No abstract

Purpose The reported prevalence of malnutrition and related factors in gynecologic cancer varies. We aimed to describe nutritional status and to identify demographic, clinical, psychological, and nutritional factors contributing to malnutrition in gynecologic cancer patients. Methods We used a descriptive cross-sectional design. A total of 129 subjects were enrolled. Subjects agreed to undergo a face-to-face interview, including measurement of body mass index (BMI) and administration of structured questionnaires including the Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and the Simplified Nutritional Appetite Questionnaire (SNAQ). Results Mean BMI was 23.4 kg/m 2 (range, 14.6-36.7 kg/m 2 ) and median body weight was 55.0 kg (range, 38.5-91.3 kg). Sixty-nine (53.5 %) of 129 patients reported severe malnutrition according to the PG-SGA. Malnutrition among patients who had received chemotherapy was more common than among patients who had not received chemotherapy within 6 months. Depression and appetite were significant factors predicting malnutrition in patients with gynecologic cancer. However, malnutrition was not related to age, marital status, level of education, or annual income among demographic factors, nor age at onset of cancer, cancer type, stage, or duration of cancer among clinical factors.Conclusions Assessment of nutritional status should be considered along with depression and appetite in patients with gynecologic cancer. In addition, regular and consistent nutritional assessment is essential in gynecologic cancer patients because of the high prevalence of malnutrition in these patients.

We investigated the symptom clusters and effects of symptom clusters on the quality of life of Korean breast cancer survivors. We recruited 241 breast cancer survivors and collected cross‐sectional data on their symptoms. To determine inter‐relationships among symptoms, a principal component analysis with varimax rotation was performed based on the patient’s symptoms (fatigue, nausea/vomiting, pain, dyspnoea, insomnia, appetite loss, constipation, anxiety, depression, systemic therapy side effects, breast symptoms and arm symptoms). The first symptom cluster consisted of psychological (anxiety and depression) and general (appetite loss, fatigue, insomnia and dyspnoea) symptoms, whereas the second symptom cluster consisted of physical (arm symptom, breast symptom, pain and systemic therapy side effects) and gastrointestinal (nausea/vomiting and constipation) symptoms. Subgroup cluster analysis showed that breast cancer survivors with higher‐scoring symptoms had significantly poorer quality of life in both psychological–general symptom cluster and physical–gastrointestinal symptom cluster subgroups, with subgroup‐specific patterns. The symptom clusters differed depending on stage and functional status of breast cancer survivors. Breast cancer survivors may have a specific pattern of symptom clusters. Some symptom clusters may have a negative impact on the quality of life. Identifying symptom clusters of breast cancer survivors may have clinical implications by improving symptom management.

Postpartum women experience various changes in their physical and psychological health and in their relationships with their spouse and newborn. This study aimed to identify and evaluate the factors that affect the quality of life (QoL) of women within six weeks after childbirth. A prospective, cross-sectional correlational study was used. A convenience sample of 179 postpartum women was recruited from four postpartum care centers in South Korea. Participants completed structured questionnaires on postpartum fatigue, postpartum depression, marital intimacy, breastfeeding adaptation, and quality of life. Marital intimacy (β = 0.466, p < 0.001) was the most influencing factor on the QoL of women during the postpartum period. In descending order, postpartum fatigue (β = −0.192, p = 0.001), postpartum depression (β = −0.190, p = 0.001), breastfeeding adaptation (β = 0.163, p = 0.002), and occupation (β = 0.163, p = 0.004) all had a significant influence on QoL (F = 32.09, p < 0.001), and the overall explanatory power was 63.6%. It is necessary to assess and consider the physical, psychological, relational, and demographic factors of women during the early postpartum period. Comprehensive interventions need to be developed to improve the QoL of women during the postpartum period.

The prevalence of Type-D personality in patients with ovarian cancer was high, and Type-D personality was significantly associated with a high symptom score and lower quality of life. Health professionals should consider Type-D personality in the assessment and intervention of symptoms and quality of life, along with performance status and cancer stage.