Symptom Burden and Treatment Satisfaction Among Patients with Cancer in a Day Care Unit

Background/Objectives: Patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy experience multiple symptoms. Effective identification, assessment, and management of these symptoms improve treatment effectiveness and satisfaction, as well as their quality of life. The present study aimed to record the symptoms of cancer patients and assess their satisfaction with chemotherapy in a Day Care Unit. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 95 cancer patients under chemotherapy. Data were collected using the Greek M.D. Anderson Symptom Inventory, the Brief Fatigue Inventory, the Cancer Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire, and a sociodemographic questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed using software SPSS 26.0. Results: Participants had a mean age of 63.8 ± 10.2 years, were mainly married (75.8%) and male (50.5%), and had a mean time since diagnosis of 1.9 years. Fatigue was the most common moderate symptom (81.1%, M = 4.26), whereas vomiting (18.9%, M = 1.03) and dyspnea (22.1%, M = 1.03) were infrequent and mild. Fatigue was significantly associated with Satisfaction with Therapy (SWT) and symptom severity. Overall satisfaction was moderate to high, with the Feelings About Side Effects (FSE) subscale scoring lowest (M = 54.0, SD = 24.7); females had lower odds of very high SWT than males (OR = 0.10, p = 0.003). Higher SWT was associated with being married (rho = -0.260, p < 0.05) and having higher education (rho = 0.276, p < 0.05). Higher levels of education were also associated with lower fatigue (rho = -0.233, p < 0.05), while positive FSE and higher Expectations of Therapy were linked to fewer severe symptoms and reduced fatigue, respectively. Conclusions: Cancer patients receiving chemotherapy reported low symptom severity and moderate to high SWT, although fatigue remained the most prominent and impactful symptom. These findings emphasize the importance of systematic symptom monitoring, particularly fatigue management, to enhance patient satisfaction and optimize the overall treatment experience.