Effect of an Educational Palliative Nursing Interventions on Selected Outcomes among Patients Having Advanced Cancer

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Clinical instructor of Medical Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Menoufia University.

2 Professor of Medical Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Menoufia University.

3 Professor of Clinical Oncology and Nuclear Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University.

4 Assistant Professor of Medical Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Menoufia University

Abstract

Palliative care is an approach to improve the quality of life for patients and their families through the prevention and relief of suffering Purpose: to determine the effect of an educational palliative nursing interventions on selected outcomes among patients having advanced cancer. Design: A quasi-experimental design was utilized (pre and posttest). Setting: The study was carried out at the oncology department of Menoufia University Hospital at Menoufia governorate. Sample: A purposive sample of 107 adults advanced cancer patients were selected for this study. Instruments: Three instruments were used. First instrument was a structured interview questionnaire about social characteristics. Second instrument was alikert scale for functional assessment of cancer. Instrument three was center for epidemiological studies depression scale. Results: there was a highly statistically significant decrease in the total mean score of depression symptoms and an improvement in theoverall quality of life domains mean score 48.64±11.52 Vs 54.38±12.79 and 62.14±17.51. Conclusion: Patients who had advanced cancer had improved quality of life and reduced level of depression after they received the educational palliative nursing intervention on posttest and follow up. Recommendation: palliative nursing interventions should be included routinely in the management of patients with advanced cancer besides conventional therapy.

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