Chemotherapy: thoughts and images of patients with cancer.
Cognitive therapists believe that an individual's emotional reaction to a stressful situation is influenced by his or her perception of that situation. This article reports the findings of a cross-sectional survey comparing thought and image patterns in patients with cancer receiving first-time chemotherapy with patients receiving subsequent treatments. The 30 patients in each sample listed their thoughts and images before, during, and after chemotherapy. In both samples, a higher percentage of positively rated self-talk units were expressed; most negative thoughts took place before the chemotherapy. Qualitative content analysis revealed that, in first-time chemotherapy recipients, the most frequently reported thought categories were questions and concerns about chemotherapy, positive evaluations of treatment, positive coping, and negative feelings. In the subsequent-treatment recipients, they were positive coping, physiologic reactions, hope, and positive evaluations of treatment. Nursing implications and future research directions also are discussed.
Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans Administration Hospital, Columbia, MO.
H
H
Manson
M A
MA
Manderino
M H
MH
Johnson
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003071:Cognition; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012107:Research Design / Q000592:standards; D013850:Thinking
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents