Symptom Occurrence, Severity, and Self-Care Methods by Ethnicity and Age Group Among Adults With Cancer.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES\nTo examine the relationships among cancer therapy-related symptom occurrence and severity, selected cancer-related variables, and demographic variables. Secondary purposes were to examine participants reported symptom occurrence and severity by ethnicity and by age group and to identify self-care methods.\n\n\nSAMPLE & SETTING\nConvenience sampling was used and included 110 adults receiving cancer treatment from a major hospital in the northeast region of the United States.\n\n\nMETHODS & VARIABLES\nA descriptive correlational design was used. Study variables were symptom occurrence and severity and selected demographic and cancer-related variables. The Therapy-Related Symptom Checklist was used to measure symptom occurrence and severity, and the Symptom Alleviation.\n\n\nRESULTS\nSignificant relationships were found between symptom occurrence and severity and gender, economic status, and disease stage. Feeling sluggish was the most frequently reported symptom.\n\n\nIMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING\nOncology nurses are in an influential position to educate and manage participants cancer therapy-related symptoms.