Distress in Patients with Gynecologic Cancers

Purpose of the Study

Using information from the required article and your own words, summarizethe purpose of the study. Describe what the study is about.
Cancer is a devastating disease for patients, including mentally and emotionally, leading to common demonstrations of distress, which can be hindering to treatment and outcomes. Therefore, it is necessary to identify and provide help for distressed patients early on. The primary purpose of the study is to determine how prevalent distress occurs in patients with gynecologic cancers, the context and consequences of it, as well as introducing an intervention of routine distress screening by staff (O’Connor et al., 2017).

Research & Design

Using information from the required article and your own words, summarizethe description of the type of research and the design of the study. Include how it supports the purpose (aim or intent) of the study.

The study follows a mixed-methods design. Patients were asked for consent and directed to complete a specific survey test known as the Distress Thermometer (uses a Likert-type scale) along with a problem list (yes/no answers). The oncology nurse on duty would evaluate the results and consult with the patient, referring women to specific interventions which were appropriate based on their distress levels or psychological health. Healthcare professionals were then interviewed by a research officer. This design offers both a quantitative and a qualitative approach in supporting the study purpose, by using an objective method to identify distress while using interviews to help determine context and signs that healthcare workers should look for.

Sample

Using information from the required article and your own words, summarizethe population (sample) for the study; include key characteristics, sample size, sampling technique.
A sample size of 62 patients with gynecologic cancer in a pre-admission clinic. The sample requirements included being at least 18 years old, having a gynecologic cancer diagnosis, and be able to comprehend and complete the tests. The median age was 58 years old. No direct sampling technique was included.

Data Collection

Using information from the required article and your own words, summarizeonedata that was collected and how the data was collected from the study.
The DT and PL tests were conducted, allowing to collect quantitative data in a cross-sectional study. The tests had either quantitative or binary answers which allowed to identify the level of distress and specific problems which were either a cause or consequence of this distress level, helping to objectively describe the patient’s psychological state.

Data Analysis

Using information from the required article and your own words, summarizeone of the data analysis/ tests performed or onemethod of data analysis from the study; include what you know/learned about the descriptive or statistical test or data analysis method.
Quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS with descriptive statistics used to describe DT and PL scores. Additionally, Pearson chi-square test for independence evaluation and an ANOVA were utilized. Furthermore, the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient was applied to determine any correlation between DT and PL scores. It was interesting to learn that the latter statistical test could be used to draw correlations. Considering the purpose of the study, it is a critical statistical measure which can then be compared with qualitative data.

Limitations

Using information from the required article and your own words, summarizeonelimitation reported in the study.
The researchers note that they did not conduct follow-ups to determine if the women followed referrals of healthcare professionals. This is a limitation that should be avoided in the future since the objective of the study was to ensure that healthcare professionals are able to address the distress in patients and improve outcomes.

Findings/Discussion

Using information from the required article and your own words, summarizeoneof the authors’ findings/discussion reported in the study. Include one interesting detail you learned from reading the study.
One finding that the researchers found that there is a correlation between certain types of gynecological cancers and distress levels. For example, patients with cervical cancer tended to score highly on the DT test in comparison to others. This may be related to the seriousness and successes of treatment. One interesting detail is that such distress screenings have little impact and disruption to healthcare service, thus suggesting that they should be utilized more commonly to achieve early detection.

Reading Research Literature

Summarize why it is important for you to read and understand research literature. Summarize what you learned from completing the reading research literature activity worksheet.
The research literature is vital in healthcare and important reading material for medical professionals as it contributes to the professional knowledge and competencies in the field. The research literature is the basis of evidence-based practice and promotes a scientific approach to all aspects of healthcare delivery. From completing this activity, it was learned that a research study follows a structured methodology that ensures proper context and a level of validity. It is generally accepted that studies must follow this structure as it promotes a high level of research competency.

Reference

O’Connor, M., Tanner, P., Miller, L., Watts, K., & Musiello, T. (2017). Detecting distress: Introducing routine screening in a gynecologic cancer setting. Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, 21(1), 79-85. Web.