Depressive phenomena and physical symptom distress among women with breast cancer and their impact on women's quality of life

Breast cancer accounts for about 30% of cancer deaths in women in developed countries and about 15% in developing countries. Breast cancer commonly produces depressive symptoms and physical symptoms distress which have a direct and profound impact in all aspects of quality of life. Therefore the study aimed to assess the nature and scope of depressive phenomena and physical symptoms distress in women after breast cancer diagnosis, to determine the relationship between depressive symptoms and physical symptom distress among breast cancer women, examine the relation of depression as well as physical symptom distress of patient's quality of life. A descriptive correlation design was used on the study sample which consisted of 50 female patients and 50 women who haven't cancer as a control group in total. The study was conducted at outpatient breast cancer clinic, at Assiut University Hospital. Socio- demographic data sheet was developed and used by the investigator in addition to quality of life questionnaire for women with advanced breast cancer which included four domains mobility impairment, GIT toxicity, bone pain and fatigue, Beck Depression Inventory Scale [BDI] and symptoms Distress Scale [SDS]. Results revealed that, depression is a common response to breast cancer in both its early and late stages. Most of breast cancer women suffer from moderate to sever symptom distress, there was a significant relation between depression and symptom distress and they had direct and indirect impact on quality of life among breast cancer women. It was recommended that, an educational training program should be provided to women with breast cancer to foster their potential rehabilitation and improve their quality of life

effect of patients positioning on oxygen satration in the acute phase of ischemic stroke

Body position is known to influence respiratory function in normal subjects and those with respiratory pathology. Its effect on respiratory function after stroke has received little attention. It's generally thought that stroke morbidity is increased by inappropriate position during early recovery phase. So the present study was designed to identify changes in arterial oxygen saturation [SaO[2]] associated with different four positions of the patient in order to detect proper position which maintain the optimum level of SaO[2]. Quasiexperiment research design was applied in this study .This study was conducted in stroke intensive care unit of Neurological Department of Assuit University Hospitals. The subjects of this study consist of 60 patients with acute ischemic stroke within 48 hours following mild to moderate and sever stroke. Three tools were included in the study, tool of sociodemographic data, tool of the positions and tool of the Scandinavian stroke scale. The result of the present study revealed that there was statistical significant difference between SaO[2] and blood pressure of the patients before and after the positions. It was found also that total mean of SaO[2] during right side, supine and semi-setting position was nearly equal and there was statistical significant difference between left position and 3 other positions. So the study recommended the importance of changing patient's positions which improve ventilation and blood pressure. The importance of the use of positions tested [Rt.side, supine and semi-setting position] in the clinical practice to maintain SaO[2] in patients of ischemic stroke

Nursing role toward patients undergoing abdominal laparoscopic surgery; A suggested training program

Teaching programs for nursing staff constitutes an important part. These programs are urgently designed to assist staff nurses in developing and enhancing their skills needed to provide high standards of care to their patients. In the present study, the researcher tried to investigate and identify needs for developing and implementing a training program designed towards improving the knowledge and performance of nurses working in the surgical departments of Assiut University Hospital. The study aimed to assess the role of nurses in caring for patient's undergoing Abdominal Laparoscopic Surgery and to suggest a training program for nurses caring for patients undergoing Abdominal Laparoscopic Surgery in the surgical department. The assessment needs for developing program was determined by test questionnaire sheet and observation checklist. The study included all male and female nurses [N=63] working in the general surgical departments. They were most of them holders of the diploma of nursing and very small number holders bachelor of nursing. The program was evaluated applying the same tools used in the assessment phase, then immediately after the program implementation. The main results obtained were as follows. The nurses' knowledge and performance related to caring of patients undergoing Abdominal Laparoscopic Surgery in surgical department was quite poor. The educational program showed improvement in nurses knowledge and performance regarding the nursing care of patients undergoing Abdominal Laparoscopic Surgery The results of comparison between the pre-test and post-test showed statistically significant differences. The present study concluded that nurses in general surgical department have unsatisfactory level of knowledge and performance. Attending training or orientation programs about caring for patients undergoing Abdominal Laparoscopic Surgery is absolutely lacking for nurses serving in the general surgical department. During their nursing practice, they usually lose their knowledge and skills related to caring patients after coming form PACU as they are not well trained and are not assigned for such activity. Moreover, they lack background knowledge and any experience as regards pre and post operative caring of patient undergoing Abdominal Laparoscopic Surgery in spite of its crucial importance for managing patients in the general surgical department. However, they can gain the necessary knowledge and technical skills that will enable them to perform better after the exposure to a well planned and organized training program. The present study recommended that educational department should be established within Assiut University Hospital to prepare and improve the nursing staff level of knowledge and performance