The Symptom Experience of Neobladder Recipients: Characteristics and Related Factors

Role performance and factors affecting quality of life in bladder cancer survivors with ileal orthotopic neobladder

Objective

Bladder cancer survivors with neobladder experience changes in role performance and quality of life (QoL) due to various symptoms and problems, but related studies are limited. Therefore, this study attempted to explore the QoL and factors influencing it in bladder cancer survivors with neobladder.

Methods

A cross-sectional descriptive design was used. Data were collected from 100 bladder cancer survivors with a neobladder using the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30 and Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer Module, the Patient Activation Measure 13, the Enforced Social Dependency Scale, and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Factors affecting the QoL were identified using multiple regression analysis.

Results

QoL significantly differed by daily pad usage, need for clean intermittent catheterization, and role performance. QoL was correlated with urinary symptoms and problems, future perspective, abdominal bloating and flatulence, body image, role performance, and social support. Role performance, body image, and the need for clean intermittent catheterization were identified as the factors affecting QoL.

Conclusions

The study highlights the importance of bladder cancer survivors continuing their roles at home, at work, and in society after neobladder reconstruction. Specifically, continuing recreational and social activity positively affects QoL, even if the activity range is modified. To help with their role performance, institutional support and changes in social perception are needed. Additionally, education and interventions, including body image enhancement, symptom management, and self-care, should be developed and applied to improve their QoL.

Nursing Implication of People Treated by Radical Cystectomy Postsurgery and Rehabilitation

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this paper is to summarize existing evidence about nursing interventions to selected symptoms experienced by patients undergoing radical cystectomy (RC) to maintain or return to their daily life activities.

DATA SOURCES

A non-systematic narrative review was conducted. A search in PubMed and CINAHL was conducted eliciting evidence about frequent symptoms experienced after RC. The following search terms were used: radical cystectomy and/or nursing interventions, pain, distress, fatigue, urinary dysfunction, sexual dysfunction, loss of appetite, sleep disturbance, and enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS).

CONCLUSION

Evidence in the ERAS pathway is still lacking regarding the effect of preoperative education and counseling of the patient and the most difficult part to implement is related to preoperative optimization of the patient such as lifestyle changes. Most nursing interventions to alleviate symptoms in the rehabilitation period after RC are still practice based.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE

Priority should be given to implementation of the ERAS protocol. To improve the management of symptoms experienced by patients in the RC rehabilitation period it is essential that validated screening tools to identify the symptoms be used. Accepted and effective strategies for treating the individual symptoms should be initiated and clear treatment outcomes should be defined. Urology nurse researchers should investigate the concept of symptom clusters to clarify whether there are more efficient methods to identify symptoms or symptom clusters and if so would the use of symptom clusters knowledge improve patient care.