Symptom Management for Bladder Cancer in Thailand

This study was a cross‐sectional survey design. A total of 62 patients receiving care in a northern Thailand university hospital during December 2011 and June 2012 were recruited as subjects. Participants completed a modified questionnaire based on the framework of the symptom management model. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The findings revealed: (i) the three most frequent and severe symptoms in the high grade group were frequent urination, constipation and anxiety; in the low grade group were frequent urination, fatigue and anxiety: (ii) the symptom management strategies revealed correspondence in both groups as follows: for frequent urination strategies were consulting a physician, restricting fluids, using herbs and doing nothing; for constipation strategies were taking a laxative, eating tamarind, eating vegetables/high‐fibre fruits and using a suppository; for anxiety strategies were prayer, going to the temple, meditating, talking with family/friends, relaxing, taking up a hobby, resting and consulting a physician; for fatigue strategies were resting, using supplements and consulting a physician: (iii) the outcomes revealed that most of the strategies showed positive outcomes. Positive outcomes could be used as a guide in providing recommendations to patients with bladder cancer and to support further research in this area. Further work is needed to develop interventions that work for specific symptoms.
Source: International Journal of Urological Nursing - Category: Urology & Nephrology Authors: Tags: Research Paper Source Type: research