PurposeThis study aimed to discuss the key success factors in focus group discussions among the elderly as a means of supporting novice researchers and also to share the experiences of novice researchers with focus group discussions.Design/methodology/approachThis study used a literature review of previous studies that revealed three themes regarding the key success of focus group discussions with the elderly. Focusing on issues published between 2009 and 2019, four health-related databases, namely the Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), ScienceDirect, PsycARTICLES and Thaijo were investigated using keyword searches, both individually and in combination, and the inclusion criteria used in selecting relevant articles as primary sources included research written in the English and Thai languages.FindingsThe literature review involved eight published articles related to this topic in the nursing field. Three themes for key successes were identified as follows: good planning and convenient organization, being accepting and flexible concerning their opinions and good management.Originality/valueFocus group discussions with the elderly are complex and challenging for novice researchers. It is necessary that a novice researcher in the nursing field builds up the skills of a moderator in conducting focus group interviews if he or she wishes to obtain rigorous data.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to reduce or eliminate pain while enabling full advantage and function of daily living activities after hospital discharge. Readiness for discharge depends largely on prior healthcare team preparations for both patients and their families. Design/methodology/approach This integrative review was conducted using the Whittemore and Knafl method, and synthesized published research concerning patients’ readiness for discharge, particularly those who had undergone total hip replacement (THR) surgery. Findings Results were categorized into five main themes as physiological experiences, psychological experiences, coping ability, needs from the healthcare team, and family support influential to the readiness of THR patients for discharge. Originality/value The preparation for discharge of THR patients should be fully engaged and addressed. Moreover, healthcare professionals should provide care for patients at both the pre- and post-operation phases as well as during the transitional phase from hospital to home.

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Purpose The purpose of this paper is to synthesize the experiences and needs of colorectal cancer patients during postoperative recovery. Design/methodology/approach This study is an integrative review, conducted by CINAHL, PubMed, ScienceDirect and ThaiJO from 2009 to 2019. Ten research articles published have been selected by PRISMA process. Findings Results show the experiences of colon cancer patients during postoperative recovery consisted of four themes, namely suffering, decreased activity, ambivalent feeling and need of caring. Research limitations/implications The health care personnel should be aware of these experiences and give holistic care in order to let the patients free from unpleasant experiences and receive the responses which really meet their needs. Originality/value Knowledge about the experience and needs of colorectal cancer patients after surgery is of great benefit to healthcare providers who are planning the care, so as to achieve complete holistic care in the future research.

Symptom Experiences and Management of Patients with Head and Neck Cancer Receiving Radiation Therapy: Integrated Review H ead and neck cancer is the 6 th most prevalent type of cancer with an annual incident rate of around 600,000 new cases worldwide. 1 Head and neck cancer (HNC) includes oral, laryngeal, oropharyngeal, salivary gland and other pharynx cancers. 1 Standard treatment of head and neck cancer involves radiation therapy at any time point of the treatment trajectory either for palliative or curative purposes. 2 To date, a multidisciplinary approach uses a combination of surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy in order to treat HNC. The frequencies and severity of treatment-related symptoms occur depending on the dose of radiation but worsen when combined with the side effects of chemotherapy. 3-5 A review of studies relating to radiation therapy suggested that altered fractionation radiotherapy was associated with an improvement in overall survival rates in patients with oral and oropharyngeal cancers (Hazard Ratio (HR) of mortality = 0.86, 95% CI = 0.76 to 0.98). 6 A review of chemotherapy treatment suggested that chemotherapy, in addition to radiotherapy and surgery, was associated with improved overall survival in patients with oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers (HR of mortality = 0.84; 95% CI = 0.72 to 0.98, p = 0.03). 7 However, neither review could find sufficient evidence as to which regimen was associated with better overall survival rates.