Psychological Distress in Ovarian Cancer Treatment
Author Information
Author(s): Cynthia Kline O'Sullivan, Kathryn H. Bowles, Sangchoon Jeon, Elizabeth Ercolano, Ruth McCorkle
Primary Institution: Yale University School of Nursing
Hypothesis
Women with ovarian cancer who receive specialized nursing interventions will have improved quality of life measures over time compared to those who do not.
Conclusion
Women with high psychological distress may benefit from advanced practice nursing interventions to manage their cancer-related problems.
Supporting Evidence
- 44% of high distress subjects consenting to mental health intervention had clinically significant psychiatric conditions.
- Women who refused mental health intervention had more income and housing problems.
- APN interventions were associated with improvements in quality of life among patients with cancer.
Takeaway
Women with ovarian cancer often feel very sad or worried, but special nurses can help them feel better during treatment.
Methodology
Secondary analysis of research records from a randomized control trial involving 32 women with primary ovarian cancer who received 18 advanced practice nurse visits over six months.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the self-reported nature of distress and the small, homogeneous sample.
Limitations
The study's small sample size and reliance on secondary data may limit the generalizability of the findings.
Participant Demographics
Participants were predominantly white women, approximately 60 years old, with varying levels of education and income.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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