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- Title
Symptom Clusters in Patients With Brain Tumors Undergoing Proton Beam Therapy.
- Authors
Langegård, Ulrica; Johansson, Birgitta; Bjork-Eriksson, Thomas; Fransson, Per; Ohlsson-Nevo, Emma; Sjövall, Katarina; Ahlberg, Karin
- Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To explore symptom clusters during proton beam therapy in patients with primary brain tumors and investigate associations among symptom clusters, demographic variables, and comorbidity in this patient population. SAMPLE & SETTING: Data were collected from 187 adult patients with primary brain tumors during their treatment periods in the Skandion Clinic in Uppsala, Sweden. Symptoms were assessed with the Radiotherapy-Related Symptoms Assessment Scale, and comorbidity was evaluated with the Self-Administered Comorbidity Questionnaire. METHODS & VARIABLES: The study used a quantitative and longitudinal design. Exploratory factor analysis was used to determine the underlying structure of symptom clusters. RESULTS: Three clusters were identified: mood, reduced appetite, and reduced energy. The mood cluster had the highest factor loadings (0.71-0.86). In addition, demographic and comorbidity characteristics were associated with symptom clusters in this group of patients. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Building knowledge about how these symptoms interact and are clustered will support healthcare professionals to more efficiently relieve symptom clusters during proton beam therapy.
- Subjects
SWEDEN; AFFECT (Psychology); BRAIN tumors; EATING disorders; ENERGY metabolism; FACTOR analysis; LONGITUDINAL method; QUESTIONNAIRES; COMORBIDITY; QUANTITATIVE research; PROTON therapy; SYMPTOMS
- Publication
Oncology Nursing Forum, 2019, Vol 46, Issue 3, p349
- ISSN
0190-535X
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1188/19.ONF.349-363