Symptoms Burden among Women with Gynecological Cancer in Indonesia: A Descriptive Study

Abstract

Background: Gynecological cancer is one of the most common reproductive health problems of cancer. Factors that cause high rates of the incidence of gynecological cancer, because many symptoms are ignored so that symptoms that can actually be treated early become a very serious disease. Women with gynecological cancer have a burden of symptoms over time which can cause a negative response to the patient’s physical, psychological and emotional. Objectives: This study aimed to describe the symptom burden in women with gynecological cancer. Methods: This study used quantitative and descriptive research using cross sectional approach. Conducted in May2019,with95subjectsresearchatRumahSinggahinBandungusingconvenience sampling. Symptom Burden was assessed using Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale (MSAS). Resuts: Ten common symptoms experienced by respondents with gynecological cancer were worrying 96.8% (92), feeling sad 95.8% (91), insomnia 93.7% (89), problems with activity or sexual arousal 89, 5% (85), feeling tired 86.3% (82), lack of appetite 81.1% (77), dizziness 80% (76), irritability 80% (76), pain 78.9% (75), less energy 78.9 (75), with a symptom mean of 1.08 (± 0.386). Conclusion: Indicated that psychological symptoms is the common symptom that experienced by women with gynecological cancer. Nursing and other healthcare professional is expected to pay more attention to psychological symptoms to meets the need of patient.