraise the evidence to determine if the use of Complementary and Alternative Methods (CAM), along with standardized care, affects mental health outcomes in pediatric cancer patients. Twenty-one primary source publications between 2013 and 2019 were analyzed for this systematic review. …

Quality Of Life Of Lung Cancer Patients, Prasobh U. K, Soumya S Ms

Manipal Journal of Nursing and Health Sciences

Lung cancer is one of the commonest cancers where the individual’s quality of life is affected. Objectives: To assess the Quality of Life of Lung Cancer patients using quality of life rating scale. Methods: The descriptive survey method was used. The study was done among 30 patients of selected hospitals at Calicut, Kerala using EORTC QLQ C-30 quality of life questionnaire version 3 with lung cancer module EORTC- LC-13. Results: Findings show that the mean QoL of patients with lung cancer was 52.27, the mean cognitive function 76.70, the mean emotional function 53.70, the mean role functioning score was 40.0, …