Nausea, Vomiting and Retching of Patients with Cervical Cancer Undergoing Chemotherapy in Bali, Indonesia

Background: Nausea, vomiting and retching (NVR) was the frequently reported and troublesome adverse effect for patients receiving chemotherapy. Purpose: This study is a part of a larger study which aims to describe the NVR symptom experience in cervical cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy in Bali, Indonesia, and examine relationships with individual's risk factors. Method: Sixty-six patients with stage II and III cervical cancer receiving Paxus (Paclitaxel)-Cisplatin at the second or the third cycle were enrolled. NVR was measured by the Index of Nausea, Vomiting and Retching (INVR) at the second day of their chemotherapy. This current study included only patients with age ranged between 32 to 65 years (M = 47.15, SD = 9.64, min-max age 35 – 65 years). Result: The result showed that the NVR score was at a moderate level. Younger subjects (age 32-50 years old) reported significantly higher NVR scores than that of older subjects (age 51-65 years old) (t = 2.76, p = .007). The subjects with higher anxiety scores reported significantly higher NVR scores than those with lower anxiety scores (t = -2.41, p = .019). Subjects who had experience in motion sickness had significantly higher NVR scores (M = 12.69, SD = 2.60) than those who did not (M = 9.23, SD = 2.86) and the difference was statistically significant (t = 4.98, p <.01). Meanwhile, no significant difference was found between subjects who reported their expectation to have nausea and those who did not (t = 0.08, p = .94). Conclusion: The findings provide valuable information regarding NVR and the individual risk factors among patients with cervical cancer undergoing chemotherapy. Nurses should assess the anxiety level and a history of motion sickness of patients planned for chemotherapy and offer preventive interventions to prevent and control NVR occurrence and its distress

Perceived Ability to Practice in Disaster Management Among Public Health Nurses in Aceh, Indonesia

Background: The increasing number of disaster events around the world has challenged every country to develop better disaster-management strategies. As a part of healthcare system, public health nurses (PHNs) should be involved in caring for people in disasters. Currently, there is no known study whether PHNs of Aceh, Indonesia, working with community people who are at high risk of confronting natural disasters, are able to perform their roles and functions regarding disaster management. Methods: 252 PHNs from twenty-seven public health centers in Aceh were studied during November to December 2010 to evaluate their perceived ability to practice regarding disaster management at each disaster phase: preparedness, response, and recovery phase. The perceived ability to practice was assessed by using the 30-statement, five-point Likert-scale (0-4) of Public Health Nurses' Perceived Ability to Practice Regarding Disaster Management Questionnaire (PHNPP-DMQ). The composite scores of each phase and the total score were calculated and transformed to percentage for ease of presentation across disaster phases.Results: Overall, the PHNs' perceived ability to practice regarding disaster management in Aceh was at a moderate level (M=74.57%, SD=13.27). The highest mean score was for the recovery phase (M=78%), and the lowest mean score was in the preparedness phase (66.15%).Conclusion: The finding of this study evokes challenges to the local government of Aceh province to further prepare PHNs to increase their ability in disaster management