title: Patients' experiences of intracavity brachytherapy treatment for gynaecological cancer.
abstract: Intracavity brachytherapy for gynaecological cancer presents patients with a wide range of physical and psychological challenges. Previous research into women's experiences of this treatment has been limited. This study explores the experiences of patients before, during and after treatment. 32 patients completed questionnaires or interviews before and after treatment and symptom checklists at two hourly intervals during treatment. Nurses also completed two hourly assessments of their perceptions of the degree of difficulty patients were experiencing. While patients reported feeling fully informed and supported they had many concerns before treatment. During treatment there was a wide variation in the degree of difficulty patients experienced particularly in relation to pain. One-third of nurses' assessments of patients' pain were underestimations of a mean greater than two. Coping strategies, post-treatment concerns and the characteristics of patient information were identified. Patients experienced a range of physical and psychological difficulties as a result of their treatment. Patient information played an important role in helping patients cope, but could not allay all of their fears. The approach taken by patients towards brachytherapy was something to be endured for future benefits. Many of the findings may be relevant to both low-dose, and high-dose, rate brachytherapy patients.
authors.affiliation: Directorate of Cancer Services, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, NHS Trust, Weston Park Hospital, Sheffield S10 2SJ, UK. clare.warnock@sth.nhs.uk
authors.forename: Clare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Warnock
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008875:Middle Aged; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires