Investigation of Treatment-Related Symptoms and Self-Care Strategies in Lung Cancer Patients

Huiping Wang(Pingdingshan University)
Ying Wang(Pingdingshan University)
Jinkun Wu(Pingdingshan University)
Xinru Yang(Pingdingshan University)
Xianguang Bai(Pingdingshan University)

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate treatment-related symptoms in lung cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy, as well as effective self-care strategies to alleviate these symptoms. A total of 202 lung cancer patients were surveyed using a treatment-related symptom checklist, Karnofsky Performance Status scale, and a self-care symptom relief questionnaire. The results showed that the most common treatment-related symptoms included fatigue (93.07%), loss of appetite (88.12%), nausea (82.67), hair loss (74.75%), vomiting (66.83%), pain (64.85%), taste changes (62.87%) and constipation (60.89%). The study also gathered patients' self-care methods that they found effective in alleviating these symptoms. Findings suggest that lung cancer patients bear a significant burden of treatment-related symptoms, and various self-care strategies reported by the patients were effective in managing these symptoms.

Keywords

Lung cancer; Treatment-related symptoms; Self-care; Symptom management

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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.26549/jams.v7i2.20504