Understanding Distress in Cancer Patients: A Multifactorial Perspective

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Introduction Distress is something that is felt by the patient in different ways: mentally, emotionally, and sometimes physically. Distress can affect the patient, the caregiver, and the family. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) defines distress as “a multifactorial unpleasant experience of a psychological (ie, cognitive, behavioral, emotional), social, spiritual, and/or physical nature that may interfere with the ability to cope effectively with cancer, its physical symptoms, and its treatment. Distress extends along a continuum, ranging from common normal feelings of vulnerability, sadness, and fears to problems that can become disabling, such as depression, anxiety, panic, social isolation, and existential and spiritual crisis” …show more content…

Watson studied nursing, went on to earn her masters in psychiatric and mental health nursing, and then her Ph.D. in educational psychology and counseling in 1973 (Watson Caring Science institute, 2017). She always had a passion for relationship-centered care practices. Watson’s theory of human caring was first published in 1979. It included 10 carative factors that later evolved into 10 caritas processes (Norman, Rosillo, & Skelton, 2016). According to Norman, Rossillo, and Skelton (2016), Cartias is Latin for cherish, which Watson defines as “appreciating and giving special, if not loving, attention to patients. It represents charity and compassion, generosity of spirit (p. 401 – 402). Watson Caring Science Institute (2017) lists Watson’s 10 caritas processes …show more content…

The goal of Watson’s theory of human caring is to ensure a balance and harmony between the health and illness experiences of a person (Watson, 1999). This theory is intended to apply to nurses because nursing is categorized as a humanitarian science and characterized as a profession that performs personal, scientific, and ethical practice. This pertains to the theory of human caring because it is people-oriented, it accepts the demission of human integrity without compromising its mind-body-spirit (Watson, 1999). The ten caritas processes listed above, are a guide to clinical implementation of the theory into

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