Identifying symptom cluster in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy-in Vietnam: A cross-sectional study

• Published in: PloS one 2024-09, Vol.19 (9), p.e0307725
• Main Authors: Hoang, Huong Thi Xuan, Le, Quyen Thi Le, Do, Vi Pham Nhat, Nguyen, Anh Thi Hong, Bui, Quang Vinh
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Antineoplastic Agents - adverse effects; Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use; Appetite loss; Breast cancer; Cancer; Cancer therapies; Care and treatment; Chemotherapy; Cluster analysis; Clusters; Complications and side effects; Constipation; Cough; Cross-Sectional Studies; Ethics; Fatigue; Female; Food; Hair; Humans; Insomnia; Likert scale; Male; Medical diagnosis; Middle Aged; Mouth; Neoplasms - complications; Neoplasms - drug therapy; Oncology; Patient outcomes; Patients; Prevalence; Questionnaires; Sample size; Urination; Vietnam - epidemiology
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0307725

Major cancer treatments can cause a wide range of unpleasant symptoms that burden oncology patients. Different symptom clusters (SC) among cancer patients have been reported in the literature. This study determined the prevalence of symptoms patients experience during chemotherapy treatment and identified symptom clusters among them. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 213 cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy in three large hospitals in Vietnam. Symptoms were measured by the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale. The most prevalent symptoms were lack of appetite (65.3%), difficulty sleeping (62.9%), dry mouth (57.7%), numbness (60.1%), hair loss (43.2%), change in the way food tastes (40.8%), and lack of energy (44.1%). Four symptom clusters were identified. Difficult concentration, pain, cough, and dizziness contributed to the first SC. The second one included lack of energy, numbness, change the food taste, and lack of appetite. Dry mouth, nausea, feeling bloated, problems with urination, hair loss, and constipation made up for the third SC. The final SC consisted of psychological symptoms, which were feeling nervous, feeling drowsy, feeling sad, worrying, problems with sexual interest or activity and difficulty sleeping. The study demonstrated that respondents experienced various symptoms and symptom clusters during chemotherapy. These findings can be used to develop clinical guidelines for symptom assessment and management in oncology patients for healthcare professionals.