A Survey of Self-Care and Dependent-Care Advice Given by Pediatric Oncology Nurses

Abstract

This article reports a survey of the current practices of pediatric oncology nurses in advising patients and families about symptom reporting and self-care interventions. A questionnaire was mailed to 1,000 pediatric oncology nurses requesting information about age, years of experience in nursing and pediatric oncology nursing, current work setting, and professional position. Recipients were asked about their practices for advising patients and their families about self-care measures and reporting of adverse symptoms. Analysis of 135 valid responses showed evidence of both consensus and variability in nursing practice, with variability being partly attributable to differences in nurses’ work settings (inpatient vs. outpatient) and differences in experience level. There was good consensus on nurses’ recommending of several self-care interventions for eight common adverse symptoms and for advice that patients should promptly report to health providers certain symptoms or events.

Keywords

self-care cancer pediatric nursing

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Armstrong, J. , & Overton, T. (1977). Estimating nonresponse bias in mail surveys. Journal of Marketing Research, 14, 396-402.

Beale, I. L. , Bradlyn, A. S. , & Kato, P. M. (2003). Psychoeducational interventions with pediatric cancer patients: Part II. Effects of information and skills training on health-related outcomes. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 12, 385-397.

Bradlyn, A. S. , Beale, I. L. , & Kato, P. M. (2003). Psychoeducational interventions with pediatric cancer patients: Part I. Patient information and knowledge. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 12, 257-278.

Cohen, J. (1988). Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences (2nd ed.). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

Dodd, M. J. (1998). Efficacy of proactive information on self-care in chemotherapy patients. Patient Education and Counseling, 11, 215-225.

Dodd, M. J. , Larson, P. , & Dibble, S. L. (1996). Randomized clinical trial of chlorhexidine versus placebo for prevention of oral mucositis in patients receiving chemotherapy. Oncology Nursing Forum, 23, 921-927.

Dodd, M. J. , & Miaskowski, C. (2000). The Pro-Self program: A self-care intervention program for patients receiving cancer treatment. Seminars in Oncology Nursing, 16, 300-308.

Kyngas, H. A. , Kroll, T. , & Duffy, M. E. (2000). Compliance in adolescents with chronic diseases: A review. Journal of Adolescent Health, 26, 379-388.

Lev, E. L. (1997). Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy: applications to oncology. Scholarly Enquiry for Nursing Practice: An International Journal, 11(1), 21-37.

10.

Levin, L. , Katz, A. , & Holst, E. (1979). Self-care: Lay initiatives and health. New York: Prodist.

11.

Miaskowski, C., Dodd, M. J., West, C., Paul, S., & Tripathy, D. (2000). [Self-care intervention to control cancer pain. Funded by NIH, National Cancer Institute, RO1 CA64734, 1996-2000]. Unpublished data.

12.

Mills, M. E. , & Davidson, R. (2002). Cancer patients’ sources of information: use and quality issues. Psychooncology, 11, 371-378.

13.

Mosher, R. B. , & Moore, J. B. (1998). The relationship of self-concept and self-care in children with cancer. Nursing Science Quarterly, 11, 116-122.

14.

Orem, D. (1995). Nursing: Concepts of practice (5th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Mosby-Year Book.

15.

Richardson, A. , & Ream, E. K. (1997). Self-care behaviours initiated by chemotherapy patients in response to fatigue. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 31(1), 35-43.

16.

Schumacher, K. (1996). Reconceptualizing family caregiving: family based illness care during chemotherapy. Research in Nursing and Health, 19, 261-271.

17.

Siemiatycki, J. , & Campbell, S. (1984). Nonresponse bias and early versus all responders in mail and telephone surveys. American Journal of Epidemiology, 120, 291-301.

18.

Slusher, I. L. (1999). Self-care agency and self-care practice of adolescents. Issues in Comprehensive Pediatric Nursing, 22, 49-58.

19.

Tebbi, C. K. , Cummings, K. M. , Zevon, M. A. , Smith, L. , Richards, M. , & Mallon, J. (1986). Compliance of pediatric and adolescent cancer patients. Cancer, 58, 1179-1184.