Browsing by Author "Elumelu, T. N."

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Assessing cancer patients’ quality of life and coping mechanisms in radiotherapy department of the University College Hospital Ibadan
(Wiley-Blackwell, 2013-05) Asuzu, C. C.; Elumelu, T. N.
Background: Cancer is often associated with a lot of pain and suffering. These suggest that coping with the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of cancer is a major life stressor that is capable of influencing patients’ quality of life (QoL). Purpose: The purpose of the study is to assess the relationship between cancer patients’ QoL dimensions and coping strategies in the Radiotherapy Department of the University College Hospital Ibadan, Nigeria. Methods: Data were collected on clinic days from all available and consenting cancer patients who were receiving treatment at the radiotherapy department. Participants were informed of their right to decline to fill the questionnaires. Result: In this study, 237 cancer patients participated. They had an age range of 15 to 95 years with a mean age of 49.91 years. There was significant inverse relationship between physical well-being with behavioural disengagement, venting, planning and self-blame (p<0.05); social/family well-being has significant linear relationship with active coping, emotional support, positive reframing, instrumental support, acceptance and religion (p<0.05); emotional well-being has significant inverse relationship with behavioural disengagement and self-blame (p<0.05); functional well-being has significant linear relationship with active coping, instrumental support and acceptance (p<0.05). Conclusion: It is important to assess cancer patients for the kind of coping strategies they are adopting to use in coping with their cancer burden, thereby guiding against lower QoL due to negative coping strategies. Intervention programmes could be developed to help cancer patients adopt more positive and effective coping strategies to improve patients’ QoL.
Impact of active coping, religion and acceptance on quality of life of patients with breast cancer in the department of radiotherapy, UCH, Ibadan
(2014) Elumelu, T. N.; Asuzu, C. C.; Akin-Odanye, E. O.
Background- A breast cancer diagnosis as well as the treatment that follows has considerable consequences on women’s physical functioning, psychological health and overall well-being, resulting in significant interference with patients’ quality of life (QoL). Purpose The study seeks to assess the impact of active coping, religion and acceptance on the QoL of patients with breast cancer. Participants- This study, which is descriptive in nature, assessed the QoL and coping mechanism of 110 patients with breast cancer receiving treatment at the radiotherapy clinic in the University College Hospital (UCH). The patients had an age range of 25–75, an average age of 46.82 and an SD of 10.55. Male patients were 4 (3.60%), while 106 (96.40%) were female. Currently married participants were 84 (76.40%), while 26 (23.60%) were not. Methods- Data was collected using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast (FACT-B) V.4 QoL questionnaire and Carver’s Brief Cope questionnaire. Results- Analysis of data showed that significant differences were found between participants who used active coping, religious coping and acceptance more than those who did not in the overall QoL (p<0.05) as well as in some of the QoL dimensions. Conclusions- Significant differences exist in the QoL of patients with breast cancer based on the coping style they adopt. Patients with breast cancer should be helped to adopt coping styles that would enhance their QoL.
Knowledge and attitudes of terminally ill patients and their family to palliative care and hospice services in Nigeria
(2005-06) Adenipekun, A.; Onibokun, A.; Elumelu, T. N.; Soyannwo, O. A.
Bacground: A palliative care and Hospice service is a neglected aspect of medical discipline especially in a developing country like Nigeria. With the global increase in incidence of cancer and HIV/A IDS and 70% of them presenting late, coupled with limited resources, for effective symptom control, palliative care therefore remains the only option left to improve the quality of life of the patients. Objective: To assess the, knowledge and attitudes of patients and their relations to palliative care and hospice services {PC&H} and to fashion out appropriate services for the patients. Materials and methods: A total of 130 participants were studied using a questionnaire which comprised of three parts: Socio-demographic variables. Information about Knowledge and Attitudes towards PC&H. Results: Sixty nine were patients while 61 were family members. Ninety four [72.3%] had no knowledge of PC&H regardless of level of education and social status. 109 (84%) agreed that symptoms of the terminally ill patients should be treated to improve their quality of life and 75%. of the participants agreed that this will be better done in a Hospice. 106 183% | participants desire to have hospice established in every community, this again was regardless of tribe Conclusion: There is a gross lack of knowledge about PC&H in our community as evidenced among, the participants studied. However, there is a positive attitude towards PC&H suggesting a general acceptance, since there is presently no well established Hospice, in Nigeria; we recommend that government and Non-governmental organizations should assist in this area. A hospital based Hospice might be a starting point