A study to assess the existence of the symptom cluster of breathlessness, fatigue and anxiety in patients with advanced lung cancer

Chan, Carmen W.H., Richardson, Alison and Richardson, Janet (2005) A study to assess the existence of the symptom cluster of breathlessness, fatigue and anxiety in patients with advanced lung cancer. European Journal of Oncology Nursing, 9 (4), 325-333. (doi:10.1016/j.ejon.2005.02.003).

Abstract

The purpose of this small-scale study was to assess the existence of a symptom cluster involving breathlessness, fatigue and anxiety in patients with advanced lung cancer undergoing palliative radiation. A convenience sample of 27 patients were asked to complete a set of 100 mm horizontal visual analogue scales (VAS) measuring the intensity of anxiety, breathlessness and fatigue at 3 points in time: 1 day prior to palliative radiotherapy (RT) (baseline, T0), and at week 3 (T1) and week 6 (T2) after the commencement of the RT. The prevalence of the 3 symptoms ranged from 59% to 96%. At baseline the median intensity of symptoms was mild, becoming progressively worse at T1 and T2. The correlations between the 3 symptoms were moderately strong at T1 and T2 (r=0.49–0.75). The proposed symptom cluster had high internal consistency across T0–T2. These data support the notion that the symptoms—breathlessness, fatigue, and anxiety—may be viewed as a symptom cluster. The high prevalence and moderate intensity of the symptom cluster demonstrates a need for an intervention to manage these symptoms simultaneously

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Contributors

Author: Alison Richardson

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