Abstract

The aims of this qualitative descriptive study were to describe the experience of chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) for women with breast cancer who received chemotherapy; and identify information about CRCI that women would find useful prior to chemotherapy and the onset of CRCI. In-depth interviews were conducted with 18 women who reported changes in cognitive function and were within 6-12 months of completing chemotherapy. Participants described issues with short term memory, trouble focusing, and difficulty with word finding, reading, and driving. Support and validation of the experience was acknowledged as important. Coping strategies included writing things down, depending on others, focusing on one task at a time, and giving oneself permission to make mistakes. Participants wanted to receive information about CRCI prior to initiating chemotherapy and desired an individualized approach to education and made specific recommendations for educational content. On-going assessment for CRCI and reinforcement of education were recommended.

Description

This dissertation has also been disseminated through the ProQuest Dissertations and Theses database. Dissertation/thesis number: 3434774; ProQuest document ID: 847397106. The author still retains copyright.

Notes

Results published: Myers, J.S. Chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment: The breast cancer experience, Oncology Nursing Forum. 39(1), January 2012, E31-E40.

Authors

Jamie S. Myers

Author Details

Jamie S. Myers, PhD, RN

Sigma Membership

Delta

Type

Dissertation

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

Other

Research Approach

Qualitative Research

Keywords:

Chemotherapy-related Cognitive Impairement, Treatment Side-effects, Nursing Care

Advisor

Cynthia Teel

Degree

PhD

Degree Grantor

University of Kansas

Degree Year

2010

Rights Holder

All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.

All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository.

All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.

Review Type

None: Degree-based Submission

Acquisition

Proxy-submission

Date of Issue

2019-04-02

Full Text of Presentation

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