PURPOSE: This study identified self-care behaviors used by women during and after radiation therapy for early-stage breast cancer. DESCRIPTION OF STUDY: Interviews with 23 women 7 months post-radiation therapy for breast cancer were analyzed for descriptions of self-care. The interviews were part of the final data collection in a longitudinal study investigating experiences post-treatment. RESULTS: Self-care behaviors reported most frequently were establishing a good support network, living life to the fullest despite illness, regulating feelings, managing stress, and taking responsibility for one's own health. Results suggest that breast cancer patients have many needs that continue to require attention post-radiation therapy, making self-care an important consideration throughout recovery. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Quality of self-care may make a significant difference to women after treatment for breast cancer. Healthcare providers can promote self-care by encouraging patients to conserve energy, to engage in relationships, and to maintain a positive outlook and by suggesting activities that help patients cope, adapt, and manage symptoms during and after treatment.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

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Psychometric testing of fatigue instruments for use with cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: Cancer treatment-related fatigue (CRF) is a common side effect of cancer treatment. A problem identified in most reviews of CRF is lack of sound approaches to measurement that are congruent with the conceptualization of CRF as a self-perceived state. The diversity of instruments available to measure fatigue and the lack of comprehensive testing of several promising instruments with cancer patients undergoing treatment provided the rationale for this study. The purpose of this article is to report the results of psychometric testing of several fatigue instruments in patients undergoing cancer treatment. OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to determine the reliability, validity, and responsiveness of each instrument and to determine the ability of each instrument to capture CRF. METHODS: Existing fatigue instruments with published psychometric information that indicated suitability for further testing were selected and included the Profile of Mood States Short Form fatigue subscale (F_POMS-sf), Multidimensional Assessment of Fatigue (MAF), Lee Fatigue Scale (LFS), and the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI). Data were collected at a university-based clinical cancer center and a freestanding comprehensive cancer center. Subjects completed all study instruments, which were presented in random order, at a time when CRF was expected to be high and again when it was expected to be low. A subset of subjects completed the instruments within 48 hours of one of the data collection points when CRF was expected to be relatively unchanged to provide stability data. RESULTS: Reliability estimates using Cronbach's alpha indicated that all instruments examined had good internal consistency. Test-retest correlations showed good stability for total scores on all the instruments, but some subscales of the LFS and MFI had marginal stability. Factor analysis of all instruments indicated that only the LFS and the F_POMS-sf fully supported their construct validity. All of the instruments showed responsiveness to changes in CRF related to treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the study provide researchers and clinicians with detailed comparisons of the performance of established fatigue measures in cancer patients undergoing treatment to use when selecting measures of CRF.

Adult↗

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Bronchopulmonary geotrichosis.

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Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Multiple organ platelet sequestration, hemodynamics, and gas exchange in endotoxin shock and the effects of aspirin-terbutaline treatment.

We studied the effects of two different drugs on multiple organ platelet sequestration, hemodynamics, and respiratory function during endotoxin shock. Twenty-eight sheep (four groups) were anesthetized and ventilated. Group AT-E received aspirin and terbutaline 30 min before and group E-AT 30 min after Escherichia coli endotoxin. Group E also received endotoxin but no drug treatment (shock controls), and group C received neither endotoxin nor drug treatment. There was a marked platelet trapping in the lungs and in the liver immediately after administration of endotoxin in groups E and E-AT, but after 4 hr it was less pronounced in group E-AT than in the endotoxin controls (P < 0.05). In the pretreated animals (group AT-E) there was no increase in platelet sequestration until almost 2 hr after endotoxin both in the lungs and the liver, but at the end of the study (240 min) there was no difference between the pre- and posttreated groups. No significant changes occurred in the kidneys and spleen in any of the groups. In groups E and E-AT the endotoxin infusion resulted in 200% rise in pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) and a sharp decrease in mean arterial pressure (MAP; 25-30%), respiratory compliance (CT; 50%), arterial oxygen tension (PaO2; 70%) as well as in oxygen delivery index (DO2; 30-40%) within 30 min. After 4 hr the PAP had decreased significantly in group E-AT, but remained high in group E (> 100% higher than in group C). Also MAP, PaO2, DO2 and CT improved slightly in group E-AT, while they remained low in group E.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

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