Symptom clusters in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma during radiotherapy. (June 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Xiao, Wenli; Chan, Carmen W.H.; Fan, Yuying; Leung, Doris Y.P.; Xia, Weixiong; He, Yan; Tang, Linquan
• Is Part Of: European journal of oncology nursing. Volume 28(2017)
• Page Start: 7
• Page End: 13
• Publication Date: 2017-06
• Subjects: Symptom clusters -- Factor analysis -- Nasopharyngeal carcinoma -- Radiotherapy -- Quality of life; Cancer -- Nursing -- Periodicals; Cancer -- Research -- Periodicals; Oncology -- Periodicals; Oncology Nursing -- Periodicals; Neoplasms -- nursing -- Periodicals; Cancer -- Soins infirmiers -- Périodiques; Cancer -- Recherche -- Périodiques; Cancérologie -- Périodiques; Verpleegkunde; Kanker; Cancer -- Nursing; Cancer -- Research; Oncology; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.9940231
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejon.2017.02.004
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1462-3889

Abstract

Abstract: Purpose: Despite the improvement in radiotherapy (RT) technology, patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) still suffer from numerous distressing symptoms simultaneously during RT. The purpose of the study was to investigate the symptom clusters experienced by NPC patients during RT. Methods: First-treated Chinese NPC patients (n = 130) undergoing late-period RT (from week 4 till the end) were recruited for this cross-sectional study. They completed a sociodemographic and clinical data questionnaire, the Chinese version of the M. D. Anderson Symptom Inventory - Head and Neck Module (MDASI-HN-C) and the Chinese version of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - Head and Neck Scale (FACT-H&N-C). Principal axis factor analysis with oblimin rotation, independent t -test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Pearson product-moment correlation were used to analyze the data. Results: Four symptom clusters were identified, and labelled general, gastrointestinal, nutrition impact and social interaction impact. Of these 4 types, the nutrition impact symptom cluster was the most severe. Statistically positive correlations were found between severity of all 4 symptom clusters and symptom interference, as well as weight loss. Statistically negative correlations were detected between the cluster severity and the QOL total score and 3 out of 5 subscale scores. Conclusion: The four clusters identified reveal the symptom patterns experienced by NPC patients during RT. Future intervention studies on managing these symptom clusters are warranted, especially for the nutrition impact symptom cluster. Highlights: Four symptom clusters were identified in NPC patients during radiotherapy. The nutrition impact symptom cluster was the most severe. Symptom clusters correlated positively with weight loss and symptom interference. Symptom clusters correlated negatively with quality of life.