INTERNATIONAL COLUMN: Association of demographic, economic and clinical variables in daily activities and symptoms presented by patients in cancer treatment

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the association between demographic, economic and clinical variables, cancer symptoms, and daily life interference in patients receiving cancer treatment in Brazil.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 268 patients were assessed. A questionnaire was used to collect data on demographic, economic and clinical variables, and the M.D. Anderson Symptom Inventory was used to assess cancer symptoms. Data were analyzed using bivariate and multivariate descriptive statistics.Findings: The following variables were associated with higher symptom scores: female sex (prevalence ratio [PR]=1.28; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.06-1.53), illiteracy or ≤ 9 years of formal education (PR=1.40; 95% CI 1.08-1.82), clinical equipment or situations that requiring nursing care (PR=1.23; 95% CI 1. 03-1.46), and family history of cancer (PR=1.23; 95% CI 1. 04-1.45). Daily life interference was associated with female sex (PR=1.40; 95% CI 1.12-1.75), secondary tumour (PR=1.42; 95% CI 1. 16-1.74) and radiotherapy (PR=1.24; 95% CI 1. 01-1.51).Conclusion: Management of cancer patients requires multidisciplinary knowledge, taking into consideration all the subjective dimensions of the patients. Knowing the profile of patients most strongly affected by symptoms will help them face the limitations and consequences of the disease and its treatment.

Care transitions among oncological patients: from hospital to community

“…The profile of the cancer patient identified in our research is in agreement with findings from other Brazilian studies, with a predominance of males, white people, with low education, over 50 years of age and stage III cancer diagnosis (20,21) . Also, we identified a higher prevalence of patients with neoplasms of the digestive system (64%).…”

“…Cancer is a chronic condition, with psychological and physical changes, requiring complex and long-term care with the participation of multidisciplinary health professionals ( 20 ) . Added to the precedent, oncology patients require access to the necessary drugs and equipment, and it is necessary that they and their family, are fully attended to, through the provision of health education and the involvement of the patient and family in the preparation for self-management in health and social support.…”

Care Transitions From Hospital to Community Among Oncological Patients

“…The pro le of the cancer patient identi ed in our research corroborates ndings from other Brazilian studies, with a predominance of males, white people, with low education, over 50 years of age and stage III cancer diagnosis [24,25]. Also, we identi ed a higher prevalence of patients with neoplasms of the digestive system (64%).…”

Avaliação da Qualidade de Vida de Pacientes Oncológicos em Cuidados Paliativos

“…A fadiga constitui um dos sintomas mais frequentes nos pacientes com câncer, descrita entre 50% e 90% dos pacientes, impactando diretamente na qualidade de vida. Trata-se de um sintoma geralmente persistente por longos períodos nas pessoas com câncer, não melhora completamente com o sono e o descanso, não é proporcional às atividades realizadas pelo paciente e prejudica o seu funcionamento adequado, sendo um sintoma de difícil tratamento 27,28 . Do mesmo modo, a constipação é um sintoma muito comum em pacientes com câncer avançado, relacionado a várias causas, ganhando destaque o uso de opioides para controle da dor, acarretando deterioração importante da qualidade de vida, sendo sua prevalência estimada em 23% a 84% dos pacientes com neoplasias avançadas 29 .…”