TY - JOUR

T1 - Symptoms of advanced cancer in palliative medicine

T2 - a longitudinal study

AU - Rojas-Concha, Leslye

AU - Hansen, Maiken Bang

AU - Petersen, Morten Aagaard

AU - Grønvold, Mogens

N1 - © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2021. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.

PY - 2023

Y1 - 2023

N2 - OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine the symptomatology of patients with advanced cancer at admittance to palliative care services and to investigate how the symptomatology changed during the first month, and whether these changes were associated with various patient characteristics.METHODS: In a longitudinal study in Chile, outpatients with advanced cancer completed the questionnaires European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 15 Palliative Care and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Prevalence and severity of symptoms and problems (S/Ps) at baseline were calculated. Differences in S/P scores from baseline to follow-up were calculated overall and according to patient characteristics. Multiple linear regression was used to study the associations between patient characteristics and changes in S/P scores.RESULTS: At baseline, 201 patients answered the questionnaires and 177 completed the follow-up. Fatigue, pain and sleeping difficulties were the most prevalent S/Ps reported, and also had the highest mean scores at baseline. S/P scores at baseline varied significantly according to sex, age, civil status, residence, children, prior and current antineoplastic treatment. Emotional functioning, pain, sleeping difficulties, constipation and anxiety improved significantly during the first month of palliative care. Residence, cohabitation status, diagnosis and current antineoplastic treatment were associated with changes in S/P scores.CONCLUSIONS: Patients reported moderate-to-severe levels of S/Ps at admittance to palliative care. Several S/Ps improved the first month. Certain patient characteristics were associated with changes in S/P scores. This information may guide clinicians to more effective interventions that can improve the quality of life of patients receiving palliative care.

AB - OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine the symptomatology of patients with advanced cancer at admittance to palliative care services and to investigate how the symptomatology changed during the first month, and whether these changes were associated with various patient characteristics.METHODS: In a longitudinal study in Chile, outpatients with advanced cancer completed the questionnaires European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 15 Palliative Care and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Prevalence and severity of symptoms and problems (S/Ps) at baseline were calculated. Differences in S/P scores from baseline to follow-up were calculated overall and according to patient characteristics. Multiple linear regression was used to study the associations between patient characteristics and changes in S/P scores.RESULTS: At baseline, 201 patients answered the questionnaires and 177 completed the follow-up. Fatigue, pain and sleeping difficulties were the most prevalent S/Ps reported, and also had the highest mean scores at baseline. S/P scores at baseline varied significantly according to sex, age, civil status, residence, children, prior and current antineoplastic treatment. Emotional functioning, pain, sleeping difficulties, constipation and anxiety improved significantly during the first month of palliative care. Residence, cohabitation status, diagnosis and current antineoplastic treatment were associated with changes in S/P scores.CONCLUSIONS: Patients reported moderate-to-severe levels of S/Ps at admittance to palliative care. Several S/Ps improved the first month. Certain patient characteristics were associated with changes in S/P scores. This information may guide clinicians to more effective interventions that can improve the quality of life of patients receiving palliative care.

U2 - 10.1136/bmjspcare-2021-002999

DO - 10.1136/bmjspcare-2021-002999

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 34162585

VL - 13

SP - e415-e427

JO - BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care

JF - BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care

SN - 2045-435X

IS - e2

ER -