Symptoms Experience: A Concept Analysis

Armstrong, Terri S.

doi:10.1188/03.onf.601-606

Cited by 212 publications

(218 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…The interventions should be focused on the symptom experience as well as infl uencing factors and the consequences the symptom experience may have on the individual's daily life. The effect or outcome criterion of the interventions is often assessed as changes in performance, health-related quality of life (HRQOL), disease progression and survival (Lenz et al,1997;Armstrong, 2003).…”

Section: Symptommentioning

confidence: 99%

Fatigue is a Prevalent and Severe Symptom Associated with Uncertainty and Sense of Coherence in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure

Falk

Swedberg

Gaston‐Johansson

et al. 2007

European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing

100

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Although fatigue is a prevalent and distressing symptom in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF), it is an underestimated problem in the care of patients, and consequently, insuffi ciently investigated. The primary aim of this thesis was, therefore, to advance the knowledge from the patients' perspective by describing characteristics of the fatigue experience and its consequences in daily life in patients with CHF. A secondary aim was to investigate the relationships between fatigue and selected physiological and psychological factors associated with fatigue. Both quantitative and qualitative methods have been used and three samples of patients have been interviewed on different occasions. In two of the quantitative studies 93 patients, and in another study 112 patients, consecutively included, were interviewed at the hospital. Fifteen patients were included in the qualitative study. These 15 participants were enrolled when they visited an outpatient clinic and most of them were interviewed in their homes. These interviews were supplemented with the content of an Internet discussion with persons living with CHF.The results of the studies indicated that fatigue embraces the individual's body, emotions and cognitive abilities, forcing the person to physical restrictions that, in turn, perpetuate emotional discomfort. However, the physical sensation of fatigue followed by functional limitations seemed to be the most prevalent and distressing experience in patients with CHF. The patients described fatigue as lacking strength, which was associated in connection with physical efforts and lacking energy, viewed as an annoying sensation after both mental and physical strain. Another dimension of fatigue was described as being sleepy, often with a rapid and unforeseen onset. Consequences of fatigue, such as refraining from daily chores, denying oneself opportunities for rejoice and social isolation, further exaggerated the experience of fatigue. Restorative activities that engaged, absorbed or distracted the patients counteracted these negative consequences. Depressed mood was related to those fatigue dimensions that compromised functional ability and motivation to start any activities, whereas anxiety was associated with cognitive impairment. Feelings of uncertainty were related to physical tiredness, possibly infl icted by limitations in performing activities. Symptom distress that was caused by a number of reported symptoms other than fatigue had a diminutive infl uence on fatigue and separate symptoms that were associated with fatigue were, with the exception of breathlessness, not the fi rst and most pressing symptom reported by the patients. Anemic patients reported more fatigue compared with non-anemic patients and functional status, according to the New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classifi cation criteria, was associated with those fatigue dimensions that encompassed physical tiredness and reduced functioning.The fi ndings provide new insights on the characteristics of fatigue and its con...

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Section: Symptommentioning

confidence: 99%

Fatigue is a Prevalent and Severe Symptom Associated with Uncertainty and Sense of Coherence in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure

Falk

Swedberg

Gaston‐Johansson

et al. 2007

European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing

100

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…601)." 8 Lenz's et al 9 theory of unpleasant symptoms also asserts the presence of multiple symptoms that influence one another. The theory identifies physiological, psychological, and situational antecedents of symptoms as well as functional outcomes of symptoms.…”

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confidence: 99%

Symptom Cluster Research: Conceptual, Design, Measurement, and Analysis Issues

Barsevick

Whitmer

Nail

et al. 2006

Journal of Pain and Symptom Management

233

212

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Abstract:Cancer patients may experience multiple concurrent symptoms caused by the cancer, cancer treatment, or their combination. The complex relationships between and among symptoms, as well as the clinical antecedents and consequences, have not been well described. This paper examines the literature on cancer symptom clusters focusing on the conceptualization, design, measurement, and analytic issues. The investigation of symptom clustering is in an early stage of testing empirically whether the characteristics defined in the conceptual definition can be observed in cancer patients. Decisions related to study design include sample selection, the timing of symptom measures, and the characteristics of symptom interventions. For self-report symptom measures, decisions include symptom dimensions to evaluate, methods of scaling symptoms, and the time frame of responses. Analytic decisions may focus on the application of factor analysis, cluster analysis, and path models. Studying the complex symptoms of oncology patients will yield increased understanding of the patterns of association, interaction, and synergy of symptoms that produce specific clinical outcomes. It will also provide a scientific basis and new directions for clinical assessment and intervention. Key Words: Symptoms, symptom clusters, symptom management, quality of life Article: INTRODUCTION Typical symptoms associated with cancer and its treatment include fatigue, nausea-vomiting, pain, depression, and difficulty sleeping. In cancer care, these symptoms can be caused by cancer, cancer treatment, or the combination of cancer and cancer treatment. Despite the knowledge that individuals undergoing cancer therapy are likely to experience multiple concurrent symptoms, most research on symptoms in cancer has examined individual symptoms.1 The relationship between and among cancer symptoms and the impact on quality of life have not been evaluated systematically. The purpose of this paper is to examine critical research issues related to the conceptualization, design, measurement, and analysis of multiple concurrent symptoms or symptom clusters in oncology. The Concept of a Symptom ClusterRecently, Dodd et al .2 called for consideration of the "symptom cluster" in oncology research to capture the complexity of the cancer symptom experience. The term "symptom cluster" has not

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“…Symptom management is a dynamic and multidimensional process in which patients intentionally and purposefully act on and interact with the perception (or previous perception) of the symptoms in order to initiate activities or direct others to perform activities to relieve or decrease distress from a symptom, and to prevent its occurrence (Fu, LeMone, & McDaniel, 2004). Various individual factors interact to produce symptoms in individuals, and the occurrence of symptoms can influence functional health status (Armstrong, 2003). As a result, according to the analysis of earlier references, there seems to be a difference between symptom-management and Symptom-reducing actions.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Symptom-reducing actions: a concept analysis in the context of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Zakrisson

2017

International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well

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Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) have multiple symptoms. Nursing care is based on six core competencies and one of them is person-centred care that includes the aspect of professional symptom relief. The aim was to clarify a meaning of the concept of Symptom-reducing actions in the context of COPD. Databases MEDLINE and CINAHL were searched between 1982 and February 2016 and 26 publications were found. Two dictionaries and three books were investigated. The method of Walker & Avant was followed. The use of the concept of Symptom-reducing actions may be categorized by the sub-concepts of supervision, information, and patient education. Exploration of defining attributes was symptom management, instructions, support, motivation, explanation, advice, teaching, and learning. Antecedent occurrences were related to factors that affect the patient’s level of function such as physical performance and cognitive function. Symptom-reducing actions offer a way to support patients with COPD in self-management. Symptom-reducing actions can mediate facts in a purposeful process performed by the nurse to enable the patient to take control over and manage unpleasant symptoms by a person-centred, planned process. The nurse can achieve this via supervision, information, and patient education with an integrated emotional component. Evaluating the outcomes is needed.

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Symptoms Experience: A Concept Analysis

Cited by 212 publications

References 40 publications

Fatigue is a Prevalent and Severe Symptom Associated with Uncertainty and Sense of Coherence in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure

Fatigue is a Prevalent and Severe Symptom Associated with Uncertainty and Sense of Coherence in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure

Symptom Cluster Research: Conceptual, Design, Measurement, and Analysis Issues

Symptom-reducing actions: a concept analysis in the context of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

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