NURSING CARE OF TERMINAL ONCOLOGICAL PATIENTS AND QUALITY OF LIFE

Zloćudni tumor je drugi najčešći uzrok smrtnosti odmah poslije kardiovaskularnih bolesti. U Republici Hrvatskoj kod muškaraca je najveća stopa oboljelih od zloćudnih tumora prostate dok žene najviše obolijevaju od zloćudnog tumora dojke. Najčešći maligni uzrok smrtnosti u Republici Hrvatskoj kod muškaraca je zloćudni tumor pluća, a kod žena zloćudni tumor debelog i tankog crijeva. U svijetu je zloćudni tumor vodeći uzrok smrtnost, a najčešći zloćudni tumor je tumor pluća. Kako bi se smanjio eksponencijalan rast pojavnosti zloćudnih tumora diljem svijeta važno je raditi na prevenciji zloćudnih tumora odnosno redovito odlaziti na preglede kod liječnika i ukloniti ili smanjiti moguće čimbenike rizika za nastanak zloćudnog tumora(pušenje, pretjerana konzumacija alkohola, tjelesna neaktivnost, pravilna prehrana, korištenje zaštite prilikom seksualnih odnosa). Redoviti odlasci na preglede izuzetno su važni kod ranog dijagnosticiranja zloćudnih tumora. U situacijama kasnog otkrivanja zloćudnog tumora najčešće se pruža palijativna skrb kojoj je cilj olakšati simptome prouzrokovane bolešću i poboljšati kvalitetu života bolesnika. Važnu ulogu u skrbi za terminalne onkološke bolesnike ima onkološka medicinska sestra koja kroz proces sestrinske skrbi osigurava bolesnicima najkvalitetniju skrb. Onkološka medicinska sestra provodi jako puno vremena uz bolesnike i prva uočava novonastale promjene. Neki od najčešćih problema kod terminalnih onkoloških bolesnika s kojima se onkološka medicinska sestra suočava su: bol, anoreksija i kaheksija, konstipacija, mučnina i povraćanje, dispneja, proljev, umor i depresija. Za onkološku medicinsku sestru je bitno da poznaje hitna stanja u onkologiji kako bi pri nastanku nekog od njih mogla pravovremeno intervenirati. Onkološke medicinske sestre moraju imati fokus na njezi i zbrinjavanju akutnih bolesnika, edukaciji bolesnika i njihovih obitelji, uspješnom oporavku bolesnika i pružanju potporne skrbi. Na kraju provedene sestrinske skrbi potrebno je evaluirati ciljeve i planove sestrinske skrbi i utvrditi da li je potrebno ponovno provesti određene intervencije kako bi se poboljšala kvaliteta života bolesnika. Prema istraživanjima na kvalitetu života terminalnih onkoloških bolesnika bitno utječu simptomi uznapredovalog zloćudnog tumora, pa je stoga potrebno učinkovitom skrbi utjecati na nastanak simptoma kako bi se terminalnim onkološkim bolesnicima povećala kvaliteta života.Cancer is the second most common cause of death immediately after cardiovascular disease. In the Republic of Croatia, men have the highest rate of prostate cancer, while women have the highest rate of breast cancer. The most common malignant cause of death in the Republic of Croatia in men is lung cancer, and in women cancer of the colon and small intestine. Cancer is the leading cause of death in the world, and the most common cancer is lung cancer. In order to reduce the exponential growth of cancer worldwide, it is important to work on cancer prevention, ie to see a doctor regularly and to eliminate or reduce possible risk factors for cancer (smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, proper diet). Regular check-ups are extremely important in the early diagnosis of cancer. In situations of late cancer detection, palliative care is most often provided, which aims to alleviate symptoms and improve the quality of life of patients instead of treating the disease. An important role in the care of terminal oncology patients is played by the oncology nurse who, through the process of nursing care, provides patients with the highest quality care. The oncology nurse spends a lot of time with patients and is the first to notice the new changes. Some of the most common problems in terminal oncology patients faced by an oncology nurse are: pain, anorexia and cachexia, constipation, nausea and vomiting, dyspnea, diarrhea, fatigue, and depression. It is important for an oncology nurse to know the emergencies in oncology so that she can intervene in a timely manner in the event of any of them. Oncology nurses must have a focus on caring for and caring for acute patients, educating patients and their families, successfully recovering patients, and providing supportive care. At the end of the nursing care, it is necessary to evaluate the goals and plans of nursing care and determine whether it is necessary to re-implement certain interventions in order to improve the quality of life of patients. According to research, the quality of life of terminal cancer patients is significantly affected by the symptoms of advanced cancer, so it is necessary to effectively influence the onset of symptoms in order to make life easier for patients