Archive | 2021
Investigation of Symptom Status, Body Perception Levels and Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression in Breast Cancer Patients Receiving Paclitaxel: A Prospective Longitudinal Study
Abstract
\n Purpose: This study aimed to investigate symptom status, body perception level changes and the symptoms of anxiety and depression in breast cancer patients receiving Paclitaxel.Methods: This descriptive, and prospective study was conducted with 84 breast cancer patients receiving paclitaxel regimen. “Chemotherapy Symptom Assessment Scale (C-SAS)”, “Body Perception Scale (BPS)” and “Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)” were applied at five time points (T₁, T₂, T₃, T₄, T₅). Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, Wilcoxon, Friedman, Cochrane Q and Spearman’s correlation tests.Results: The frequency of needling and numbness in hands and feet, pain, and skin or nail changes significantly increased in the subsequent assessment points (T₂, T₃, T₄, and T₅) compared to the initial assessment (T₁) (p<0.05). The mean scores of BPS significantly decreased at T₂, T₄, and T₅ (p<0.01). The mean scores of the anxiety subscale of the HADS scale decreased at the T2, T3, and T4 (p<0.01), and the mean scores of the depression subscale significantly increased at the T3, T4, and T5 (p<0.01).Conclusions: The findings underscore the need for oncology nurses to provide comprehensive training sessions on effective symptom management, changes in body perception levels, and alleviation of the symptoms of anxiety and depression in breast cancer patients receiving paclitaxel. In this way, the physiological symptom burden that occurs in patients may be alleviated, and negative changes in body perception, anxiety and depression symptoms may be decreased.