Quality of Life of Family Caregivers of Patients With Cancer in Korçe, Albania

Translating Knowledge Into Clinical Practice: A Unique End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium Teleconferencing Program

For learning to influence change in palliative clinical practice, education needs to be ongoing, incorporating specific interventions targeted to the learner, in a format that enhances knowledge and networking. This novel, online, interactive, case-based educational offering provided a method to allow ongoing integration of palliative care principles for health care professionals who attended the End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium/Open Medical Institute courses in Salzburg during 2019-2022. Eight monthly teleconferences based on challenging clinical cases allowed discussion between palliative care professionals from 9 countries, serving as a mechanism for deepening theoretical information, allowing incorporation of best practice into the clinical setting, and, ultimately, improving care for all with serious illness. Many of the challenges encountered providing palliative care are universal. Through case vignettes, the group has been able to offer specific interventions, advances in practice, and discussions of approaches toward family and other health care professionals to provide optimal care. The participants report that the opportunity to learn from and support peers in other countries has been a rewarding and emotionally uplifting experience. These discussions were highly rated by participants who strongly voiced that the interactions would change their clinical practice to positively impact patient care.

Patients' Experiences of Cancer Pain: A Descriptive Qualitative Study

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to explore the cancer pain experiences of Iranian patients.

DESIGN

A qualitative descriptive design was used.

METHODS

This qualitative descriptive study was performed on 17 participants between December 2020 and September 2021. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and analyzed by Graneheim and Lundman's content analysis method.

RESULTS

Three main categories emerged in relation to patients' experiences of cancer pain. Categories included (1) characteristics of cancer pain, (2) pain self-management strategies, and (3) influence of pain on patient and her/his family.

CONCLUSIONS

Most patients believe that pain is God's will, and family members, doctors, and nurses can assist patients cope with pain by respecting this belief and supporting spiritual healing. Strengthening pain management strategies, expanding social networks, and convincing the patients that they are not an interruption to their families can all help patients maintain their fighting spirit and pain tolerance. To provide holistic care, healthcare providers, particularly nurses, should consider the physical, sociocultural, and spiritual aspects of cancer pain.

Adopción del rol y calidad de vida de cuidadores de pacientes oncológicos en Medellín, Colombia

Objetivo: determinar el nivel de adopción del rol y la calidad de vida de los cuidadores familiares de personas con cáncer. Materiales y métodos: estudio descriptivo transversal que incluyó la participación de 50 cuidadores familiares de pacientes con cáncer en tratamiento activo. Se aplicaron los instrumentos Adopción del Rol del Cuidador Familiar y Escala de Calidad de Vida versión Familiar. También se realizaron análisis descriptivos y comparativos. Resultados: los participantes reportaron una edad promedio de 44,8 años y fueron en su mayoría mujeres (66 %). Frente a la adopción del rol, se encontró un nivel satisfactorio, con una mediana de 86,5 puntos. La calidad de vida presentó una mediana de 165 puntos. Se encontraron diferencias significativas en los puntajes de adopción del rol de acuerdo con la edad, el grado de escolaridad y el nivel socioeconómico de los cuidadores familiares. Conclusiones: esta investigación encontró niveles satisfactorios de adopción del rol y calidad de vida. Con el fin de mejorar la adopción del rol de los cuidadores, los profesionales de la salud deben prestar atención a características del perfil del cuidador tales como su edad, escolaridad y nivel socioeconómico.

Quality of life and associated factors among adults living with cancer and their family caregivers

This study examined the association of needs, health literacy, and quality of life among adult Nigerians with cancer and family caregivers. A descriptive study was conducted involving 240 adults with cancer and family caregivers attending a tertiary hospital. More than two-thirds of participants reported moderate or high needs. Information (90.8%) and spiritual support (85%) were the domains of highest need among adults with cancer. Family/social support (85%) and spiritual support (81.7%) ranked the highest among family caregivers. A negative correlation was found between needs and quality of life. Stepwise regression analysis showed that needs and literacy explained 36% of the variance in adults with cancer's quality of life and 28% of the variance in family caregivers' quality of life. Spiritual need accounted l for 9.5% and 9.1% of variation for adults with cancer and family caregivers, respectively. Findings suggest that interventions with a focus on social/family and spiritual needs may improve wellbeing of adults with cancer and caregivers in Nigeria. This research are generalizable to other low-income countries where family values and spirituality are often a strong feature of daily life.