Abstract

【Purpose】The purpose of this descriptive study was to determine the effects of social support on the QOL in spouses of postoperative gastric cancer patients.

【Methods】The convenience sample was recruited from spouses of postoperative gastric cancer patients in the outpatient clinic at a university hospital. The patients recognized their disease as gastric cancer and at the time of the study had no evidence of cancer recurrence. SF-36v2 Japanese version, social support questionnaire was administered. After the social support scales were composed, data were analyzed using multiple regression with SF-36v2 as the dependent variable and social support, medical variables and demographic variables as predictive variables.

【Results】Of the 82 eligible persons who participated in the study, 50 (61.0%) returned the questionnaire. The sample mean age was 65.3±10.4 years. Multiple regression analysis was used in the model with the mental health as the dependent variable (R2＝0.175, p＝0.027). The analyses revealed that the patient’s spouses who received support from the patients showed significant improvement in their mental health (β＝0.383, p＝0.014) and having active disease demonstrated no statistical significant effect on the patients’ mental health (β＝－0.254, p＝0.092). Using mental health as the dependent variable (R2＝0.114, p＝0.091), patients who received support from family noted significant improvement in their mental health (β＝0.303, p＝0.013) and having active disease demonstrated no statistical significant effect on the patients’ mental health (β＝－0.291, p ＝0.064).

【Conclusion】This study suggested that the health status of postoperative gastric cancer patients’ spouses was enhanced by provided support from the patients. It is important for nurses to play a role in facilitating a therapeutic relationship between the patients and their spouses to improve their mental health.

Abstract

The aims of the present study were to elucidate the factors affecting QOL in patients receiving outpatient chemotherapy and investigate nursing support that maintains and improves patient QOL. We conducted a questionnaire survey on patients receiving outpatient chemotherapy and received 95 valid responses. The survey investigated attribute and physical factors (severity of side effects), social factors (conditions surrounding support, going out, executing role and tasks at work and home, and interacting with others, including local people, friends and relatives), psychological factors (financial burden and time-constraints imposed by outpatient chemotherapy, and concern about lifestyle while receiving outpatient chemotherapy) and QOL. The Japanese version of FACT-G was used to measure QOL. Nausea, diarrhea, interaction with others, role execution, advice from healthcare professionals and concern about lifestyle while receiving outpatient chemotherapy were found to be significantly correlated with QOL. Multiple regression analysis was then conducted with these six items serving as independent variables and QOL as the dependent variable. A relationship with QOL was observed for interaction with others, role execution and concern regarding lifestyle while receiving outpatient chemotherapy. The more patients interacted with others and performed a useful role in society and the lower the concern regarding lifestyle while receiving outpatient chemotherapy, the higher the QOL. These findings suggest that it is important for nurses to pay attention to and provide support for not only physical aspects but also patients’ social and psychological aspects.

Abstract

We aimed to clarify the relationships between olfactory alterations from chemotherapy and food intake, appetite, and quality of life (QOL) in cancer patients.

Thirty-one patients with hematopoietic tumors, in a general hospital, were registered in the study. Olfactory testing using a TÅïT olfact meter was performed 4 times before therapy, on the 3rd day and 7th day of chemotherapy and at 2 weeks after the termination of chemotherapy.

During chemotherapy the patients who were aware of alterations in olfactory functioning (35.0%) were affected the most on the 3rd day after initiation of chemotherapy. In fact, in female patients, the % olfactory recognition threshold significantly increased on the 3rd day. Alterations in olfactory sensation were: smell sensitivity increased (66.7%) and changed into unpleasant smell (50.0%). The % change of olfactory detection threshold was significantly decreased on the 7th day. Correlation analysis revealed that % olfactory recognition threshold had a significantly negative correlation with appetite, food intake and QOL.

We clarified that the patients appeared to have a heightened sensitivity to odors, yet olfactory recognition decreased from the chemotherapy. Thus, we suggest that alterations of olfactory recognition decreased appetite, food intake and QOL in the patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Abstract

The present study aimed to clarify the relation between subjective perception and objective assessment of postoperative functional impairment of the arms in breast cancer survivors, and to thereby identify suitable measurement methods for preventing and improving such impairment. Subjects were 62 breast cancer survivors who had undergone surgery within the past year and were receiving treatment on an outpatient basis (mean age 55.9±11.9 years). Each completed a six-item questionnaire survey on the subjective perception of postoperative functional impairment of the arms. Objective measurements related to arm function (forearm and upper arm girth, shoulder range of motion, and grip strength) were also conducted.

Results showed that swelling and reduced muscle strength were more common on subjective assessment, and that limited mobility or frozen shoulder was more common on objective assessment. Regarding the subjective perception and objective assessment of swelling, limited mobility or frozen shoulder, and reduced grip strength, significant positive correlations were observed between “cannot raise the arm on the operated side sideways up to the level of the ear without bending the elbow” and limitation of abduction (r_s＝.25 ; p＜.05), and between “cannot raise the arm on the operated side sideways and move it backwards without bending the elbow” and limitation of horizontal extension (r_s＝.28 ; p＜.05). However, there was no correlation between the measurement methods for arm girth, shoulder joint movement, and grip strength. Moreover, among patients who had objective findings, 50% to 78.1% did not have subjectively perceived symptoms, and among those who did not have objective findings, 11.4% to 34.7% had subjectively perceived symptoms. This indicates that it is necessary to use both subjective perception and objective assessment when assessing functional impairment of the arm following breast cancer surgery.