Cancer Care for the Whole Patient

Cancer Care for the Whole Patient PDF Author: Institute of Medicine
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309134161
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 454

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Book Description
Cancer care today often provides state-of-the-science biomedical treatment, but fails to address the psychological and social (psychosocial) problems associated with the illness. This failure can compromise the effectiveness of health care and thereby adversely affect the health of cancer patients. Psychological and social problems created or exacerbated by cancer--including depression and other emotional problems; lack of information or skills needed to manage the illness; lack of transportation or other resources; and disruptions in work, school, and family life--cause additional suffering, weaken adherence to prescribed treatments, and threaten patients' return to health. Today, it is not possible to deliver high-quality cancer care without using existing approaches, tools, and resources to address patients' psychosocial health needs. All patients with cancer and their families should expect and receive cancer care that ensures the provision of appropriate psychosocial health services. Cancer Care for the Whole Patient recommends actions that oncology providers, health policy makers, educators, health insurers, health planners, researchers and research sponsors, and consumer advocates should undertake to ensure that this standard is met.

Cancer Care for the Whole Patient

Cancer Care for the Whole Patient PDF Author: Institute of Medicine
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309134161
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 454

Get Book

Book Description
Cancer care today often provides state-of-the-science biomedical treatment, but fails to address the psychological and social (psychosocial) problems associated with the illness. This failure can compromise the effectiveness of health care and thereby adversely affect the health of cancer patients. Psychological and social problems created or exacerbated by cancer--including depression and other emotional problems; lack of information or skills needed to manage the illness; lack of transportation or other resources; and disruptions in work, school, and family life--cause additional suffering, weaken adherence to prescribed treatments, and threaten patients' return to health. Today, it is not possible to deliver high-quality cancer care without using existing approaches, tools, and resources to address patients' psychosocial health needs. All patients with cancer and their families should expect and receive cancer care that ensures the provision of appropriate psychosocial health services. Cancer Care for the Whole Patient recommends actions that oncology providers, health policy makers, educators, health insurers, health planners, researchers and research sponsors, and consumer advocates should undertake to ensure that this standard is met.

Effect of Cancer On Quality of Life

Effect of Cancer On Quality of Life PDF Author: David Osoba
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 1000142035
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 374

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Book Description
This book is comprised of extensive reviews and instructional chapters that discuss the quality of life in several aspects of cancer. The first six chapters deal with conceptual issues relating to measuring quality of life in adult and pediatric populations with cancer. The next five chapters provide practical information on how to select quality-of-life measures, the statistical analysis of trials, economic evaluations to be considered, and some possible abuses of quality-of-life measures. Five chapters review the results of studies using selected quality-of-life measures and provide recent information on their performance. These are followed by three chapters dealing with specific issues relating to nausea and vomiting associated with cancer therapy. Three chapters are devoted to the problems of assessing and controlling pain in patients who have cancer. There are also two chapters that deal with the quality of life in palliative care. Effect of Cancer on Quality of Life is intended for all who have an interest in measuring the quality of life in patients with cancer. This includes investigators who are just entering the field and can benefit from instructions on how to conduct quality-of-life research, as well as those who are experienced in conducting this kind of research.

Quality of Life and Pharmacoeconomics in Clinical Trials

Quality of Life and Pharmacoeconomics in Clinical Trials PDF Author: Bert Spilker
Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
ISBN: 9780781703321
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 1259

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Book Description
The Second Edition of this groundbreaking work refines the art and science of quality of life assessment and pharmacoeconomics and redefines the role of these evaluation parameters in clinical trials and health care decision-making. Dr. Spilker has assembled more than 200 experts from diverse clinical, research, and social science disciplines to provide a comprehensive reference on the methodology, interpretation, and use of quality of life and pharmacoeconomic studies. Expanded to four times its predecessor's size and scope, the Second Edition features: all-new sections on pharmacoeconomics and crucial health policy issues such as outcomes research a new, extensive section on cross-cultural and cross-national issues in quality of life assessment detailed information on specific tests and measures of quality of life comprehensive guidelines on choosing and administering tests and analyzing, interpreting, and presenting data many chapters on new topics such as phenomenology, assessment of spiritual status, and alternative/complementary medical treatments.

The Quality of Life of Cancer Patients

The Quality of Life of Cancer Patients PDF Author: Neil K. Aaronson
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Attitude to Health
Languages : en
Pages : 328

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Book Description


Meeting Psychosocial Needs of Women with Breast Cancer

Meeting Psychosocial Needs of Women with Breast Cancer PDF Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309091292
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 289

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Book Description
In Meeting Psychosocial Needs of Women with Breast Cancer, the National Cancer Policy Board of the Institute of Medicine examines the psychosocial consequences of the cancer experience. The book focuses specifically on breast cancer in women because this group has the largest survivor population (over 2 million) and this disease is the most extensively studied cancer from the standpoint of psychosocial effects. The book characterizes the psychosocial consequences of a diagnosis of breast cancer, describes psychosocial services and how they are delivered, and evaluates their effectiveness. It assesses the status of professional education and training and applied clinical and health services research and proposes policies to improve the quality of care and quality of life for women with breast cancer and their families. Because cancer of the breast is likely a good model for cancer at other sites, recommendations for this cancer should be applicable to the psychosocial care provided generally to individuals with cancer. For breast cancer, and indeed probably for any cancer, the report finds that psychosocial services can provide significant benefits in quality of life and success in coping with serious and life-threatening disease for patients and their families.

Cancer in the Elderly

Cancer in the Elderly PDF Author: Carrie P. Hunter
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 0824746457
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 591

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Book Description
This book presents comprehensive assessment and up-to-date discussion of the epidemiology, prevention, and treatment of cancer in the elderly, highlighting the growing demands of the disease, its biology, individual susceptibility, the impact of state-of-the-art and emerging therapies on reducing morbidity, and decision making processes. Describ

Physical Activity and Cancer

Physical Activity and Cancer PDF Author: Kerry S. Courneya
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 3642042317
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 389

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Book Description
This book explores in depth the relation between physical activity and cancer control, including primary prevention, coping with treatments, recovery after treatments, long-term survivorship, secondary prevention, and survival. The first part of the book presents the most recent research on the impact of physical activity in preventing a range of cancers. In the second part, the association between physical activity and cancer survivorship is addressed. The effects of physical activity on supportive care endpoints (e.g., quality of life, fatigue, physical functioning) and disease endpoints (e.g., biomarkers, recurrence, survival) are carefully analyzed. In addition, the determinants of physical activity in cancer survivors are discussed, and behavior change strategies for increasing physical activity in cancer survivors are appraised. The final part of the book is devoted to special topics, including the relation of physical activity to pediatric cancer survivorship and to palliative cancer care.

Improving Diagnosis in Health Care

Improving Diagnosis in Health Care PDF Author: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309377722
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 473

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Book Description
Getting the right diagnosis is a key aspect of health care - it provides an explanation of a patient's health problem and informs subsequent health care decisions. The diagnostic process is a complex, collaborative activity that involves clinical reasoning and information gathering to determine a patient's health problem. According to Improving Diagnosis in Health Care, diagnostic errors-inaccurate or delayed diagnoses-persist throughout all settings of care and continue to harm an unacceptable number of patients. It is likely that most people will experience at least one diagnostic error in their lifetime, sometimes with devastating consequences. Diagnostic errors may cause harm to patients by preventing or delaying appropriate treatment, providing unnecessary or harmful treatment, or resulting in psychological or financial repercussions. The committee concluded that improving the diagnostic process is not only possible, but also represents a moral, professional, and public health imperative. Improving Diagnosis in Health Care, a continuation of the landmark Institute of Medicine reports To Err Is Human (2000) and Crossing the Quality Chasm (2001), finds that diagnosis-and, in particular, the occurrence of diagnostic errorsâ€"has been largely unappreciated in efforts to improve the quality and safety of health care. Without a dedicated focus on improving diagnosis, diagnostic errors will likely worsen as the delivery of health care and the diagnostic process continue to increase in complexity. Just as the diagnostic process is a collaborative activity, improving diagnosis will require collaboration and a widespread commitment to change among health care professionals, health care organizations, patients and their families, researchers, and policy makers. The recommendations of Improving Diagnosis in Health Care contribute to the growing momentum for change in this crucial area of health care quality and safety.

Ensuring Quality Cancer Care

Ensuring Quality Cancer Care PDF Author: Institute of Medicine and National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309173140
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 256

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Book Description
We all want to believe that when people get cancer, they will receive medical care of the highest quality. Even as new scientific breakthroughs are announced, though, many cancer patients may be getting the wrong care, too little care, or too much care, in the form of unnecessary procedures. How close is American medicine to the ideal of quality cancer care for every person with cancer? Ensuring Quality Cancer Care provides a comprehensive picture of how cancer care is delivered in our nation, from early detection to end-of-life issues. The National Cancer Policy Board defines quality care and recommends how to monitor, measure, and extend quality care to all people with cancer. Approaches to accountability in health care are reviewed. What keeps people from getting care? The book explains how lack of medical coverage, social and economic status, patient beliefs, physician decision-making, and other factors can stand between the patient and the best possible care. The board explores how cancer care is shaped by the current focus on evidence-based medicine, the widespread adoption of managed care, where services are provided, and who provides care. Specific shortfalls in the care of breast and prostate cancer are identified. A status report on health services research is included. Ensuring Quality Cancer Care offers wide-ranging data and information in clear context. As the baby boomers approach the years when most cancer occurs, this timely volume will be of special interest to health policy makers, public and private healthcare purchasers, medical professionals, patient advocates, researchers, and people with cancer.

Effects of Cancer Treatment on the Nervous System, Volume 1

Effects of Cancer Treatment on the Nervous System, Volume 1 PDF Author: Wolfgang Grisold
Publisher: Cambridge Scholars Publishing
ISBN: 152756004X
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 434

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Book Description
This first volume describes the epidemiology of cancer, development of drugs, chemotherapy and surgical therapy, and the side effects of therapies and differential diagnoses. It shows that the diagnosis of side effects needs to be supported by scales and scores to grade their extent, and presents a number of tools and methods that can be used to assess the focal and generalized effects of chemotherapy on the central and peripheral nervous system. Cancer is often associated with pain and is a frequent issue in patients with chemotherapy-induced neuropathy. The participation of patients in studies and their influence on study design is important. Patient support groups have been formed for several forms of cancer, and are helpful in dispensing advice. The treatment of cancer patients must include activities of daily living and quality of life. Often, palliative care and end-of-life care are part of the disease trajectory. As this book shows, patients do not have equal access to cancer treatment around the world, and often basic issues as diagnosis, treatment are lacking.