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A qualitative study of the experiences during radiotherapy of Swedish patients suffering from lung cancer.

Ekfors, Helene LU and Petersson, Kerstin LU (2004) In Oncology Nursing Forum 31(2). p.329-334
Abstract
Purpose/Objectives: To describe experiences during radiotherapy of patients suffering from lung cancer. Design: Inductive, qualitative. Setting: A radiotherapy department in the south of Sweden. Sample: 15 patients with lung cancer undergoing their second week of radiotherapy. Methodologic Approach: Interviews were conducted in a hospital setting, transcribed, and content analyzed. Main Research Variables: Experiences during radiotherapy. Findings: The patients' experiences fall into four categories: fatigue, physical distress, managing disease- and treatment-related issues, and obstacles to managing. Fatigue was a major experience expressed in terms of low energy levels and low fitness, sometimes leading to social isolation. Conclusions:... (More)
Purpose/Objectives: To describe experiences during radiotherapy of patients suffering from lung cancer. Design: Inductive, qualitative. Setting: A radiotherapy department in the south of Sweden. Sample: 15 patients with lung cancer undergoing their second week of radiotherapy. Methodologic Approach: Interviews were conducted in a hospital setting, transcribed, and content analyzed. Main Research Variables: Experiences during radiotherapy. Findings: The patients' experiences fall into four categories: fatigue, physical distress, managing disease- and treatment-related issues, and obstacles to managing. Fatigue was a major experience expressed in terms of low energy levels and low fitness, sometimes leading to social isolation. Conclusions: Nurses need to implement interventions to minimize side effects of radiotherapy and maximize patients' abilities to manage the disease and the treatment. Interpretation: Informing and educating patients about pretreatment and assessing fatigue as well as implementing interventions (e.g., nurse-patient interaction, support, information, encouragement, focus on the patients' own resources) may lead to improved comprehensive care during radiation therapy. (Less)
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author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Oncology Nursing Forum
volume
31
issue
2
pages
329 - 334
publisher
Oncology Nursing Society
external identifiers
  • wos:000225438400018
  • scopus:22044458391
ISSN
0190-535X
DOI
10.1188/04.ONF.329-334
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015. The record was previously connected to the following departments: Division of Nursing (Closed 2012) (013065000)
id
9e996e3d-f4e3-4e5b-81d5-d4a0c9d5754d (old id 121313)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 17:07:02
date last changed
2022-03-15 05:16:02
@article{9e996e3d-f4e3-4e5b-81d5-d4a0c9d5754d,
  abstract     = {{Purpose/Objectives: To describe experiences during radiotherapy of patients suffering from lung cancer. Design: Inductive, qualitative. Setting: A radiotherapy department in the south of Sweden. Sample: 15 patients with lung cancer undergoing their second week of radiotherapy. Methodologic Approach: Interviews were conducted in a hospital setting, transcribed, and content analyzed. Main Research Variables: Experiences during radiotherapy. Findings: The patients' experiences fall into four categories: fatigue, physical distress, managing disease- and treatment-related issues, and obstacles to managing. Fatigue was a major experience expressed in terms of low energy levels and low fitness, sometimes leading to social isolation. Conclusions: Nurses need to implement interventions to minimize side effects of radiotherapy and maximize patients' abilities to manage the disease and the treatment. Interpretation: Informing and educating patients about pretreatment and assessing fatigue as well as implementing interventions (e.g., nurse-patient interaction, support, information, encouragement, focus on the patients' own resources) may lead to improved comprehensive care during radiation therapy.}},
  author       = {{Ekfors, Helene and Petersson, Kerstin}},
  issn         = {{0190-535X}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{329--334}},
  publisher    = {{Oncology Nursing Society}},
  series       = {{Oncology Nursing Forum}},
  title        = {{A qualitative study of the experiences during radiotherapy of Swedish patients suffering from lung cancer.}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1188/04.ONF.329-334}},
  doi          = {{10.1188/04.ONF.329-334}},
  volume       = {{31}},
  year         = {{2004}},
}