Informational needs and concerns among women with breast cancer after surgery

Informational need assessment has become an important part of health care in order to provide information effectively in clinical settings. Literature on information needs suggests that breast cancer [BC] patients needed more information than doctors had provided. The aim of this research was to identify the informational needs and concerns among women with breast cancer after surgery. This descriptive exploratory study used a sample of convenience of 200 women who had undergone modified radical mastectomy or breast conserving surgery in surgical departments of Benha University Hospital, Benha Teaching Hospital and National Cancer Institute [NCI] of Cairo University over a period of 6 months. Tools for data were collected on demographic characteristics and illness-related data, level of informational needs regarding diagnosis, investigative tests, treatment, physical and psychological functioning as measured by the Toronto Informational Needs Questionnaire of Breast Cancer, [Galloway et al., 1997], and their concerns as measured by Concerns Checklist, [Broomfield and Humphris, 1999]. Indicated that informational needs were greatest in the treatment, physical and psychosocial subscales. Besides, the major concerns were about their inability to complete their social role. Marital status, level of education, and level of income were highly related to level of informational needs and concerns. There was also a good positive correlation between their informational needs and concerns after surgery [r=0.733, p=<0.001]. The results had shown many areas of knowledge deficit and concerns which reflect a need for education relevant to self care, treatment and psychological support services after surgery and in return it will provide nurses with some directions as what information to give to women with breast cancer receiving early treatment, which will help them manage their illness. The study recommended replication of this study on larger nonprobability representative sample to achieve more generalizable results. As well, Future research should examine cancer patients' information needs and concerns throughout their cancer journey

Relationship between therapeutic nursing modalities among cirrhotic patients and quality of life

Was to assess the relationship between therapeutic nursing modalities among cirrhotic patients and quality of life. Methods: sixty adult male and female liver cirrhotic patients, were selected randomly, free from any associated comorbid diseases as hepatic encephalopathy, congestive heart failure. The patients were interviewed in the medical unit, and instructed about the importance of educational sessions, they were divided into groups, compromising 5 to 7 patients. Matching was done for subjects within each group in relation to age, duration of the disease and educational level, and one close patient's relative attended in the educational sessions. Cirrhotic therapeutic nursing modalities sessions were carried out for the patients in groups in four sessions of one hour twice weekly during two weeks. Cognition about the-disease was assessed and quality of life was evaluated through knowledge assessment sheet and health promotion lifestyle profile before and after the educational sessions. A booklet was prepared in Arabic for each patient containing the main guidelines of the program. Results revealed that more than half of the study subjects were females > 40 years, and most [93.3%] of them were married, non-educated and living in rural areas. Findings revealed also deterioration in knowledge assessment scores and in all quality of life dimensions; self actualization, social, psychological, physical, nutrition, health responsibility of patient with cirrhosis before program in both sexes without any statistical differences. There were significant positive correlations between total knowledge and quality of life dimensions among the study groups treated by different nursing modalities after one and 3 month post educational program. As well, there were significantly better score of all items of nutrition for cirrhotic patients at immediate post program, and at 3 month post program than pre program and better scores of all items of selfcare for cirrhotic patients in post program. It is recommended that assessment of cirrhotic patients health related quality of life [HRQL] should be an essential part of nursing practice and an annual community survey must be done for screening of people who have virus C. Further research should be done to determine effect of application of an educational program about liver cirrhosis upon their Quality of life