Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Exploration Of Weight Gain In Female Breast Cancer Survivors, Mary Kay Johnson

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Breast cancer is no longer a guaranteed death sentence. Many women today can look forward to a long and healthy life after treatment for breast cancer. However, weight gain is an ongoing, distressing and common problem for women treated for breast cancer. The primary purpose of this study was to gain knowledge about the phenomena of weight gain in females treated for breast cancer. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in a natural setting. Sample: Electronic medical records for 100 female breast cancer survivors who visited a private suburban medical oncology clinic for treatment and/or on-going follow-up for a breast …

Oncology Nurses' Impact Scores For Obstacles And Supportive Behaviors At The End Of Life, Joan M. Collett

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Oncology nurses provide end-of-life (EOL) care to their patients daily. Oncology nurses' perceptions regarding how to provide quality care to dying patients could be an important addition to the ongoing research on quality EOL care. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of specific obstacle and supportive behaviors in EOL care as perceived by hospital-based oncology nurses. This study extended the work of Beckstrand, Moore, Callister, and Bond (2009).

Methods: A 69-item questionnaire adapted from previous studies (Beckstrand & Kirchhoff, 2005; Beckstrand, Smith, Heaston, & Bond, 2008) was sent to 1,000 nurses who were members of …

Myocardial Dysfunction In An Animal Model Of Cancer Cachexia, Hui Xu, Danielle Crawford, Kirk R. Hutchinson, Dane J. Youtz, Pamela A. Lucchesi, Markus Velten, Donna O. Mccarthy, Loren E. Wold

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Aims

Fatigue is a common occurrence in cancer patients regardless of tumor type or anti-tumor therapies and is an especially problematic symptom in persons with incurable tumor disease. In rodents, tumor-induced fatigue is associated with a progressive loss of skeletal muscle mass and increased expression of biomarkers of muscle protein degradation. The purpose of the present study was to determine if muscle wasting and expression of biomarkers of muscle protein degradation occur in the hearts of tumor-bearing mice, and if these effects of tumor growth are associated with changes in cardiac function.

Main methods

The colon26 adenocarcinoma cell line was …

Knowledge, Attitudes, And Practice Behaviors Of Oncology Advanced Practice Nurses Regarding Advanced Care Planning For Patients With Cancer., Guiyun Zhou, Dnp, Crnp, Aocns, Jill C Stoltzfus, Phd, Arlene D Houldin, Phd, Pmhcns-Bc, Susan M Parks, Md, Beth Ann Swan, Phd, Crnp, Faan

College of Nursing Faculty Papers & Presentations

Purpose/Objectives: To establish initial reliability and validity of a Web-based survey focused on oncology advanced practice nurses' (APNs') knowledge, attitudes, and practice behaviors regarding advanced care planning, and to obtain preliminary understanding of APNs' knowledge, attitudes, and practice behaviors and perceived barriers to advanced care planning.

Design: Descriptive, cross-sectional, pilot survey study.

Setting: The eastern United States.Sample: 300 oncology APNs.Methods: Guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior, a knowledge, attitudes, and practice behaviors survey was developed and reviewed for content validity. The survey was distributed to 300 APNs via e-mail and sent again to the 89 APNs who responded to …

Falls, Fall Sequale, And Healthcare In Aging Community Dwelling Elderly Cancer Survivors, Sandra Spoelstra

Sandra L. Spoelstra, PhD, RN, FGSA, FAAN

Factors Influencing Early Detection Of Breast Cancer In African American Women, Tamrah Joy Parker

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

Background. African American women are more likely to have breast cancer diagnosed at a later stage than Caucasian women and with a five year death rate 1.5 times greater than Caucasian women. Mammography screening detects breast cancer in its early stages and can reduce mortality.

Objective. To examine factors influencing early detection of breast cancer for African American women.

Methods. A convenience sample of 39 African American women 50 years of age and older was selected from two local Baptist churches in eastern North Carolina. Eligibility criteria included ability to read and write in English with no prior or present …

Oncology Nurses’ Perceptions Of Obstacles And Supportive Behaviors In End-Of-Life Care, Renea L. Beckstrand, A. Elaine Bond, Lynn Clark Callister, Josie Moore

Faculty Publications

Cancer accounts for one in four deaths in the United States. Oncology nurses care for dying patients on a daily basis. Research on specific obstacles that impede and supportive behaviors that help the delivery of end-of-life (EOL) care is limited.

The Efficacy Of Complementary Therapies In Reducing Cancer-Related Pain, Sarah A. Hocking

Student Works

Pain is a persistent and troubling condition for patients with cancer. Because medications often provide incomplete management of cancer-related pain, adjunct treatment may be necessary to provide more complete pain management. Complementary and alternative therapies are becoming increasingly prevalent in cancer pain management. However, lack of knowledge regarding the efficacy of complementary therapies may prevent patients and nurses from implementing them. The purpose of this article is to provide a review of literature on the efficacy of various complementary and alternative therapies for managing cancer-related pain, including massage, aromatherapy, hypnosis, and music therapy. Eighteen recent research articles related to this …

Improved Cancer Care Through Increased Basic Cancer Education, Patricia Rushton, Lillian Nail, Sherry Brown

Faculty Publications

Literature shows that nursing care in rural communities improves when the nurse has increased knowledge through continuing education. Specific oncology studies in areas of stress, pain assessment and documentation, and death and dying.(Hedman-1990,Camp-Sorrell-1991,Foglesong-1987,Webber-1991) demonstrate similar results. It is reasonable that continuing education in areas of the cancer process, standard therapies, and methods of symptom control would improve patient care. This project allowed nurses who had limited access to cancer education in rural areas of Utah to receive basic cancer education. The subjects of this education included: 1) the cancer process, 2) chemotherapy, 3)radiation therapy, 4) the use and care of …

Individual Telephone Support For Family Caregivers Of Seriously Ill Cancer Patients, Sandra M. Walsh, Griselle B. Estrada, Nancy S. Hogan

Nursing: School of Nursing Faculty Publications and Other Works

Medical-surgical nurses are an important source of information and guidance for family caregivers during health care crises. The concerns expressed by family caregivers to nurse interventionists during a supportive and informational telephone intervention are described in this study. An analysis of telephone call content using constant comparison methods identified major stressors of the family caregiver during the illness trajectory

The Effect Of Professionally-Facilitated Group Support On Psychological Well-Being Among Clients With Cancer, Joann C. Harper Phd, Ms, Rn

Dissertations

Many persons suffer from cancer, some of whom seek psychological relief through group support. Despite the widely held belief that group support helps, its efficacy has not been consistently evident in the scientific literature. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of professionally-facilitated group support on the psychological well-being of clients with cancer between persons who participated in professionally-facilitated group support with those who did not. A comparison design measured effect by the Psychological General Well-Being (PGWB) index. Each study enrollee was diagnosed with a new or recurrent cancer within 18 months of study entry. ANCOVA was …

Effect Of Relaxation On Neuro-Immune Responses Of Persons Undergoing Chemotherapy, Patricia K. Taylor Pothier Phd, Ms, Rn

Dissertations

Chemotherapy can be considered both a physiologic and a psychological stressor. Anxiety, nausea, emesis, and immunosuppression are commonly associated with chemotherapy, and may adversely affect the outcome or the process of treatment. Chemotherapy-related anxiety can exacerbate negative side-effects. Some psychological stressors, such as anxiety, can result in down-regulation of certain immune functions. Studies have demonstrated that behavioral interventions, such as specific relaxation strategies, can modify stress-related immune modulation. These behavioral interventions have also been shown to decrease the degree of nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy. The purpose of this study was to examine whether a relaxation intervention would result …

Patient And Care Giver Perceptions Of Cancer Pain Control, Patricia Rushton, Sherry Brown

Faculty Publications

PURPOSE: This study measured the perceptions of Utah cancer patients and cargivers concerning knowledge about and adequacy of pharmacologic cancer pain control. METHODS: A descriptive survey was used. Questionnaires were sent to cancer patients and caregivers surveying their knowledge about and perceptions of the adequacy of pharmacologic cancer pain control. RESULTS: The study had a 52% response rate (259 of 500). Eighty five percent (219 of 259) of the respondents stated they had no cancer pain. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Cancer literature indicated that much cancer pain is not effectively controlled. The majority of the respondents of this study reported no pain. …

Identification Of Needs In Treatment Of Breast Cancer, Luann Massey

MSN Research Projects

Breast cancer has been documented as the second leading cause of death in American women. Many needs are realized during the phases of treatment for breast cancer: at the time of diagnosis, during treatment, and after treatment. The purpose of this descriptive exploratory study was to identify the needs of women with breast cancer during phases of treatment. With the Neuman Systems Model as a theoretical framework, the research question was as follows : What are the needs of women with breast cancer during the phases of treatment? Data were obtained using the Massey Subject Profile and the Massey Questionnaire. …

Predicting The Severity Of Radiation Skin Reactions In Women With Breast Cancer, Davina Porock

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Skin reactions are unavoidable side effects of radiotherapy for breast cancer that may limit the amount of treatment a patient is able to receive. As well, the discomfort associated with the treatment may negatively affect the patient's quality of life and their willingness to complete a course of treatment that typically extends over seven weeks. Prior literature suggests that variations in patients' tissue reactions to radiation may be related to Individual patient characteristics. Before health care providers can intervene to prevent or minimise skin reactions, a clinical model that helps predict which patients will experience more skin reactions is needed. …

Autopsy In The Cancer Patient: The Nurse's Role, Patricia Rushton

Faculty Publications

Nurses spend many hours with dying cancer patients, developing close relationships with both the patients and their families. However, nurses are frequently not involved in the process of requesting an autopsy, either by choice or tradition. During this time of great stress, the nurse can be more involved. The nurse who understands the reasons for autopsy and its ramification for the grieving process can be actively involved in supporting the physician who makes the request and the family members who must make the this difficult decision. It is possible that the nurse can be the health team member designated to …

Coping Mechanisms Utilized By Women Survivors Of Breast Cancer, Elizabeth Polk Thomas

MSN Research Projects

The suspected and confirmed diagnosis of breast cancer evokes feelings of fear, anxiety, guilt, frustration, and vulnerability in an individual. A woman diagnosed with breast cancer may utilize a variety of coping mechanisms. This descriptive study sought to identify the most common and most effective coping mechanisms utilized by women survivors of breast cancer answering the following research question: Which coping mechanisms are most effective and most frequently utilized by women survivors of breast cancer? This study used the theory of Lazarus and Folkman (1984) as a framework for understanding coping. The final sample (N = 20) consisted of women …

Facilitators And Barriers To The Practice Of Breast Cancer In Black Women, Yvonne W. Tanner

MSN Research Projects

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer in black women, yet black women are among the least likely to participate in breast screening. Little is known about factors that promote or inhibit the practice of breast cancer screening in this population. The purpose of this study was to determine what facilitators and barriers exist to the practice of breast cancer screening in black women. The theoretical frameworks for this study were Leininger's Transcultural Nursing Theory and Champion's Modified Health Belief Model. Utilizing a descriptive research design, a sample of 67 black women with no history of breast cancer …

Personal And Professional Practices Of Breast Self-Examination In Nurses, Julia Agars

Theses : Honours

Breast cancer is the most frequently occurring cancer in females in Western Australia (W.A.). Despite technological advances the death rate from breast cancer is not decreasing. With the hope of reducing the mortality rates, preventative measures are being encouraged for the early detection of breast cancer. The Cancer Foundation of W.A. promote the performance of Breast Self Examination (BSE) on a monthly basis. The purpose of this study is to determine the frequency of BSE practice amongst nurses and the incidence of nurses teaching BSE to patients. The Health Belief Model (HBM) is used as a theoretical framework. This model …

Oral Assessment Guide, June Eilers, Ann Berger

Guides and Handouts: College of Nursing

The Oral Assessment Guide (OAG) can be used by the clinician to evaluate changes in the oral cavity. The OAG is comprised of eight categories of mucositis assessment of the mouth on a scale of 1 to 3, with “1” indicating normal and “3” indicating breakdown or loss of function. The OAG has been validated and is reliable in the current published format. Permission is granted for use in the current format. Any modifications will require new testing for validity and reliability. The OAG has been widely used in cancer and other populations and published in professional journals and books.