Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Nursing - Department of surgical nursing

Cancer patients experience a variety of physical and psychological symptoms that might be due to the illness or the treatment. These symptoms may vary in terms of occurrence, frequency, severity and distress. The aim of this study was to assess physical and psychological distressing symptoms among cancer patients receiving radiotherapy. To fulfill the research aim, two research questions were postulated, Q1- What are the physical distressing symptoms among cancer patients receiving radiotherapy? Q2- What are the psychological distressing symptoms among cancer patients receiving radiotherapy? A descriptive exploratory research design was used to carry out this study. The study was conducted at radiotherapy department at one of the university hospitals. Convenient samples of 400 cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy were recruited for this study. Data was collected using two tools; Demographic and Clinical Characteristics Data Form (DCCDF); and the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale (MSAS). Results denoted that 51.3% of the studied sample was female. The mean age was 46.35±SD=14.26, and range 32-61. The most prevalent physical symptoms among the studied sample were changes in skin, pain, lack of energy, followed by dizziness and feeling drowsy after three and six weeks. Feeling sad (88.3%), feeling irritable (87.0%) and worrying (85.5%) were found to be the most prevalent psychological symptoms after three weeks among the studied sample. While feeling nervous (91.8%), worrying (88.8%) and feeling sad (86.8%) were the most prevalent psychological symptoms after six weeks among the studied sample. Also, there was statistical significant relation between participants' gender, education, occupation, social status, cancer type and cancer stage and total score of severity symptoms. The study concluded that cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy displayed different levels of distress, based on the type of primary cancer, patient age, techniques and modalities of radiotherapy. Based on the study findings, the investigator recommends that nursing assessment should evaluate frequency, severity and level of distress of symptoms to guide appropriate quality nursing care to alleviate distressing symptoms

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