Hostname: page-component-7c8c6479df-hgkh8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-03-26T19:06:32.626Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Factors predicting the effectiveness of palliative care in patients with advanced cancer

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 August 2014

Suchira Chaiviboontham*
Affiliation:
Ramathibodi School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Suchira Chaiviboontham, Ramathibodi School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Rama VI Road, Ratchathewee, Bangkok, Thailand, 10400. E-mail:suchira.cha@mahidol.ac.th

Abstract

Objective:

The purpose of this study was to assess the factors that predict the effectiveness of palliative care in patients with advanced cancer.

Method:

Cross-sectional data were collected from 240 patients recruited from three tertiary care hospitals in Bangkok and suburban Thailand aged 18 years or older who were willing to participate; able to speak, read, and write Thai; were not receiving aggressive cancer treatment; and had been diagnosed with advanced-stage cancer. Participants were asked to complete a Personal Information Questionnaire (PIQ), a Palliative Care Assessment Form (PCAF), and the Spiritual Well-Being Scale (SWBS).

Results:

The significant predictors of the effectiveness of palliative care in patients with advanced cancer were found to be spiritual well-being (p = 0.000) and palliative care strategies: a combination of pharmacological and psychosocial care, mind–body intervention, and spiritual care; physical management; and traditional medicine, herbal treatment, and diet management (p = 0.027). The likelihood of effectiveness for patients whose spiritual well-being and palliative care strategies scores increased by an average of one point increased by factors of 1.058 and 2.271, respectively.

Significance of Results:

These findings suggest that patients who experienced better spiritual well-being and who employed a variety of palliative care strategies also experienced enhanced effectiveness of palliative care.

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2014 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Breitbart, W., Rosenfeld, B., Gibson, C., et al. (2010). Meaning-centered group psychotherapy for patients with advanced cancer: A pilot randomized controlled trial. Psycho-Oncology, 19, 2128.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cella, D. (2010). FACIT–Sp–12: Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy–Spiritual Well-Being; The 12-item spiritual well-being scale. Available from http://www.facit.org/FACITOrg/Questionnaires.Google Scholar
Chaiviboontham, S., Viwatwongkasem, C., Hanucharurnkul, S., et al. (2011). Symptom clusters in Thais with advanced cancer. Pacific Rim International Journal of Nursing Research, 15(4), 265277.Google Scholar
Ellison, C.W. (1983). Spiritual well-being: Conceptualization and measurement. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 11(4), 330340.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Get-Kong, S., Hanucharurnkul, S., McCorkle, R., et al. (2010). Symptom experience, palliative care and spiritual well-being among Thais with advanced cancer. Pacific Rim International Journal of Nursing Research, 14(3), 219234.Google Scholar
Gilbertson-White, S. (2011). Multiple dimensions of the symptom experience in patients with advanced cancer and their impact on quality of life. Available from http://works.bepress.com/stephanie_gilbertson-white/15.Google Scholar
Harris, B.A., Berger, M.A., Mitchell, S.A., et al. (2010). Spiritual well-being in long-term survivors with chronic graft-versus-host disease after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Journal of Supportive Oncology, 8, 119125.Google ScholarPubMed
Higginson, I.J. & Costantini, M. (2008). Dying with cancer, living well with advanced cancer. European Journal of Cancer, 44(10), 14141424.Google Scholar
Kozak, L.E., Kayes, L., McCarty, R., et al. (2009). Use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) by Washington state hospices. The American Journal of Hospice & Palliative Medicine, 25(6), 463468.Google Scholar
Kunsongkeit, W., Suchaxaya, P., Panuthai, S., et al. (2004). Spiritual health of the Thai people. Thai Journal of Nursing Research, 8(1), 6482.Google Scholar
Life Advance Inc. (2008). Spiritual well-being scale. Available from http://www.lifeadvance.com.Google Scholar
Lo, C., Zimmerman, C., Gagliese, L., et al. (2011). Sources of spiritual well-being in advanced cancer. BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care, 1, 149153.Google Scholar
Lyckholm, L., Coyne, P., Kreutzer, K., et al. (2010). Barriers to effective palliative care for low-income patients in late stages of cancer: Report of a study and strategies for defining and conquering the barriers. Nursing Clinics of North America, 45, 399409.Google Scholar
Nelson, C., Jacobson, C.M., Weinberger, M.I., et al. (2009). The role of spirituality in the relationship between religiosity and depression in prostate cancer patients. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 38, 105114.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Noipiang, T. (2002). Perceived severity of illness, social support, and spiritual well-being among breast cancer patients. Master's thesis in Nursing Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.Google Scholar
Paloutzian, R.F. & Ellison, C.W. (1982). Loneliness, spiritual well-being and the quality of life. New York: Wiley.Google Scholar
Paonil, P. & Sringernyuang, L. (2005). Buddhist perspectives on health and healing. The Chulalongkorn Journal of Buddhist Studies, 1(3), 93105.Google Scholar
Phligbua, W., Pongthavornkamol, K., Knobf, T.M., et al. (2013). Symptom clusters and quality of life in women with breast cancer receiving adjuvant chemotherapy. Pacific Rim International Journal of Nursing Research, 17(3), 249267.Google Scholar
Pilaikiat, R., Fongkaew, W., Plianpadoong, S., et al. (2003). Spiritual well-being among persons with HIV/AIDS. Thai Journal of Nursing Council, 18(4), 7390.Google Scholar
Puchalski, C.M. (2012). Spirituality in the cancer trajectory. Annuals of Oncology, 23(Suppl. 3), iii49iii55.Google Scholar
Rhymes, J.A. (1996). Barriers to effective palliative care of terminal patients. Clinics in Geriatric Medicine, 12(2), 407416.Google Scholar
Schulmeister, L. & Gobel, B.H. (2008). Symptom management issues in oncology nursing. Nursing Clinics of North America, 43(2), 205220.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Suwisith, N., Hanucharunkul, S., Dodd, M., et al. (2008). Symptom clusters and functional status of women with breast cancer. Thai Journal of Nursing Research, 12(3), 153164.Google Scholar
Tantitrakull, W. & Tanasilp, S. (2010). Spiritual well-being of terminal cancer patients. Journal of Nursing Science, Chulalongkorn University, 3(Suppl.), 3446.Google Scholar
Tongprateep, T. (2000). The essential elements of spirituality among rural Thai elders. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 31(1), 197203.Google Scholar
Travado, L., Grassi, L., Gil, F., et al. (2010). Do spirituality and faith make a difference? Report from the Southern European Psycho-Oncology Study Group. Palliative & Supportive Care, 8, 405413.Google Scholar
WHO (2002). National cancer control programmes: Policies and managerial guidelines. Geneva: World Health Organization.Google Scholar
WHO (2012). World health statistics, 2012. Geneva: World Health Organization.Google Scholar
Wiriyasombat, R., Pothiban, L., Panuthai, S., et al. (2011). Effectiveness of Buddhist doctrine practice-based programs in enhancing spiritual well-being, coping and sleep quality of Thai elders. Pacific Rim International Journal of Nursing Research, 15(3), 203219.Google Scholar