Symptom Prevalence and Management of Cancer Patients in Lebanon

Abstract Context Cancer patients experience a great number of distressing physical and psychological symptoms. In Lebanon, there are no available data on symptom prevalence and symptom management in adults with cancer. Objectives The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of symptoms and...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of pain and symptom management 2012-09, Vol.44 (3), p.386-399
Main Authors: Abu-Saad Huijer, Huda, RN, PhD, FEANS, FAAN, Abboud, Sarah, RN, MSN, Doumit, Myrna, RN, PhD
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Anesthesia & Perioperative Care
Biological and medical sciences
Breast cancer
Cancer
Case Management
Cross-Sectional Studies
Data Collection
Disease Progression
Female
Humans
Lebanon
Lebanon - epidemiology
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Neoplasms - epidemiology
Neoplasms - therapy
Pain Medicine
Pharmacology. Drug treatments
Prevalence
Quality of Life
Sample Size
Socioeconomic Factors
Surveys and Questionnaires
Symptom Assessment
symptom management
Symptoms
Young Adult
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Abstract Context Cancer patients experience a great number of distressing physical and psychological symptoms. In Lebanon, there are no available data on symptom prevalence and symptom management in adults with cancer. Objectives The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of symptoms and the effectiveness of treatment received as reported by patients. Methods The study used a cross-sectional, descriptive survey design. The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) and the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale were translated to Arabic and used; data were collected from adult Lebanese cancer patients at the American University of Beirut Medical Center. Results A total of 200 cancer patients participated in the study; the majority were female with breast cancer and mean age was 54 years. The cognitive functioning domain of the EORTC QLQ-C30 scale was found to have the highest score and social functioning the lowest. The most prevalent symptom was lack of energy. Nausea and pain were the symptoms most treated. Males reported better quality of life (QoL), physical functioning, and role functioning than females; females reported more fatigue, pain, and appetite loss than males. Higher physical and psychological symptoms were correlated with lower health status, QoL, and functioning. Conclusion Although this sample reported a fair QoL and social functioning, many symptoms were highly prevalent and inadequately treated. Symptoms were found to negatively affect QoL and functioning. Based on these results, providing adequate symptom management and social support to Lebanese cancer patients is highly recommended.
ISSN:0885-3924
1873-6513
DOI:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2011.10.019