Chioma C. Asuzu

Disparities in psychosocial cancer care: a report from the International Federation of Psycho-oncology Societies

The aim of the study was to understand the characteristics of the International Federation of Psycho‐oncology Societies (FPOS) and possible disparities in providing psychosocial care in countries where psycho‐oncology societies exist.

Knowledge, attitude and behaviour of the University of Ibadan women towards cancer of the cervix and its prevention.

The two commonest cancers in Nigerian women are cancers of the breast and the cervix. Cancer of the cervix is the second commonest cancer and is a killer disease worldwide. The main objective of this study is to find out the knowledge, attitude and practices of the female university staff towards cancer of the cervix as a leadership group in the local effort towards cancer prevention.

Shift Duty and Stress Coping Strategies among Nurses in the University College Hospital, Ibadan

Abstract This is an exploratory analytical survey, aimed at identifying the effect of shift duty and the coping strategies used to adjust to the stress of shift work among nurses working in the University College Hospital, Ibadan in Nigeria. The sample of the study consists of 166 nurses working in various wards selected by a stratified random sampling. The questionnaires were in two sections A and B. Data was collected and analysed using percentages,÷2, t-test and correlation analysis. Shift duty was reported as stressful by 79 (47.6%) of the nurses studied. Various stress coping responses were identified which were largely based on planning. Neither age nor seniority on the job had any statistical significant influence on the proportion of nurses that report stress from shift work. The positive coping styles correlated negatively with the negative ones but the negative correlations were significant in only two instances namely between planning and denial (P<0.01) and between positive interpretations and growth and alcohol – drug disengagement (P<0.05) Stress coping responses of nurses were largely based on planning and active coping. The findings of this study indicated a need for establishment of counselling unit within the hospital where nurses or even other health workers could be guided and counselled on positive coping strategies for effective delivery of nursing care to the patients.

Impact of active coping, religion and acceptance on quality of life of patients with breast cancer in the department of radiotherapy, UCH, Ibadan.

Background A breast cancer diagnosis as well as the treatment that follows has considerable consequences on women’s physical functioning, psychological health and overall well-being, resulting in significant interference with patients’ quality of life (QoL). Purpose The study seeks to assess the impact of active coping, religion and acceptance on the QoL of patients with breast cancer. Participants This study, which is descriptive in nature, assessed the QoL and coping mechanism of 110 patients with breast cancer receiving treatment at the radiotherapy clinic in the University College Hospital (UCH). The patients had an age range of 25–75, an average age of 46.82 and an SD of 10.55. Male patients were 4 (3.60%), while 106 (96.40%) were female. Currently married participants were 84 (76.40%), while 26 (23.60%) were not. Methods Data was collected using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast (FACT-B) V.4 QoL questionnaire and Carvers Brief Cope questionnaire. Results Analysis of data showed that significant differences were found between participants who used active coping, religious coping and acceptance more than those who did not in the overall QoL (p<0.05) as well as in some of the QoL dimensions. Conclusions Significant differences exist in the QoL of patients with breast cancer based on the coping style they adopt. Patients with breast cancer should be helped to adopt coping styles that would enhance their QoL.

Improving outcomes in cancer diagnosis, prevention and control: barriers, facilitators and the need for health literacy in Ibadan Nigeria

Cancers constitute a significant public health problem in Nigeria. Breast, cervix and prostate cancers are leading causes of cancer‐related deaths. Changing diets, lifestyles, HIV/AIDS and macro‐structural factors contribute to cancer morbidity and mortality. Poor health information linking cancer risk to individual behaviors, environmental pollutants and structural barriers undermine prevention/control efforts. Studies suggest increasing health literacy and empowering individuals to take preventive action will improve outcomes and mitigate impact on a weak health system.

2016 President's Plenary International Psycho-Oncology Society: Challenges and Opportunities for Growing and Developing Psychosocial Oncology Programmes Worldwide

Consistent with the International Psycho‐Oncology Societys (IPOS) vision and goals, we are committed to improving quality cancer care and cancer policies through psychosocial care globally. As part of IPOSs mission, upon entering “Official Relations” for a second term with the World Health Organization (WHO), IPOS has dedicated much attention to reaching out to countries, which lack formalized psychosocial care programmes. One of IPOSs strategies to accomplish this goal has been to bring psycho‐oncology training programmes to low‐ and middle‐income countries and regions. To this end, the IPOS Board approved a new position on the Board of Directors for a member from a low‐ to middle‐income country (LMIC). The IPOS 2016 Presidents Plenary focused on challenges and opportunities that exist in growing and developing psychosocial oncology programmes worldwide. The plenary presentations highlight how IPOS and WHO have aligned their goals to help LMICs support cancer patients as an essential element of cancer and palliative care. IPOS country representatives are strongly supported in liaising with national health authorities and with WHO Country Representatives in LMICs. The plenary speakers discussed the role IPOS Federation has taken in building a global network of psychosocial leaders and the impact this had in assisting LMICs in meeting IPOSs psychosocial care objectives. The plenary highlighted the challenges of expanding psychosocial reach into these countries. One significant question remains: Can psychosocial guidelines be adapted to LMICs and regions?

The effect of pilot cognitive restructuring therapy intervention on depression in female cancer patients.

The experience of depression is common among cancer patients and has been found to be significantly associated with impaired quality of life [1]. In Nigeria, despite documented cases of depression among cancer patients in different clinics [2], psychosocial support for depression and other emotional, social, or psychological problems for this population is not widely documented. The need for psychosocial interventions and support is particularly crucial in Africa with ‘regard’ to ‘the’ frequent misconceptions in the origin of cancer as the result of spiritual or supernatural cause and curses [3]. Such misconceptions tend to affect mood and feelings negatively and may lead to depression. Depression in cervical cancer patients may emerge from feelings of stigmatization from others that patients are being punished by the gods for engaging in extra-marital affairs [4]. On the other hand, some women who have had mastectomy as a result of breast cancer may experience depression due to feeling mutilated, losing sense of femininity, mourning the loss of the breast, or worrying about the possibility of still retaining their husbands’ affection after surgery [3]. Cognitive restructuring around these beliefs may be useful in decreasing the emotional attention given to them and thereby reducing the experience of depression. Previous studies have found cognitive interventions or a combination of cognitive and behavioral intervention useful in managing mild to moderate depression [5]. The current study presents initial data on the feasibility and acceptability of a pilot cognitive restructuring intervention and its impact on depression outcomes in a group of female cancer patients in Nigeria. Methodology

DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF THE SEXUAL ABSTINENCE SCALE (SAS)

The world has been transformed into a global political economy as a result of the unprecedented level of interconnectedness of political, economic, social and technological forces that permeate the contemporary global system. This paper identifies trade regulations, technology and capitalism as core factors responsible for the emerging political order and goes further to argue that developing nations in particular, are constrained to be incorporated into the global economy, a consequence of which is the requirement for them to open their borders for external economic influences. For Nigeria, the developmental challenges arising from this new order have implications for every sector of her economy. Focusing on the labour market, the paper argues that the Nigerian labour market has been hit hard through the adoption of series of shock therapies allegedly designed to improve economic efficiency. Unfortunately, such therapies have generated pressures on organizations thereby forcing them to adopt survival strategies such as retrenchment, casualisation, outsourcing and these in turn have worsened the unemployment situation and labour standards; have promoted underemployment, cheap labour, disregard for trade unionism, and collective bargaining and promoted general job insecurity. The paper concludes that there is need to protect the Nigerian labour market and this would require a re-orientation towards the adoption of an ideology of social partnership and manifest readiness by the government to share its authority and responsibility for the management of the economy, in which case workers and their representatives must be well protected from external influences and domineering employers. :