The Experience of Uncertainty in Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the experience of uncertainty in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy in South Korea. METHODS: Data were obtained from in-depth interviews with ten cancer patients conducted from Mar. 21 to Nov. 11, 2017. The data were collected until saturation and analyzed via Colazzi's phenomenological method. RESULTS: In this study, 6 categories were extracted: Four categories contributed to uncertainty including ‘Confusion about cancer and course of treatment’, ‘Inner conflicts’, ‘Being overwhelmed by treatment’, and ‘Unknown future’. Two categories facilitated coping with uncertainty including ‘Seeking knowledge’ and ‘Need for spiritual peace’. CONCLUSION: Uncertainty experiences for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy in different societies is largely similar. However, some experiences seemed unique to Korean patients. Also, there is a great deal of uncertainty about the treatment outcomes and loss of treatment opportunities in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. The results of this study will help oncology professionals develop patient-centered psychological interventions by improving understanding of the uncertainty of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Mediating Effects of Empathy and Resilience on the Relationship between Terminal Care Stress and Performance for Nurses in a Tertiary Hospital / 한국호스피스완화의료학회지

PURPOSE: To develop end-of-life care training programs for nurses who provide in a tertiary hospital, we examined the mediating effects of empathy and resilience on the relationship between their stress and job performance. METHODS: This study was conducted with 218 participants at a hospital in B city in South Korea from August 15 through August 30, 2017. Data collected from the participants were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and multiple regression using the IBM SPSS/WIN 21.0 software. RESULTS: Terminal care stress was found to be negatively correlated with empathy competence (r=−0.345, P < 0.001), resilience (r=−0.223, P=0.001) and terminal care performance (r=−0.260, P < 0.001), whereas empathy (r=0.467, P < 0.001) and resilience (r=0.358, P < 0.001) were positively correlated with terminal care performance. Empathy had a complete mediating effect (β=0.409, P < 0.001) on the relationship between terminal care stress and performance, and resilience a partial mediating effect (β=0.294, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Based on the findings of this study, development of training programs with a focus on empathy and resilience are highly recommended to improve job performance of nurses who provide terminal care in a tertiary hospital.

Locally Administered Ketorolac and Bupivacaine for Control of Postoperative Pain in LAG for Gastric Cancer: Prospective Randomized Double Blind Study

PURPOSE: The method of locally administered ketorolac and bupivacaine with epinephrine in LAG patients was examined for the control of postoperative pain. METHODS: Fifty-one patients who had undergone LAG for gastric cancer from Jan. 2005 and Aug. 2005 were enrolled in this study. All the patients were administered a fentanyl patch (25 microgram/hr) on the upper back 2 hours before the entry into the OR. Upon the completion of LAG, the patients were randomly selected for a local injection of Ketolorac and bupivacaine. Ketolorac (30 mg, 1 cc) plus 0.5% bupivacaine with 1 : 100,000 epinephrine (9 cc) was injected in the peritoneum and subcutaneous tissue of the mini-laparotomy wound in the study group, and normal saline (10 cc) was injected into the control group. The postoperative pain scores were assessed at 6 hr, day 1, day 2 and day 5 using a Verbal Numerical Rating Scale by a Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse. Meperidine (25 mg iv.) was used for additional analgesia. RESULTS: The frequency of additional analgesic requirement was significantly lower in the study group and the pain score was significantly lower at 6 hr postoperatively than in the control group. CONCLUSION: Locally administered ketorolac and bupivacaine with epinephrine is a simple and cost-effective technique for alleviating postoperative pain in LAG patients with gastric cancer.