Cancer, Health Literacy, and Happiness: Perspectives from Patients under Chemotherapy
Cancer is a dreaded disease that affects all dimensions of human life. In this context, issues related to the quality of life—as happiness, perception about health status, or health literacy—are important. This study aims to analyze the following topics the perception: the Portuguese cancer patients...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2013-01-01
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| Series: | Nursing Research and Practice |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/291767 |
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| author | Sara Maria Oliveira Pinto Sílvia Maria Alves Caldeira Berenguer José Carlos Amado Martins |
| author_facet | Sara Maria Oliveira Pinto Sílvia Maria Alves Caldeira Berenguer José Carlos Amado Martins |
| author_sort | Sara Maria Oliveira Pinto |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cancer is a dreaded disease that affects all dimensions of human life. In this context, issues related to the quality of life—as happiness, perception about health status, or health literacy—are important. This study aims to analyze the following topics the perception: the Portuguese cancer patients have about their health status while undergoing chemotherapy, the satisfaction with the information relating to their health, their level of happiness, and their vision of the future. An observational, cross-sectional, and descriptive study was developed. Data were collected between May and July 2012 in the day hospital of a central hospital in northern Portugal. The sample was composed of 92 cancer patients who were asked to answer a questionnaire during chemotherapy. The results indicate that, despite this life-threatening disease, patients consider themselves fairly happy and have an optimistic view of the future. Information about their health condition and religious beliefs was important coping mechanisms to help dealing with the suffering caused by the disease. The study highlights the importance of providing care in a holistic way. Nurses must be alert and available to listen, answer questions, provide supporting structures, or refer to other professionals when needed. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5a06f138db984614b71030a8c90d9223 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2090-1429 2090-1437 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2013-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nursing Research and Practice |
| spelling | doaj-art-5a06f138db984614b71030a8c90d92232025-02-03T06:07:03ZengWileyNursing Research and Practice2090-14292090-14372013-01-01201310.1155/2013/291767291767Cancer, Health Literacy, and Happiness: Perspectives from Patients under ChemotherapySara Maria Oliveira Pinto0Sílvia Maria Alves Caldeira Berenguer1José Carlos Amado Martins2Abel Salazar Biomedical Sciences Institute, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira No. 228, 4050-313 Oporto, PortugalCatholic University, Palma de Cima, 1649-023 Lisbon, PortugalMedical-Surgical Unit, Nursing School of Coimbra, Avenida Bissaya Barreto-Apartado 7001, 3046-851 Coimbra, PortugalCancer is a dreaded disease that affects all dimensions of human life. In this context, issues related to the quality of life—as happiness, perception about health status, or health literacy—are important. This study aims to analyze the following topics the perception: the Portuguese cancer patients have about their health status while undergoing chemotherapy, the satisfaction with the information relating to their health, their level of happiness, and their vision of the future. An observational, cross-sectional, and descriptive study was developed. Data were collected between May and July 2012 in the day hospital of a central hospital in northern Portugal. The sample was composed of 92 cancer patients who were asked to answer a questionnaire during chemotherapy. The results indicate that, despite this life-threatening disease, patients consider themselves fairly happy and have an optimistic view of the future. Information about their health condition and religious beliefs was important coping mechanisms to help dealing with the suffering caused by the disease. The study highlights the importance of providing care in a holistic way. Nurses must be alert and available to listen, answer questions, provide supporting structures, or refer to other professionals when needed.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/291767 |
| spellingShingle | Sara Maria Oliveira Pinto Sílvia Maria Alves Caldeira Berenguer José Carlos Amado Martins Cancer, Health Literacy, and Happiness: Perspectives from Patients under Chemotherapy Nursing Research and Practice |
| title | Cancer, Health Literacy, and Happiness: Perspectives from Patients under Chemotherapy |
| title_full | Cancer, Health Literacy, and Happiness: Perspectives from Patients under Chemotherapy |
| title_fullStr | Cancer, Health Literacy, and Happiness: Perspectives from Patients under Chemotherapy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cancer, Health Literacy, and Happiness: Perspectives from Patients under Chemotherapy |
| title_short | Cancer, Health Literacy, and Happiness: Perspectives from Patients under Chemotherapy |
| title_sort | cancer health literacy and happiness perspectives from patients under chemotherapy |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/291767 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT saramariaoliveirapinto cancerhealthliteracyandhappinessperspectivesfrompatientsunderchemotherapy AT silviamariaalvescaldeiraberenguer cancerhealthliteracyandhappinessperspectivesfrompatientsunderchemotherapy AT josecarlosamadomartins cancerhealthliteracyandhappinessperspectivesfrompatientsunderchemotherapy |