| Clinical Practice in Oncology Nursing incorporates effective
physical and psychological care in a caring and holistic environment,
addressing the physical, emotional/psychosocial, practical,
spiritual, and informational domains of care.
People with cancer suffer significant emotional morbidity.
In addition to the distress, fear and grief, up to 30 per
cent experience clinically significant anxiety disorders and
prevalence rates for depression range from 20-35 percent.
These disorders have a major impact on the person’s
functioning and that of their family, as well as posing a
major occupational and economic burden. Such disorders adversely
impact on capacity to cope with disease burden and may reduce
patient adherence to recommended treatments. Access to appropriate
information allows a patient to participate in informed decision-making
about his/her care. (Clinical Practice Guidelines for the
Psychosocial Care of Adults with Cancer, 1st Edition, 2003)
References
Fitch, M. (1994). Supportive care framework. Ontario Cancer
Treatment and
Research Foundation.
Fitch, M. (2000). Supportive care for cancer patients. Hospital
Quarterly 3(4), 39-46.
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