Chiu-Ya Kuo1, Shu-Yuan Liang2, Shiow-Luan Tsay3, Tsae-Jyy Wang4, Su-Fen Cheng5. 1. Department of Nursing, Chiayi Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, 6 West Section Jiapu Road, Puzi City, Chiayi 613, Taiwan. Electronic address: choya@adm.cgmh.org.tw. 2. College of Nursing, National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences, 365 Ming Te Road, Beitou, Taipei 112, Taiwan. Electronic address: shuyuan@ntunhs.edu.tw. 3. College of Nursing, Dayeh University, 168 University Road, Dacun, Changhua 51591, Taiwan. Electronic address: sltsay@mail.dyu.edu.tw. 4. College of Nursing, National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences, 365 Ming Te Road, Beitou, Taipei 112, Taiwan. Electronic address: tsaejyy@ntunhs.edu.tw. 5. College of Nursing, National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences, 365 Ming Te Road, Beitou, Taipei 112, Taiwan. Electronic address: sufen@ntunhs.edu.tw.
Abstract
PURPOSE: There are many challenges that patients face when dealing with the side effects of chemotherapy. The purpose of this study was to describe the key tasks and behaviors that contribute to symptom management and the difficulties relating to self-care in the context of chemotherapy in Taiwanese outpatients with breast cancer. METHOD: This qualitative study included a purposive sample of 17 women with breast cancer, aged 30-64 years, and who had undergone chemotherapy. Data were collected via face-to-face semi-structured tape-recorded interviews. Qualitative content analysis was performed for the identified themes. RESULTS: Four main categories of tasks were identified that reflected the patient's experience with the behaviors required for chemotherapy symptom management. These task domains included communicating chemotherapy-related concerns, managing chemotherapy-related symptoms, managing emotional and interpersonal disturbances, and acquiring relevant resources. In particular, the results indicated many challenges with behaviors related to self-management under these tasks. CONCLUSIONS: Systematic information regarding symptoms relating to chemotherapy and self-management strategies should be put into practice at the beginning of chemotherapy and following assessment, in addition to the individual support of patients during their treatment.
PURPOSE: There are many challenges that patients face when dealing with the side effects of chemotherapy. The purpose of this study was to describe the key tasks and behaviors that contribute to symptom management and the difficulties relating to self-care in the context of chemotherapy in Taiwanese outpatients with breast cancer. METHOD: This qualitative study included a purposive sample of 17 women with breast cancer, aged 30-64 years, and who had undergone chemotherapy. Data were collected via face-to-face semi-structured tape-recorded interviews. Qualitative content analysis was performed for the identified themes. RESULTS: Four main categories of tasks were identified that reflected the patient's experience with the behaviors required for chemotherapy symptom management. These task domains included communicating chemotherapy-related concerns, managing chemotherapy-related symptoms, managing emotional and interpersonal disturbances, and acquiring relevant resources. In particular, the results indicated many challenges with behaviors related to self-management under these tasks. CONCLUSIONS: Systematic information regarding symptoms relating to chemotherapy and self-management strategies should be put into practice at the beginning of chemotherapy and following assessment, in addition to the individual support of patients during their treatment.
Authors: Kathleen Yin; Joshua Jung; Enrico Coiera; Liliana Laranjo; Ann Blandford; Adeel Khoja; Wan-Tien Tai; Daniel Psillakis Phillips; Annie Y S Lau Journal: J Med Internet Res Date: 2020-06-02 Impact factor: 5.428