Experience of living with symptom clusters in postoperative pancreatic cancer patients. (February 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liu, Changying; Liu, Linglong; Chen, Mingxia
• Is Part Of: European journal of oncology nursing. Volume 62(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-02
• Subjects: Pancreatic cancer -- Home rehabilitation -- Symptom self-management -- Symptom cluster -- Descriptive qualitative study; 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.2022.102266
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1462-3889

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe symptom clusters (SCs), and symptom experiences in early postoperative patients with pancreatic cancer who are recovering at home. Methods: From October 2021 and April 2022, 15 patients following pancreatic cancer surgery were recruited from a tertiary hospital in Jiangsu Province by maximum variation sampling. Semi-structured interviews were performed to collect data and thematic analysis was conducted to analyze the data. Results: Three themes were extracted from the data. The first theme "difference in symptom perception and cognition" illustrated factors such as patient knowledge, expected recovery status, and risk perception could influence patient symptom experience. Most patients actually reported fewer and less severe symptoms than previous studies. The second theme "the results of symptom cluster" demonstrated anorexia-distress SC, bowel–digestive related SC and sleep disturbance related SC, and anorexia-distress SC should be considered as the priority SC given its multidimensional significance for patients. The last theme described the patient's positive attitudes, behaviours and barriers to coping with symptoms, namely "symptom self-management experience". Conclusion: There are differences in the perception and interpretation of SCs in postoperative pancreatic cancer patients. Understanding the meaning of individual differences in the experience of symptoms can assist patients in the management of SCs. Medical staff should combine patient self-management strategies and evidence-based data to provide appropriate support at different stages to improve patient symptom management and quality of life. Highlights: This study analyses patients' experiences and understanding of symptom clusters in order to facilitate the development of a model for the management of patients' symptoms in the early post-surgical period at home setting. This study identifies multiple psychosocial factors that can explain individual differences in symptom experience. This study identifies three main symptom clusters and their priorities in patients with early postoperative pancreatic cancer, and uncovers the mechanisms of symptom cluster formation based on personal experience.