A qualitative study of the experiences during radiotherapy of Swedish patients suffering from lung cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To describe experiences during radiotherapy of patients suffering from lung cancer.


METHODS
Inductive, qualitative.


METHODS
A radiotherapy department in the south of Sweden.


METHODS
15 patients with lung cancer undergoing their second week of radiotherapy.


METHODS
Interviews were conducted in a hospital setting, transcribed, and content analyzed.


METHODS
Experiences during radiotherapy.


RESULTS
The patients' experiences fall into four categories: fatigue, physical distress, managing disease- and treatment-related issues, and obstacles to managing. Fatigue was a major experience expressed in terms of low energy levels and low fitness, sometimes leading to social isolation.


CONCLUSIONS
Nurses need to implement interventions to minimize side effects of radiotherapy and maximize patients' abilities to manage the disease and the treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Informing and educating patients about pretreatment and assessing fatigue as well as implementing interventions (e.g., nurse-patient interaction, support, information, encouragement, focus on the patients' own resources) may lead to improved comprehensive care during radiation therapy.
Ekfors
Helene
H
Department of Nursing, Lund University, Sweden. helene.ekfors@omv.lu.se
Petersson
Kerstin
K
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods; D020920:Dyssomnias / Q000209:etiology; D005221:Fatigue / Q000451:nursing / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009859:Oncology Nursing; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D018787:Radiation Oncology; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012649:Self Concept; D013548:Sweden