Can Oncology Nursing Education Change the Attitude of Nursing Students toward Cancer (Cancer Stigma)? A Quasi-Experimental Study

Purpose: This study was conducted to assess the effect of the oncology nursing internship education on the attitudes of students (stigma) toward cancer patients. The study was conducted in a faculty of nursing in İzmir, Turkey. Methods: The quasi-experimental pre-test post-test design was used in this study. The sample of the study was composed of totally 84 students, who attended the course of Oncology Nursing Internship (n:43) and the course of Gynaecology and Obstetrics Nursing Internship (n:41). The Student Information Form and Questionnaire for Measuring Attitudes Toward Cancer - Community Version were used as the data collection tool in the study. The students who were interns in oncology nursing received an education on oncology nursing including 280 hours of practice and 56 hours of theory and the other group had no education on the subject. In order to assess the efficiency of the education of oncology nursing internship on cancer attitude and to compare the groups, The Questionnaire for Measuring Attitudes Toward Cancer - Community Version was applied again to both groups at the end of the semester. Results: As a result of this study, it was found that the course of oncology nursing internship increased the positive attitudes of the students toward cancer patients (t=5.591, p=0.000). Conclusion: The education programs of oncology nursing should be integrated into the nursing curricula to provide that nursing students provide more effective care services for cancer patients and develop more positive attitudes.

Exploring communication difficulties in pediatric hematology: oncology nurses

BACKGROUND

Communication plays an important role for the well being of patients, families and also health care professionals in cancer care. Conversely, ineffective communication may cause depression, increased anxiety, hopelessness and decreased of quality life for patients, families and also nurses.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to explore communication difficulties of pediatric hematology/oncology nurses with patients and their families, as well as their suggestions about communication difficulties.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

It was conducted in a pediatric hematology/oncology hospital in Ankara, Turkey. Qualitative data were collected by focus groups, with 21 pediatric hematology/oncology nursing staff from three groups. Content analysis was used for data analysis.

RESULTS

Findings were grouped in three main categories. The first category concerned communication difficulties, assessing problems in responding to questions, ineffective communication and conflicts with the patient's families. The second was about the effects of communication difficulties on nurses and the last main category involved suggestions for empowering nurses with communication difficulties, the theme being related to institutional issues.

CONCLUSIONS

Nurses experience communication difficulties with children and their families during long hospital stays. Communication difficulties particularly increase during crisis periods, like at the time of first diagnosis, relapse, the terminal stage or on days with special meaning such as holidays. The results obtained indicate that pediatric nurses and the child/family need to be supported, especially during crisis periods. Feeling of empowerment in communication will improve the quality of care by reducing the feelings of exhaustion and incompetence in nurses.