Symptom clusters of cancer patients
Küçük Resim Yok
Tarih
2011
Yazarlar
Dergi Başlığı
Dergi ISSN
Cilt Başlığı
Yayıncı
Nova Science Publishers, Inc.
Erişim Hakkı
info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess
Özet
Various symptoms are frequently reported by patients with cancer during or after treatment. Fatigue, pain, anxiety, dry mouth, nausea, depression and distress are among the most common symtoms. Fatigue was the most prevalent severe symptom, with more than half of the sample having experienced moderate-to-severe fatigue. The other severe symptoms sleep disturbance, pain, distress, and sadness were present in two-thirds of the patients. Cancer patients often experience multiple symptoms, and it has been reported that cancer patients were experience an average of 11-13 concurrent symptoms. Symptoms may be a result of the disease itself or of the associated treatment. They may considerably affect the patient's sense of wellbeing and his or her physical and social functions. A higher number of symptoms were associated with lower quality of life and increased anxious and depressed. The influence of cancer on long-term health outcomes, specifically, individuals with a history of cancer have been shown to have greater loss of productivity, be less able to work, have poorer health status, and have greater need for assistance with activities of daily living than those without a history of cancer. Cancer survivors were significantly more likely to have been diagnosed with lung or heart disease, arthritis, or diabetes; were more likely to experience frequent pain and urinary incontinence; and were more likely to have limitations in their daily activities. The control of symptoms is dependent on a comprehensive clinical assessment. Studies demonstrate a significant correlation among pain, depression, fatigue, and other symptoms commonly seen throughout the course of cancer. Therefore, multidimensional scales incorporating the most common symptoms would ensure systematic assessment. Currently available instruments that measure symptom clusters include the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale, the M.D. Anderson Symptom Inventory, the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale, the Rotterdam Symptom Checklist, the Symptom Distress Scale, and others. Each of these tools has demonstrated utility in measuring symptom severity and quality of life. Value of symptom assessment is important. Interference ratings for multiple symptoms would help categorize levels of symptom distress. Assessment is essential to the prevention and management of symptoms common in people with cancer. Symptom research promotes evidence-based symptom management. Six complementary and alternative medicine therapies, used to control symptoms, were assessed, including herbs, tea, acupuncture, massage, meditation, and prayer. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use was greatest for difficulty breathing and pain, with prayer the most commonly used CAM for all symptoms. Some of the causal forces explaining the variations in, and relationships among, palliative care patients' symptoms changed over the final month of life. This illustrates how investigating the causal foundations of symptom correlation or clustering can provide more detailed understandings that may contribute to improved control of patient comfort, quality of life, and quality of death. Six major barriers to symptom management were identified: communication issues with the healthcare provider, medication concerns, difficult symptom management, lack of resources, physical or psychological distress, and fear of diagnostic or surgical procedures. The most common barrier to symptom management was communication issues with the healthcare provider. © 2011 Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Açıklama
Anahtar Kelimeler
[No Keyword]
Kaynak
Cancer Clusters
WoS Q Değeri
Scopus Q Değeri
N/A
