In recent years, translational research (TR) has become a new approach for bridging basic research and clinical practice. This article examines studies in which the authors used TR to learn more about the underlying causes of selected symptoms, and to discuss these results in the context of cancer nursing and symptom management. A literature review was undertaken, plus critical analysis of the authors. TR conducted by cancer nursing scholars has been relatively limited in the past, but is becoming more common as nurses complete additional academic work in the basic sciences and develop research teams with colleagues of those areas of knowledge. The goal in these studies is to show how a set of variables explains differential interventional effects. The availability of TR provides new evidence for the management of symptoms experienced by individuals with cancer, which could lead to improvements in the care of cancer patients across the world.
Objective: To present an overview of the clusters of neuropsychological symptoms in children and adolescents with cancer from the perspective of the Theory of Unpleasant Symptoms.Methods: A theoretical and reflective study based on international literature and the critical analysis of the authors.Results: In scientific literature, there is scarcity of international studies and an absence of studies in Brazil regarding the neuropsychological symptom clusters in children and adolescents with cancer. The theory of unpleasant symptoms is consistent because it emphasizes the complexity and interaction of the symptoms, the interrelationship between symptoms, the factors that influence symptoms, and the results and consequences of symptoms, thus supporting the planning of nursing interventions in paediatric oncology.Conclusion: It is essential to update knowledge on this subject and discuss the theories that support research and the clinical practice of symptom management in order to better qualify nursing care.
1
21 November 2014 in Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing
Among the main factors that affect patients’ quality of life, fatigue is a significant symptom experienced by children during treatment. Despite the high incidence, there has been no validated scale to evaluate fatigue in children with cancer in Brazil. The purpose of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the PedsQL™ Multidimensional Fatigue Scale, using self-reports of Brazilian children, 8 to 18 years of age, and proxy reports. A cross-sectional method was used to collect data from 216 subjects over an 18-month period. Reliability ranged from .70 to .90 except for sleep/rest fatigue, self-report (α = .55). No floor or ceiling effects were found in any dimension. Convergent validity was higher than .40 and divergent validity had 100% adjustment. The root mean square error of approximation was acceptable. The comparative fit index was lower than expected. The agreement between self and proxy responses was weak and moderate. The results demonstrate the reliability and validity of the Brazilian version in children with cancer. This is the first validated scale that assesses fatigue in Brazilian children and adolescents with cancer.
1 August 2015 in American Journal of Infection Control
In a retrospective study about the epidemiology of exposure to bloodborne pathogens among health care providers, 71.10% of the analyzed events occurred among health professionals, mainly auxiliary nurses. Percutaneous exposure (83.04%) was the most frequent. Greater advances are necessary in the development of public policies for this issue in terms of inspection of regulatory norms and raising the professionals' awareness through policy and education.