RESUMEN
PURPOSE: In order to assess the impact of cancer diagnosis on several psychological dimensions, this study was undertaken with the aim to understand, identify and document the psychological responses of cancer patients - their common thoughts, feelings, body sensations and behavior when they faced the cancer diagnosis. METHODS: The sample consisted of 80 patients who attended psychological lectures during the implementation of the European Educational Programme (EEP) "Learning to live with cancer". At the beginning of the lectures, the patients were asked to fulfill the self-describing questionnaire with 4 open questions: "Describe your common thoughts, feelings, behavior, and body reactions in the first 6 weeks when you learned that you were affected by cancer". RESULTS: A significant proportion of patients reported disease denial (65%) and reexamination in relation to past life experiences, stressful events and bad habits (60%). Depressive feelings and disappointment were reported by 90% of the patients, while 85% of them reported fear, hopelessness and emptiness. They also reported sadness (70%), anger and anxiety (65%), nervousness and irritability (90%). Positive thoughts and attitude in the sense of optimism concerning a successful treatment outcome were reported by 20% and 15% of patients, respectively. CONCLUSION: The diagnosis of cancer and cancer treatment can cause distress, emotional turmoil and different psychosocial disorders. Taking into consideration different psychological reactions of cancer patients can be helpful for organizing adequate psycho-educational and psychosocial support, and psychotherapy for cancer patients and their families.
Asunto(s)
Emociones , Conocimientos, Actitudes y Práctica en Salud , Neoplasias/psicología , Educación del Paciente como Asunto , Estrés Psicológico/etiología , Adaptación Psicológica , Ansiedad/etiología , Costo de Enfermedad , Negación en Psicología , Depresión/etiología , Humanos , Genio Irritable , Acontecimientos que Cambian la Vida , Servicios de Salud Mental , Neoplasias/diagnóstico , Neoplasias/terapia , Apoyo Social , Encuestas y CuestionariosRESUMEN
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to assess the level of difficulty when performing a life habit, the type of assistance required and the person's level of satisfaction in relation to the accomplishment of each life habit, to establish a profile of handicap situation in cancer patients and to assess the relationship between the level of accomplishment and the level of satisfaction. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study sample consisted of 100 cancer patients. The Life Habits Assessment was used to measure the degree of accomplishment in 12 categories of life habits - daily living and social roles. RESULTS: Disruptions in the accomplishment of all life habit categories were revealed. The highest disruptions were observed in the following categories: education, recreation, and employment. The highest accomplishments were observed in communication, personal care, and fitness. Human assistance was required in the accomplishment of responsibility, community, employment and recreation. The highest person's level of satisfaction was observed in communication, personal care and interpersonal relations. The highest correlation between the level of accomplishment and the level of satisfaction were in mobility and residence, and the lowest correlation was in communication. CONCLUSION: The established profile of handicap situation in cancer patients should help specify rehabilitation objectives and may be a frame for individual treatment plan in accomplishing better social participation of cancer patients.
Asunto(s)
Personas con Discapacidad/rehabilitación , Personas con Discapacidad/estadística & datos numéricos , Neoplasias/rehabilitación , Actividades Cotidianas , Adaptación Psicológica , Adulto , Anciano , Comunicación , Evaluación de la Discapacidad , Femenino , Hábitos , Humanos , Relaciones Interpersonales , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Neoplasias/complicaciones , Satisfacción Personal , Calidad de Vida , Apoyo Social , Encuestas y CuestionariosRESUMEN
PURPOSE: To assess the need and willing for education of oncology experts for the implementation of the European Educational Programme (EEP) "Learning to live with cancer", and to analyze how participants evaluated the first 3 seminars "Education of educators". MATERIALS AND METHODS: In March, April and May 2003, three 3-day seminars entitled "Education of educators" for implementing the EEP "Learning to live with cancer" were organized by a certified educator team of the Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia, Belgrade. The attendees (n=70) answered a questionnaire specially constructed in order to assess their previous knowledge about the topics of the seminar, their satisfaction with the content of the seminar, their attitude towards implementation of what they learned in daily routine practice, and their willingness to continue such an education in the future. RESULTS: Education of patients and their families was not a part of daily routine practice of 79% of the attendees, and 88.6% of them thought that their patients would benefit from the implementation of the EEP. The knowledge acquired during the seminars was completely or partially new for 76% of the participants, and 96% of them thought that similar seminars should be organized on a regular basis--once a year. Readiness to participate actively in future seminars expressed 64% of the attendees, and all of them suggested topics they thought most interesting for their practice. CONCLUSION: The content of the three seminars satisfied the great majority of the attendees. Their positive attitude and willingness to implement what they have learned in their practice confirmed the need to apply the EEP in the holistic treatment of cancer patients.
Asunto(s)
Medicina Clínica/educación , Neoplasias/psicología , Educación del Paciente como Asunto/organización & administración , Adulto , Educación Médica Continua , Femenino , Humanos , Aprendizaje , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Neoplasias/terapiaRESUMEN
PURPOSE: To assess the readiness for education and the learning needs of cancer patients, and to assess the correlation between the information and different aspects of quality of life (QoL). PATIENTS AND METHODS: 70 cancer patients were enrolled. All of them answered a questionnaire specifically designed to assess the readiness and needs for education, and the level of the information among them. The Rotterdam Symptom Checklist (RSCL) was used for QoL estimation. RESULTS: 28 (40%) out of 70 patients had high motivation for education, while 62 (88%) expressed positive attitudes toward learning. Sixty-three (90%) patients needed to know more about nutrition. The topics about alternative and complementary cancer treatments interested 59 (84%) patients. Forty-two (60%) patients wanted to learn about changing of the life habits and about their own active participation of adaptation to their new situation due to cancer. There was significant (r=-0.33, p<0.005) correlation between the information and global QoL, and borderline significance between the information and physical aspects of QoL (r=-0.233, p=0.052). CONCLUSION: We showed that better understanding knowledge, and skills in the rearrangement of treatment goals and making changes in plans for future might have great impact on QoL. Education of cancer patients in this direction has to be systematic and planned according to the patient's wishes and learning needs. Only in this way education could be a powerful means in coping for better QoL and a psychosocial support in the holistic treatment of cancer patients.