Chiemi Onishi

Truth disclosure of cancer diagnoses and its influence on bereaved Japanese families.

The purpose of this study was to investigate how patients with cancer and their families are informed of the results of the patients’ diagnoses. The bereaved families’ assessments and satisfaction with the consequences of their decisions were examined after the patients’ deaths. Data were collected from the bereaved families of 53 patients who had died of lung cancer at a Japanese university hospital between January 1994 and December 1997. Data were analyzed by employing descriptive statistics for each factor. Fifty-three bereaved families responded to the questionnaire. The true diagnosis—lung cancer—was disclosed to 15.1% of the patients, whereas 26.4% were told that they were suffering from lung tumors. Other less ominous clinical descriptions were given to 58.5% of the participants. Concerning the bereaved families’ responses to the manner in which the decisions had been made on truth disclosure, the average degree of satisfaction was expressed as 3.7 cm on a 5.0-cm scale. An ambiguous expression such as “lung tumor” has been arbitrarily interpreted. However, simple truth disclosure to the patient does not necessarily satisfy a bereaved family. If family members can allay a patient’s doubt about the diagnosis, the family’s satisfaction may improve.

Treatment-associated symptoms and coping of postoperative patients with lung cancer in Japan: Development of a model of factors influencing hope: Developing a model influencing hope

AIM Postoperative patients with lung cancer have a high recurrence rate and poor prognosis; hence, it was aimed to identify the factors affecting hope to develop a care-oriented perspective that focuses on the levels of hope of postoperative patients with lung cancer. METHODS In the study, postoperative patients with lung cancer were included and data were collected for treatment-related symptoms, coping, and support-related factors as the primary variables. The Herth Hope Index, Quality of Life Questionnaire Lung Cancer Module of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer, Japanese version of the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations, and Social Support Scale for Cancer Patients were used. RESULTS For the 82 patients that were included in this study, 55% of the variance in the level of hope was explained by using a model that included the following: (i) symptoms of dyspnea, sore mouth, and chest pain; (ii) support, including satisfaction with postoperative symptom control by healthcare providers, satisfaction with the amount of information provided by healthcare providers, and the level of trust in the nurses during treatment and recovery; and (iii) task-oriented and social diversion coping behaviors. CONCLUSION As a result of this study, the support-related factors had no direct influence on hope, but they did have a significantly negative influence on the treatment-related symptoms, with improved symptoms also influencing hope.

Relationship between Uncertainty and Emotions in Advanced Lung Cancer Patients after Initial Therapy

PURPOSE We investigated the relationship between uncertainty and emotions in advanced lung cancer patients after initial therapy. METHODS Fourteen advanced lung cancer patients participated in this study. A survey was conducted using the Universal Uncertainty in Illness Scale (UUIS) and the Profile of Mood States-Brief Form (POMS-Brief Form), Japanese Version. RESULTS The total UUIS score of each participant ranged from 42 to 109, with a mean±SD of 70.7±20.9. The T-scores for the 6 factors of the POMS-Brief Form were 50.2±11.9 (mean±SD) for tension-anxiety (T-A); 49.6±12.2 for depression-dejection (D); 40.4±4.9 for anger-hostility (A-H); 41.8±9.3 for vigor (V); 44.2±5.8 for fatigue (F); and 52.7±15.2 for confusion (C). In terms of the correlation between the total UUIS score and the respective T-scores of the six POMS-Brief Form factors, a strong correlation was seen between total UUIS score and D (r=0.735, p=0.003). A substantial correlation was also seen between total UUIS score and T-A (r=0.694, p=0.006). CONCLUSIONS In advanced lung cancer patients after initial therapy, uncertainty had an effect on emotions. J. Med. Invest. 64: 96-100, February, 2017.

Clarification of Caring Behaviors by the Family of Elderly Relations Living in Rural Japan

Nursing technology is being continually developed to maintain and improve quality of life for the elderly who live in rapidly aging rural communities. However, it can be said that everyone performs acts of caring in some way or another. As such, informal caring exists in this context through the sense of trust in a mutual relationship andlor the harmonious feeling of self in relation to others. The purpose of this study is to describe the caring competency of those living in uals who have family members in need of nursing care. Interviews were used for data collection. For the purpose of this presentation we have used the case study of a lady suffering from dementia and the relationship with her daughter. The ladys daughter had been caring for her mothers behavioral disturbances (mania of garbage collecting, binge eating, and mysophilia). During the interview, the daughter told that throughout the caring relationship she rural areas. The research focuses on individhad asked herself what was the underlying meaning of her mothers problematic behavior. She also explained that she could tind meaning by sharing the experience of caring for her mother with others. The process of telling her stories enabled her to reconsider her personal experience in caring for her elderly mother and, by sharing this experience, she felt enabled to provide further care for her mother. The care provider appeared to look forward to talking to public health nurses who work in areas of behavioral disturbance and who understand the situation. In this paper we describe caring behavior for the elderly. Findings indicate that the family caregiver grows and develops through providing care and that being involved in the care process appears to facilitate diverse forms of self-realization.