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Abstract
Methods The
participants comprised randomly selected cancer outpatients receiving
chemotherapy in an ambulatory setting and 17 oncology
nurses working in two chemotherapy units in
Japan. For assessment of the patients' supportive care needs and
symptoms, the
patients were asked to respond to a validated
self-administered questionnaire. The oncology nurses completed a survey
in which
they indicated their perception of the level of
the same set of needs or symptoms. The two data sets obtained from the
patients
and nurses were compared statistically to assess
the accuracy of the oncology nurses' recognition of their patients'
needs
and symptoms.
Results Complete data
sets were available for 439 patients. The most common primary cancers
were breast cancer (36.0%), followed
by colorectal (24.4%) and lung (12.3%) cancers.
Nurses' awareness of their patients' supportive care needs and physical
and
psychological symptoms were less than optimal in
routine care. In particular, psychological symptoms and support needs
for
these symptoms were markedly under-recognized.
Physical symptoms associated with chemotherapy, such as hair loss,
appetite
loss and fatigue, were better recognized than
symptoms not specific to chemotherapy, such as constipation, insomnia,
dyspnea
and pain.
Conclusions Oncology
nurses' recognition may not accurately reflect their patients'
supportive care needs and symptoms in routine practice.
In clinical practice, it may be beneficial to
conduct routine screening of patients' perceived needs and symptoms
comprehensively
using self-administered questionnaires.
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