通院がん患者の療養生活上の課題

【目的】東北地方にあるがん診療連携拠点病院の通院がん患者の日常生活での悩みや困難さの実態を明らかにする. 【方法】横断的研究. 東北地方にあるがん診療連携拠点病院3施設の外来に通院中のがん患者で, 調査の協力に同意の得られた患者222名を対象者とした. 自記式調査用紙を用いて, がんの診療や治療過程を「診断時」「診断から現在まで」「現在」の3時点に分け, 主な悩みとその内容(自由記載)と相談の有無と相談相手について回答を得た記述統計と内容分析により分析された. 【結果】記述統計と内容分析により分析された悩みや困難さは, 内容の変化はあるが3時点のどの時期においても様々な側面において認められた. その多くは, 「身体的苦痛」, 「心理的な悩み」, 「経済的な悩み」であった. 対象者の多くは家族に相談しており, 次に医師, 友人その他の人々に相談していた. 相談しなかった対象者は, その理由として「自分で解決できた」と回答している. 【結論】外来がん患者の悩みや困難さに対応することや患者・家族への支援を向上・充実させる質の高い看護ケアプログラムの開発が求められる.Background/Purpose: Little is known about daily life issues of ambulatory cancer patients in northern Japan. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to describe daily life issues of ambulatory cancer patients in northern Japan as a process, the time of diagnose through the present. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, subjects comprised a convenience sample of 222 ambulatory cancer patients receiving follow-up care at cancer care hospitals in northern Japan. Data were collected by using a self-report questionnaire about daily life issues of ambulatory cancer patients focusing on three time points: time of diagnose, during and after treatments, and the present time. Descriptive statistics and content analysis were performed. Results: In all three time points, the numbers of patients with strong concerns were consistently high. The top three concerns were psychological concerns, financial problems, and physical pain. Most subjects asked for help from family members, physician, friends and the others. However, other subjects decided to solve their concerns by themselves. Conclusion: Based on the results of this report, a new cancer care program for ambulatory cancer patients should be provided with improved quality. Further intervention studies on ambulatory cancer patients are required to evaluate the new program