Poster Presentation
Friday, July 13, 2007
9:30 AM - 10:15 AM
Friday, July 13, 2007
3:15 PM - 4:00 PM
A survey of symptom experience, symptom management, and symptom management outcomes in person with breast cancer in the central of Thailand
Busakorn Sangkaew, MNS(Adult, nursing), Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| Learning Objective #1: know symptom experience in Thai women with breast cancer living in the central region of Thailand
|
| Learning Objective #2:
know symptom management strategies used by Thai women with breast cancer living in the central region of Thailand and outcomes after management |
The purposes were to describe the symptom experience, symptom management strategies, and symptom management outcome in women with breast cancer, and to explore their management strategies. The sample of the study comprised 130 persons with breast cancer and was recruited from Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahavajiralongkorn Cancer Center and Lopburi Cancer Center in the central region of Thailand. These questionnaires were developed based on the Symptom Management Model of Dodd et al. (2001). The findings of the present study revealed that the symptoms that most frequently occurred, as perceived by the sample were alopecia abnormal menstruation numbness pain and dry mouth and throat. The participants perceived that alopecia was the most severe symptom whereas abnormal menstruation numbness pain and dry mouth and throat were perceived by the participants as mild to moderate. In addition, the symptom management strategies that the participants used were relaxation, modification of food and fluid intake, alteration of emotion, modern medication, changing of self-image, use herbal or folk medicines, massage and use arm bandage. Most participants felt that these strategies were helpful in helping them feel better and temporarily forgetting their problems. Also, they had nurses, doctors, documents, a variety of media, family members, and relatives as their resources for symptom management. Finally, when the participants experienced the symptoms at home, they used these strategies to manage their symptoms by themselves or with the assistance of their family members or relatives, and they perceived that the outcome of their symptom management was the relief of their symptoms.
The findings of the study could be used as a guideline for nurses to develop a better understanding of symptom experiences of persons with breast cancer as well as to plan for nursing care to help persons with breast cancer more effectively manage their symptoms to ensure a better quality of life.