Advancement of Nursing Education in Psychosocial Oncology Care:Perspectives and Experiences of Nurses

Introduction:The main objective of this study was to fill the gap between the knowledge nurses have about psychosocial care and what they do about cancer patients’needs.It also aimed to devise ways to improve nursing education for nurses who could provide enhanced psychosocial support in such areas.Methods:This qualitative study relied on 18 in-depth interviews with nurses,with a focus on the difference between their understanding of psychosocial care and its application in helping cancer patients.This involved analyzing the transcribed interviews using thematic analysis.Data were collected from February to March 2024.Results:The verbal accounts of 18 participants were analyzed.These include theme 1“holistic approach to cancer care”with the subtheme“navigating resource constraints:”theme 2“nurses well-being and emotional input”with the subtheme“positive impact of psychosocial care:”theme 3“Care for patients’well-being”with subtheme“resourcefulness and resilience in psychosocial care:”theme 4“adapting care and building connections:”theme 5“ideal and reality in psychosocial care”with subtheme“challenges in delivering comprehensive cancer care:”and theme 6“empowering nurses for effective psychosocial care”with subtheme“building a strong foundation for psychosocial care.”Conclusion:From the nurses’perspective,this study indicates a need for more inclusive cancer treatment.Therefore,in addition to physical interventions,emotions and social welfare must also be addressed.Although emotionally invested,health workers may offer assistance along psychosocial lines,thus aiding both patients and caretakers.Although individualized care with personal connections is crucial for effective services,this approach can make it difficult to ensure that all clients receive adequate psychological assistance.Hence,there has been a call to enhance the training to produce nurses who offer high-quality services.This study emphasizes a more holistic approach toward the emotional needs of patients while supporting those responsible for them in their sickness journey.

Advances in caring for the older cancer patient：a report from the 2015 conference of the International Society of Geriatric Oncology

A paradox in cancer research is that the majority of patients enrolled in clinical trials are relatively young and fit while typical patients in daily practice are elderly and have comorbidities and impaired organ function. Given these differences, many major studies provide an imperfect guide to optimizing the treatment of the majority of patients. Since cancer incidence is highly correlated with age, and since the world's population is rapidly ageing, this problem can only increase. For this reason, oncologists and geriatricians need to collaborate in developing tools to systematically assess the health status of elderly patients and their fitness to receive cancer therapies of various intensity. Tailoring anti-cancer treatments and supportive care to individual needs should be seen as part of the move towards personalized medicine. Achieving this goal is as much of a challenge to developing and middle-income countries as it is to western nations. The 2015 annual conference of the International Society of Geriatric Oncology(SIOG) held in Prague, Czech Republic, November 2015 and had a global focus on advancing the science of geriatric oncology and supportive care. Central to this approach is the systematic assessment of life expectancy, independent functioning, and the physical and psychological health of older cancer patients. The assumption behind comprehensive geriatric assessment is that elderly cancer patients have complex needs. The implication is that effective intervention will require a multidisciplinary team. Examples of effective geriatric assessment, multidisciplinary working and supportive care were presented at the SIOG conference.

Clinical Course of Lung Cancer Patients with Subcutaneously Implanted Central Venous Access Device Ports from the Time of Receiving Chemotherapy to the Endpoint of Cancer

Background: As the prognosis of lung cancer (LC) patients improves, subcutaneously implanted central venous access device ports (CV-ports) have frequently been used for continuing chemotherapy (CC) or palliative care (PC). In this study, we examined the clinical course of LC patients with subcutaneously implanted CV-ports from the time of receiving chemotherapy to the endpoint of cancer. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data and treatment history of LC patients with subcutaneously implanted CV-ports between June 2008 and November 2013 using clinical records and a pharmacy database. Results: Of the 132 LC patients with subcutaneously implanted CV-ports, 79 (59.8%) had CV-ports for CC (the CC group) and 53 (40.2%) had CV-ports for PC (the PC group). After CV-port implantation, LC patients in the CC group received a median of two regimens with a median of 6 cycles. The median survival time of patients in the CC and PC groups was 457 and 44 days, respectively. In the CC group, the median survival time of small cell and non-small cell LC patients was 342 (95% confidence interval, 235 - 627) and 563 (95% confidence interval, 368 - 728) days, respectively. Nine patients (6.8%) had their CV-ports removed due to complications. Forty (30.3%) of the 132 enrolled patients were referred for at-home PC. The at-home death rate observed among these 40 patients was 30.0% (N = 12). Conclusion: CV-ports may contribute to seamless oncological care.