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Mental Health and Nursing Care of Individuals with Cancer and...
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Mental Health and Nursing Care of Individuals with Cancer and Their Families

A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032). This special issue belongs to the section "Nursing".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2023) | Viewed by 18518

Printed Edition Available!
A printed edition of this Special Issue is available here.

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Margaret Fitch

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A1, Canada
Interests: supportive care; cancer care; palliative care; psychosocial oncology; oncology nursing; survivorship; clinical nursing research
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Cancer and its treatment have many consequences for individuals who are diagnosed and their family members. These consequences can be physical, emotional, social, psychological, spiritual, informational and/or practical. They can begin at the time an individual believes they may be diagnosed with cancer and continues throughout diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up care. In some cases, they continue for many years following the treatment interval.

These consequences can create challenges for both the individual and the family which can have a profound influence on their mental health. All experience psychosocial or emotional distress to some degree. The resulting impact is often cyclical over the course of the cancer experience, rising and falling repeatedly, and vary from one person to another.

An in-depth understanding of the impacts, and the factors which affect living with them on a daily basis, is necessary as a basis for providing quality nursing care to those with cancer or their family members. As well, evaluation of the effectiveness of interventions is required to provide evidence-based care. Currently, gaps remain in the evidence nurses require for providing quality care across the cancer continuum for those experiencing mental health issues.

This special issue is seeking papers/articles focused on the topic of mental health and nursing care of individuals with cancer and/or their family members. We are seeking original research or program/intervention evaluations directed toward understanding patient and family member challenges that impact on the mental health of individuals with cancer and their families who are living through a cancer experience.

Reviews and both quantitative and qualitative designs will be considered.

Prof. Dr. Margaret Fitch
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Healthcare is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • cancer care
  • mental health
  • family care
  • patient perspectives
  • caregiver health
  • family involvement
  • nursing care

Related Special Issue

Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 450 KiB  
Article
Nurses and Physicians’ Perceptions Regarding the Role of Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialists in an Exploratory Qualitative Study
by Keren Dopelt, Noam Asna, Mazal Amoyal and Osnat Bashkin
Healthcare 2023, 11(13), 1831; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11131831 - 22 Jun 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1191
Abstract
The purpose of the study was to examine the attitudes of nursing and medical teams about the role of oncology clinical nurse specialists in the healthcare system in Israel, where, unlike many countries in the world, such a role has not yet been [...] Read more.
The purpose of the study was to examine the attitudes of nursing and medical teams about the role of oncology clinical nurse specialists in the healthcare system in Israel, where, unlike many countries in the world, such a role has not yet been developed or professionally defined. We conducted 24 interviews with physicians and nurses between August and October 2021. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed using a thematic analysis method. The Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research checklist was used to report the study. Five main themes emerged from the interviews: (1) contribution to the healthcare system, (2) contribution to the patient, (3) drawing professional boundaries, (4) additional responsibilities and authority for oncology clinical nurse specialists, and (5) the field’s readiness for a new position of oncology clinical nurse specialists. The findings provide evidence about the need to develop the role of clinical nurse specialists in the oncology field due to its potential benefits for nurses, physicians, patients, family members, and the healthcare system. At the same time, an in-depth exploration of the boundaries of the role and its implementation, in full cooperation with the oncologists and relevant professional unions, is needed to prevent unnecessary conflicts in the oncology field. Professional development training programs in nursing must create a platform for open dialogue between key stakeholders, nurses, and physicians, in order to help all involved parties, place the benefits to the patients above any personal or status considerations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mental Health and Nursing Care of Individuals with Cancer and Their Families)
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9 pages, 253 KiB  
Article
Caregiving Self-Efficacy of the Caregivers of Family Members with Oral Cancer—A Descriptive Study
by Ching-Hui Cheng, Shu-Yuan Liang, Ling Lin, Tzu-Ting Chang, Tsae-Jyy Wang and Ying Lin
Healthcare 2023, 11(5), 762; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11050762 - 05 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1343
Abstract
In Taiwan, oral cancer is the fourth most common cause of cancer death in men. The complications and side effects of oral cancer treatment pose a considerable challenge to family caregivers. The purpose of this study was to analyze the self-efficacy of the [...] Read more.
In Taiwan, oral cancer is the fourth most common cause of cancer death in men. The complications and side effects of oral cancer treatment pose a considerable challenge to family caregivers. The purpose of this study was to analyze the self-efficacy of the primary family caregivers of patients with oral cancer at home. A cross-sectional descriptive research design and convenience recruiting were adopted to facilitate sampling, and 107 patients with oral cancer and their primary family caregivers were recruited. The Caregiver Caregiving Self-Efficacy Scale-Oral Cancer was selected as the main instrument to be used. The primary family caregivers’ mean overall self-efficacy score was 6.87 (SD = 1.65). Among all the dimensions, managing patient-related nutritional issues demonstrated the highest mean score (mean = 7.56, SD = 1.83), followed by exploring and making decisions about patient care (mean = 7.05, SD = 1.92), acquiring resources (mean = 6.89, SD = 1.80), and managing sudden and uncertain patient conditions (mean = 6.17, SD = 2.09). Our results may assist professional medical personnel to focus their educational strategies and caregiver self-efficacy enhancement strategies on the dimensions that scored relatively low. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mental Health and Nursing Care of Individuals with Cancer and Their Families)
13 pages, 447 KiB  
Article
The Effect of a Nurse-Led Family Involvement Program on Anxiety and Depression in Patients with Advanced-Stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma
by Sukhuma Klankaew, Suthisa Temthup, Kittikorn Nilmanat and Margaret I. Fitch
Healthcare 2023, 11(4), 460; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11040460 - 05 Feb 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1613
Abstract
Psychological distress is commonly reported in patients with advanced cancer. Family is considered a psychological supporter for patients during their cancer journey. This study aimed to examine the effect of a nurse-led family involvement program on anxiety and depression in patients with advanced [...] Read more.
Psychological distress is commonly reported in patients with advanced cancer. Family is considered a psychological supporter for patients during their cancer journey. This study aimed to examine the effect of a nurse-led family involvement program on anxiety and depression in patients with advanced hepatocellular cancer. This is a quasi-experimental study with a two-group, pre–post-test design. Forty-eight participants were recruited at a male medical ward in a university hospital in Southern Thailand, and assigned to either the experimental or the control group. The experimental group received the nurse-led family involvement program, while the control group received only conventional care. Instruments included a demographic data form, clinical data form, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Data analyses were performed using descriptive statistics, chi-square, Fisher’s exact test, and t-test. The results revealed that the mean scores of anxiety and depression in the experimental group at post-test were significantly lower than on the pretest and significantly lower than those of the control group. The results indicate that a nurse-led family involvement program has a short-term effect on the reduction of anxiety and depression in male patients with advanced HCC. The program can be useful for nurses to encourage family caregivers to engage in patient care during hospitalization. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mental Health and Nursing Care of Individuals with Cancer and Their Families)
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12 pages, 238 KiB  
Article
Perspectives on Emotional Care: A Qualitative Study with Cancer Patients, Carers, and Health Professionals
by Meinir Krishnasamy, Heidi Hassan, Carol Jewell, Irene Moravski and Tennille Lewin
Healthcare 2023, 11(4), 452; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11040452 - 04 Feb 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2374
Abstract
The emotional consequences of a cancer diagnosis are well documented and range from emotional distress, defined as suffering associated with feelings such as shock, fear, and uncertainty, through to psychological distress that may manifest as depression, anxiety, feelings of hopelessness, or heightened risk [...] Read more.
The emotional consequences of a cancer diagnosis are well documented and range from emotional distress, defined as suffering associated with feelings such as shock, fear, and uncertainty, through to psychological distress that may manifest as depression, anxiety, feelings of hopelessness, or heightened risk of suicide. This study set out to explore the assumption that the provision of emotional care should be the platform upon which all other aspects of cancer care are delivered and, that without attention to emotional care, no other aspects of cancer care can be fully realized. Utilizing qualitative focus groups and in-depth interviews with 47 patients, carers, and health professionals, emotional care was shown to be (1) fundamental to the provision of comprehensive cancer care, (2) essential to easing the burden of a cancer diagnosis and demands of treatment, (3) everyone’s business, and (4) a component of cancer care at any time and every time. Future studies are needed to test interventions to enhance provision of intentional, purposeful, and individualized emotional care to help patents achieve the best health outcomes possible. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mental Health and Nursing Care of Individuals with Cancer and Their Families)
14 pages, 691 KiB  
Article
Development of a Scale of Nurses’ Competency in Anticipatory Grief Counseling for Caregivers of Patients with Terminal Cancer
by Chia-Chi Hsiao, Suh-Ing Hsieh, Chen-Yi Kao and Tsui-Ping Chu
Healthcare 2023, 11(2), 264; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11020264 - 14 Jan 2023
Viewed by 1866
Abstract
Anticipatory grief leads to a highly stressful and conflicting experience among caregivers of patients with terminal cancer. Nurses lack the competency to assess and manage the caregivers’ psychological problems, which in turn affects the caregivers’ quality of life. A scale assessing the anticipatory [...] Read more.
Anticipatory grief leads to a highly stressful and conflicting experience among caregivers of patients with terminal cancer. Nurses lack the competency to assess and manage the caregivers’ psychological problems, which in turn affects the caregivers’ quality of life. A scale assessing the anticipatory grief counseling competency among nurses is unavailable. In this study, an Anticipatory Grief Counseling Competency Scale (AGCCS) was developed for nurses. The Scale (AGCCS) was translated into Chinese and then revised. Psychometric testing of the scale was conducted on 252 nurses who participated in the care of patients with terminal cancer at a regional teaching hospital in Southern Taiwan. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, reliability, and Pearson’s correlation, and principal component analysis and analysis of variance were performed. Item- and scale-content validity indexes were 0.99 and 0.93, respectively. The Cronbach α of internal consistency was 0.981. The final 53-item AGCCS had five factors, which accounted for 70.81% of the total variance. The Pearson correlation coefficients of these factors ranged between 0.406 and 0.880 (p < 0.001). The AGCCS can be used to evaluate the aforementioned competency for improving caregivers’ quality of care. It can also facilitate in-service education planning and evaluation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mental Health and Nursing Care of Individuals with Cancer and Their Families)
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13 pages, 268 KiB  
Article
Do You Feel Safe at Home? A Qualitative Study among Home-Dwelling Older Adults with Advanced Incurable Cancer
by Ellen Karine Grov and Siri Ytrehus
Healthcare 2022, 10(12), 2384; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10122384 - 28 Nov 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1137
Abstract
Many older adults with cancer prefer to live at home, and home treatment and outpatient care have been recommended for such patients. To improve their mental health, it is important to identify the challenges that are faced by home-dwelling older adults with cancer. [...] Read more.
Many older adults with cancer prefer to live at home, and home treatment and outpatient care have been recommended for such patients. To improve their mental health, it is important to identify the challenges that are faced by home-dwelling older adults with cancer. This study aimed to examine the impact of the home on older adults with advanced cancer who were receiving treatment and follow-up care. In a cross-sectional design with criterion-based sampling, eight qualitative interviews were transcribed and interpreted thematically. We identified three themes of home-safety management: good home-safety management, uncertain home-safety management, and home-safety management collapse. Moreover, we revealed eight sub-themes important to the participants’ home-safety experience. Ensuring that older adults feel safe at home will afford them the opportunity to enjoy living at home, which in turn may alleviate their symptom burden and enhance their mental health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mental Health and Nursing Care of Individuals with Cancer and Their Families)
15 pages, 264 KiB  
Article
The Psychological Distress and Quality of Life of Breast Cancer Survivors in Sydney, Australia
by Laura-Anne Aitken and Syeda Zakia Hossan
Healthcare 2022, 10(10), 2017; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10102017 - 12 Oct 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2425
Abstract
In Australia, breast cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting women. Between 1987–1991 and 2012–2016, the five-year survival rate improved from 75% to 91%. The increased chance of survival due to early detection and treatment interventions has resulted in more women [...] Read more.
In Australia, breast cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting women. Between 1987–1991 and 2012–2016, the five-year survival rate improved from 75% to 91%. The increased chance of survival due to early detection and treatment interventions has resulted in more women living with the diagnosis. This qualitative study was designed to analyse the journey of breast cancer survivors, their experience of psychological distress and changes in quality of life (QOL) due to the increased prevalence amongst Australian women. In-depth interviews were conducted; they lasted over 45 min and comprised 15 participants. The main topics discussed were knowledge of breast cancer prior to diagnosis, psychological distress, QOL and experience of use of healthcare services. The results showed that the process of diagnosis, undergoing treatment and isolation post-treatment resulted in high amounts of psychological distress. A reduction in QOL was also experienced due to treatment and medication side effects, fatigue, cognitive changes, and body-image perception. These findings can assist researchers in providing evidence-based frameworks for policy changes and for further investigation into effective healthcare interventions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mental Health and Nursing Care of Individuals with Cancer and Their Families)
11 pages, 250 KiB  
Article
Psychosocial Intervention Cultural Adaptation for Latinx Patients and Caregivers Coping with Advanced Cancer
by Normarie Torres-Blasco, Rosario Costas-Muñiz, Lianel Rosario, Laura Porter, Keishliany Suárez, Cristina Peña-Vargas, Yoamy Toro-Morales, Megan Shen, William Breitbart and Eida M. Castro-Figueroa
Healthcare 2022, 10(7), 1243; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10071243 - 04 Jul 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1469
Abstract
Latinx advanced cancer patients and caregivers are less likely to have adequate access to culturally congruent psychosocial interventions. Culturally relevant and adapted interventions are more effective within minority groups. We obtained patients’ and caregivers’ initial evaluations of the Caregivers–Patients Support to Latinx coping [...] Read more.
Latinx advanced cancer patients and caregivers are less likely to have adequate access to culturally congruent psychosocial interventions. Culturally relevant and adapted interventions are more effective within minority groups. We obtained patients’ and caregivers’ initial evaluations of the Caregivers–Patients Support to Latinx coping with advanced-cancer (CASA) protocol. A qualitative study was conducted, and an acceptance questionnaire and semi-structured interviews were conducted to culturally adapt the psychosocial intervention for Latinx coping with cancer. The semi-structured interview described and demonstrated intervention components and elicited feedback about each one. Latinx advanced cancer patients (Stage III and IV) and caregivers (n = 14 each) completed the acceptance survey, and N = 7 each completed semi-structured interviews. A total of 12 of the 14 patients and caregivers (85.7%) reported high acceptance of the goals and purposes of the intervention protocol. They also reported willingness to daily use of the content of the intervention components: Communication Skills, the Willingness of Meaning, Life has Meaning, Freedom of Will, Identity, Creative Sources of Meaning, and Homework. Most of the participants reported high acceptance (n = 9) of integrating family caregivers into therapy and the high acceptance (n = 10) of the length of the 4-session intervention. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mental Health and Nursing Care of Individuals with Cancer and Their Families)

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17 pages, 585 KiB  
Systematic Review
The Role of Nurse on the Treatment Decision Support for Older People with Cancer: A Systematic Review
by Hiroko Komatsu and Yasuhiro Komatsu
Healthcare 2023, 11(4), 546; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11040546 - 12 Feb 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2374
Abstract
Background: The number of older adults with cancer is increasing worldwide. The role of nurses in supporting patients’ decision-making is expanding, as this process is fraught with complexity and uncertainty due to comorbidities, frailty, cognitive decline, etc., in older adults with cancer. [...] Read more.
Background: The number of older adults with cancer is increasing worldwide. The role of nurses in supporting patients’ decision-making is expanding, as this process is fraught with complexity and uncertainty due to comorbidities, frailty, cognitive decline, etc., in older adults with cancer. The aim of this review was to examine the contemporary roles of oncology nurses in the treatment decision-making process in older adults with cancer. Methods: A systematic review of PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycINFO databases was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Results: Of the 3029 articles screened, 56 full texts were assessed for eligibility, and 13 were included in the review. We identified three themes regarding nurses’ roles in the decision-making process for older adults with cancer: accurate geriatric assessments, provision of available information, and advocacy. Nurses conduct geriatric assessments to identify geriatric syndromes, provide appropriate information, elicit patient preferences, and communicate efficiently with patients and caregivers, promoting physicians. Time constraints were cited as a barrier to fulfilling nurses’ roles. Conclusions: The role of nurses is to elicit patients’ broader health and social care needs to facilitate patient-centered decision-making, respecting their preferences and values. Further research focusing on the role of nurses that considers diverse cancer types and healthcare systems is needed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mental Health and Nursing Care of Individuals with Cancer and Their Families)
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9 pages, 568 KiB  
Case Report
Intervention of Coordination by Liaison Nurse Where Ward Staff Struggled to Establish a Therapeutic Relationship with a Patient Because of Failure to Recognize Delirium: A Case Study
by Yuri Nakai, Yusuke Nitta and Reiko Hashimoto
Healthcare 2022, 10(7), 1335; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10071335 - 18 Jul 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1764
Abstract
In this case study, ward staff found it difficult to establish a therapeutic relationship with a patient with advanced gastric cancer because they misdiagnosed delirium as a psychogenic reaction to the cancer diagnosis. This article reports on the process and effects of intervention [...] Read more.
In this case study, ward staff found it difficult to establish a therapeutic relationship with a patient with advanced gastric cancer because they misdiagnosed delirium as a psychogenic reaction to the cancer diagnosis. This article reports on the process and effects of intervention by a liaison nurse. The liaison nurse recognized the misdiagnosis and approached the ward staff via a psychiatrist-led team. This enabled rapid revision of the treatment policy. The liaison nurse contributed to the continuation of treatment by enabling the ward staff and patient to understand each other better and to collaborate to build a relationship and control the patient’s mental health symptoms, including attention disorder and excessive demands. The patient and family had different views on discharge because of the patient’s mental health issues. The liaison nurse encouraged the ward staff to inform the family caregiver about the patient’s medical condition, the expected future course of the disease, and likely symptoms, and provide appropriate professional services. This enabled the patient to be discharged in line with their wishes. This case highlights the role of the liaison nurse in coordinating care and helping ward staff to recognize symptoms and provide appropriate care and support for patients and their families. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mental Health and Nursing Care of Individuals with Cancer and Their Families)
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