Quality of life of physicians and nurses working in an oncology clinic

Purpose: The objective of this study was to determine possible differences in the perception of quality of life (QoL) between physicians and nurses working in an oncology clinic in Turkey

Effect of Group Therapy on Psychological Symptoms and Quality of Life in Turkish Patients with Breast Cancer

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the group therapy on psychological symptoms and quality of life of patients with early stage breast cancer. Methods: This study was performed on 16 breast cancer patients who completed treatments. The total group therapy program involved a weekly session of 2-3 hours, for 16 weeks. The group therapy sessions were given to women in the oncology department by a clinical psychologist and also given training sections by the different professional teams. All the required assessments for the study were performed after and before 16 week group therapy intervention. Results: Initially we had taken 21 women but 16 participated in all therapy programs and submitted questionnaires. The mean age was 47.8 years. There were significant differences between before and after group therapy program. Anxiety, depression, and distress showed significant improvements. Hopelessness scale was detected at the border of significance. There was no change in sleep problems and quality of life. According to the analysis of correlation, considering the age factor and year of diagnosis, there was found no statistically significant relationship between anxiety, distress, depression, hopelessness, sleeplessness, and quality of life. Conclusions: This pilot study demonstrated that brief, predominantly group therapy is feasible for patients with breast cancer and, also it may be helpful to cope with emotional and physical distress

region of Turkey

Purpose: To investigate the complementary/alternative medicine (CAM) applications and factors affecting its use among cancer patients in the western region of Turkey. Patients and methods: Face-to face interview technique was used.Patients were asked to answer a questionnaire about their socio-demographic features, their level of knowledge about the disease and CAM application features.Results: 220 adult cancer patients (79 male) were evaluated. Ninety-three (42.3%) were using at least one CAM method, the most common being herbal products which were preferred by 81 (36.3%) patients. Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) was the most commonly used herbal product. Next was nutritional support, preferred by 45 (20.3%) patients. Eighty-nine (44.5%) of 200 patients who knew the diagnosis and 4 of 20 (20%) who did not were using CAM. In the patient group with awareness of the diagnosis, CAM application was significantly higher (p=0.034). CAM applications were detected in 34 of 70 (48.5%) patients with recurrent disease while 54 of 150 (36%) patients without recurrent disease were using CAM. The CAM applications were significantly higher in the group with recurrent disease (p=0.006). Fifty-three of 103 (51.4%) patients who had advanced disease were using CAM, while only 40 of 117 (34.1%) patients with local or locally advanced disease were using it. CAM applications were significantly higher in the group with advanced disease (p=0.030). Besides, knowing the diagnosis and disease recurrence were also independent risk factors for CAM usage [odd ratio(OR): 3.1; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.0-9.8 and OR: 2.2; 95% CI: 1.2-4.0 respectively]. As a result, nearly half of the patients (42.3%) in this region were using at least one of the CAM methods.Conclusion: The severity of the disease (recurrence and dissemination) and patients' awareness of the diagnosis were the most important factors affecting the CAM applications

region of Turkey

Purpose: To investigate the complementary/alternative medicine (CAM) applications and factors affecting its use among cancer patients in the western region of Turkey. Patients and methods: Face-to face interview technique was used.Patients were asked to answer a questionnaire about their socio-demographic features, their level of knowledge about the disease and CAM application features.Results: 220 adult cancer patients (79 male) were evaluated. Ninety-three (42.3%) were using at least one CAM method, the most common being herbal products which were preferred by 81 (36.3%) patients. Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) was the most commonly used herbal product. Next was nutritional support, preferred by 45 (20.3%) patients. Eighty-nine (44.5%) of 200 patients who knew the diagnosis and 4 of 20 (20%) who did not were using CAM. In the patient group with awareness of the diagnosis, CAM application was significantly higher (p=0.034). CAM applications were detected in 34 of 70 (48.5%) patients with recurrent disease while 54 of 150 (36%) patients without recurrent disease were using CAM. The CAM applications were significantly higher in the group with recurrent disease (p=0.006). Fifty-three of 103 (51.4%) patients who had advanced disease were using CAM, while only 40 of 117 (34.1%) patients with local or locally advanced disease were using it. CAM applications were significantly higher in the group with advanced disease (p=0.030). Besides, knowing the diagnosis and disease recurrence were also independent risk factors for CAM usage [odd ratio(OR): 3.1; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.0-9.8 and OR: 2.2; 95% CI: 1.2-4.0 respectively]. As a result, nearly half of the patients (42.3%) in this region were using at least one of the CAM methods.Conclusion: The severity of the disease (recurrence and dissemination) and patients' awareness of the diagnosis were the most important factors affecting the CAM applications

region of Turkey

Purpose: To investigate the complementary/alternative medicine (CAM) applications and factors affecting its use among cancer patients in the western region of Turkey. Patients and methods: Face-to face interview technique was used.Patients were asked to answer a questionnaire about their socio-demographic features, their level of knowledge about the disease and CAM application features.Results: 220 adult cancer patients (79 male) were evaluated. Ninety-three (42.3%) were using at least one CAM method, the most common being herbal products which were preferred by 81 (36.3%) patients. Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) was the most commonly used herbal product. Next was nutritional support, preferred by 45 (20.3%) patients. Eighty-nine (44.5%) of 200 patients who knew the diagnosis and 4 of 20 (20%) who did not were using CAM. In the patient group with awareness of the diagnosis, CAM application was significantly higher (p=0.034). CAM applications were detected in 34 of 70 (48.5%) patients with recurrent disease while 54 of 150 (36%) patients without recurrent disease were using CAM. The CAM applications were significantly higher in the group with recurrent disease (p=0.006). Fifty-three of 103 (51.4%) patients who had advanced disease were using CAM, while only 40 of 117 (34.1%) patients with local or locally advanced disease were using it. CAM applications were significantly higher in the group with advanced disease (p=0.030). Besides, knowing the diagnosis and disease recurrence were also independent risk factors for CAM usage [odd ratio(OR): 3.1; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.0-9.8 and OR: 2.2; 95% CI: 1.2-4.0 respectively]. As a result, nearly half of the patients (42.3%) in this region were using at least one of the CAM methods.Conclusion: The severity of the disease (recurrence and dissemination) and patients' awareness of the diagnosis were the most important factors affecting the CAM applications

Complementary-alternative medicine among cancer patients in the western region of Turkey

Purpose: To investigate the complementary/alternative medicine (CAM) applications and factors affecting its use among cancer patients in the western region of Turkey. Patients and methods: Face-to-face interview technique was used. Patients were asked to answer a questionnaire about their socio-demographic features, their level of knowledge about the disease and CAM application features. Results: 220 adult cancer patients (79 male) were evaluated. Ninety-three (42.3%) were using at least one CAM method, the most common being herbal products which were preferred by 81 (36.3%) patients. Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) was the most commonly used herbal product. Next was nutritional support, preferred by 45 (20.3%) patients. Eighty- nine (44.5%) of 200 patients who knew the diagnosis and 4 of 20 (20%) who did not were using CAM. In the patient group with awareness of the diagnosis, CAM application was significantly higher (p=0.034). CAM applications were detected in 34 of 70 (48.5%) patients with recurrent disease while 54 of 150 (36%) patients without recurrent disease were using CAM. The CAM applications were significantly higher in the group with recurrent disease (p=0.006). Fifty-three of 103 (51.4%) patients who had advanced disease were using CAM, while only 40 of 117 (34.1%) patients with local or locally advanced disease were using it. CAM applications were significantly higher in the group with advanced disease (p=0.030). Besides, knowing the diagnosis and disease recurrence were also independent risk factors for CAM usage [odds ratio (OR): 3.1; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.0-9.8 and OR: 2.2; 95% CI: 1.2-4.0 respectively]. As a result, nearly half of the patients (42.3%) in this region were using at least one of the CAM methods. Conclusion: The severity of the disease (recurrence and dissemination) and patients 'awareness of the diagnosis were the most important factors affecting the CAM applications. © 2009 Zerbinis Medical Publications