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Changes in symptom clusters in patients undergoing radiation therapy.
Esther Kim1, Thierry Jahan, Bradley E Aouizerat
1School of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
Summary
This study identified three stable symptom clusters experienced by patients undergoing radiation therapy (RT), with mood-cognitive and sickness-behavior clusters showing adequate consistency. Breast cancer patients reported more severe symptoms than prostate cancer patients.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Symptom Management
- Psychosocial Oncology
Background:
- Radiation therapy (RT) is a common cancer treatment associated with various symptoms.
- Understanding symptom clusters and their trajectories is crucial for supportive care in oncology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the occurrence and severity of symptoms during and after radiation therapy (RT).
- To identify and characterize symptom clusters at mid-RT, end-RT, and 1 month post-RT.
- To evaluate changes in symptom clusters over time.
Main Methods:
- A sample of 160 patients undergoing RT for breast or prostate cancer were assessed.
- The Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale (MSAS) was used to evaluate symptom occurrence and severity.
- Exploratory factor analysis was employed to identify symptom clusters at three time points.
Main Results:
- The most frequent symptoms included lack of energy, pain, difficulty sleeping, drowsiness, and sweats.
- Three consistent symptom clusters were identified: mood-cognitive, sickness-behavior, and treatment-related/pain.
- Internal consistency for mood-cognitive and sickness-behavior clusters was adequate (≥0.68).
Conclusions:
- Three stable symptom clusters were observed throughout radiation therapy.
- Patients with breast cancer exhibited significantly higher symptom cluster severity scores compared to prostate cancer patients.
