PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS ON CHILDHOOD CANCER: A CONCEPT ANALYSIS

This concept analysis is to clarify the psychological distress in term of pediatric cancer care.  The literature review conducted to defining the antecedents, attributes and consequences of psychological distress analysed by Walker and Avent's theory.  The finding were different components of antecedents and attributes, while the consequences was only negative

X-Band Front-end Module of FMCW RADAR for Collision Avoidance Application

A frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) radar front-end module is developed as a laboratory prototype of NECTEC, NSTDA. The performance of proposed prototype is verified by the reflection test of aluminum plates in outdoor environment. The frequency domain data from a spectrum analyzer was measured at every 20 meters of the distance between the front-end prototype and the aluminum plate until the maximum distance of 200 meters is reached. The calculation of the beat frequencies at different range of reflecting aluminum plates is presented. The maximum error between measured and calculated distances does not exceed 5.02 percent. The effect of different radar cross section (RCS) of reflecting objects of 0.3, 0.8 and 1.5 m2 plate area are analyzed. The low value of different received power ratio per one squared meter unit area of 0.66 percent is obtained to prove the consistency of reflected power level over the different size of object under test.

The Effectiveness of Cognitive Flexibility Training Program on Cognitive Functions and Activities of Daily Living in Patients with Ischemic Stroke

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a cognitive flexibility training program on cognitive functions and activities of daily living (ADLs) in patients with ischemic stroke. Methods: A single blind randomized controlled trial study was conducted in a stroke unit of a tertiary hospital in a Bangkok setting. The sample size was 80 participants of both genders, aged 18 – 80 years. The sample size was stratified by age. Randomization was generated by a computer program dividing 40 participants into the experiment and 40 into the control group. Eleven participants dropped out during data collection. Therefore, 34 participants in the experimental group received cognitive flexibility training four days a week for 30-40 minutes per day over a period of 4 weeks in addition to usual care. There were 35 participants in the control group who received diary recording and usual care. The study used various instruments for data collection, including a Thai version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment and Barthel’s Index of Activities of Daily Living. Data were analyzed by multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA). Results: The experiment group had higher cognitive functions and abilities in performing activities of daily living than the control group with statistical significance (p < .05). Conclusion: The study suggested that the program can be used to increase both cognitive functions and activities of daily living. Nurses and healthcare staff should apply this program in patients with acute ischemic stroke for nervous system recovery

An Ethnoscience Approach to Develop a Cross-Cultural Understanding of Fatigue

Fatigue attributable to the disease process and to treatment is a common cause of distress in individuals who have advanced cancer. The conceptualisation of fatigue presented in the Fatigue Adaptation Model (Olson 2007) and the Edmonton Fatigue Framework (Olson et al. 2008) centres upon fatigue as a behavioural marker for the inability to adapt to stressors. More specifically, fatigue is associated with a decline in cognitive functioning (manifested by decreased ability to concentrate), anxiety, gradual decrease in stamina, difficulty sleeping, limitation of social interactions and decreased control over body processes. Depression is viewed as a consequence and as an important contributor to exhaustion, a related but distinctly different state. However, from a global perspective, it is interesting to note that most research on fatigue to date has been conducted in one culture only i.e. North America. According to ethnoscience, people "make sense" to their world, using behavioural patterns that are consistent and shared through language (Evanesko & Kay, 1975). Since language is the primary symbol system used to convey cultural meaning, the variation in language used to describe fatigue across cultures suggests that the nature and meaning of fatigue may also vary across cultures. Understanding these differences, if they exist, is important since they have implications for the translation of interventions across cultures. If nature and meaning of fatigue varies across cultures, approaches to the management of fatigue developed in one culture may not be effective in other cultures. This presentation will describe how a cross-cultural, multinational research team representing Canada, Thailand, Italy and England, have developed strategies utilising ethnoscience methods to advance understanding of cancer-related fatigue and thereby contribute to the development of a globally relevant conceptual framework addressing fatigue. It is envisioned that the study will stimulate discussion surrounding the ways culture shapes the meaning of illness and thereby influence directions toward culturally sensitive nursing interventions

Thai Oncology Nurses' Perceptions of Patient Participation in Acute Cancer Care

Purpose: Patient participation in care is considered a core component of high-quality nursing care and medical treatment. In the context of cancer care in Thailand, we know very little about the way patient participation in care is perceived and enacted. The aim of this study was to explore Thai oncology nurses' perceptions and understandings of patient participation in their own care during hospitalization. Methods: A qualitative descriptive research approach using focus groups was applied. Two focus group interviews (N = 16) were conducted with registered nurses who provide care in oncology units of one tertiary care university hospital in Bangkok, Thailand. The transcribed interviews were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results: In this study, nurses were aware of the value of patient participation during hospitalization but acknowledged that current processes to involve patients in their care were not as effective as they could be. Facilitating participation is seen as a means of supporting patients to make decisions independently that are in line with their treatment plans, in particular, decisions related to self-care and illness-related symptoms. This raises the potential for conflict when patients make choices that are contrary to recommendations. Barriers to facilitating participation identified were high clinician workloads and lack of time, and ambiguity of existing guidelines for supporting lifestyle decisions. Conclusion: Facilitating patient participation is complex in acute cancer care. Patient participation is recognized by nurses as a positive way of promoting independence in patients. However, balancing patient autonomy with nurses' perceived professional responsibilities is challenging in practice. Keywords: cancer, clinical decision-making, focus groups, nurses, patient participatio

Factors influencing self-management behaviors in persons with lupus nephritis: A cross-sectional study

Background: Patients with lupus nephritis experience disease symptoms and side effects from treatment. Although self-management behaviors are important in patients with this disease, there is limited research on the factors influencing these behaviors. Objective: This study aimed to examine the factors influencing self-management behaviors in patients with lupus nephritis. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 240 patients with lupus nephritis at a university hospital in Thailand between August 2019 and December 2020 using a random sampling method. Data were collected using a demographic and clinical characteristic questionnaire, Self-Management Behavior Questionnaire, Self-efficacy for Managing Chronic Disease: A 6-item Scale, Knowledge about Lupus Nephritis Questionnaire, Family Support Scale, Social Networks in Adult Life Questionnaire, and Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale for Lupus Nephritis. Descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression analyses were employed. Results: The participants reported a moderate level of self-management behaviors. Multiple regression analyses revealed that disease duration, income, symptoms, self-efficacy, knowledge, family support, social networks, and classes of lupus nephritis significantly explained 21% of the variance in self-management behaviors (R2 = 0.21; F(8,231) = 7.73; p <0.001). Family support (β = 0.32, p <0.001) and symptoms (β = −0.23, p<0.001) were significant determinants of self-management behaviors in patients with lupus nephritis. Conclusion: The findings provide valuable insight for nurses to better understand the factors influencing self-management behaviors in patients with lupus nephritis. Patients with low family support and high symptom severity may face difficulty in performing self-management behaviors. Nurses should pay more attention to these patients and provide family-based interventions to optimize self-management behaviors in this population