[Symptom distresses and coping strategies in breast cancer women with mastectomy].

The purpose of this descriptive cross-sectional survey was to understand the correlation between symptom distresses and coping strategies in female victims of breast cancer with in two years of their undergoing a mastectomy. The instruments used in this study were the Physical Symptoms Scale, short form of Profile of Mood states (POMS-SF), Social Function Distress Questionnaire, Jalowiec Coping scale (JCS), and demographic data. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistic, t-test, one-way ANOVA, post Scheffe test and Pearson product-moment correlation. The essential results are summarized as follows. Degrees of biopsychosocial distresses varied from none to mild. Physical symptom distress, psychological distress, and social function distress were positively correlated. When patients were confronted with symptom distresses, they tended to adopt problem-focused coping strategies. The more problem-focused coping strategies, they used the less symptom distresses they experienced. The results of this study could be used to help to develop nursing interventions and efficient coping strategies. Patient may then be able to use the latter to solve symptom distresses and enhance their quality of life.

Symptom distresses and coping strategies in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

The purpose of this study is to understand the correlation of symptom distresses and coping strategies of patients with lung cancer. Seventy-three patients with non-small cell lung cancer from the cancer center or ward in the two medical centers located in northern Taiwan participated. The instruments used in this study were the Symptom Distress Scale and Coping Strategies Scale. The results of the study showed that the degree of symptom distress during the therapeutic period was mild to moderate. When patients were confronted with symptom distress, they combined problem- and emotion-focused coping strategies. Participants with higher physical symptom distress had higher psychological distress and emotion-focused coping strategy frequency. It was also found that the distress of tension-anxiety and age explained 39.4% of variance in physical symptom distresses. The physical symptom distresses and the frequency of emotion-focused coping strategy frequency explained 48.8% of variance in the psychologic symptom distresses. Finally, it is recommend that a support group be established to enable sharing of experiences and emotional support among patients.

Effects of phase I cardiac rehabilitation on anxiety of patients hospitalized for coronary artery bypass graft in Taiwan.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of phase I cardiac rehabilitation intervention on anxiety of patients hospitalized for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. DESIGN: Prospective, quasi-experimental, random assignment, repeated measurements. SETTING: The Veterans General Hospital Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China. PATIENTS: Seventy patients were randomly assigned to (1) the phase I cardiac rehabilitation intervention (experimental) group and (2) the nonintervention (comparison) group. Ultimately, 60 subjects were included in the data analyses. OUTCOME MEASURES: Psychological status was evaluated by the state of anxiety scores on the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Anxiety scores were measured 3 times: (1) after admission, before the patient underwent CABG surgery; (2) the day before the patient underwent CABG surgery; and (3) the day of discharge from the hospital. INTERVENTION: Individual instruction in progressive exercises and daily activities according to the phase I cardiac rehabilitation program (Chinese manual) were used during hospitalization. RESULTS: Data analysis was performed with use of generalized estimating equations (GEE) to assess the between- and within-group variations. The mean anxiety for all subjects before undergoing CABG surgery was 42.6. The mean anxiety on the day before undergoing CABG surgery was 33.7 in the experimental group and 49.8 in the comparison group; there were statistical differences, with a P <.05 level of significance between these 2 groups. The mean anxiety on the day of discharge in the experimental group was 28.6 and in the comparison group was 38.4; there were statistical differences, with a P <.05 level of significance between these 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: These results have been supported by similar studies. This finding suggests that application of phase I cardiac rehabilitation intervention can reduce the anxiety level during hospitalization of patients undergoing CABG surgery.

Families of children with cancer: the impact on anxiety experienced by fathers.

By using the contextual model of family stress, this study examined fathers' family stress experience when caring for a child receiving cancer treatments. A descriptive correlational study was designed to examine the relationships between fathers' uncertainty, sense of mastery, and anxiety. Eighty fathers were recruited from two teaching hospitals in Taiwan. A pilot study was conducted to establish the reliability and validity of the Chinese language version of the above instruments. These instruments showed an acceptable internal consistency and satisfactory construct validity. Results showed that fathers' level of education had a significant effect on paternal anxiety. Uncertainty and fathers' education level equal to or higher than university are good predictors of paternal anxiety, which explain 25% of the variance. The results provide insight into the paternal experience of family stress and suggest ways to improve family-centered nursing interventions and thereby establish better family well-being.