Article
Details
Citation
Arantzamendi M & Kearney N (2004) The psychological needs of patients receiving chemotherapy: an exploration of nurse perceptions. European Journal of Cancer Care, 13 (1), pp. 23-31. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2354.2003.00438.x
Abstract
This study explored the perceptions of a group of registered oncology nurses about the psychological needs of patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy and how the nurses meet these. Eight nurses who provided chemotherapy and were working in a local oncology centre participated. A semi-structured interview was used to explore nurses¡¯ perceptions, and how they meet these patients¡¯ needs. The analysis of interview transcripts revealed that these nurses agreed that patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy had psychological needs. Moreover, they were conscious that some of the physical side-effects could have a psychological impact on the patients. Although nurses did not use any assessment tool for psychological assessment, they identified two main stages during the treatment when patients needed more psychological support: at the beginning and at the end of the chemotherapy. They explained how they tried to meet patients¡¯ psychological needs but they also mentioned several factors that influenced the psychological support that patients received.
Keywords
psychological support; psychological effects; cancer; chemotherapy; nurses; perceptions; Cancer Nursing; Cancer Chemotherapy; Chemotherapy Self-care, Health; Cancer Treatment Complications; Cancer Psychological aspects
Journal
European Journal of Cancer Care: Volume 13, Issue 1
| Status | Published |
|---|---|
| Publication date | 31/03/2004 |
| Publication date online | 11/02/2004 |
| Date accepted by journal | 11/06/2003 |
| URL | |
| Publisher | Blackwell Publishing |
| ISSN | 0961-5423 |
| eISSN | 1365-2354 |