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Biomedical subjects

Debra Wujcik

Publications and source records attributed to Debra Wujcik.

17 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

EGFR as a target: rationale for therapy.

OBJECTIVES: To review the biology of the EGFR, its structure, and the associated signal transduction pathways. To provide an overview of the role of EGFR in normal physiology and the pathophysiology of malignancy. Current anti-EGFR treatments are also discussed. DATA SOURCES: Research articles. CONCLUSION: EGFR is a valid target in the treatment of solid tumors. EGFR abnormalities and dysfunction are involved in various aspects of carcinogenesis and tumor progression, and EGFR is overexpressed in several tumor types. The development of anti-EGFR therapies represents an important advance in cancer therapy. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Anti-EGFR therapy is currently available in the clinical setting. Nurses involved in the care of patients with cancer can benefit from an increased understanding of the normal and abnormal function of EGFR in the body and the mechanisms by which anti-EGFR therapies act.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed2003

Molecular biology of leukemia.

OBJECTIVE: To review the current tests for diagnosis and the implications of cytogenetic analysis in leukemia. DATA SOURCES: Professional journals, books. CONCLUSION: Leukemia is a genetic disorder with more than 500 recurring translocations. Recurrent chromosomal changes occur in more than one half of all cases of leukemia. Testing includes bone marrow biopsy and aspirate, histochemical staining, immunophenotyping, cytogenetics, and molecular markers. Characterization of specific chromosome changes provides information in determining initial therapy and post-remission therapy. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Nurses must continually educate themselves to stay current with developing technology and the results of continuing research. This professional education must then be translated to the bedside throughout the continuum of care.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Improving cancer pain management through patient and family education.

The purpose of this study was to determine if continued access to information following a baseline pain education program would increase knowledge and positive beliefs about cancer pain management, thus resulting in improved pain control during a 6-month follow-up period. Patients with cancer-related pain and their primary caregivers received a brief pain education program, and were then randomized into one of three information groups: a) usual care, b) pain hot line, and c) weekly provider-initiated follow-up calls for 1 month post-education. Sixty-four patients and their primary caregivers were recruited. Both patients and caregivers showed an improvement in knowledge and beliefs after the baseline pain education program. Continued access to pain information with either the pain hot line or provider-initiated weekly follow-up calls did not affect long-term outcomes of pain intensity, interference because of pain, adequacy of analgesics used, or pain relief. In addition, long-term outcomes did not differ between patients who had improvement and those who showed decline in knowledge and beliefs pre-post education. These findings suggest that a brief pain education program can improve knowledge and beliefs of both patient and primary caregiver. Continued access to pain related information using either a patient- or provider-initiated format did not affect long-term pain outcomes.

Family↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Pain-related distress and interference with daily life of ambulatory patients with cancer with pain.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To examine the unique and combined effects of pain intensity, pain-related distress, analgesic prescription, and negative mood on interference with daily life because of pain. DESIGN: Descriptive, cross-sectional. SETTING: Two cancer clinics in academic medical centers in the southeastern United States. SAMPLE: 64 ambulatory patients with cancer who had pain that required analgesics. METHOD: Participants completed a number of self-report instruments during a regularly scheduled clinic visit. Standard instruments were selected to measure the main research variables. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES: Worst pain intensity, pain-related distress, analgesic adequacy, negative mood, and interference with daily life. FINDINGS: Patients with higher levels of worst pain, pain-related distress, and negative mood and inadequately prescribed analgesics reported greater interference with daily life because of pain. Multiple regression analysis indicated that interference with daily life was explained by the combination of these four predictors. All variables except negative mood were significant predictors of interference. The unique variance explained by pain-related distress exceeded that explained by worst pain intensity or inadequately prescribed analgesics. CONCLUSIONS: Data suggest that pain-related distress may be an important factor when investigating interference with daily life caused by pain. In addition, pain-related distress may provide a target for future intervention studies aimed at improving the impact of cancer-related pain on daily life. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Assessment of pain-related distress may be important in planning interventions. Common nursing interventions may be employed to reduce pain intensity and pain-related distress, which may result in enhanced physical and emotional well-being.

Activities of Daily Living↗