Adjustment to life with metastatic cancer through psychodrama group therapy: A qualitative study in Turkey.

PURPOSE: This study describes the experiences of patients with metastatic cancer participating in psychodrama group therapy. DESIGN AND METHODS: This study was carried out at the cancer hospital of the university, Turkey. The sample consisted of patients with metastatic cancer who participated in 16 weekly psychodrama sessions of 3 h each. The study was analyzed using the NVivo 11 software, the sessions which summarize and code the interviews. FINDINGS: Five main themes were identified: Anxiety of death, coping strategies, psychological resilience, relieving suffering, and the meaning of life. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Psychodrama can be used in patients diagnosed with metastatic and other types of cancer to cope with their psychosocial difficulties. Psychiatric nurses can play a leading role in this area.

[Feeling of Liberty and Internalized Stigma: Comparison of Inpatient and Outpatient Cases Receiving Psychiatric Treatment]. / Özgürlük Duygusu ve Içsellestirilmis Damgalanma: Ayaktan ve Yatarak Psikiyatrik Tedavi Alan Hastalarin Karsilastirilmasi.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we investigated whether liberty-restricting and other factors can predict internalized stigma among psychiatric inpatients and outpatients. METHOD: The study sample comprised of 129 inpatients, admitted at least once to psychiatry ward, and 100 outpatients who have never been hospitalized, receiving psychiatric treatment. In addition to demographic and clinical features, patients were evaluated for perceived deprivation of liberty and internalized stigma levels. RESULTS: Patients stated that their liberty was restrained mostly due to involuntary treatment, communication problems, side effects of medical treatment and inability to choose their treatment team. Regression analysis showed that internalized stigma was predicted by perceived deprivation of liberty, marital status and number of admissions to ward. Stigma was related to marital status and admissions to the psychiatry ward. Perceived deprivation of liberty predicts stigma regardless of the disease severity CONCLUSION: Perception of stigma leads to self-isolation, behavioral avoidance and refusal of aid-seeking. Our study indicated that perceived deprivation of liberty is one of the most important factors that lead to increased stigma. Based on our findings, we can say that as patients experience less perceived deprivation of liberty, they would have less stigma and thus, their compliance would increase.

Evaluation of group counseling for women with breast cancer in Turkey.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers among women. Health services for breast cancer patients should give high priority to the social and psychological realities experienced by those dealing with the ramifications of their illness. Psychosocial interventions and group counseling for patients have been shown to be highly effective in the care of breast cancer patients. OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to determine the effects of group counseling on the adaptation of breast cancer patients to their illness. METHOD: : Sessions are made weekly, and each session lasted about 1.5 to 2 hours, and the researchers attended all sessions together. Pretests were administered to the patients at the first of the 10 group sessions, and posttests were administered at the last group session. Pretest/posttest pattern data were collected from 56 breast cancer patients using the Ways of Coping Inventory, the Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale-Self-report, and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. These were evaluated using the SPSS 9.0 statistical package. RESULTS: After group counseling, patients showed an increase in their positive perceptions of social support, psychosocial adaptation, and in their abilities to cope with breast cancer. CONCLUSIONS: : The findings indicate that this group-counseling program positively affected patients' perceived social support and enhanced their abilities to effectively cope with stress. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Cancer patients can have various problems in the adaptation process to cancer. Therefore, oncology nurses should be actively involved in working with patients to find solutions and ways of coping with the issues they face.