End of Life Outcomes for Lung Cancer Patients who Use Different Coping Strategies : A Review

Abstract

Background: Near end of life cancer patients are suffering from multiple distress that can affect their quality of life, and because all human beings have different levels of coping with the stressors, it is very important to understand the type of coping strategy for each cancer patient and help them to stimulate these strategies. Purpose: To evaluate end of life outcomes for lung cancer patients when they use their coping strategies when they are near death. Methods: After the usage of different electronic databases with specific key words, the number of found articles was 41, but only 8 articles met the inclusion criteria and were used for the current review. Results: This integrative review found that lung cancer patients are using many coping strategies to overcome the stressors during the period of end of life, and these strategies depend on cultural, educational and financial factors. Also, oncology nurses play a vital role in helping patients and families to adapt to new changes; these abilities of adaptation create positive outcomes on the quality of life for patients near end of life. Implications and Recommendations: In order to maintain a high quality of end of life it is important to manage the symptoms as soon as possible, and for more enhancement the oncology nurses should use comprehensive care planning strategies which consider helpful mechanisms in achieving patient’ outcomes.