Excerpt: The conclusions by Zhang et al. (2015) were notable, but the support for the conclusions was not particularly strong because of two issues. The first weakness is that although some studies have found correlations between self-efficacy and pain, the study did not consider the possibility that it is symptom distress that affects self-efficacy in colorectal cancer patients. Rather, it was assumed only that self-efficacy caused reduced symptom effects instead of a reverse or mutual relationship. The study did not consider the possibility that low self-efficacy in those with high symptom distress was actually caused by the distress itself, which is a plausible explanation. In fact, Chiarotto et al. (2014) found that cancer patients on pain medication have higher rates of self-efficacy, which would appear to show that distress reduces self-efficacy, rather than the other way around, as assumed in the above study.

No description available.

Effective physician-patient communication is primary to successful medical consultation and encourages a collaborative interactional process between patient and doctor. Collaborative communication, rather than one-way authoritarian, physician-led medical interview, is significant in navigating difficult circumstances such as delivering "bad news" to patients diagnosed with cancer. Additionally, the potential psychological effects of breaking bad news in an abrupt and insensitive manner can be devastating and long-lasting for both the patient and his or her family. The topic of delivering unfavorable news to patients is an issue that many medical professionals find to be challenging and is now getting the attention of medical professionals in many countries, including the former Soviet Union (FSU) republics. The limited literature on communication skills in oncology in the FSU republics supports that the physician-patient communication style is perceived as significantly physician-oriented rather than patient-oriented. More specifically, the Soviet medical education system, as well as post-graduate medical education, has placed little to no emphasis on physician-patient communication training. Physician-oriented communication leads to patients being less forthcoming and open regarding their own feelings about being diagnosed with cancer, which may exacerbate the overall communication problem. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of the training program "Delivering Unfavorable News to Patients Diagnosed with Cancer" (Baile et al., 2000) conducted in Uzbekistan, one of the FSU republics. A total of 50 oncologists from the National Oncology Center of Uzbekistan (N = 50, n = 25 , n = 25 ) completed Self-Efficacy, Interpersonal skills (FIRO-B), Empathy (JSPE), and Physician Belief (PBS), and demographic instruments before, immediately after, and then two weeks after the training intervention. Results of MANOVA and bivariate statistical analyses revealed significant differences in self-efficacy, empathy, and PBS scores within the experimental group, but not within the control group, from pre-test to post-test. The follow-up data analysis suggested that participants maintained the level of change that occurred immediately after the training intervention.

No description available.

A Food Checklist, based on the Food Guide pyramid, was developed and validated as a quick method to determine the adequacy of dietary energy and protein intakes in cancer patients. Food intake data were monitored for 34 hospitalized oncology patients for two days. Caloric and protein intake estimates computed using the Food Checklist were correlated 0.99 (p <0.0001) with computer estimates of Nutritionist III validating the Food Checklist as an accurate, time-saving method for quickly assessing the adequacy of a cancer patient's diet. By highlighting the times during the day food intake was adequate and the food groups best tolerated by each patient, the Food Checklist could be a valuable tool for maximizing the effect of nutritional strategies. / Master of Science

The purpose of the present study was to study differences between cancer patients and noncancer patients in taste acuity and in salivation to food and stimuli associated with food. Subjects were twenty male cancer patients and eighteen patients hospitalized for noncancer-related illnesses. All cancer patients were tested prior to chemotherapy or radiation therapy. The study was conducted on two consecutive days. On Day 1 taste acuity was measured to bitter, sweet, sour and salty flavors using the forced choice three-stimulus drop technique on concentration from 6-2000 mm/l. Subjects completed a questionnaire on appetite difficulties, the Multiple Adjective Affect Check List (MAACL), and rated a list of snacks on a 5-point scale. On Day 2 salivary responding (using the Strongin-Hinsie Peck Test) was measured after subjects were told to expect food, after the presentation of food and after ingestion. For each subject, testing occurred in the morning and in the afternoon to high and low preferred foods. Cancer patients were significantly more likely than noncancer patients to report appetite difficulties which included premature satiety, decreased appetite, and changes in food preference. Cancer and noncancer patients did not differ reliably on the MAACL or in taste acuity. In salivation testing, the presentation of food increased salivation in noncancer patients but decreased salivation in cancer patients. However, the differences between cancer and noncancer patients was not reliable. The interaction between illness condition and test trials during the presentation of food did approach significance. The lack of reliable effects for illness condition may have occurred because the interval of food deprivation was too short to elicit reliable increases in salivation and external and social cues which normally accompany mealtime were not present during testing. / Ph. D.

Cette étude longitudinale documente l'implication du médecin de famille dans le suivi des personnes atteintes de cancer du poumon à différentes phases de leur maladie et compare les attentes des patients, des oncologues et des médecins de famille face au rôle que devraient tenir ces derniers dans le suivi. Elle explore également l'influence du niveau d'implication du médecin de famille sur l'adaptation des patients à leur maladie. Un total de 395 patients ont été suivis aux 3 à 6 mois selon la présence ou non de métastases, pendant un maximum de 18 mois. Les médecins de famille (n=232) de ces patients et leurs oncologues (n=45) ont aussi participé à l'étude. Une proportion de 92% des patients avaient un médecin de famille mais seulement 60% avaient été référés en spécialité par celui-ci ou un collègue pour le diagnostic du cancer. Le suivi offert par le médecin de famille était le plus souvent de type parallèle, sauf en phase avancée. La fréquence de suivi conjoint effectué par le médecin de famille et l'équipe spécialisée a augmenté avec la progression du cancer. Les différents acteurs ont des attentes divergentes quant au rôle du médecin de famille dans la coordination des soins et la transmission d'informations reliées au cancer. En phase avancée, les spécialistes accordent un rôle prédominant au médecin de famille dans tous les aspects du suivi, alors que ces derniers se perçoivent impliqués à toutes les phases du cancer. La majorité des participants reconnaissent un rôle au médecin de famille dans le soutien émotionnel des patients. L'implication du médecin de famille semble influencer positivement la détresse et la qualité de vie des patients. En phase avancée, les patients sans médecin de famille seraient plus en détresse et auraient une moins bonne qualité de vie. L'implication actuelle du médecin de famille semble modeste, en particulier pendant la phase de traitement des patients. Des stratégies visant à assurer la communication et la collaboration interprofessionnelle doivent être mises en place afin de maintenir le lien entre le médecin de famille et son patient à toutes les phases de la maladie. / This longitudinal study reports family physician involvement in the follow-up of lung cancer patients at different phases of their disease and it compares patient, family physician and specialist expectations regarding the role of family physician in cancer care. This research also explores the association between family physician involvement and cancer patient adjustment to their disease. A total of 395 patients were followed every 3 to 6 months whether they had metastases or not, for a maximum of 18 months. Family physicians (n=232) involved in these patients' care and their oncologists (n=45) have also participated to the study. A proportion of 92% of patients had a regular family physician, but only 60% had been referred to a specialist by him/her or a colleague for the diagnosis of their lung cancer. Patients perceived that parallel care was the most frequent pattern of care adopted by their family physician at all phases of cancer, except at the advanced/terminal phase where they identified shared care more often. Patients, family physicians and oncologists have divergent expectations regarding family physician involvement in coordination of care and information transmission. At the advanced/terminal phase, oncologists expect a major role of family physicians in all aspects of care, but these health professionals expect to be involved at all phases of cancer. The majority of patients and physicians recognize a role for family physicians in emotional support. Family physician involvement seems to positively influence patient distress and quality of life. At the advanced/terminal phase, patients without a regular family physician report higher levels of distress and a lower quality of life. The actual family physician involvement in cancer care appears modest, particularly at the treatment phase. Strategies to ensure communication and interprofessional collaboration should be developed to keep family physicians in the loop at all phases of cancer.

Chez les patients atteints de cancer du poumon, une réduction de la tolérance à l'effort, de la force musculaire et de la qualité de vie sont souvent rapportées. Alors que les effets bénéfiques d'un programme de réadaptation pulmonaire (PR) sur ces paramètres ont été bien démontrés dans le cas de plusieurs cancers et maladies pulmonaires, ils n'ont été que peu étudiés dans le cancer du poumon. L'objectif de ce projet de recherche visait à étudier la faisabilité d'un PR à domicile chez les patients en investigation pour un cancer du poumon et une chirurgie de résection pulmonaire et d'en quantifier les effets sur la tolérance à l'effort, la force musculaire et la qualité de vie. Cette étude nous a permis de démontrer qu'un PR à domicile était faisable et qu'il induisait des résultats physiologiques tels que l'amélioration de la tolérance à l'effort et de la fonction musculaire de ces patients.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Post-operative laryngectomy patients face various physical, psychological and social challenges. The comprehensive effects of a total laryngectomy can have an adverse impact on the patient and his or her family. Because improved medical treatment can increase the life expectancy of cancer sufferers, psychosocial guidance is required over an extended period. Unfortunately, limited information on the coping strategies of such patients is available. The social work profession could benefit from greater insight into the strengths and coping mechanisms of post-operative cancer patients in order to guide them through their survivorship journey with insight and compassion. The researcher therefore aimed to explore and describe the experience of a patient and his/her close family while coping with the long-term challenges of a laryngectomy. The objectives were: (1) to discuss the nature of cancer survivorship, (2) to describe the medical aspects of and physical re-adjustments to a laryngectomy, (3) to discuss principles and strategies for coping and surviving a laryngectomy, (4) to describe the comprehensive psychosocial effects during the permanent survival phase and re-entry into society; (5) to explore the survivorship journey of laryngectomy patients and their families, and (6) to analyse and interpret data obtained from the study. Each of the survivorship phases as contextualised by Miller et al. (2008:369-374)* is discussed in the literature review. Both the ecological and the strengths perspective were utilised as the theoretical framework for this study. Principles of the strengths perspective focus on the inherent strengths that help patients cope with this traumatic life event, while the ecological perspective focuses on the utilisation of community resources in order to survive the laryngectomy experience. A combination of exploratory and descriptive designs was applied throughout the study to gain insight into the survival experience of post-operative laryngectomy patients and their families. The research question was: “What are patients’ and families’ experiences of surviving a laryngectomy with the assistance of internal and external resources within the family system and environment?” This question was addressed by combining the quantitative and qualitative research approaches. Forty-five post laryngectomy patients and fifteen family members, representing one-third of these patients, were included in the study through purposive sampling. The study period was from June 2012 to July 2013. The inclusion criteria required: (1) Patients from the service area of the selected hospital who received a total laryngectomy as surgical treatment for an advanced stage of cancer of the larynx or hypopharynx; (2) patients who were operated on not less than three months previously; (3) patients who had already completed their initial treatment and who were attending the follow-up clinic; and (4) patients who had successfully acquired trachea-oesophageal speech. Data obtained from the interviews were organised into themes. Four themes were identified: (1) the need for pre-operative information; (2) experience of physical adjustment; (3) coping and strengths used; and (4) experience of psychosocial effects of surgery and re-entry into society. These themes were divided into sub-themes and categories. The main outcome of the study was that both patients and families mobilise a combination of inner strengths and external resources to adapt to the inevitable physical changes resulting from a laryngectomy. It is therefore recommended that social workers dealing with survivorship cases utilise a combination of the ecological and strengths perspectives to create an environment in which patients can explore their own inner strengths, or to help them link to community resources whilst coping with their survivorship journey. Future research should focus on the long-term psychosocial survival of laryngectomy patients and their families, as it is likely that survivorship will increase in future; the implementation of survivorship programmes for health care professionals to equip them with skills to guide cancer survivors to full utilisation of their own strengths and available community resources; the role of pre- and primary school children/grandchildren in the rehabilitation of laryngectomy patients deserves further investigation. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Laringektomie-pasiënte word ná hul operasie met verskeie liggaamlike, psigiese en sosiale uitdagings gekonfronteer. Die omvattende gevolge van ‘n totale laringektomie kan die pasiënt en sy of haar gesin nadelig affekteer. Aangesien verbeterde mediese behandeling die lewensverwagting van kankerpasiënte kan verleng, word psigososiale ondersteuning oor ‘n langer tydperk benodig. Ongelukkig bestaan daar baie min inligting oor hoe pasiënte kanker hanteer. Die maatskaplike werk beroep kan dus voordeel trek uit beter insig in die hanteringsmeganismes van post-operatiewe kankerpasiënte om hulle met insig en empatie deur hul oorlewingsreis te kan begelei. Die navorser het ten doel gehad om die ondervindings van die kankerpasiënt en sy/haar naby familie tydens hul langtermynhantering van ‘n laringektomie te ondersoek en te beskrywe. Verdere oogmerke van die studie was: (1) om die aard van kankeroorlewing te bespreek; (2) om die mediese aspekte van en liggaamlike aanpassing ná ‘n laringektomie te beskrywe; (3) om die beginsels en strategieë vir ‘n oorwinning oor ‘n laringektomie te bespreek; (4) om die omvattende psigososiale gevolge van die finale oorlewingsfase en hertoetrede tot die gemeenskap te beskrywe; (5) om die oorlewingsreis van die laringektomiepasiënt en sy/haar gesin te ondersoek; en (6) om die resultate van die studie te ontleed en te interpreteer. Elk van die oorlewingsfases soos deur Miller et al. (2008:369-374)* beskrywe, is in die literatuuroorsig bespreek. Die ekologiese en die sterkte-perspektiewe is tesame as teoretiese raamwerk vir die studie gebruik. Die beginsels van die sterkte-perspektief is op die inherente krag van pasiënte gemik, om te bepaal hoe hulle hierdie traumatiese lewensgebeurtenis hanteer, terwyl die ekologiese perspektief op hul aanwending van gemeenskapsbronne om die laringektomie te oorleef, fokus. ‘n Kombinasie van ondersoekende en beskrywende navorsings ontwerpe is deurgaans gebruik om insig in die oorlewingstryd van laringektomiepasiënte en hul gesinne te verkry. Die navorsingsvraag was: “Wat is pasiënte en hul gesinne se ervarings van oorlewing na ‘n laringektomie met die hulp van interne en eksterne hulpbronne in die gesinstruktuur en omgewing?” Kwantitatiewe en kwalitatiewe navorsingsmetodes is gekombineer om hierdie vraag te ondersoek. Vyf-en-veertig laringektomiepasiënte en vyftien gesinslede, wat verteenwoordigend van twee-derdes van die pasiënte was, is met behulp van ‘n doelbewuste steekproef by die studie betrek. Die studie is tussen Junie 2012 en Julie 2013 onderneem. Die insluitingskriteria was: Pasiënte uit die diensgebied van die spesifieke hospitaal wat 'n totale laringektomie as chirurgiese behandeling vir 'n gevorderde stadium van kanker van die larinks of hipofarinks ontvang het; (2) pasiënte wat hul operasie nie meer as drie maande vantevore ondergaan het nie, (3) pasiënte wat reeds hul aanvanklike behandeling voltooi het en wat die opvolgkliniek bywoon, (4) pasiënte wat tragea-esofageale spraak suksesvol bemeester het. Die data, wat deur middel van onderhoude ingesamel is, is in temas gegroepeer. Vier temas is geïdentifiseer: (1) die behoefte aan inligting voor die operasie; (2) ervaring van liggaamlike aanpassing; (3) die hantering van omstandighede en innerlike krag; en (4) ervaring van die psigososiale uitwerking van die operasie en hertoetrede tot die gemeenskap. Hierdie temas is verder in subtemas en kategorieë verdeel. Die belangrikste uitkoms van hierdie studie is dat beide pasiënte en gesinne ‘n kombinasie van hul innerlike krag en eksterne bronne aangewend het om ná die laringektomie by die onafwendbare liggaamlike veranderinge aan te pas. Daar word dus aanbeveel dat maatskaplike werkers wat kankeroorlewendes hanteer, van ‘n kombinasie van die ekologiese en die sterkte-perspektief gebruik maak om ‘n omgewing te skep waarin die pasiënt sy of haar eie innerlike krag kan ontgin, of om pasiënte te help om kontak met gemeenskapsbronne te maak terwyl hulle die oorlewingsreis baasraak. Toekomstige navorsing behoort te fokus op langtermyn psigososiale oorlewing van laringektomie pasiënte en familie met inagneming van die tendens dat kanker pasiënte se oorlewing toeneem; die implementering van opleidingsprogramme vir gesondheidswerkers te fokus om hulle met die nodige kennis toe te rus om kankeroorlewendes te begelei om hul volle krag en alle beskikbare gemeenskapsbronne te gebruik. Daarby verdien die rol van voorskoolse- en laerskoolkinders in die rehabilitasie van laringektomiepasiënte verdere ondersoek.

published_or_final_version / abstract / Social Work and Administration / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy