Does a salutogenic attitude increase life quality after prostate cancer treatment?

2^nd International Conference on Nursing & Healthcare

November 17-19, 2014 DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Chicago-North Shore Conference Center, USA

Liselotte Jakobsson

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Nurs Care

Abstract :

A high sense of coherence is suggested to be a predominate for how life is managed and is often used as an assessment tool for general health status after treatment or connected to health perception in general. A low SOC is found to be related to poor perceived health, low social support and low emotional support thus building on life already strained by cancer illness and treatment. The study investigated the influence of sense of coherence, SOC, on and, its correlation to life quality and sexual functioning in men after prostate cancer treatment. The underlying assumption being that a salutogenic attitude may make life seem more meaningful, comprehensive and manageable. The 5-year longitudinal study including 6 data collection points, baseline, 3 moths, 1, 2, 3 and 5 years. Data was collected with the Sense of Coherence questionnaire (short form) and the generic Quality of life questionnaire, EORTC QLQ C-30, together with the prostate cancer specific module PR-25. Preliminary results showed a stable SOC-rating over the years contradicting results from studies where this is not found. Positive influence from SOC-ratings was found on quality of life, physical as well as psychosocial aspects of life immediately after surgery. After 5 years SOC correlated to emotional and cognitive functioning and to longtime side effects from treatment. It is reasonable to argue that SOC thus contributed to meaning, comprehensiveness and manageability in life in different ways according to patients needs during a post-surgery range of years.

Biography :

Liselotte Jakobsson, RNT, DMsc, has received her Doctoral in Medical Science in 2000 from Lund University. She is senior lecturer at ground and advanced level and a researcher at Kristianstad University, Sweden. Her main research interest is in prostate cancer and its consequences for life quality. Current research also involves frequent ER-visitors and the implementation of a new model of care delivery at ER. She is a member of the Educational Board for the Section of Health and Society and The Research and Development Committee at the Central Hospital of Kristianstad. Her publications concerns both qualitative and quantitative research.