Quality of sleep and symptom cluster in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment

Abstract

Objective: to analyze the formation of symptom clusters in cancer patients. Method: Longitudinal study carried out from January to June 2016. Twenty-seven patients were recruited from a public chemotherapy outpatient clinic of a general hospital in Vale do Paraíba Paulista. Data collection was performed through interviews, with the use of the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the Visual Analog Sleep Scale. Data were submitted to descriptive and inferential statistical analysis. Results: Three symptom clusters were identified over time: organic and functional symptoms; emotional symptoms and sleep; and gastrointestinal symptoms. Conclusion: Besides contributing to improve knowledge of symptom clusters in individuals with cancer undergoing outpatient chemotherapy treatment, this study provided insight on how these symptoms behaved during the first four chemotherapy sessions. Therefore, it can be useful in interventions aimed to prevent these symptoms.