Psychoeducational Nursing Intervention for Symptom Management in Cancer Patients: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the effects of a psychoeducational intervention upon symptom control and quality of life (QoL) among cancer patients. METHODS: This was an open randomized clinical trial (RCT) conducted at the Cancer Institute of the State of São Paulo. The RCT comprised 107 outpatients in chemotherapy or radiation for malignant neoplasms. Participants were randomized to control group (usual treatment) or intervention group (IG) (psychoeducational intervention) with assessments at baseline and upon completion of the intervention. Sociodemographic information, clinical data, QoL, functionality, and symptoms were assessed. This trial is registered with the Brazilian Clinical Trials Registry number RBR-9337nv. A mixed-effects model was applied to compare the effects of the intervention between the groups. RESULTS: The most frequent symptoms were fatigue (76.6%), insomnia (47.7%), pain (42.1%), and loss of appetite (37.4%). The symptom intensity analysis suggests that insomnia was the strongest symptom, followed by fatigue, loss of appetite, and pain. The IG experienced a significant improvement in terms of loss of appetite (P = 0.002) and a tendency toward less insomnia (P = 0.053). CONCLUSIONS: The intervention significantly reduced appetite loss in cancer patients. Despite no effects observed in global QoL or functionality, the intervention yielded a tendency to improve insomnia, and this outcome should be investigated in future studies.

Prevalence of symptoms and quality of life of cancer patients.

OBJECTIVES: to analyze the prevalence of symptoms and their relationship with the quality of life of cancer patients. METHODS: this is a cross-sectional study with 107 patients evaluated using a sociodemographic instrument, the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) and the quality of life scale (EORTC-QLQ-C30). Pearson's correlation test was used to evaluate the relationship between symptoms and quality of life. RESULTS: prevalence of female patients (56.1%), 55 years as the mean age and 10 years of schooling. Fatigue (76.6%), insomnia (47.7%), pain (42.1%), loss of appetite (37.4%), anxiety (31.8%) and depression (21.5%) were identified. Anxiety and depression symptoms presented a negative correlation with quality of life and positive correlation with physical symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: fatigue, insomnia, pain and loss of appetite were the most common and most intense symptoms. Anxiety and depression symptoms presented a negative correlation with quality of life and positive correlation with physical symptoms.

Prevalence of symptoms and quality of life of cancer patients / Prevalencia de síntomas y de calidad de vida en pacientes con cáncer / Prevalência de sintomas e qualidade de vida de pacientes com câncer

ABSTRACT Objectives: to analyze the prevalence of symptoms and their relationship with the quality of life of cancer patients. Methods: this is a cross-sectional study with 107 patients evaluated using a sociodemographic instrument, the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) and the quality of life scale (EORTC-QLQ-C30). Pearson's correlation test was used to evaluate the relationship between symptoms and quality of life. Results: prevalence of female patients (56.1%), 55 years as the mean age and 10 years of schooling. Fatigue (76.6%), insomnia (47.7%), pain (42.1%), loss of appetite (37.4%), anxiety (31.8%) and depression (21.5%) were identified. Anxiety and depression symptoms presented a negative correlation with quality of life and positive correlation with physical symptoms. Conclusions: fatigue, insomnia, pain and loss of appetite were the most common and most intense symptoms. Anxiety and depression symptoms presented a negative correlation with quality of life and positive correlation with physical symptoms.

RESUMEN Objetivos: evaluar la prevalencia de síntomas y su relación con la calidad de vida de los pacientes con cáncer. Métodos: estudio transversal con una muestra de 107 pacientes que fueron evaluados por medio de formulario sociodemográfico, de la Escala hospitalaria de ansiedad y depresión (HADS) y de la Escala de calidad de vida (EORTC-QLQ-C30). Se hizo la prueba de correlación de Pearson para evaluar la relación entre los síntomas y la calidad de vida. Resultados: hubo un predominio de pacientes del sexo femenino (56,1%), un promedio de edad de 55 años y un nivel de escolaridad de 10 años. Se observaron los siguientes elementos: fatiga (76,6%), insomnio (47,7%), dolor (42,1%), pérdida de apetito (37,4%), ansiedad (31,8%) y depresión (21,5%). Los síntomas ansiedad y depresión presentaron una correlación negativa con la calidad de vida y una correlación positiva con los síntomas físicos. Conclusiones: la fatiga, el insomnio, el dolor y la pérdida de apetito fueron los síntomas más frecuentes e intensos. Los síntomas ansiedad y depresión se correlacionaron negativamente con la calidad de vida y positivamente con los síntomas físicos.

RESUMO Objetivos: analisar a prevalência de sintomas e sua relação com a qualidade de vida de pacientes com câncer. Métodos: estudo transversal com amostra de 107 pacientes avaliados por meio de formulário sociodemográfico, escala hospitalar de ansiedade e depressão (HADS) e escala de qualidade de vida (EORTC-QLQ-C30). O teste de correlação de Pearson foi utilizado para avaliar a relação entre sintomas e a qualidade de vida. Resultados: predomínio de pacientes do sexo feminino (56,1%), idade média de 55 anos e escolaridade de 10 anos. Verificou-se fadiga (76,6%), insônia (47,7%), dor (42,1%), perda de apetite (37,4%), ansiedade (31,8%) e depressão (21,5%). Os sintomas de ansiedade e depressão apresentaram correlação negativa com qualidade de vida e correlação positiva com sintomas físicos. Conclusões: fadiga, insônia, dor e perda de apetite foram os sintomas mais frequentes e mais intensos. Sintomas de ansiedade e depressão mostraram correlação negativa com qualidade de vida e positiva com sintomas físicos.

Prevalence of symptoms and quality of life of cancer patients / Prevalencia de síntomas y de calidad de vida en pacientes con cáncer / Prevalência de sintomas e qualidade de vida de pacientes com câncer

ABSTRACT Objectives: to analyze the prevalence of symptoms and their relationship with the quality of life of cancer patients. Methods: this is a cross-sectional study with 107 patients evaluated using a sociodemographic instrument, the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) and the quality of life scale (EORTC-QLQ-C30). Pearson's correlation test was used to evaluate the relationship between symptoms and quality of life. Results: prevalence of female patients (56.1%), 55 years as the mean age and 10 years of schooling. Fatigue (76.6%), insomnia (47.7%), pain (42.1%), loss of appetite (37.4%), anxiety (31.8%) and depression (21.5%) were identified. Anxiety and depression symptoms presented a negative correlation with quality of life and positive correlation with physical symptoms. Conclusions: fatigue, insomnia, pain and loss of appetite were the most common and most intense symptoms. Anxiety and depression symptoms presented a negative correlation with quality of life and positive correlation with physical symptoms.

RESUMEN Objetivos: evaluar la prevalencia de síntomas y su relación con la calidad de vida de los pacientes con cáncer. Métodos: estudio transversal con una muestra de 107 pacientes que fueron evaluados por medio de formulario sociodemográfico, de la Escala hospitalaria de ansiedad y depresión (HADS) y de la Escala de calidad de vida (EORTC-QLQ-C30). Se hizo la prueba de correlación de Pearson para evaluar la relación entre los síntomas y la calidad de vida. Resultados: hubo un predominio de pacientes del sexo femenino (56,1%), un promedio de edad de 55 años y un nivel de escolaridad de 10 años. Se observaron los siguientes elementos: fatiga (76,6%), insomnio (47,7%), dolor (42,1%), pérdida de apetito (37,4%), ansiedad (31,8%) y depresión (21,5%). Los síntomas ansiedad y depresión presentaron una correlación negativa con la calidad de vida y una correlación positiva con los síntomas físicos. Conclusiones: la fatiga, el insomnio, el dolor y la pérdida de apetito fueron los síntomas más frecuentes e intensos. Los síntomas ansiedad y depresión se correlacionaron negativamente con la calidad de vida y positivamente con los síntomas físicos.

RESUMO Objetivos: analisar a prevalência de sintomas e sua relação com a qualidade de vida de pacientes com câncer. Métodos: estudo transversal com amostra de 107 pacientes avaliados por meio de formulário sociodemográfico, escala hospitalar de ansiedade e depressão (HADS) e escala de qualidade de vida (EORTC-QLQ-C30). O teste de correlação de Pearson foi utilizado para avaliar a relação entre sintomas e a qualidade de vida. Resultados: predomínio de pacientes do sexo feminino (56,1%), idade média de 55 anos e escolaridade de 10 anos. Verificou-se fadiga (76,6%), insônia (47,7%), dor (42,1%), perda de apetite (37,4%), ansiedade (31,8%) e depressão (21,5%). Os sintomas de ansiedade e depressão apresentaram correlação negativa com qualidade de vida e correlação positiva com sintomas físicos. Conclusões: fadiga, insônia, dor e perda de apetite foram os sintomas mais frequentes e mais intensos. Sintomas de ansiedade e depressão mostraram correlação negativa com qualidade de vida e positiva com sintomas físicos.