Examination of Knowledge and Fear Levels of Breast Cancer With the Spiritual Characteristics of Nurses

Determination of the Relationship Between Gynecological Cancer Awareness and Fear of Cancer in Women Using Social Media and the Affecting Factors

BACKGROUND

Understanding the relationship between fear of gynecological cancer and awareness of cancer in women may help oncology nurses increase women's participation in gynecological cancer screening.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the relationship between women's gynecological cancer awareness and cancer fear using social media and the affecting factors.

METHODS

In a descriptive and cross-sectional study design, online data were collected from 1231 women aged 20 to 69 years through social media using the Descriptive Information Form, the Gynecological Cancer Awareness Scale (GCAS), and the Cancer Worry Scale (CWS). Analytic tests included paired t tests, analysis of variance, and post hoc correlations and structural equation modeling.

RESULTS

The women's total mean GCAS score was above moderate (152 ± 17), and their mean CWS score was high (19 ± 5). There was no relationship between the GCAS and CWS mean scores. Characteristics of participants with high awareness of gynecological cancer were being young, having a high educational level, having children, living in a province, having a history of cancer or family history of cancer, and having regular gynecological examinations, Papanicolaou smear tests, breast self-examination, and vulva examinations (P < .05). The fear of cancer was higher in women with children, a family history of cancer, and regular gynecological examination behaviors (P < .05).

CONCLUSION

Awareness of gynecological cancer was not significantly statistically associated with fear of cancer. Certain sociodemographic and gynecological characteristics are associated with awareness of gynecological cancer and/or fear of cancer.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Oncology nurses may plan individualized or large-scale educational events that may make use of social media to enhance accurate awareness of gynecological cancer and related examinations in women.

An examination of variables associated with breast cancer early detection behaviors of women

Background

Breast cancer is a worldwide common public health problem, and it is quite important to know the factors preventing the early detection behaviors to fight against it.

Objective

The aim of the study was to examine the effect of some sociodemographic variables associated with women's breast cancer detection behaviors and their breast cancer knowledge and fear levels.

Methods

The cross-sectional study was conducted with 363 women aged 40-69 who had presented to Cancer Early Diagnosis and Education Centers (CEDEC).

Results

The average age of women is 54.8±7.1. The mean score of breast cancer knowledge (CBCKT) was found as 10.72±2.34, and the breast cancer fear score was found as 27.6±6.5. The percentage of women who regularly breast self-examination (BSE) was 17.4%, clinical breast examination (CBE) was 13.5% and mammography was 42.7%. BSE and having a higher education correlated 6.25-fold. A 6.5-fold correlation was found between BSE and having a family history of breast cancer, and a 6.24-fold correlation between BSE and having information about breast cancer. In CBE, the related variables that affected women receiving information 4.42 times and going to CEDEC 5.3 times. It was found that employment (4.58) of women affected the mammography detection behavior mostly. While women's CBCKT score affected BSE behavior 1.16 times, fear of breast cancer was a variable that affected mammography behavior 2.1 times. It was determined that high CBCKT scores of women increased BSE behaviors 1.16 times, and high breast cancer fear scores increased mammography behavior 2.1 times.

Conclusions

Early detection practices of women are not sufficient in our study. An increase in the knowledge level of women and consideration of the variables determined to be effective in early detection behaviors will allow increasing detection behavior.

The Troubled Nurse: A Qualitative Study of Psychoemotional Effects of Cancer Care on Nurses in A Nigerian Cancer Care Setting

Objective

Nurses who care for cancer patients are exposed to varying degrees of psychological pressure. These psychological issues among nurses are thought to have some consequences relating to professional satisfaction, quality of care, and patient outcome. This study aimed to explore the psychological and emotional impact of caring for persons among cancer care nurses.

Methods

A qualitative, descriptive approach was employed, and a purposive sampling technique was used to select seven nurses who were interviewed one-on-one. Interview data were coded and analyzed using NVivo 12 to generate the final themes and patterns. The EQUATOR's COREQ guideline for qualitative studies was adhered to.

Results

Data analysis yielded two major themes and four sub-themes. Participants expressed concerns about their frequent encounter with dying patients on the ward which affects their own mental well-being as persons. Sometimes, the health-care professionals used emotional distance to mitigate the emotional and psychological effects of the frequent deaths encountered on the ward. Professional dissatisfaction was also brought about by the increased amount of patients who died on the ward, the gloomy nature of the care environment, and the feeling of incapacitation to help.

Conclusions

The findings indicate that nurses who care for cancer patients need to be supported to enhance their psychological and emotional well-being. The findings of this study could help nurse managers to understand the level of psychological pressure cancer care impose on nurses and the importance of improving the mental health of nurses in cancer care.