ABSTRACT
Introduction: Cancer is a chronic disease with an increasing incidence. Other than common complications of chronic diseases, the vague prognosis and early threat of cancers may induce tension and fears among patients. Such fears are of the main destructive aspects of cancer that make it a physically and emotionally weakening disease
Patients and methods: In this study, we evaluated 111 patients with cancer who had been treated in the specialized cancer treatment center of Zahedan. They were asked to fill a questionnaire containing 44 questions about their fears and anxieties. We categorized the fears into social, individual, sexual, and disease related groups and these groups were analyzed according to the patients' characteristics
Results: 26.1% of the patients were men and 73.9% were women with the mean ages of 45.9 and 44.9 years respectively. The majority of patients [79.3%] were married. T test analysis revealed that women experienced more social [P= 0.001] and personal fears [P= 0.015] than men. Married patients had more sexual fears than other groups [P= 0.001]. One-way ANOVA for examining the effect of educational attainment, showed that the only variable with statistically significant difference among the means was the sexual fears [F [3, 108] =3.417, p=0.020]. The patients with higher education levels had lower scores in sexual fears than other groups, meanwhile such type of the fears were more in the group of middle school education
Conclusion: Cancer is accompanied by different types of fears that affect the patients' quality of life and satisfaction with treatment. It sees that detecting these fears and trying to resolve them, may help patients to have less stress during their life with cancer
ABSTRACT
Cancer is defined as one of the most leading causes of death in Iran, as well as the whole world. Chemotherapy as a common modality might have several consequences such as nausea and vomiting. Metoclopramide, anti-5Hl3, antagonist and benzodiazepines are used to decrease vomiting symptoms. However, the effectiveness of benzodiazepine is unknown so far. This study aimed to evaluate the role of Lorazepam in decreasing of metoclopramide dosage. Seventy consecutive patients were sampled to assess the outcome. Lorazepam was randomly added to premedication drugs in one of two chemotherapy courses for all patients. The lorazepam proscribed one night before chemotherapy and continued for three days after chemotherapy every 12 hours. The frequency and severity of nausea showed a significant decrease with lorazepam vs. grade II + acute decrease from 85% to 53% [p<0.0001], grade II + delayed nausea decrease from 86.2% to 55% [p<0.0001], grade II+ delayed vomiting decrease from 69.14% to 13% [p<0.0001]. Despite previous studies the results of this study show a clear impact of lorazepam benefits on the decrease severity and frequency of nausea and vomiting
Subject(s)
Humans , Nausea , Vomiting , Antineoplastic AgentsABSTRACT
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD] is the fourth leading cause of death, and its prevalence is increasing. Nutritional depletion is a common problem among chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD] patients. It is caused, to a large extent, by an imbalance between low- energy intake and high-energy requirements. This problem adversely affects morbidity and mortality. The present study aimed to assess the effects of nutritional guideline education on spirometric tests [FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC] among patients with COPD. A quasi-experimental study was conducted through a before and after design. Thirty hospitalized COPD patients drawn from Alborz hospital in Karaj were recruited to the study by random sampling. After filling the demographic questionnaire out, spirometric assessment was undertaken. Individual face to face education concerning proper nutrition was carried out during four sessions. Each session last 15 minutes and was given in four consequent days. Spirometric tests were measured again one and three months after education. They were followed up after discharge through home visits and telephone calls. Then, the indexes were compared. Significant differences were found among mean FEV1 before intervention, one month [P=0.004] and three months after intervention [P=0.001]. There were significant differences between mean FVC after one month [0.015] and three months after the intervention [P=0.000]. Increased FEV1/FVC Indexes were reversely correlated with samples' weight [P-0.034, r-0.426]. FEV1/FVC Indexes three months after intervention were correlated with age [P=0.029, r=0.399]. That meant older patients had higher FEV1/FVC values and Pearson coefficient test demonstrated the difference significant. The study suggests that patients with COPD should be aware of effectual factors on respiratory conditions. They need to be instructed regarding the foods have negative or positive impacts on their respiratory function