Fu Mei R, Axelrod Deborah, Haber Judith
College of Nursing, New York University, NY 10003-6677, USA.
J Nurs Scholarsh. 2008;40(4):341-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1547-5069.2008.00248.x.
To explore the effect of providing lymphedema information on breast cancer survivors' symptoms and practice of risk-reduction behaviors.
A cross-sectional design was used to obtain data from 136 breast-cancer survivors in New York City from August 2006 to May 2007. Descriptive statistics, t tests, chi-square tests, and correlations were calculated.
Data were collected using a demographic and medical information interview tool, two questions regarding status of receiving lymphedema information, the Lymphedema and Breast Cancer Questionnaire, and Lymphedema Risk-Reduction Behavior Checklist.
Fifty-seven percent of the participants reported that they received lymphedema information. On average, participants had three lymphedema-related symptoms. Only 18% of participants were free of symptoms. Participants who received information reported significantly fewer symptoms (t=3.03; p<0.00) and practicing more risk-reduction behaviors (t=2.42; p=0.01).
Providing lymphedema information has an effect on symptom reduction and more risk-reduction behaviors being practiced among breast cancer survivors.
In clinical practice, nurses and other healthcare professionals could consider taking the initiative to provide adequate and accurate information and engage breast-cancer survivors in supportive dialogues concerning lymphedema risk-reduction.
探讨提供淋巴水肿信息对乳腺癌幸存者症状及降低风险行为实践的影响。
采用横断面设计，于2006年8月至2007年5月从纽约市的136名乳腺癌幸存者中获取数据。计算描述性统计量、t检验、卡方检验及相关性。
使用人口统计学和医学信息访谈工具、两个关于淋巴水肿信息接收状况的问题、淋巴水肿与乳腺癌问卷以及淋巴水肿风险降低行为清单收集数据。
57%的参与者报告称他们收到了淋巴水肿信息。参与者平均有三种与淋巴水肿相关的症状。只有18%的参与者没有症状。收到信息的参与者报告的症状明显较少（t = 3.03；p < 0.00），且实践更多降低风险行为（t = 2.42；p = 0.01）。
提供淋巴水肿信息对减轻乳腺癌幸存者的症状及促使其实践更多降低风险行为有效果。
在临床实践中，护士和其他医护专业人员可考虑主动提供充分准确的信息，并促使乳腺癌幸存者参与有关降低淋巴水肿风险的支持性对话。
