title: Attitudes of nurses toward supportive care for advanced cancer patients.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine how nurses recognize the need for supportive care of advanced cancer patients and to provide preliminary data on how adequate circumstances are to be set up and maintained in Korea. For the purpose of this study, we developed a preliminary questionnaire based on a focus group of 8 nurses run by a clinical psychologist and administered it to 228 nurses in a cancer hospital, over a 3-month period. Participants of this study were nurses with more than 5 years' experience of treating advanced cancer patients. The result showed that 207 respondents (90.8%) agreed that a smooth communication system for treatment taking into account the symptoms experienced by patients and rehabilitation issues was needed. More than 80% agreed that the items needed for an integrated management service for advanced cancer patients should include psychological support, an integrated pain and symptom management, and education for the patient and his or her caregivers. These results strongly suggest that a new system distinct from palliative care or hospices is needed for patients with advanced cancer in Korea.
authors.affiliation: Office of Infection Control, National Cancer Center, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sun-A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Seung Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Eun Hee
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Shin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology*; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000193:education; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000523:psychology*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D056910:Republic of Korea; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult