Literature review of international intervention studies in patients with cognitive dysfunction associated with cancer treatment
2023 Volume 20 Issue 2 Pages 1-
Details
2023 Volume 20 Issue 2 Pages 1-
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to review the international literature on intervention studies for patients with cognitive impairment related to cancer treatment and to draw implications for the role of nurses from the interventions and their outcomes.
Methods
A literature search was conducted using the MEDLINE and CINAHL databases from January 2014 to December 2021. Search terms were limited to the English language using the keywords "cognitive dysfunction", "cancer-related cognitive impairment", "cancer", and "nursing". Eight articles that met the selection criteria were analyzed.
Results
Interventions for patients with cancer treatment-related cognitive dysfunction in the international literature included four cognitive-behavioral therapies and four complementary and alternative therapies. All interventions were offered to patients with Stage I-III breast cancer, aged 20-75 years, and who had completed alternative adjuvant therapy or were continuing hormonal therapy. Cognitive-behavioral therapy consisted of a combination of computer-based brain training, group education, and compensatory cognitive training interventions. Complementary and alternative medicine included interventions such as mindfulness-based stress reduction, qigong, and individual piano lessons. All interventions showed improvements in cognitive function, fatigue related to cognitive function, and quality of life.
Discussion
Interventions for patients with cognitive dysfunction related to cancer treatment require a long period of time and need to be identified early. The role of nurses is to educate patients about cognitive dysfunction from the time of pre-treatment orientation, and to coordinate and collaborate with professionals who have skills in complementary and alternative therapies. Furthermore, nurses also play an important role in providing ongoing support, including community collaboration, so that intervention methods can be incorporated into patients' lives and become a habit.
