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| Research article summary (published 27 Feb 2009): |
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Self-care strategies to cope with taste changes after chemotherapy.
Full Abstract
PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To describe factors related to taste changes, to examine patients' use of a self-care suggestion sheet to manage taste changes associated with chemotherapy, and to identify potentially useful strategies for managing specific taste changes after chemotherapy. DESIGN: Quasi-experimental, pre/post design. SETTING: Four outpatient urban and suburban oncology centers in Illinois. SAMPLE: 42 patients who had received at least two cycles of chemotherapy previously identified to be associated with taste changes. METHODS: Pre- and postintervention survey of taste changes; patient education regarding self-care for taste changes. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES: Taste changes, taste change strategies, and self-care. FINDINGS: Most patients that reported taste changes had affected their ability to eat. Taste changes and strategies varied somewhat according to chemotherapy regimen. Avoiding strong-smelling or -tasting foods, eating blander foods, drinking more water with foods, oral care before eating, and eating smaller, more frequent meals were reported to help. CONCLUSIONS: Taste changes are common in patients receiving cisplatin, carboplatin, or cyclophosphamide. At-risk patients may benefit from prechemotherapy teaching regarding specific taste change management suggestions. Use of a taste change suggestion sheet encouraged self-care, and counseling patients regarding strategies to deal with taste changes may help them during chemotherapy. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Nurses should incorporate patient education tools that promote self-care regarding the management of taste changes in patients with known factors that could affect taste early in their chemotherapy.
Author information
Author/s: Rehwaldt, Maureen (M); Wickham, Rita (R); Purl, Sandy (S); Tariman, Joseph (J); Blendowski, Carol (C); Shott, Susan (S); Lappe, Mary (M);
Affiliation: Midwest Palliative and Hospice Carecenter, Glenview, IL, USA. m.rehwaldt(-atsign-)comcast.net
Journal and publication information
Publication Type: Evaluation Studies; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Journal: Oncology nursing forum (Oncol Nurs Forum), published in United States. (Language: eng)
Reference: 2009-Mar; vol 36 (issue 2) : pp E47-56
Dates: Created 2009/03/10; Completed 2009/06/25;
PMID: 19273394, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 6/25/2009, IMS Date: 25 Jun 2009 00:00:00)
Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.
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