Min Young Kim

doi:10.4040/jkan.2009.39.3.433

Articles

Page Path: HOME > J Korean Acad Nurs > Volume 39(3); 2009 > Article

Original Article
Transition of Symptoms and Quality of Life in Cancer Patients on Chemotherapy: Min Young Kim; Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing 2009;39(3):433-445.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2009.39.3.433
Published online: June 29, 2009

Researcher, Jeju Regional Cancer Center, Jeju National University Hospital, Jeju, Korea.

Address reprint requests to: Kim, Min Young. 107-204 Daelin APT, 800 Donam-dong, Jeju 690-806, Korea. Tel: 82-64-717-1508, Fax: 82-64-717-1487, musemy2@hanmail.net

• Received: August 27, 2008 • Accepted: June 2, 2009

17 Views
0 Download
11 Scopus

prev next

Full Article

Download PDF

Abstract
REFERENCES

Abstract

Purpose
The purpose of this study was to assess changes in pain, fatigue, anorexia, anxiety and quality of life (QOL) in patients with cancer who were on chemotherapy.
Methods
Symptoms and QOL were examined both before chemotherapy and after 2 cycles of chemotherapy. The participants were 76 cancer patients receiving chemotherapy in one of 7 hospitals.
Results
The patients experienced a mean of 2.22-2.23 symptoms out of 4 symptoms. Patients who were female, or suffered from breast or colorectal cancer experienced more symptoms. Fatigue at present, and most severe fatigue and anorexia in the previous 3 weeks increased significantly. Anxiety and QOL decreased significantly after 2 cycles of chemotherapy. Number of symptoms, anorexia at present, most severe anorexia in past 3 weeks, and anxiety had negative correlations. QOL before chemotherapy showed a positive correlation with QOL after 2 cycles of chemotherapy. In a regression analysis, anxiety, QOL at baseline, income, and the most severe pain in the past 3 weeks were significant predictors of QOL.
Conclusion
Physical and psychological factors were significant predictors of both QOL and each subscale, and these factors correlated with each other. These results demonstrate the needs for early assessment and intervention from the start of chemotherapy to decrease symptoms and improve QOL.
Keywords: Quality of life; Symptoms; Chemotherapy; Cancer

REFERENCES

1. Berger AM, Higginbotham P. Correlates of fatigue during and following adjuvant breast cancer chemotherapy: A pilot study. Oncology Nursing Forum. 2000;27:1443–1448.PubMed
2. Byar KL, Berger AM, Bakken SL, Cetak MA. Impact of adjuvant breast cancer chemotherapy on fatigue, other symptoms, and quality of life. Oncology Nursing Forum. 2006;33:E18–E26.Article PubMed
3. Choi SE, Park HR, Ban JY. Anxiety in patient undergone hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Journal of Korean Oncology Nursing. 2006;6:37–46.
4. Chung BY, Yu X, Lee EH. Symptom experience, mood disturbance & social support in breast cancer patients undergoing radiotherap. Journal of Korean Oncology Nursing. 2006;6:172–180.
5. Chung CW, Kim MJ, Rhee MH, Do HG. Functional status and psychosocial adjustment in gynecologic cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Korean Journal of Women Health Nursing. 2005;11:58–66.Article PDF
6. Curt GA, Breitbart W, Cella D, Groopman JE, Horning SJ, Itri LM, et al. Impact of cancer-related fatigue on the lives of patients: New findings from the fatigue coalition. Oncologist. 2005;5:353–360.Article PDF
7. Dodd MJ, Miaskowski C, Paul SM. Symptom clusters and these effect on the functional status of patients with cancer. Oncology Nursing Forum. 2001;28:465–470.PubMed
8. Doran DM, Harrison MB, Laschinger HS, Hirdes JP, Rukholm E, Sidani S, et al. Nursing-sensitive outcomes data collection in acute care and long-term-care settings. Nursing Research. 2006;55:S75–S81.PubMed
9. Fox SW, Lyon DE. Symptom clusters and quality of life in survivors of lung cancer. Oncology Nursing Forum. 2006;33:931–936.PubMed
10. Gong SH, Lee SH, Jung JH, Kim JY, Lee SY, Kim SA. The effect of cancer pain management education on the concerns and hesitancy of pain management in out-patient of terminal gastric cancer. Korean Clinical Nursing Research. 2004;10:56–69.
11. Harteveld JT, Mistiaen PJ, Dukkers van Emden DM. Home visits by community nurses for cancer patients after discharge from hospital: An evaluation study of the continuity visit. Cancer Nursing. 1997;20:105–114.PubMed
12. Hur HK, Lee EH, Lee WH, So HS, Chung BY, Kang ES. Symptom occurrence related to disease characteristics of adult patients with cancer. Journal of Korean Academy of Adult Nursing. 2002;14:411–417.
13. Itano JK, Taoka KN. Core Curriculum for oncology nursing. 1998;3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA, Oncology Nursing Society.
14. Kim HS, Lee SW, Yun YH, Yu SJ, Heo DS. Gender differences in pain in cancer patients. Journal of Korean Hospice and Palliative care. 2001;4:14–25.
15. Kim JY, Shin DK. A study based on the standardization of the STAI for Korea. The New Medical Journal. 1978;21(11):69–75.
16. Kim MY. Nursing outcomes in cancer patients cared by oncology advanced practice nurses during chemotherapy. 2008;Seoul, Seoul National University. Unpublished doctoral dissertation.
17. Kim YJ, Cho IS, So HS. Changes on index of nausea, vomiting, and retching in hospitalized cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing. 2004;34:1326–1333.PubMed
18. Korean Central Cancer Registry (KCCR). 2002 annual report of the Korean Central Cancer Registry. 2003;Seoul, Ministry of Health and Welfare Affairs.
19. Korean National Statistical Office (KNSO). Annual report of the cause of death in Korea. 2006;Seoul, Author.
20. Korean Society for Hospice and Palliative Care (KSHPC). Korean Cancer Study Group (KCSG). Cancer pain guideline. 2002;Seoul, Koonja.
21. Lee EO, Yi MS, Heo DS, Lee KS, Eom AY. Trajectories and related factors of fatigue in patients undergoing chemotherapy for lung cancer. Journal of Korean Oncology Nursing. 2001;1:54–64.
22. Lee JE. Symptom experiences according to chemotherapy cycle in patients with breast cancer. 2005;Seoul, Yonsei University. Unpublished master's thesis.
23. Oermann MH, Templin T. Important attributes of quality health care: Consumer perspectives. Journal of Nursing Scholarship. 2000;2:167–172.
24. Sarna L, Cooley ME, Brown JK, Williams RD, Chernecky C, Padilla G, et al. Quality of life and health status of dyads of women with lung cancer and family members. Oncology Nursing Forum. 2006;33:1109–1116.PubMed
25. Sohn SK, Kim KH, Kim SH. Relationship between fatigue and functional status in patients with cancer. Journal of Korean Oncology Nursing. 2007;7:3–13.
26. Son HK, Kim SH, Sohn SK. Relationship between fatigue and depression in patients with hemato-malignancy receiving chemotherapy. Journal of Korean Oncology Nursing. 2007;7:14–25.
27. Spielberger CD. Anxiety current trends in theory and research, 1. 1972;New York, NY, Academic Press.
28. Suh YO. Predictors of quality of life in women with breast cancer. Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing. 2007;37:459–466.
29. Weaver C, Schiech L, Held-Warmkessel J, Kedziera P, Haney E, Dilullo G, et al. Risk for unplanned hospital readmission of patients with cancer: Results of a retrospective medical record review. Oncology Nursing Forum. 2006;33(3):E44–E52.Article PubMed
30. Yabro CH, Frogge MH, Goodman M, Groenwald SL. Cancer nursing principles and practice. 2000;5th ed. Sudbury, MA, Jones and Bartlett Publishers.
31. Yang MJ, Jeon YW, Han SI, Han CW, Eom HS. Depression and pain in patients with cancer-A preliminary study-. Journal of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association. 2000;39:1122–1131.
32. Yang YH. Trajectory of fatigue, quality of life and physical symptoms in cancer patients receiving radiotherapy. Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing. 2003;33:562–569.PubMed

Figure 1

Number of symptom experience during chemotherapy (N=76).

Figure 2

Symptom experiences during chemotherapy (multiple response).

Table 1

Demographic and Medical Characteristics of Participants (N=76)

AGC=advanced gastric cancer; OP=operation; RT=radiation therapy.

Table 2

Changes in Pain, Fatigue, Anorexia, Anxiety and QOL (N=76)

^*Z by Wilcoxon test.

QOL=quality of life.

Table 3

Symptom Clustering and Symptom Experience by General and Medical Characteristics (N=76)

Table 4

Number of Symptom Experience by General and Medical characteristics (N=76)

^*Z by Mann-Whitney test; ^†χ² by Kruskal-Wallis test.

AGC=advanced gastric cancer; Ca.=cancer.

Table 5

Correlation between Number of Symptom, Each symptom and QOL

^*Before chemotherapy; ^†After 2 cycles chemotherapy.

Sx.=Number of symptoms; Pa1=pain at present; Pa2=most severe pain in past 3 weeks; Fa1=fatigue at present; Fa2=most severe fatigue in past 3 weeks; Ano1=anorexia at present; Ano2=most severe anorexia in past 3 weeks; ANX=anxiety; QOL=quality of life.

Table 6

Predictors for QOL and its Subscales After Chemotherapy

^*Before chemotherapy; ^†After 2 cycles of chemotherapy.

QOL=quality of life; Pa2=most severe pain in past 3 weeks; Fa2=most severe fatigue in past 3 weeks; Fa1=fatigue at present; Ano1=anorexia at present; Pa1=pain at present; PF=physical functioning; RP=role-physical; BP=bodily pain; GH=general health; VT=vitality; SF=social functioning; RE=role-emotional; MH=mental health.

Figure & Data

REFERENCES

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Cite

CITE: export Copy Download Format; Close

Download Citation

Download a citation file in RIS format that can be imported by all major citation management software, including EndNote, ProCite, RefWorks, and Reference Manager.

Format:

RIS — For EndNote, ProCite, RefWorks, and most other reference management software
BibTeX — For JabRef, BibDesk, and other BibTeX-specific software

Include:

Citation for the content below
Citation and abstract for the content below

Transition of Symptoms and Quality of Life in Cancer Patients on Chemotherapy

J Korean Acad Nurs. 2009;39(3):433-445. Published online June 29, 2009

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2009.39.3.433

XML Download

Figure

We recommend

Related articles

Exploring Symptom Cluster Patterns in Adult Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy: A Systematic Review

Transition of Symptoms and Quality of Life in Cancer Patients on Chemotherapy

Figure 1 Number of symptom experience during chemotherapy (N=76).

Figure 2 Symptom experiences during chemotherapy (multiple response).

Figure 1

Figure 2

Transition of Symptoms and Quality of Life in Cancer Patients on Chemotherapy

Table 1

Demographic and Medical Characteristics of Participants (N=76)

AGC=advanced gastric cancer; OP=operation; RT=radiation therapy.

Table 2

Changes in Pain, Fatigue, Anorexia, Anxiety and QOL (N=76)

^*Z by Wilcoxon test.

QOL=quality of life.

Table 3

Symptom Clustering and Symptom Experience by General and Medical Characteristics (N=76)

Table 4

Number of Symptom Experience by General and Medical characteristics (N=76)

^*Z by Mann-Whitney test; ^†χ² by Kruskal-Wallis test.

AGC=advanced gastric cancer; Ca.=cancer.

Table 5

Correlation between Number of Symptom, Each symptom and QOL

^*Before chemotherapy; ^†After 2 cycles chemotherapy.

Table 6

Predictors for QOL and its Subscales After Chemotherapy

^*Before chemotherapy; ^†After 2 cycles of chemotherapy.

Table 1 Demographic and Medical Characteristics of Participants (N=76)

AGC=advanced gastric cancer; OP=operation; RT=radiation therapy.

Table 2 Changes in Pain, Fatigue, Anorexia, Anxiety and QOL (N=76)

^*Z by Wilcoxon test.

QOL=quality of life.

Table 3 Symptom Clustering and Symptom Experience by General and Medical Characteristics (N=76)

Table 4 Number of Symptom Experience by General and Medical characteristics (N=76)

^*Z by Mann-Whitney test; ^†χ² by Kruskal-Wallis test.

AGC=advanced gastric cancer; Ca.=cancer.

Table 5 Correlation between Number of Symptom, Each symptom and QOL

^*Before chemotherapy; ^†After 2 cycles chemotherapy.

Table 6 Predictors for QOL and its Subscales After Chemotherapy

^*Before chemotherapy; ^†After 2 cycles of chemotherapy.