Patients' informational needs while undergoing brachytherapy for cervical cancer

Abstract

The article has identified women's informational needs providing a focus for patient-centred care. Providing patients with sufficient and understandable information could lessen feelings of fear and anxiety towards treatment delivery. Guidelines with a patient-centred approach could thus be developed to be used as a tool to assist members of multidisciplinary teams in providing quality care to this group of women.

The experiences of women receiving brachytherapy for cervical cancer: A systematic literature review

“…There were 22 remaining articles. Five studies were randomised controlled studies (RCTs), 16,17,18,19,20 two case control studies, 21,22 nine cohort studies, 11,12,23,24,25,26,27,28,29 five qualitative studies 30,31,32,33,34 and 1 systematic literature review. 35…”

“…Of ten studies regarding psychological issues, nine reported that brachytherapy caused anxiety and distress for most women. 12,23,26,27,30,31,32,33,34 However Nail found the procedure was well tolerated without high levels of distress, depression or anxiety in most women. 28 Anderson et al described anxiety levels taking a long time to reduce, following completion of treatment.…”

“…Two studies reported women's experiences of lack of information before the procedure. 31,33 Long et al focussed entirely on informational needs and concluded that women needed more information about their disease, preparation for treatment, the treatment itself, side effects and sexual intercourse. 31 They concluded that information should be delivered verbally and written in the patient's home language.…”

“…31 They concluded that information should be delivered verbally and written in the patient's home language. 31…”

Validação De Um Manual De Orientações Para Pacientes Submetidas À Braquiterapia Ginecológica

“…No referido manual de orientações, foram contempladas, entre outras, orientações e informações sobre o procedimento em si, efeitos colaterais do tratamento, vida sexual e recomendações pós tratamento. Tais temas são relevantes e fundamentais para a preparação adequada da paciente, assim como observado em estudo anterior (22) acerca dos conhecimentos que as pacientes submetidas à braquiterapia ginecológica consideravam importantes e essenciais para um tratamento adequado.…”