Symptoms and problem clusters in cancer and non cancer patients in specialized palliative care - is there a difference?
Citation:
Walsh D, Stiel S, Matties DM, Seub D, Lindena G, Ostgathe C., Symptoms and problem clusters in cancer and non cancer patients in specialized palliative care - is there a difference?, Journal of Pain & Symptom Management, July, 48(1), 2014, 26-35Download Item:
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Abstract:
CONTEXT:
In clinical practice, some symptoms and problems frequently occur in combination, which may have consequences for symptom management.
OBJECTIVES:
Facing a growing number of non-cancer patients in palliative care, this study aimed to differentiate symptom clusters in the non-cancer population from those in cancer patients.
METHODS:
Inpatient data from the German Hospice and Palliative Care Evaluation between 2007 and 2011 were used for a cluster analysis of a 16-item symptom and problem checklist. An agglomerative hierarchical method was chosen. Coefficients from distance matrix ranging between 0 and 1 were calculated to indicate the interrelationship of clustered symptoms.
RESULTS:
The analysis identified five clusters in cancer patients: 1) nausea and vomiting (d = 0.000); 2) anxiety, tension, and feeling depressed (d = 0.125); 3) wound care and disorientation/confusion (d = 0.229); 4) organization of care and overburdening of family (d = 0.202); and 5) weakness, tiredness, need for assistance with activities of daily living, and loss of appetite (d = 0.207). Five comparable clusters were identified in non-cancer patients: 1) nausea and vomiting (d = 0.000); 2) anxiety, tension, and feeling depressed (d = 0.166); 3) organization of care and overburdening of family (d = 0.187); 4) weakness and need for assistance with activities of daily living (d = 0.139); and 5) tiredness and loss of appetite (d = 0.182).
CONCLUSION:
As symptom clusters do not significantly differ between cancer and non-cancer patients, specific frequent symptoms in non-cancer patients should be assessed. Identification of symptom clusters may help to target therapies and focus the use of medications to improve patients' quality of life.
Author's Homepage:
http://people.tcd.ie/walshtd
Author: WALSH, THOMAS
Type of material:
Journal ArticleCollections:
Series/Report no:
Journal of Pain & Symptom ManagementJuly
48(1)
Availability:
Full text availableKeywords:
CancerSubject (TCD):
CancerLicences: