Performance Status and Resilience in Patients with Colorectal Cancer

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify validity the Korean version of resilience scale and identify performance status and resilience in patients with colorectal cancer. METHODS: A sample of 110 patients with colorectal cancer was recruited from a hospital in Seoul. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, factor analysis, MAP test and Parallel test and multiple regression with the SPSS/WIN 12.0 program. RESULTS: The reliability, validity, and factor analytic structure of the scale were evaluated. The scale demonstrated good psychometric properties and factor analysis yielded two factors. The resilience for colorectal cancer patients showed a significant difference according to marital status and performance status. The two variables were the significant factors influencing resilience, which they explained 26.5% of the variance. CONCLUSION: The results of the study show the importance of performance status in explaining the resilience in patients with colorectal cancer. Therefore, This study suggests that intervention programs to increase the performance status among patients could improve the resilience of cancer patients.

Effects of Symptom Severity and Symptom Interference on Sleep Disturbance in Cancer Patients

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was conducted to identify the impact of Symptom Severity and Symptom Interference on Sleep Disturbance among cancer patients. METHODS: This study was conducted from October 8th to October 25th, 2012. One hundred eight cancer patients were recruited from S city in Korea. The instruments used in this study were the Symptom Severity, Symptom Interference and the Sleep Disturbance scales for patients with cancer. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients and multiple regression with the SPSS/WIN 20.0 program. RESULTS: The Sleep Disturbance for cancer patients showed a significant relationship with Symptom Interference and cancer stage. The significant factors influencing Sleep Disturbance were Symptom Severity and Symptom Interference. They explained 40.5% of the variance in stage IV. CONCLUSION: Patients with cancer experienced Symptom Severity and Symptom Interference which led to a negative effect on Sleep Disturbance. The results suggest that intervention programs to reduce Symptom Severity, Symptom Interference could improve Sleep Disturbance for cancer patients.

Pain Management Knowledge and Attitude of Hospitalized Patients with Cancer and Their Family Caregivers / 종양간호학회지

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate pain management knowledge and attitude in cancer patients and their family caregivers. METHODS: The subjects were 52 hospitalized cancer patients and 52 their family caregivers in a hematooncologic unit in one general hospital. Data were collected via self-reported questionnaires and interviews in 2008. RESULTS: 46.2% of the patient participants reported pain and 50% of them were taking opioid analgesics. Levels of knowledge about cancer pain and its management in both patient and caregiver participants were low, whereas, the scores of knowledge of the caregivers were significantly higher than that of the patients. The attitudes toward cancer pain were not significantly different between patients and caregivers. Both cancer patients and caregivers had some misconcepts in using opioid analgesics and about cancer pain. Patients' and caregivers' level of knowledge about cancer pain and its mangement demonstrated positive correlation. CONCLUSION: Education about cancer pain and its management should target both cancer patients and their family caregivers. Also the education should focus on intervening the misconceptions that patients and their caregivers have regarding cancer pain and its management