Perspectives in Palliative & Home Care, Year 2023 Issue 2(1)

An Investigation of the Effect of Taste Sense Change on the Quality of Life in Patients Who Received Chemotherapy Treatment with Breast Cancer Reason

Semiha ErkocaMedet Korkmaz — 2026-07-16

Background/Objective: Many side effects are seen as a result of chemotherapy treatment. Within these side effects, the change of taste is also seen. The taste disorder that occurs during chemotherapy leads to the physiological, psychological and socially negative effects of the patients. This study was conducted as a descriptive study to investigate the effect of the taste sensation change on the quality of life in patients who received chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer. Material and Method: The sample of the descriptive study consisted of 100 patients who received treatment in the oncology department of Gaziantep University Şahinbey Research and Application Hospital between the data collection dates. The sample consisted of 100 patients who met the acceptance criteria. Data were collected through the patient identification form, the Chemotherapy-Induced Taste Change Scale, and the SF-36 quality of life scale. Results: It was determined that all of the participants were women and the mean age was 52.09±11.63. The subscale scores of the SF-36 quality-of-life scale, except for pain, are significantly correlated negatively between all other scales and the subscale scores of the scoring scale, and the scores of the scaling scale decrease as the SF-36 scores increase. The marital status was found to have no effect on the scores on the scales. Conclusions: SF-36 quality of life scale scores were found to be generally high. In the scores of the tasting scale, generally low scores were encountered. It is suggested that studies in different regions should be conducted with different patient groups where the number of samples is higher and the training programs and initiatives to increase the quality of life for the patients suffering from the chemotherapy treatment and the taste disturbance due to the chemotherapy treatment and the determination of the taste sensory disorder symptoms for the patients receiving chemotherapy are planned.

Determination of Nurses’ Communication with Palliative Care Patients and Their Motivation to Work

Seher Çevik AkturaÖzlem Soylu — 2026-07-16

Background/Objective: The aim of the study is to determine the communication status and working motivation of nurses with palliative care patients. Material and Method: This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted with 204 nurses working in the intensive care units of a hospital in eastern Turkey. In the study, no sample selection was made, and all of the nurses were included in the sample group. In the study, no sample selection was made and all of the nurses were included in the sample group. The sample of the study consisted of 134 nurses. The data of the research were collected using the Participant Introduction Form and the Multidimensional Job Motivation Scale. Descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney U test, One Way ANOVA test and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used in the analysis of research data. Results: In the study, it was found that the mean age of the nurses was 29.78±5.27, 67.9% of them were female, 91.8% of them were undergraduate graduates, and 52.2% of them were married. In addition, 85.8% of the nurses participating in the research stated that they worked both day and night, 97% tried to communicate while giving care to the patient, 97.8% stated that they communicated verbally and 87.3% tried to communicate by addressing the patient by name. 45.5% of the nurses stated that they felt that they could help the patient when they first contacted the patient. 47.8% stated that they were disappointed when they could not communicate with the patient, and 91.8% stated that they tried to communicate every time they went to the patient. It was found that the communication status of the nurses while giving care to the patient, the feelings they felt when they contacted the patient for the first time, and the frequency of communicating with the patient were significant variables for work motivation (p<0.05). Conclusions: In the study, it was determined that nurses' communication with palliative care patients was important in terms of their working motivation.

Examination of the Relationship between the Empathy Levels of Home Care Students and their Attitudes to Caring for the Dying Person

Gülsüm Yetiş Koca Gönül Akbulut — 2026-07-16

Purpose: The aim of this research; is to determine the relationship between the empathy levels of home care students and their attitudes towards caring for the dying individual. Method: The universe of this descriptive and relationship-seeking research consists of students who are actively studying in the Home Patient Care program in the 2022-2023 academic year. In the study, it was planned to reach the entire universe without choosing a sample, and the research was completed with 70 students who could be reached. The analyzes of the obtained data were made using the Kolmogorov, Smirnov, Shapiro Wilk, Independent sample t, ANOVA, Mann Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis, Korelasyon,percentage and mean tests in the SPSS package program. Results: In terms of total scale scores, it was found that there was a low-level positive statistically significant correlation between all sub-dimensions and empathy levels and the FATCOD total score (p<0.05). Conclusion: It was found that students with high empathy levels of home care students developed more positive attitudes towards dying individuals.

Emotional Labor Behaviors of Pediatric Nurses and Related Factors

Ayşe Arıcıoğlu SülünElanur Vicnelioğlu — 2026-07-16

Background/Objective: Nurses have to exhibit emotional labor behavior in order to reflect the expectations of the people they interact with, not their real feelings in their profession. This study was conducted to examine the emotional labor behaviors of pediatric nurses and related factors. Material and Method: The data of the study were collected between August and October 2022. The data of the study were collected by face-to-face interview method using the introductory characteristics form prepared by the researcher and the "Nurses' Emotional Labor Behavior Scale". In the evaluation of the data, percentage, mean, standard deviation and correlation analyzes were performed using the descriptive statistical analysis method. Statistical significance level was accepted as p<0.050. Results: When the sociodemographic characteristics of the nurses were examined, it was determined that the mean age was 31.19±9.35 years, 79.8% were women, 46.8% worked 40 hours, and 93.6% found the wages they received insufficient. There was a statistically significant relationship between the satisfaction of the unit they work in and the sub-dimensions of emotional labor scale superficial, deep and sincere, and it was determined that the average score of those who were satisfied with the unit they worked in was higher. Conclusions: It was determined that pediatric nurses showed sincere behavior while giving care. In this respect, it is very important for nurses to have the skills to show emotional labor behavior. It can be suggested to add course contents that explain the concept of emotional labor to the nursing undergraduate curriculum.

Palliative Care of Patients Diagnosed with Lung Cancer According to The Life Activities Model: A Case Report

Ahmet ErolUğur Öner — 2026-07-16

Lung cancer is one of the most common types of cancer and negatively affects the daily life of the individual. Many symptoms such as pain, cough, shortness of breath, loss of appetite, weight loss, hemoptysis, weakness or fatigue, and psychosocial problems are seen in patients with lung cancer. In the advanced stages of the disease, palliative care is given to increase the quality of life of the patient and to alleviate the pain. In this study, it was aimed to determine the care needs of the individual by using the Life Activities Model and the North American Nursing Diagnosis Association International, Nursing Outcomes Classification and Nursing Interventions Classification systems of the case diagnosed with lung cancer. The aim of this study is to determine and to plan, implement and evaluate the care in line with these needs. A systematically planned and individualized care plan was created for the patient in need of palliative care. In the prepared care plan, a list of 12 nursing diagnoses, 27 patient outcomes and 36 nursing interventions was created. When the results of the care given were evaluated, it was determined that there was an improvement in the general condition of the patient, his pain decreased, and his comfort increased.

Patient Safety in Palliative Care

Burcu Totur DikmenÜmran Dal Yılmaz — 2026-07-16

Background/Objective: Palliative care patients are vulnerable to situations and behaviors that threaten patient safety. Research on the extent and causes of care that threatens patient safety in these patients is limited. The aim of this study is to examine the nursing studies conducted to ensure patient safety in palliative care patients. Material and Method: In this study, National Library of Medicine-National Institutes of Health, Science Direct, Scopus, Google Scholar, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature databases "palliative care", "patient safety Searched using the keywords '' and ''nursing care''. Results: After the literature review, it was determined that studies on patient safety in palliative care patients, conducted with nurses, were included in the literature on patient safety culture, drug safety problems and the effect of emotionally supported nurses on patient safety. Conclusions: As a result, it has been discussed that the studies conducted support the importance of patient safety in palliative care patients, and that nurses develop positive perceptions and attitudes. It has been revealed that more studies on the subject, especially randomized controlled studies, are necessary.