Symptom experience of adult hospitalized medical-surgical patients

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to describe the symptom experience of adult patients hospitalized in medical/surgical units, to examine the relationship between demographic characteristics and symptom experience, and to explore the relationship between symptom severity and symptom distress. Utilizing the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale (MSAS), patients (n=334) were asked to convey the presence or absence of each of 31 symptoms, the severity of the symptoms, and the degree to which the symptoms distressed or bothered them. Higher levels of symptom distress were found in women and in those who were unpartnered. The average number of symptoms reported per patient was 9.31 (SD=5.15), with a mean symptom distress rating of 1.8 (SD=0.84) and a mean symptom severity rating of 1.65 (SD=0.83) on a 1-5 scale. The correlation between reports of symptom severity and symptom distress varied greatly by symptom, ranging from r=0.37 to r=0.82. This is the first study to examine the symptom prevalence, severity, and distress of hospitalized medical/surgical patients. The large sample size allowed for the detection of demographic differences in the reporting of symptom distress, and advances the current knowledge in the area.

Fatigue and Function Over 3 Years Among Older Adults

“…(5) Fatigue is highly prevalent among both the chronically ill and the acutely hospitalized. (6,7) It has been associated with a wide array of chronic diseases,(8–11) and has been identified as a key component of the frailty syndrome. (12)…”

Acute care physical therapy management of a 69-year-old female following re-operative aortic valve replacement and tricuspid valve repair: A Case Report

“…The fatigue severity scale (FSS) was administered to KB [21][22][23]. FSS measures the impact of fatigue on specific types of function rather than the intensity of fatigue-related symptoms [24].…”

Analysis of the UCSF Symptom Management Theory: Implications for Pediatric Oncology Nursing

“…These tools, including the Poker Chip Tool, Preschool Body Outline, Adolescent Pediatric Pain Tool, Dot Matrix, and Pediatric Pain Coping Inventory, allowed participants to self-report their pain experiences. Self-report scales also have been used in adult studies guided by the SMT (Bay & Bergman, 2006; Dodd, Miaskowski, et al, 2001; Kanungpairn et al, 2007; Kris & Dodd, 2004; Voss, 2005). …”

“…To date, the model has been established as a useful framework for research among adults with a variety of health and illness states (Bay & Bergman, 2006; Humphreys et al, 2008; Kanungpairn et al, 2007; Kris & Dodd, 2004; Voss, 2005). Studies that were guided by the SMT involving adults have included descriptive studies that sought to identify relationships among variables within the model’s components as well as those exploring symptom management strategies.…”