The purpose of this study was to investigate, within the sociocultural context of Korea, mothers’ experiences caring for their child being treated in a hospital for leukemia. Study participants included 11 mothers who visited a hospital for their child’s follow-up care after treatment for leukemia. The researchers investigated the mothers’ experiences in caring for their children using a qualitative study design. Through interviews, the researchers identified five categories of experiences among participants, including, “Death anxiety,” “Feeling guilty,” “Fulfilling responsibilities as a mom,” “Feeling overwhelmed by life,” and “Feeling grateful.” In the course of treatment, mothers tended to feel pressured to be a good mother, and sometimes felt overwhelmed by life. Healthcare providers need to grasp the difficulties faced by mothers taking care of their children hospitalized for treatment of leukemia, and must develop programs to reduce the burden on mothers and increase their families’ functioning.
BackgroundFindings from longitudinal studies can provide more conclusive evidence as to the impact of chemotherapy on cognitive functioning.ObjectivesThis study aimed to (a) synthesize the evidence from longitudinal studies of the neuropsychological effects associated with chemotherapy in breast cancer patients, (b) identify associated factors, and (c) evaluate methodological issues.MethodsData were extracted from PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and the Cochrane Library. Inclusion criteria included the original study with the breast cancer sample, validated measure, and at least 1 baseline data point before and after chemotherapy began. Data accrued for sample characteristics, data-collection time points, statistical methods for longitudinal data analysis, outcome measures, and major findings (eg, longitudinal changes in cognitive function).ResultsWe selected 42 articles for this review. The sample sizes ranged from 20 to 610, and most recruited were younger than 70 years. We found a trend across studies—statistically significant objective cognitive function deteriorations in severity and prevalence after initiating chemotherapy compared with a control group or relative to their baseline observations. A subsample, as high as 65%, experienced marked declines in cognitive function after initiating chemotherapy. The memory domain was most affected. The consistently associated factors were education, IQ, and regimen. Major methodological concerns were the measurement—the wide range of neuropsychological tests and a test’s unclear domains.ConclusionChemotherapy affects objective cognitive function in some subsets. The highest-impact time point, mechanisms, and clinical significance of chemotherapy-associated cognitive impairment need additional evidence.Implication for PracticeClinicians must assess and manage cognitive impairment during and after chemotherapy.
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