Living with advanced breast cancer hormone treatment: the nurse's perspective.
Hormonal therapies are widely used in the treatment of advanced breast cancer in post-menopausal women. This survey, conducted in France, Italy, Germany and the UK was intended primarily to examine whether nurses and oncologists have differing perspectives on the impact of side-effects associated with hormonal therapy and their influence on patient perceptions of quality of life. A semistructured telephone questionnaire providing quantitative data was developed following in-depth qualitative interviews with 12 physicians and discussion among the multidisciplinary Working Group on Living with Advanced Breast Cancer Hormone Treatment. A total of 111 nurses and 79 physicians were interviewed. The results show that oncology nurses, generally working as part of a multidisciplinary team, have differing views from physicians on several aspects concerning hormonal therapies in postmenopausal women with advanced breast cancer. Compared with physicians, nurses perceived the incidence of side-effects as greater, that vaginal bleeding, weight gain and dyspnoea were of the most concern to patients, and that hormonal therapies caused a greater reduction in patient quality of life. Nurses also felt that patients were very comfortable discussing their problems with them, but only moderately comfortable relating their concerns to physicians. The survey revealed that only half of the respondents assess quality of life regularly, and that it is assessed rather subjectively, usually by oncologists. There was a consensus that patients need more information, and that better tolerated hormonal therapies are required.
D000368:Aged; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D003625:Data Collection; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal