الفهرس 
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Abstract
SUMMARY
Although cancer is curable in many, if not most cases, it continues to be feared. Research is producing insights and advances into the causes and cures for cancer, but the problem of symptom management continues. As with chronic illnesses, cancer and its treatments can adversely affect patients’ needs. Cancer is a chronic disease that significantly affects a person’s physiological, psychological, and social well-being. The symptoms and side effects from cancer and its treatments, such as chemotherapy, affect every aspect of needs in patients with cancer.
Cancer patients are at risk for multiple severe and persistent symptoms, and assessing and monitoring the severity and impact of these multiple symptoms is critical to understanding the patients’ experience. Identifying the health care needs of cancer patients requires an evaluation of the biologic and psychosocial contexts within which cancer is diagnosed and treated.
Oncology patients in the outpatient setting are known to experience not only disease related symptoms, but also treatment related symptoms. Addressing the psychosocial health needs of the cancer patient should be an integral part of cancer care. Cancer patients’ psychosocial needs range from information about their therapies and the potential physical side effects, to treatment for depression, stress, or other mental and emotional conditions; assistance with daily activities that they can no longer perform independently; and assistance with transportation, prosthetics, medications, and other supplies they cannot afford or to which they do not have ready access, despite advancements in cancer care, cancer patients continue to experience a substantial level of physical and emotional unmet needs.
Subjects and Methods:
The aim of this study was to assess biopsychosocial and spiritual needs of patients receiving chemotherapy.
Design:
A descriptive exploratory design was used in carrying out this study.
Setting:
The present study was conducted at The Oncology Center in Mansoura University Hospital.
Subjects:
A purposeful sample of one hundred patients was recruited as subjects for this study who had been diagnosed with cancer and was receiving chemotherapy.
Data Collection Tools:
Data for this study were collected using four different types of tools: 1) A questionnaire interview sheet for cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, 2) Quality of Life Scale (QOL), 3) Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI), and 4)-Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale (MSAS).
The main study results was as follows:
• Almost three quarters (74%) of patients had satisfactory knowledge regarding to chemotherapy and its side effects, the majority of the sample (86%) had low QOL score.
• Regarding to physical and psychological needs, they were low scores (39% & 28% respectively).
• In distress aspects of illness and treatment, fear, social and spiritual needs for the majority of them were high needs in these aspects representing 81%, 86%, 78% and 79% respectively.
• As regards fatigue for more than half of study sample they were sever/moderate during last week (54%) and in the last day (53%).
• The most frequent symptoms in Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale were lack of appetite (91%), don’t look like myself (92%), feeling sad (86%), dry mouth (85%), worrying (84%) and nausea (83%).
Results of this study concluded that, cancer patients receiving chemotherapy need more attention as regards distress aspects of illness and treatment, fear and social and spiritual concerns.
Recommendations:
• Continuous in-service educational programs should be held for all the health team working in outpatient clinics regarding to nursing care of patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy to revise, acquire and develop knowledge, performance and attitude needed to deal with such a group of patients.
• A simple illustrated booklet or educational DVD including information about side effects and instructions should be available in the outpatient clinics as a reference for patients, with cancer receiving chemotherapy.
• Using universal instruments like Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale (MSAS) instrument, Brief Fatigue Inventory scale in clinical practice because patients with cancer experience many physical and emotional symptoms. When these patients self-report their symptoms, the prevalence and severity data for the symptoms tend to vary significantly from those identified by nurses or physicians and from the data recorded in charts and on research forms.
• Computerized based-records for each patient including his/her symptoms and follow-up care should be available for medical oncology patients receiving chemotherapy.