在美国，临床上那些被诊断罹患肺癌的肿瘤患者因过度关注于最后生存期限以及死亡等问题，通常情志上会出现焦虑症或是抑郁症。近日，密歇根州立大学护理学院--Rebecca H. Lehto助理教授在Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing上发表的一则研究论文证实：护士在缓解这些担忧方面发挥关键作用，可以使患者获得更好的生活质量。
病患在接受医生诊断时通常都会觉得孤独，那些发病较早的患者一旦被确诊为肺癌时，会过度集中于如治疗是否成功会、癌症是否会扩散、自己死亡的风险等一些问题。而照看病患的护理人员通常又不太愿意或者是刻意避免谈论死亡等敏感话题，这样一来更加剧了患者的精神问题。
该研究发现假如护士能非常愿意讨论涉及生存率或是手术成功率等一些患者非常关注的话题的话，患者的心理适应能力会有所提高，可以减少患者因确诊为肿瘤所带来的心理冲击。
绝大多数情况下，护理人员都只会专注于疾病的治疗或是病患的管理。假如护士能讨论涉及生存率或是手术成功率等话题的话，患者得抑郁或是焦虑症的几率会减少，这样一来就能够更好地配合抗癌治疗。（生物谷Bioon.com）
doi:10.1188/12.CJON.E1-E8
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PMID:
The Challenge of Existential Issues in Acute Care: Nursing Considerations for the Patient With a New Diagnosis of Lung Cancer
Rebecca H. Lehto, PhD, RN, OCN1
A new diagnosis of lung cancer is a highly threatening experience that raises personally relevant existential issues and brings death-related thoughts and concerns to mind. Those issues can be very disturbing to patients, leading to distress and potentially to a lowered quality of life. The purpose of this article is to present to the practicing oncology nurse the types of existential and death-related concerns that patients with a new diagnosis of lung cancer may have. In addition, the article identifies practical strategies and resources for oncology nurses who can help patients accept and manage the normal but often distressing responses to a life-threatening diagnosis.
