Articles summaries and critical reflections in nursing help nursing students enhance their professional writing skills and expand their knowledge. Additionally, these students get a chance to examine the content presented by qualified authors in their respective fields. The purpose of this paper is to summarize three articles and select one of them for critical reflection. The articles that have been chosen include “Oropharyngeal cancer and HPV: Measuring knowledge and impact among survivors of head and neck cancer” by Gallagher et al. (2017), “Cancer prevention and detection: Application across the cancer trajectory” by Mahon (2018), and “Confronting disparities: Race, ethnicity, and immigrant status as intersectional determinants in the COVID-19 era” by Obinna (2021).
Article Summaries
The article “Oropharyngeal cancer and HPV: Measuring knowledge and impact among survivors of head and neck cancer” by Gallagher et al. (2017) examines the knowledge that patients who have survived head and neck cancer have about these cancers. It attempts to understand these patients’ relationship with their sexual partners after their diagnoses. The study was motivated by insufficient evidence on the knowledgeability of cancer survivors, particularly HPV-related OPCs (oropharyngeal cancers) (Gallagher et al., 2017). Therefore, it aims to describe the existence of knowledge among survivors regarding these cancers. The study relies on a qualitative research model to examine the research question. In particular, it involved using a cross-sectional, single-center, non-randomized study of patients that had been newly diagnosed with head and neck cancer and had completed their first three months of treatment before they were enrolled in the study. Sixty-four surveys were sent to the potential participants that had been identified, and only 34 of them completed the surveys (Gallagher et al., 2017). From the participants’ responses, it was clear that most of them had a strong interest in understanding HPV, yet they had insufficient knowledge about it. Most of the respondents were never taught about HPV during their diagnosis, despite it being the first time (Gallagher et al., 2017). Instead, they relied on the internet as their primary source to learn more about HPV. Most of the respondents reported that the HPV diagnosis did not harm their relationships with their partners; however, decreased sexual intimacy was a common theme in the responses of these participants. Therefore, the study identified significant gaps among cancer survivors regarding HPV despite having been diagnosed with HPV-related cancers.
The article “Cancer prevention and detection: Application across the cancer trajectory” by Mahon (2018) reviews the various principles and how cancer prevention is applied to clinical care. Mahon (2018) believes that various principles of early detection and cancer prevention exist in oncology nursing, which calls for their understanding, which will help provide comprehensive cancer care. The article is based on the belief that the trajectory of cancer care offers oncology nurses an opportunity to educate their patients and their families, which cannot be achieved without understanding the principles of cancer prevention and early detection. The article describes the importance of risk assessment in oncology nursing. Cancer risk assessment has been described to play an essential role in cancer prevention and early detection. It should be passed on family history, personal lifestyle factors, and past medical history. Oncology nurses should assess their patients using specific risk factors. Additionally, they should understand that the major challenge is the education of patients and families regarding risk factors and their meaning. Mahon (2018) discusses the importance of implementing primary cancer prevention into clinical practice. She believes that oncology nurses should remind patients for cancer screening examinations about effective primary prevention measures. The article also discusses secondary cancer prevention, focusing on the need, to begin with, risks assessment and screening recommendations. According to the article, oncology nurses should play a leading role in educating patients about secondary prevention because confusion is always common due to changing guidelines. The article also discusses tertiary cancer prevention, focusing on it being aimed at patients with malignancy history. It encompasses monitoring for cancer recurrence and screening individuals for second primary cancers.
The article “Confronting disparities: Race, ethnicity, and immigrant status as intersectional determinants in the COVID-19 era” by Obinna (2021) examines the role that race and immigrant status have played in the wake of COVID-19 spread in immigration detention centers and prisons. The study has targeted these facilities because they are likely to have racial/ethnic minority inmates, and their health and sanitary conditions are likely to be ineffective. The study relies on the framework of intersectionality to understand the role that various social factors have played during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has revealed the existence of long-standing inequalities in the country’s health care system. Obinna (2021) believes that the spread of COVID-19 has made the health disparities increase, such that they have significantly contributed to COVID-19 morbidities and mortalities. The study uses intersectionality to explain how ethnic minorities stand at the intersection of numerous barriers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Obinna (2021) discusses how health workers who are minorities are victims of inequality and discrimination. They work in high-risk environments that make them become exposed to the virus compared to their white counterparts, who get the privilege to work from home. Obinna (2021) also focuses on prisons and detention centers to illuminate how ethnic minorities are at the intersection of numerous barriers. According to him, these individuals are at a higher risk of rapid COVID-19 transmission due to the facilities’ overcrowded nature and poor sanitation. The article examines how various social identities intersect to affect the health of minority populations, with a focus on COVID-19 spread.
Critical Reflection
The article that has been chosen for critical reflection is “Cancer prevention and detection: Application across the cancer trajectory” by Suzanne Mahon. The critical reflection will encompass a discussion of major concepts that I have learned in the article, how the article enhanced my learning, and how the article’s information can be utilized to enhance nursing practice and patient care. Also, it will discuss my recommendations for future nursing research applications and discuss the relationship between the article’s content and Molloy’s college value system of community, service, spirituality, and study.
I have learned various concepts from the article. For instance, I have learned the concept of cancer risk assessment. The article involves a review of a patient’s present and past medical history, family history, and history of exposure to various carcinogens. Notably, families with a history of cancer may need to be subjected to genetic testing during risk assessment. Nurses need to understand the components of risk assessment to help them in cancer prevention and early detection. Another concept I have learned is tertiary cancer prevention, which applies to people with a malignancy history and it involves monitoring for the recurrence of second primary cancers.
The article has enhanced my present learning about oncology nursing by explaining essential concepts oncology nurses should understand to help them provide quality care. In particular, the article has enhanced my knowledge of cancer testing, as I have learned about various types of tests that should be conducted. These tests include diagnostic tests, false-negative tests, false-positive tests, true-negative tests, and true-positive tests. If I decide to focus on oncology nursing, the knowledge of these tests will be crucial in my success in the field.
The information presented in the article; particularly, the principles on cancer prevention and early detection, can enhance patient care and nursing practice. Oncology nurses can use the information to improve their understanding of the trajectory of cancer, which is essential in determining their care choices. For instance, nurses with a better understanding of the cancer trajectory will know the type of test to conduct based on the patient assessment. The information can enhance patient care through the intervention of oncology nurses who will understand what to educate patients and their families. Education is vital in enhancing patient care, as the patients and their families will be more informed about the health decisions they are expected to undertake.
Future nursing research questions should be focused on understanding the risk assessment of hereditary cancer. The article does not focus on specific cancer, which calls for considering hereditary cancer. Specifically, the research should help identify factors that should be considered in assessing hereditary cancer to understand the empiric risks of multiple cancers.
The article’s content closely relates to Molloy’s college value system of community, service, spirituality, and study. According to Molloy College (2021), diversity and relationships are vital aspects of the way of the Dominican College. On the community pillar, the article embraces diversity, as there are no culture-specific words that have been used, which may lock out other people. The principles of cancer prevention and early detection that have been discussed apply to all people, regardless of race, religion, sex, or gender. On the pillar of study, the article allows people to become more informed on cancer prevention and detection through discussing essential concepts. I have learned various concepts from the article regarding cancer prevention, applied in oncology nursing. On the pillar of spirituality, the article’s content allows practicing nurses to reflect on the ideal strategies they can apply in cancer prevention and early detection. On the pillar of service, the content of the article relates to service to patients. According to the article, nurses can educate their patients and their families about cancer early detection and prevention.
In conclusion, each of the three articles that have been summarized contains essential concepts that students can use to expand their nursing knowledge. The article selected for critical reflection, “Cancer prevention and detection: Application across the cancer trajectory” by Suzanne Mahon, contains important principles that nurses can use to better their understanding of cancer prevention and early detection. I have learned various concepts from the article, such as cancer risk assessment, tertiary cancer prevention, and cancer tests. Therefore, as a nursing student, the article has helped expand my nursing knowledge regarding cancer prevention and early detection.
References
Gallagher, S. T., Deal, A. M., Ballard, D., & Mayer, D. K. (2017). Oropharyngeal cancer and HPV: Measuring knowledge and impact among survivors of head and neck cancer. Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, 21(3), 321–330. https://doi-org.molloy.idm.oclc.org/10.1188/17.CJON.321-330
Mahon, S. M. (2018). Cancer prevention and detection: Application across the cancer trajectory. Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, 22(1), 108–112. https://doi-org.molloy.idm.oclc.org/10.1188/18.CJON.108-112
Molloy College. (2021). Four pillars of Dominican life. Molloy College. https://www.molloy.edu/about-molloy-college/mission-statement/four-pillars
Obinna, D. N. (2021). Confronting disparities: Race, ethnicity, and immigrant status as intersectional determinants in the COVID-19 era. Health Education & Behavior, 48(4), 397–403. https://doi-org.molloy.idm.oclc.org/10.1177/10901981211011581
