Symptom clusters in adolescent patients with osteosarcoma during chemotherapy / 中国实用护理杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the symptom clusters and their effect on daily life among the adolescents with osteosarcomaduring chemotherapy. Methods A total of 127 adolescents with osteosarcoma undergoing chemotherapy were enrolled and investigated by using the Chinese version of the M.D.Anderson Symptom Inventory (MDASI-C).Then exploratory factor analysis and regression analysis were used to identify symptom clusters and the associations of symptom clusters and daily life respectively. Results For adolescents with osteosarcoma during chemotherapy, the high incidence of symptoms are loss of appetite[96.06％(122/127)], nausea[94.49％(120/127)] and fatigue[91.33％(116/127)], the severe sympyoms are loss of appetite[4.00(3.00,5.00) points], fatigue [4.00(3.00,5.00) points] and nausea[3.5(3.00,5.00) points]. Four symptom clusters were identified: gastrointestinal symptom cluster, pain-related symptom cluster, respiratory symptom cluster and neuro symptom cluster. Symptom clusters except neuro symptom cluster were predictors of distress in daily life. Conclusions The incidence of symptoms in adolescents with osteosarcoma during chemotherapyis high. Several symptom clusters significantly affect their daily life . Medical staff should pay attention to the symptom clusters and provide effective symptom management to improve patients'quality of life.