Decrease the Length of Hospital Stay in Depressed Cancer Patients: Nurses Should be Involved

Ahmad Rayan^1, and Abeer Dadoul²

¹Faculty of Nursing, Zarqa University, Zarqa, Jordan

²Faculty of Nursing, Hebron University, Hebron, Palestine

Cite this paper:
Ahmad Rayan and Abeer Dadoul. Decrease the Length of Hospital Stay in Depressed Cancer Patients: Nurses Should be Involved. American Journal of Nursing Research. 2015; 3(1):4-7. doi: 10.12691/ajnr-3-1-2

Abstract

Cancer is one of the most life threatening illnesses worldwide, which can be associated with severe depression in patients. Depression can negatively affect the prognosis of cancer and increase hospital stays. Nurses are directly involved in providing care for cancer patients over the entire course of cancer prognoses. However, the nurse role in assessment and management of depression in cancer patients is not well-defined. The purpose of this article is to identify the nursing role in assessment and management of depression in cancer patients, and to provide recommendations for future research regarding assessment and management of depression in cancer patients. Literature review of relevant articles was conducted using the PubMed and CINAHL electronic databases. Articles that were not published in English, and articles that were published since more than 10 years were excluded from review. Other articles were not included because of redundant data. Nurses should anticipate depression and be aware of its risk factors. They should accurately assess patients’ concerns and immediately report any suicide risk to the supervising psychiatrist. To better assess depression in cancer patients, nurses should use specific and valid screening tools. Nurses can participate in different management modalities for depressed cancer patients. In case of severe depression, antidepressants are the drugs of choice. When depression is mild, many psychotherapeutic and psychosocial interventions can be effective. The article provides a discussion about some important roles for nurses in these interventions. Other innovative methods that nurses can use to meet the psychosocial health needs of cancer patients are provided. Recommendations for future research include using a control group in future studies, conducting more prospective studies, focusing on nonpharmacologic interventions, and conducting qualitative studies about experiences of specific cancer patients. These studies can provide valuable data to improve nursing care for depressed cancer patients, and ultimately decrease the length of their hospital stay.

Keywords:
cancer depression nurse assessment management

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

References:

[1]	Yang, Y. L., Liu, L., Wang, Y., Wu, H., Yang, X. S., Wang, J. N., & Wang, “The prevalence of depression and anxiety among Chinese adults with cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis,” BMC Cancer, 13(1). 2013.
[2]	Akechi, T, “Psychotherapy for depression among patients with advanced cancer,” Japanese journal of clinical oncology, 42(12). 1113-1119. 2012.
[3]	‏ Hong, J. S., and Tian, J, “Prevalence of anxiety and depression and their risk factors in Chinese cancer patients,” Supportive Care in Cancer, 22(2), 453-459. 2014.
[4]	Sharpley, C. F., Bitsika, V., and Christie, D. R. H, “The incidence and causes of different subtypes of depression in prostate cancer patients: implications for cancer care,” European Journal of Cancer Care, 22(6). 815-823. 2013.
[5]	Sotelo, J. L., Musselman, D., and Nemeroff, C, “The biology of depression in cancer and the relationship between depression and cancer progression,” International Review of Psychiatry, 26(1). 16-30. 2014.
[6]	National cancer institute, “Diagnosis of Depression”. Retrieved 13 April 2014 from http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/supportivecare/depression/Patient/page2.
[7]	Jadoon, N. A., Munir, W., Shahzad, M. A., and Choudhry, Z. S, “Assessment of depression and anxiety in adult cancer outpatients: a cross-sectional study” BMC Cancer, 10(1). 594. 2010.
[8]	Torta, R. G., and Ieraci, V, “Pharmacological management of depression in patients with cancer: practical considerations. Drugs, 73(11). 1131-1145. 2013.
[9]	Torta, R. G., Miniotti, M., and Leombruni, P, “Antidepressants in oncology: reason and choice,” Neuropathological Diseases, 1(2). 179-202. 2012.
[10]	Holland, J. C., and Alici, Y, “Management of distress in cancer patients,” J Support Oncol, 8(1). 4-12. 2010.
[11]	Castelli, L., Binaschi, L., Caldera, P., Mussa, A., and Torta, R, “Fast screening of depression in cancer patients: the effectiveness of the HADS,” European journal of cancer care, 20(4). 528-533. 2011.
[12]	American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Washington, DC: Author. 2013.
[13]	Fournier, J. C., DeRubeis, R. J., Hollon, S. D., Dimidjian, S., Amsterdam, J. D., Shelton, R. C., and Fawcett, J, “Antidepressant drug effects and depression severity: a patient-level meta-analysis” Journal of the American Medical Association, 303(1). 47-53. 2010.
[14]	Giese-Davis, J., Collie, K., Rancourt, K. M., Neri, E., Kraemer, H. C., and Spiegel, D, “Decrease in depression symptoms is associated with longer survival in patients with metastatic breast cancer: a secondary analysis, “Journal of clinical oncology, 29(4). 413-420. 2011.
[15]	Guo, Z., Tang, H. Y., Li, H., Tan, S. K., Feng, K. H., Huang, Y. C., ... and Jiang, W, “The benefits of psychosocial interventions for cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy,” Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 11(1). 121. 2013.
[16]	Vitetta, L., and Sali, A, “Complementary medicine in palliative care,” Journal of Complementary Medicine: CM, 3(4). 65-66. 2007.
[17]	Aukst Margetić, B., Kukulj, S., Šantić, Ž., Jakšić, N., and Jakovljević, M, “Predicting depression with temperament and character in lung cancer patients. European journal of cancer care, 22(6). 807-814. 2013.
[18]	Strong, V., Sharpe, M., Cull, A., Maguire, P., House, A., and Ramirez, A, “Can oncology nurses treat depression? A pilot project” Journal of Advanced Nursing, 46(5). 542-548. 2004.
[19]	Cort, E., Monroe, B., Hansford, P., Moorey, S., Hotopf, M., and Kapari, M, “Palliative care nurses' experiences of training in cognitive behaviour therapy and taking part in a randomized controlled trial,” International Journal of Palliative Nursing, 15(6). 290. 2009.
[20]	Middleton, R. J, “Meeting the psychological care needs of patients with cancer”. Nursing Standard, 28(21). 39-45. 2014.
[21]	Mattsson, S., Alfonsson, S., Carlsson, M., Nygren, P., Olsson, E., and Johansson, B, “Internet-based stepped care with interactive support and cognitive behavioral therapy for reduction of anxiety and depressive symptoms in cancer-a clinical trial protocol,” BMC Cancer, 13(1). 414. 2013
[22]	Krebber, A. M. H., Buffart, L. M., Kleijn, G., Riepma, I. C., Bree, R., Leemans, C. R., ... and Verdonck‐de Leeuw, I. M. “Prevalence of depression in cancer patients: a meta‐analysis of diagnostic interviews and self‐report instruments,” Psycho‐Oncology, 23(2), 121-130. 2014.
[23]	Cohen, M, “Depression, anxiety, and somatic symptoms in older cancer patients: a comparison across age groups,” Psycho‐Oncology, 23(2). 151-157. 2014.