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S Faithfull

Publications and source records attributed to S Faithfull.

24 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Vaginal dilation associated with pelvic radiotherapy: a UK survey of current practice.

This paper presents results from the first UK national survey of patient information and interventions related to vaginal dilation in pelvic radiotherapy (RT). The aim was to elicit current practice with regard to the target population, content/process of patient education, and the evaluation of compliance in relation to this intervention. A 38-item questionnaire was sent to all RT departments (n= 65) and a convenience sample of specialist gynecological oncology nurses (n= 166), with response rates of 62% (n= 40) and 31% (n= 52), respectively. Data analysis (via SPSS v11) used both descriptive and inferential statistics. Divergence of opinion was evident regarding the specific target audience for dilator education, and only a limited number of elements of vaginal dilator technique achieved consensus. Sixty-seven percent of respondents stated they carried out a wider sexual health assessment associated with the provision of dilator information, although its content varied considerably. Results suggest the provision of vaginal dilation advice may benefit from being placed in the wider context of assessing treatment impact on women's sexual health, raising the profile of appropriate psychosexual assessment, and intervention in clinical oncology practice. Further research could determine the efficacy of vaginal dilation in preventing development of vaginal stenosis among women receiving pelvic RT.

Constriction, Pathologic↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Oncology: chemotherapy for elderly people.

Elderly people form a large proportion of cancer patients. This has implications for cancer care, in that age is a substantial risk factor in developing cancer. In spite of efforts to reduce cancer mortality through health education and screening, cancer rates are likely to increase in proportion to the ageing population. It has been suggested that health care professionals generally view elderly people in a negative fashion, which influences the care that these individuals receive. At present, there is a scarcity of information on the nature of cancer in elderly people, their tolerance to cytotoxic treatment, and specific age-related problems. Knowledge in all these areas remains fragmented and the research data conflicting. The nurse plays an important role in assessing and monitoring the impact of cytotoxic chemotherapy treatment. It is, therefore, imperative for cancer nurses to develop specialist knowledge in this area to enable them to understand the effect cytotoxic chemotherapy treatments have on elderly people.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Nurse prescribing by protocol.

Taking their lead from patients' needs, innovative practitioners are coming to new prescribing arrangements that are free from past constraints. One such innovation involves nurses making decisions to give a drug according to a predetermined criteria with the support of a medical practitioner. This paper shows how a carefully organised system of administering drugs against protocol can work and how it is proving beneficial to patients.

Clinical Protocols↗