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Biomedical subjects

Marcia Grant

Publications and source records attributed to Marcia Grant.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Quality of life in patients with colorectal metastasis and intrahepatic chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Liver metastasis from colorectal cancer remains an oncological challenge. Hepatic chemotherapy has been used; however, rigorous quality of life (QOL) measurements are lacking. The aim of this study was to describe unique QOL issues to formulate a specific tool for this population. METHODS: A purposive sample was identified of patients treated with intrahepatic chemotherapy. Consenting patients completed a demographic tool and the City of Hope QOL Scale/Cancer Patient survey. An in-depth interview on QOL concerns was conducted, taped, and transcribed verbatim. The data from the interviews were coded to identify recurrent themes. RESULTS: Sixteen patients participated. Physical well-being was maintained. Significantly lower subscale scores were noted for psychological, social, and spiritual domains compared with nonpatient norms (City of Hope volunteers; n = 169). Patients found intrahepatic chemotherapy convenient but were unable to pursue vigorous activity, and their sleep habits changed. Psychologically, patients felt reassured to receive specific therapy to their liver. CONCLUSIONS: Pilot evaluation of QOL in this population revealed changes in physical, psychological, social, and spiritual dimensions. Both disease- and treatment-specific concerns were identified, and the results provide evidence for items to include in a QOL questionnaire specific to this population.

Adult↗

Support for evidence-based practice.

OBJECTIVES: To discuss examples of the process for evidence-based practice (EBP) and suggest helpful mechanisms for its support. DATA SOURCES: Published review and research articles, textbooks, guidelines, and web sites. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence-based practice requires a step by step process. Obtaining resources for EBP is essential to identifying and implementing and/or sustaining clinical care based on the best evidence available. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Finding resources to conduct EBP activities is one of the more challenging aspects of this approach to maintaining and improving quality of clinical care. However, nurses have found creative ways to obtain needed resources to implement EBP.

Evidence-Based Medicine↗

Development of a cancer genetics education program for clinicians.

BACKGROUND: There is a gap in knowledge about hereditary cancer and genetic testing among primary care practitioners. Education is needed to enable identification and management of patients at high risk for cancer. METHODS: A new cancer genetics curriculum was delivered through individual lectures and full-day conferences. Innovative marketing and conference organizational approaches were used to increase participation. RESULTS: The curriculum has been delivered to 7,400 health care professionals with diverse educational backgrounds. CONCLUSION: Conventional formats were successfully used to implement this new curriculum. CME evaluations indicated satisfaction with the programs and a clear need for and continued interest in cancer genetics applications.

Curriculum↗

Strategies for teaching loss, grief, and bereavement.

Teaching loss, grief, and bereavement to nursing students should be an interactive process to stimulate critical thinking and address the affective domain of learning. Lecture as a teaching methodology may be the easiest to prepare and deliver; however, used alone, it is ineffective in identifying perceptions, fears, and issues related to dying and death. Personal and professional experiences of loss, grief, and bereavement are central to student's learning of effective and compassionate care of the dying patient and their family. Strategies that explore such experiences allow students to move forward and focus on the cognitive retention of content related to loss, grief, and bereavement, as well as the ability to learn related psychomotor skills. The authors discuss pedagogical methods for teaching student nurses about loss, grief, and bereavement utilizing the End of Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) curriculum training materials.

Adaptation, Psychological↗