Year: 2011
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: :\t Patients\twith\tadvanced\tcancer\toften\tsuffer\tfrom\tmultiple\tconcurrent\tsymptoms. Symptom cluster\t identification\tmay\t lead\t to\t effective\t symptom\tmanagement,\t which can result\tin\timproved\tpatient\tcare. The\tpurpose\tof\tthis\tstudy\twas\tto\texplore\tthe\tcluster of symptoms\tin\tThais\twith\tadvanced\tcancer. Two\thundred\tand\tforty\tThai\tpatients\twith advanced cancer\tfrom\tthree\ttertiary\thospitals\tin\tBangkok\tand\tthe\tsurrounding\tsuburbs were recruited\t to\t complete\t a\t demographic\t questionnaire\t and\tMemorial\t Symptom Assessment Scale. Data\twere\tcollected\tfrom\tNovember\t2008 to\tApril\t2009. The most\t common\t cancer\t reported\twas\t gastro-intestinal\t cancer,\t followed\t by breast cancer,\t hepato-biliary\tcancer\tand\tlung\tcancer. Pain\twas\tthe\tmost\tcommon\tsymptom, followed by\tfeeling\tbloated,\t lack\tof\tenergy,\t shortness\tof\tbreath\tand\t“I\tdon’t\tlook\tlike myself. ”\t Using\tprincipal\tcomponent\tanalysis,\t with\tvarimax\trotation,\t four\tsymptom\tclusters were identified:\t “pain,\t sickness-behavior\t and\t psychological; ”\t “anorexia-cachexia;” “gastro-intestinal and\telimination; ”\t and,\t “cutaneous\tand\tother.” The findings\tshould\thelp\thealthcare\tproviders\tbetter\tunderstand\tthe\tconcomitant symptoms patients\twith\t cancer\t experience. This\t knowledge\tmay\t lead\t to\t successful symptom management,\t reduced\tmedication\t use\t and\t enhanced\t quality\t of\t life\t for patients with\tadvanced\tcancer.
Institutions: Mahidol University, Ramathibodi Hospital, Yale University
Language: English
Topic: Cancer survivorship and care
Subfield: Oncology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
Funder: Commission on Higher Education
OpenAlex ID: W166316799