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Article

The psychological needs of patients receiving chemotherapy: an exploration of nurse perceptions

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

StatusPublished
Publication date31/03/2004
Publication date online11/02/2004
Date accepted by journal11/06/2003
URL
PublisherBlackwell Publishing
ISSN0961-5423
eISSN1365-2354