Cancer and the Problem of Pessimism

Easson, E. C.

doi:10.3322/canjclin.17.1.7

Cited by 9 publications

(5 citation statements)

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“…Here, for skin cancer the response 100 will be defined as the most accurate but consideration will also be given to answers in the range 75-100 as having a reasonable degree of accuracy. Similarly for lung cancer a reply of 25 will be regarded as the most accurate, but responses in the range 0-25 will also be examined Rockliff (1977) has criticized the method used by Davison (1965) and Easson (1967) and repeated here as too rigid While this has some validity, her own method -asking respondents to mark a cross on a 100 millimetre line, measuring its position to determine knowledge and then putting the r^ult into pre-determined categories -seems equally problematic.…”

Section: Population and Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This suggests that classroom teaching was not always meeting their information needs, although it is also likely that they themselves place greater emphasis on their clinical experience. Certainly, simple provision of facts and figures is unlikely to provide the answer as Easson (1967) found when attempting to improve the knowledge of medical students. Bendall (1971) notes that student nurses who receive only nursing theory but no clinical experience in the corresponding area learn little in the long term.…”

Section: Classroom Teachingmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Other studies (Davison 1965, Easson 1967, Rockliff 1977 have been particularly concerned with the question of attitudes, examining whether nurses mid others are optimistic or pessimistic in their assessment of survival rates. This is an important issue but here the focus is on another area of concern -the role of nurse training in the development of a body of professional knowledge about cancer.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The accuracy of nurses’knowledge about survival rates for early cancer in four sites

Elkind¹

1981

Journal of Advanced Nursing

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To consider the role of nurse education in the development of a body of professional knowledge about cancer, trained nurses (n = 372), learners (n = 160) and auxiliaries (n = 238) were asked, by means of a postal questionnaire, to estimate the 5-year survival rates for early cancers in four sites: breast, cervix, skin and lung. Among trained nurses only a minority had accurate knowledge; four to five out of ten answering accurately for breast, cervix and lung, but only two in ten for skin. All three grades were less well informed about skin cancer. For all sites trained nurses were more likely to be accurate than learners or auxiliaries, but the variations were statistically significant only for skin and cervix. Taking auxiliaries as a baseline the degree of differentiation between their knowledge and that of the SRNs was disappointing. Nurses' reliance on bedside experience as their major source of information about cancer is suggested as one explanation for their levels of knowledge. The implications both for the nurse's role in health education and for nursing education are discussed.

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Section: Population and Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Classroom Teachingmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The accuracy of nurses’knowledge about survival rates for early cancer in four sites

Elkind¹

1981

Journal of Advanced Nursing

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“…Early researchers (Davison, 1965;Easson, 1967;Elkind, 1981) believed that an individual's optimism or pessimism could be inferred from their belief of 5-year survival rates at different sites. A composite score was given for different sites in relation to optimism and pessimism.…”

Section: Cancer Attitude Tools Developed In the Ukmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cancer Beliefs, Attitudes and Preventive Behaviours of Nurses Working in the Community

Box¹,

Anderson²

1997

Eur J Cancer Care

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A study of nurses, comprising district, school and practice nurses and health visitors, working in the community was carried out in 1992/1993. The aims of the research included exploration of the nurses' beliefs about and attitudes to cancer and their own cancer preventive behaviours. Focus group methodology was used, with 11 discussion groups, totalling 86 nurses. Data were analysed qualitatively and reported in relation to emergent themes. The nurses found cancer a terrifying disease, dreading a personal diagnosis and feeling ambivalent about treatment effectiveness. However, they were good role models for cancer prevention, eating a healthy diet, protecting themselves from the sun, attending regularly for cervical and breast screening, and the majority did not smoke.

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“…insomnia), increased use of depersonal-IZed terms ("c:;se load") or derogatory terms ("old cr.ock") for patients, increased distancing (more time ~Ith charting and less with patients), increased job dissatisfaction. and increased stress in relationships 10 Personal life. Methods that effectively deal with \talf stress include care in staff selection; clarification 0~ goals, the rcle of team members, communication ~ a~ne_ls .. and Liecision-making patterns (regular int rdtsciphnary team meetings); regular meetings be-Ween staff and "-consultant psychiatrist; the develop-ment of other interests (hobbies, physical activity); regular vacations; and increased use of part-time staff.…”

Section: Psychological Response Of Care Giversmentioning

confidence: 99%

Psychological Impact of Urologic Cancer

Mount¹

1980

Cancer

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All involved in the therapeutic alliance feel stress: the patient, the family, and the care giver. Uncertainty breeds anxiety. Distress is minimized when all concerned have a shared, clear understanding of therapeutic goals and when emphasis is focused on what can be done. Openness concerning diagnosis and prognosis demands sustained and supportive follow-up. A shifting balance between denial and integration of reality usually exists. Irrespective of outcome, the patient and family cope with loss and uncertainty. In the presence of progressive illness, repeated losses compound the adjustment problem. Anticipated disfigurement due to radical surgery, alterations in body image particularly where sexual function is concerned, the necessity of urinary or fecal diversion, and side effects of therapy all require careful psychological preparation. Staff burnout may be minimized by attention to staff selection, training, supervision, support and communication. The bereaved constitute a high-risk population. Even a simple follow-up program may help them to adjust to their loss.

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Cancer and the Problem of Pessimism

Cited by 9 publications

References 0 publications

The accuracy of nurses’knowledge about survival rates for early cancer in four sites

The accuracy of nurses’knowledge about survival rates for early cancer in four sites

Cancer Beliefs, Attitudes and Preventive Behaviours of Nurses Working in the Community

Psychological Impact of Urologic Cancer

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