Symptoms seen in inpatient palliative care and impact of palliative care unit on symptom control

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the symptoms observed during admission to palliative care in patients that would be provided palliative support, to measure their intensity, and to evaluate the effect of palliative care on patient symptoms by recording changes during the first week after admission to hospital. Methods: The sample of the study was determined as 108 according to the population mean significance test conducted by using preliminary application data. Patients who were able to complete the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale during admission to hospital, on the 3rd and 7th days of hospitalization were included into the evaluation. The Introductory Characteristics Questionnaire, Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale and Palliative Performance Scale were used for the collection of the data. Results: While 50% of the patients defined pain intensity as 5 and over during admission, this rate was determined to be 6.5% on the 7th day. Mean values of the symptoms of pain, insomnia, loss of appetite, and status of well-being decreased significantly on the 3rd and 7th days after admission compared to the time of admission to the hospital. Besides, no statistically significant difference was found among the symptoms of nausea, anxiety, shortness of breath, and constipation. Conclusion: In this study, it was determined that the intensity of symptoms deteriorating the life quality of cancer patients such as pain, fatigue, insomnia, loss of appetite, and status of well-being improved rapidly with palliative care support.