The aim with this research was to determine how cancer patients (the inner group) and non-cancer patients (the listening group) experience the listening group technique. A qualitative research design was utilised. The reasons for undertaking this research were the following: Experience has indicated that the listening group technique may be an effective method to help individuals discover alternative life stories besides the dominant stories that direct their lives. Some authors have expressed the need for therapists to do research on the listening group technique to ascertain its effectiveness as a therapeutic approach. The reason for focusing specifically on cancer patients is the high incidence of cancer and the accompanying medical and psychological effects it has for the individual. Psychological interventions appear to have positive results for cancer patients. The project was announced to cancer patients and their supporters, as well as in the postgraduate Psychology classes. Six cancer patients, five supporters and ten students participated on a voluntarily basis - twelve as members of the inner group (cancer patients and supporters) and nine as members of the listening group. Eight members of the inner group were female and four were male. Their ages varied from twenty - two to sixty - two. The listening group consisted of six female and three male students, of whom seven were honours students and two were masters students. Their ages varied from twenty - one to twenty - two. The study leader and the researcher acted as facilitators during the sessions. The process covered five evenings. After the introductory session, the first two sessions were held in the first week, while the last two sessions took place during the subsequent two weeks. Each session lasted approximately two hours. The way the participants experienced the technique was determined by means of semi-structured interviews. The following five themes came to the fore on analysing the data: other perspectives that developed and growth that took place during sessions, it was a learning experience, the participants' experience of the process, the participants' experience of the procedures and application of the technique, and suggestions that the participants made. The results indicated that the listening group technique can be applied to obtain beneficial outcomes for the participants. It can, inter aha, help them to develop new perspectives about their personal dilemmas and stimulate personal growth. / Thesis (M.A. (Clinical Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

M.Tech. / In spite of the improvement in the delivery of anti-cancer treatments over the past decade, side effects from these treatments remain inevitable. A common, distressing side effect that all cancer patients experience is fatigue. However, cancer related fatigue (CRF) remains one that is under-reported and under-treated. CRF is a topic that has received very limited attention in the South African context. Regardless of the amount of literature available on CRF, many questions continue to go unanswered. CRF has been identified as a side effect that is associated with physical, mental and psychological elements. Consequently, it has the ability to cause a delay in treatment schedules, impinge on daily functioning and impact negatively on the quality of life (QoL) in the cancer patient. Effective management strategies for patients during and after radiation treatment are thus essential to improve QoL. The aim of the study was to investigate the general pattern of fatigue experienced by patients diagnosed with various types of cancers during a radical course of radiotherapy. For the purpose of this study fatigue was defined according to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Practice Guidelines in Oncology (www.nccn.org): “a distressing persistent subjective sense of tiredness or exhaustion related to cancer or cancer treatment that is not proportional to recent activity and interferes with usual functioning” A cross-sectional, theory-generating study was conducted to explore and describe the prevalence of fatigue, factors that could influence fatigue scores, strategies being used to alleviate this side effect and the impact of fatigue on QoL. One hundred and eighty patients were asked to complete a self-developed questionnaire in three oncology centres in Gauteng, South Africa. The NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology were used as a framework to direct the study. The results of the study illustrate that fatigue scores increased as radiotherapy progressed. However, not all the variables explored in the study significantly impacted on fatigue scores. The study revealed, though, that all cancer patients do experience CRF irrespective of the diagnosis. Management of the causes of CRF is thus essential to improve QoL for cancer patients.

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The number of women living with a breast cancer diagnosis will continue to increase with growing breast cancer incidence rates, greater utilization of early detection, and longer length of survival times. The prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is likely to increase as well, making it important to determine the nature and extent of CAM use in this population. This study explored CAM use and the influence of the control constructs in the context of the theory of cognitive adaptation. Computer-assisted telephone interviews were completed with 551 women diagnosed with breast cancer in Portland, Oregon. Results indicated that two-thirds (66%) of the women used at least one CAM therapy during the past 12 months. The majority of women had high perceptions of cancer control and believed the CAM therapies were important in influencing the course of the cancer. Logistical regression analysis found that significant demographic predictors of CAM use were younger age, higher education, and private insurance. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to refine and test the construct validation of the Cancer Locus of Control scale. Results supported a three-factor model (control over cause of cancer, control over course of cancer, and religious control of cancer) of the scale. Results of multinomial logistical regression indicated that higher perceptions of control over the course of the cancer significantly predicted CAM use in three categories. Religious control over the cancer was not a predictor of CAM use. The findings from this study will help health care professionals and policy makers identify patient needs that go beyond surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, and address patient-centered health-related goals and outcomes for optimal health and recovery from breast cancer. / Graduation date: 2002

SAMMANFATTNING Syftet med studien var att undersöka vilka behov av stöd anhöriga till myelompatienter upplever att de har under den polikliniska behandlingsperioden. En kvalitativ metod med deskriptiv design användes och studien utfördes med hjälp av semistrukturerade intervjuer. Nio anhöriga till myelompatienter urvaldes specifikt med tanke på ålder, kön, relation till patienten och hur länge denne varit sjuk. En innehållsanalys av intervjuerna gjordes och de viktigaste fynden i denna studie var att informanterna uttryckte behov av olika typer av information från olika kanaler och att de hade behov av att samtala med någon om sin situation. Efterfrågan på medicinsk information återkom vid olika tillfällen under intervjuerna och det ansågs väsentligt att få veta när förändringar ägde rum i sjukdom och behandling. Informanterna ville ha varierad mängd information, från detaljerad till mer översiktlig sådan och framställan skulle vara muntlig, skriftlig eller både ock. Informanterna angav familj och vänner som samtalspartner men kunde även tänka sig personal och anhöriga till andra patienter. Behov uttrycktes både för att föra samtal enskilt och i grupp, vid varierad tidpunkt. Samtal sågs också som en möjlighet att få uttrycka egna behov och dela andras erfarenheter. Slutsats: Resultatet kan uppmärksamma mottagningar på att de behov av information och samtal som anhöriga ger uttryck för skulle kunna bemötas på ett bättre sätt genom att, på ett tidigt stadium av patientens sjukdom, erbjuda olika former av stöd för att tillgodose dessa behov. / ABSTRACT The aim of the study was to investigate the needs of relatives of patients with myeloma feel that they have during treatment on an outpatient ward. A qualitative approach with a descriptive design was used and the study was performed by doing semi-structured interviews. Nine relatives of patients with myeloma were specifically chosen with regard to age, sex, relationship to the patient and how long he/she had been ill. A content analysis of the interviews were made and the most important findings of this study was that relatives expressed the need for various types of information from various channels and that they had a need to talk to someone about their situation. Demand for medical information returned at different times during the interviews, it was considered essential to know when changes occurred in the illness and treatment. Relatives wanted a varied amount of information, from detailed to more summary and request would be oral, written or both kinds. Relatives specified family and friends as a partner to talk to but could even conceive of staff and relatives to other patients. Need expressed both in order to have talks individually and in groups, at varied times. Talks also were seen as an opportunity to express their needs and share others ' experiences. Conclusion: The result can make outpatient wards to pay attention to the needs for information and talks that relatives expressed could be addressed more effectively by, at an early stage of a patient's illness, provide various forms of assistance to meet these needs.

published_or_final_version / Dental Surgery / Master / Master of Dental Surgery

published_or_final_version / Nursing Studies / Master / Master of Nursing

In addition to alleviating pain and physical symptoms, caring for the psychosocial, spiritual and existential needs of terminal cancer patients is very important. Existential issue such as meaning is one of their major concerns. Meaning making can be a powerful mean to enhance the well being of these patients at their end of life. There is limited research on the meaning and meaning making experiences among the Chinese population. This study aims to examine the sources of meaning of these patients and illuminate how they make meaning at the end of life. Cultural features associated with meaning and meaning making at the end of life are explored as well. The current study adopted a constructivist grounded theory approach. Purposive sampling was used to recruit twenty terminal cancer patients from the palliative care unit. Semi-structured interviews and brief life review exercise were conducted with the patients. Forty-three interviews were produced and provided a foundation for the data, along with field notes, interview memos and journals. This study revealed that sources of meaning among the Chinese terminal cancer patients were derived from four major domains. They were self domain, relational domain, physical domain and spiritual domain. These domains were interrelated and having dynamic interactions with each other. A proposed model of meaning making at the end of life also emerged from the collected data. It consisted of four processes: sense making, self constructing, script creating and experiencing sense of connectedness (The 4S Model). Meaning making at the end of life was found to be a cognitive, affective and relational process. Findings revealed the significant role culture and family play in the meaning and meaning making processes of Chinese terminal cancer patients. Knowledge generated from this study informs the development of clinical intervention and practice to improve the well being of patients at the end of life. Implication for the development of meaning measurement and family intervention are suggested. Healthcare practitioners are equipped to move further on the path of developing a holistic care model at palliative care. This study also shed lights on promoting life education in the local community. Life can be brimmed with meaning even in the toughest hours. / published_or_final_version / Social Work and Social Administration / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Nursing Studies / Master / Master of Nursing in Advanced Practice

published_or_final_version / abstract / toc / Clinical Psychology / Master / Master of Social Sciences