Caregivers of patients with chronic pain: responses to care

The Lonely, Isolating, and Alienating Implications of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

This article provides a narrative review on myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) through a psychosocial lens and examines how this impairment affects its sufferers during adolescence and adulthood, as well as how it impacts family caregivers and healthcare professionals' mental health. Since there has been a lack of investigation in the literature, the primary psychosocial stressor that this review focuses on is loneliness. As such, and in an attempt to help establish a theoretical framework regarding how loneliness may impact ME/CFS, loneliness is comprehensively reviewed, and its relation to chronic illness is described. We conclude by discussing a variety of coping strategies that may be employed by ME/CFS individuals to address their loneliness. Future directions and ways with which the literature may investigate loneliness and ME/CFS are discussed.

A review of chronic pain impact on patients, their social environment and the health care system

Chronic pain (CP) seriously affects the patient’s daily activities and quality of life, but few studies on CP have considered its effects on the patient’s social and family environment. In this work, through a review of the literature, we assessed several aspects of how CP influences the patient’s daily activities and quality of life, as well as its repercussions in the workplace, and on the family and social environment. Finally, the consequences of pain on the health care system are discussed. On the basis of the results, we concluded that in addition to the serious consequences on the patient’s life, CP has a severe detrimental effect on their social and family environment, as well as on health care services. Thus, we want to emphasize on the need to adopt a multidisciplinary approach to treatment so as to obtain more comprehensive improvements for patients in familial and social contexts. Accordingly, it would be beneficial to promote more social- and family-oriented research initiatives.

Clinical validation of the nursing diagnosis caregiver role strain in the Czech Republic

PURPOSE

The aim of the study was to clinically validate the defining characteristics of the nursing diagnosis caregiver role strain in the Czech Republic.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional study. The patient-focused clinical diagnostic validity model was used for clinical validation.

FINDINGS

Only two major defining characteristics were identified for caregiver role strain in a sample of 225 caregivers.

CONCLUSION

The study has identified the most frequently present defining characteristics related to the nursing diagnosis caregiver role strain in a caregiver population in the Czech Republic caring for their loved ones in home settings.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE

It is important that defining characteristics aid diagnosis and direct nursing interventions.

A Literature Review on Chronic Pain: The Daily Overcoming of a Complex Problem

Introduction:

Chronic pain has an impact on the working life of those affected, but what about other areas of daily living? The objective in this research paper is to review the relationship between chronic pain and engagement in instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), sleep and family life.

Method:

A search in the Medline (2006–2010) and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health (CINAHL) (2004–2010) databases using the key terms ‘chronic pain’, ‘family’, ‘sleep disorders’ and ‘occupation’ was carried out. To be included, articles had to refer to the effects of chronic pain on IADLs, on sleep or on the family. Studies in which a specific diagnosis or condition was discussed were excluded to provide a more general view of the effects of chronic pain. Quality was assessed using the STROBE statement scale (for descriptive studies, from Strengthening the Reporting of Observational studies in Epidemiology), the Qualitative Research Guidelines Project (for qualitative studies) and the PRISMA statement scale (for systematic reviews, from Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses).

Results:

Of the 256 articles obtained from the search, 13 met the inclusion criteria. The articles show that chronic pain indeed has an impact on the lives of those affected in other areas besides work rehabilitation.

Conclusion:

Occupational therapists must consider levels of performance and engagement in all occupational domains of an individual, even when focusing on a single domain due to the work setting or commissioning process.

Atención psicológica para pacientes con cáncer y sus familiares: ¿qué nos encontramos en la práctica clínica?

Enfrentarse a un diagnóstico de cáncer supone un fuerte impacto emocional tanto en el paciente como en los familiares ya que, además de la clara amenaza para la salud que supone se ven afectadas todas las áreas de la vida, lo cual les puede llevar a demandar atención psicológica. Por este motivo, el objetivo de este estudio consiste en determinar el contexto clínico habitual en oncología, analizando para ello, una muestra de pacientes y familiares (n = 4.924) del servicio de atención psicológica de la AECC. Los instrumentos utilizados en la metodología son un autoinforme, en concreto el Termómetro de distrés (DT), y una entrevista. Los resultados obtenidos nos muestran que el perfil del beneficiario demandante de atención psicológica en la AECC es mujer (72%), de 55 años, casada o con pareja estable (64%), que además es una paciente en tratamiento activo (37%) o en fase avanzada de la enfermedad (26%) y con diagnóstico de cáncer de mama (28%). Un 85% de los usuarios presenta niveles de distrés altos o severos, manifestando como principal motivo de consulta el malestar emocional derivado de la enfermedad (42%). El número de sesiones de intervención realizadas varía significativamente en función del motivo de consulta. A modo de conclusión indicar que la intervención psicológica es más solicitada en aquellas fases de la enfermedad donde los niveles de distrés son claramente superiores y el deterioro de calidad de vida es significativo. Por tanto, resulta fundamental destacar la importancia de la atención psicológica en el paciente oncológico.