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Global Perspectives on Nursing and Palliative Care for Cancer Survivors
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Global Perspectives on Nursing and Palliative Care for Cancer Survivors

A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032). This special issue belongs to the section "Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 August 2024) | Viewed by 7799

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Namie Okino Sawada

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Guest Editor
Department of Nursing, University of Federal of Alfenas, Alfenas 37130-001, MG, Brazil
Interests: cancer; palliative care; nursing; quality of life; acupuncture; integrative and complementary practice
Dr. Ana Cláudia Mesquita Garcia

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Nursing, University of Federal of Alfenas, Alfenas 37130-001, MG, Brazil
Interests: cancer; palliative care; nursing; quality of life; acupuncture; integrative and complementary practice
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Simone Yuriko Kameo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Health Education, University of Federal of Sergipe, São Cristovao 49100-000, Brazil
Interests: cancer; palliative care; nursing; quality of life; acupuncture; integrative and complementary practice
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues 

Welcome to the special edition call about the global perspective of nursing care in cancer survivors in palliative care. This special edition highlights the importance of nursing care for cancer survivors in palliative care, providing a comprehensive and in-depth view of this crucial topic. Cancer is a devasting disease that affects thousands of people all over the world. With advances in early detection and treatment, many individuals are surviving cancer for extended periods. However, many cancer survivors face unique physical, emotional, and psychosocial challenges that require specialized care. Palliative care aims to improve patients' quality of life with serious illnesses, including cancer survivors.

The role of nurses in this context is fundamental because they play a vital role in providing holistic care and do not support the patients' physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.

This special edition explores the different facets of nursing care in cancer survivors in palliative care. Some two topics that can be addressed included:

  • Patient-centered approach: discuss the importance of a patient-centered approach to patient care in cancer survivors in palliative care, considering their individual needs and preferences;
  • Management of patients and symptoms: explore disease strategies for effectively managing patients and symptoms associated with cancer in palliative care survivors, including complementary and alternative therapies;
  • Emotional support: examining the nurse's role in providing emotional support to cancer survivors, including identifying and managing anxiety, depression, and fear of recurrence;
  • Promotion of self-care: discuss strategies to enable cancer survivors in palliative care to assume an active role in their self-care, promoting independence and quality of life;
  • End-of-life: addressing the importance of nursing in providing compassionate and supportive care during the end-of-life phase of cancer survivors in palliative care and supporting families in this delicate moment.

We invite researchers, academics, and nursing professionals to submit original articles, systematic reviews, case studies, and theoretical perspectives on palliative nursing care in survivors.

We are eager to receive contributions to enrich our understanding of this topic and improve nursing care practice in this context. We thank you in advance for your interest and collaboration. Together, we can advance the provision of quality care to cancer survivors in palliative care and provide them with a dignified and compassionate journey.

Dr. Namie Okino Sawada
Dr. Ana Cláudia Mesquita Garcia
Dr. Simone Yuriko Kameo
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Healthcare is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • nursing
  • care
  • cancer
  • palliative care
  • survivors

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

11 pages, 260 KiB  
Article
Descriptive Study on the Relationship between Dyspnea, Physical Performance, and Functionality in Oncology Patients
by Diego Lucas-Ruano, Celia Sanchez-Gomez, María Isabel Rihuete-Galve, Alberto Garcia-Martin, Emilio Fonseca-Sanchez and Eduardo José Fernández-Rodríguez
Healthcare 2024, 12(16), 1675; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12161675 - 22 Aug 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1196
Abstract
Background: Cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Dyspnea, affecting up to 60% of cancer patients, exacerbates physical and psychological distress, reducing quality of life. This study aims to explore the relationship between dyspnea and factors such as age, sex, [...] Read more.
Background: Cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Dyspnea, affecting up to 60% of cancer patients, exacerbates physical and psychological distress, reducing quality of life. This study aims to explore the relationship between dyspnea and factors such as age, sex, clinical diagnosis, and treatment lines in cancer patients, with the goal of improving understanding and management of this debilitating symptom to enhance patient care and quality of life. Methods: This study employed an observational, cross-sectional, and descriptive approach to investigate patients with oncological disease at the University Hospital of Salamanca between March 2021 and April 2024. A convenience sample was selected, including patients over 18 years old with a pathological diagnosis of cancer, experiencing any degree of dyspnea, and who consented to participate by signing the informed consent. Exclusion criteria included lack of consent and clinical conditions that prevented an interview. The studied variables encompass sociodemographic (age, gender, diagnosis, tumor stage, number of treatment lines) and clinical aspects (daily activities, degree of dyspnea, functional capacity, physical performance), evaluated using the Barthel Index, the mMRC Dyspnea Scale, the ECOG Scale, and the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). Data were collected through semistructured interviews and medical records, and analyzed using specialized software. This research has ethical approval CEiM Code 2023 12 1472, Reference 2024/01. Results: The mean age was 66.82 years. Lung cancer was predominant (60.2%), with most patients in stage 3 (65.7%) and receiving three treatment lines (68.7%). Higher age, advanced disease stage, and more treatment lines correlated with lower Barthel and SPPB scores, and higher ECOG and mMRC scores, indicating worse functionality, physical performance, and greater dyspnea. No significant correlations were found between gender or pathological diagnosis and the studied variables. Conclusions: Advanced age, higher disease stage, and more treatment lines are associated with decreased functionality, poorer physical performance, and increased dyspnea in cancer patients. Gender and specific cancer diagnosis do not significantly affect these relationships. Addressing dyspnea is crucial to improving the quality of life and physical performance in this population. Future studies should explore additional factors like treatment types and nutritional status. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Global Perspectives on Nursing and Palliative Care for Cancer Survivors)
16 pages, 319 KiB  
Article
Intensity of Symptoms and Perception of Quality of Life on Admission to Palliative Care: Reality of a Portuguese Team
by Florbela Gonçalves, Margarida Gaudêncio, Ivo Cristiano Soares Paiva, Francisca Rego and Rui Nunes
Healthcare 2024, 12(15), 1529; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12151529 - 1 Aug 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2668
Abstract
Background: Palliative care (PC) corresponds to an approach that enhances the quality of life for patients facing life-threatening diseases, such as cancer, as well as for their families. There are various models for providing palliative care. Early referral to PC of patients with [...] Read more.
Background: Palliative care (PC) corresponds to an approach that enhances the quality of life for patients facing life-threatening diseases, such as cancer, as well as for their families. There are various models for providing palliative care. Early referral to PC of patients with advanced cancer has a significant positive impact on their quality of life. However, the criteria for early referral still remain controversial. Objectives: To evaluate patients’ symptomatic intensity and perception of quality of life on admission to a PC unit and to analyze these two variables according to different models of approach (outpatient and inpatient care). Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive, and correlational study was conducted with a sample of 60 patients sequentially admitted to a PC unit from palliative outpatient consultations or other inpatient services in a tertiary hospital dedicated to oncology care. The evaluation protocol included a sociodemographic and medical questionnaire, the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS), and the Palliative Care Outcome Scale (POS) completed by patients within the first 24 h after admission. Results: The participants were mostly male (61.7%), with a median age of 72 years. The majority of patients (n = 32; 53.3%) were undergoing outpatient treatment, while the remaining individuals (n = 28; 46.7%) were transferred from other hospital services (inpatient care). In the outpatient care group, higher scores for fatigue and dyspnea were observed. Conversely, in the inpatient care group, higher scores were observed for pain, depression, and anxiety. There were significant differences between the two groups regarding the POS dimensions of meaning of life, self-feelings, and lost time. In the inpatient group, there was a longer time between diagnosis and referral to PC; however, it was also in the inpatient group that there was less time between PC referral and first PC evaluation, between PC referral and PC unit admission, and between PC referral and death. There were no significant correlations between referral times and ESAS/POS scores in the inpatient and outpatient groups. Conclusions: The patients admitted to the Palliative Care Unit presented a high symptom burden and changes in the perception of quality of life. However, there are no statistically significant differences between one model of approach in relation to the other. It was found that poorer symptom control and quality of life were associated with a shorter referral time for PC, because this was only initiated after curative care was suspended, particularly in our institutional context. Early referrals to the PC team are essential not only to relieve symptom-related distress but also to improve treatment outcomes and quality of life for people with cancer. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Global Perspectives on Nursing and Palliative Care for Cancer Survivors)
15 pages, 474 KiB  
Article
Development and Validation of an Auricular Acupuncture Protocol for the Management of Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting in Cancer Patients
by Eliza Mara das Chagas Paiva, Caroline de Castro Moura, Denismar Alves Nogueira and Ana Cláudia Mesquita Garcia
Healthcare 2024, 12(2), 218; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12020218 - 16 Jan 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3155
Abstract
Auricular acupuncture (AA) has been used to manage chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). However, the application of the technique varies widely among the clinical trials that test its effectiveness. The aim of the present study was to develop and clinically validate an AA [...] Read more.
Auricular acupuncture (AA) has been used to manage chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). However, the application of the technique varies widely among the clinical trials that test its effectiveness. The aim of the present study was to develop and clinically validate an AA protocol for the management of CINV in cancer patients. This study was carried out in two stages: (1) development of the AA protocol for the management of CINV and (2) clinical validation of the protocol. The content validity of the protocol was determined by a panel of specialists, with an agreement rate ranging from 85.7% to 100%. In the clinical validation, when administered to cancer patients, the protocol developed has been shown to reduce the incidence, frequency, severity, and length of nausea and vomiting following chemotherapy, as well as the severity of nausea and anticipatory nausea following chemotherapy. This protocol needs to be tested in future studies, including a pilot study with a sham group and a randomized clinical trial, in order to further evaluate its feasibility, acceptability, safety, and clinical usefulness for the management of CINV. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Global Perspectives on Nursing and Palliative Care for Cancer Survivors)
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