Symptom Characteristics Among Hospitalized Children and Adolescents With Cancer

This study described the symptom experience of hospitalized children and adolescents with cancer. The study explored the frequencies of individual symptoms and the severity, duration, and associated distress of symptoms during the course of the hospitalization. Methods: Participants completed the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale 7–12 during each 12-hour shift of the 3-day/3-night data collection period. Results: Participants were 50 children and adolescents (mean age, 12.6 years; range, 7.1–18.6 years) receiving inpatient chemotherapy. Participants reported a mean of 2.75 symptoms at each assessment point and a mean of 5.42 different symptoms during their hospitalization. Mixed model analyses identified a significant fixed effect for study day, with participants reporting fewer symptoms (F = 8.4, P
Source: Cancer Nursing - Category: Nursing Tags: Articles Source Type: research