title: Nurses' recognition of the mental state of cancer patients and their own stress management - a study of Japanese cancer-care nurses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The primary aim of this study was to describe Japanese oncology nurses' self-reported ability to assess and care for cancer patients' mental health. A secondary aim was to describe nurses' self-reported stress levels and need for stress management related to caring for oncology patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted from September to November 2010 among cancer-care nurses participating in mental healthcare training. The questionnaire asked about assessment of patient anxiety, depression, delirium, anger, and acceptance, and included four statements about work-related stress. A 4-point Likert scale was used for responses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 88 participants (86 women) ranged in age from the 20s to the 50s, with the greatest number in their 30s (47.2%, n=42). More than 50% of nurses were very concerned about assessing cancer patient anxiety and depression; approximately 20% were extremely concerned about caring for depression and anger in patients. Overall, 83.2% (n=74) of cancer-care nurses felt distressed over their occupation, only 19.1% (n=17) stated that they were controlling their stress, and over half indicated a need for stress-management programs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nurses perceived that assessments of and care for the mental state of cancer patients were inadequate. Cancer-care nurses need training in assessing and caring for the mental state of cancer patients, as well as stress management training programs for themselves.
authors.affiliation: Tokyo Women's Medical University School of Nursing, Tokyo, Japan. kaneko.mariko@twmu.ac.jp
authors.forename: Mariko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaneko
authors.forename: Shuhei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nishida
authors.forename: Kumi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tamasato
authors.forename: Yuiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shimodaira
authors.forename: Katsuji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nishimura
authors.forename: Miyoko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kume
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People / Q000523:psychology*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel / Q000208:ethnology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000451:nursing; D008603:Mental Health / Q000193:education*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology*; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000193:education*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires