Distressing symptoms among patients with cancer receiving radiotherapy at a university hospital in Cairo Governorate

Abstract

Background Patients with cancer experience a variety of physical and/or psychological symptoms. These symptoms may vary in terms of occurrence, severity, and distress and might occur as a result of the illness or the treatment. Aim The aim of this study was to assess physical and psychological distressing symptoms among patients with cancer who receive radiotherapy. Research design A descriptive exploratory research design was used to carry out this study. Setting The study was conducted at the Radiotherapy Department of a university hospital affiliated to Cairo University, Egypt. Sample A convenient sample of 250 patients who had cancer and undergoing radiotherapy was recruited for this study. Tools Data were collected using two tools: Demographic and Clinical Characteristics Data Form and the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale. Results The study findings denoted that approximately half of the sample was male, and the mean age was 45.68±15.84 years, with range from 18 to 79 years. The most prevalent physical symptoms among the study participants were lack of energy (97.2%), followed by changes in skin (redness and skin pigmentation) and pain (96.8%). Feeling irritable (89.2%) and feeling sad (87.2%) were the two most frequent psychological symptoms. Moreover, there was a statistically significant relation between participants’ sex, education, occupation, social status, cancer type, and cancer stage and total score of severity symptoms. Conclusion This study concluded that patients with cancer undergoing radiotherapy experienced a variety of physical and psychological distressing symptoms. Mostly lack of energy, changes in skin, pain, and feeling drowsy were the physical symptoms, whereas feeling irritable and feeling sad were the two most frequent psychological symptoms. Recommendations Nurses should assess frequency, severity, and level of distressing symptoms to provide quality nursing care to alleviate distressing symptoms.