EMOTIONAL SUPPORT OF CANCER-PATIENTS - THE NURSING APPROACH

The present study attempts to classify cancer patients' psychologic re sponses in order of importance, and to identify the role of the oncolo gy nursing staff in the moral support of these patients. We want to em phasize the significant role of the nursing staff because until 1990 G reece had no specialization in the field of oncology nursing. After th e initial diagnosis of cancer, the patient was considered as emotional ly depressed. Our sample consisted of 120 cancer patients from the sou thwestern regions of Greece. From our research, we concluded that the factors generally characterizing cancer patients, in order of priority , are (a) moral support from family and friends (p < 0.0001), (b) psyc hologic reactions after some months (p < 0.0001), (c) sex (p = 0.0006) , (d) age (p < 0.0001), (e) marital status (p < 0.0001), and CR psycho logic reactions during the first days following diagnosis (p = 0.018) because of the shock experienced. More specifically, we wish to stress the absence of the consulting role on the part of the nursing staff T his finding is worth the keen attention of consultants on health matte rs. Nurses have a great deal to contribute to the emotional care of ca ncer patients, and are puzzled about the reasons why they are not aske d to participate in this important function.