The psychometric properties of cancer multisymptom assessment instruments: a clinical review.

Purpose: Various instruments are used to assess both individual and multiple cancer symptoms. We evaluated the psychometric properties of cancer multisymptom assessment instruments.

Methods: An Ovid MEDLINE search was done.

Cancer symptom clusters: clinical and research methodology.

Introduction: Patients with cancer experience multiple symptoms that frequently appear in groups or clusters. We conducted a comprehensive clinical review of cancer symptom cluster studies to identify common symptom clusters (SC), explore their clinical relevance, and examine their research importance.

Methods: Published studies and review articles on cancer SC were obtained through a literature search.

Symptom prevalence in advanced cancer: age, gender, and performance status interactions.

Age, gender, and performance status (PS) are important patient characteristics which might influence to cancer symptom profile. We conducted a secondary analysis of a symptom database to examine any interaction of these factors on symptom prevalence. 38 symptoms were assessed in 1000 consecutive patients with advanced cancer.

The relationship between symptom prevalence and severity and cancer primary site in 796 patients with advanced cancer.

Knowledge of differences in symptom experience between cancer sites may help better understand symptom pathophysiology. A total of 38 symptoms in 796 consecutive patients with advanced cancer were retrospectively analyzed. Symptom prevalence and severity were compared among the 12 primary site groups (PSGs) by the chi-square test.

Consistency of symptom clusters in advanced cancer.

Background: The reproducibility of symptom clusters (SCs) in different populations would support the validity of the cluster concept. Ideal approaches to cluster identification are unknown. The presence of a sentinel (most prevalent) symptom may reduce the number of symptoms in a comprehensive symptom assessment tool.

Cancer symptom clusters: old concept but new data.

Individuals with cancer have multiple symptoms, which frequently co-occur. A nonrandom distribution of symptoms suggests a common mechanism. Symptom clusters (SCs) were considered part of various syndromes in the early years of medicine.

Symptom severity and distress in advanced cancer.

We determined the relationship between symptom severity and distress for multiple cancer symptoms, and examined patient demographic influences on severity and distress in advanced cancer. A Cochran-Armitage trend test determined whether symptom distress increased with severity. Chi-square, Fisher's exact test and logistic regression analysis examined moderate/severe ('clinically important') and distressful symptoms by age (65), gender, primary site group, and ECOG performance status.

Validation of a simplified anorexia questionnaire.

Context: Anorexia is a common symptom in cancer and is usually assessed by multiple questions and multidimensional questionnaires. A simplified questionnaire would be less burdensome to patients and abbreviate the process.

Objectives: We compared the reliability at one point in time, sensitivity to change over time, and prognostic accuracy of a two-item questionnaire with the Functional Assessment of Anorexia and Cachexia Therapy shortened 12-question version (A/CS-12).

Symptom assessment in palliative medicine: complexities and challenges.

Symptoms are important patient-reported outcomes (PRO), which help to evaluate the impact of diseases and treatments and assess quality of care. Thorough symptom assessment is a challenge, as patients in palliative settings are often polysymptomatic and easily fatigued. There is no consensus about standardization of symptom assessment in palliative medicine.

Components of the anorexia-cachexia syndrome: gastrointestinal symptom correlates of cancer anorexia.

Introduction: Cancer-related anorexia is traditionally considered part of a complex but ill-defined anorexia-cachexia syndrome in which anorexia is intimately associated with other gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms and weight loss. We surveyed cancer patients with anorexia to learn more about the relationship between anorexia and these symptoms.

Materials And Methods: A 22-item GI questionnaire assessed the severity of anorexia and the prevalence of concurrent GI symptoms, including taste changes, food aversions, altered sense of smell, and diurnal food intake changes.

Bioelectrical impedance phase angle changes during hydration and prognosis in advanced cancer.

Introduction: We wished to determine bioelectrical impedance (BIA) correlates before hydration or changes during hydration and determine if these changes were prognostically important.

Methods And Materials: Fifty eligible patients underwent BIA measurements 3 consecutive days. Laboratory studies (electrolytes, creatinine, and hemoglobin) on day 1; weights and vital signs were recorded.

The pitfalls of a systematic MEDLINE review in palliative medicine: symptom assessment instruments.

The Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE) database provides many references for reviews, but many relevant articles are missed, especially when the topic is complex. Reported here is the detailed methodology of a PubMed search of MEDLINE augmented by a related articles link search. Of 1181 citations identified, through a PubMed search, 10 articles met the inclusion criteria.

Cancer symptom assessment instruments: a systematic review.

Purpose: A variety of assessment instruments have been created to identify cancer symptoms. We reviewed systematically cancer symptom assessment instruments published in English.

Methods: A systematic search of the MEDLINE database, Cochrane Library, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and EMBASE was performed.

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in advanced cancer patients with lower extremity edema referred for assessment.

Lower extremity edema is a common complication in advanced cancer patients, and deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is one among many causes. Clinical signs and symptoms are known to be unreliable, and radiographic investigations are often required in diagnosing DVT. A retrospective chart review was conducted on 46 advanced cancer patients with lower extremity edema.

Thrombosis and anticoagulation in palliative care: an evolving clinical challenge.

There is a clear recognition of the relationship between thrombosis and neoplastic diseases. In recent years, there have been a few reports dealing with some of the features of clinical progression and management of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in palliative care patients. In this report, we present four cases that describe some of the diverse aspects of this clinically challenging area to illustrate the symptom and quality of life issues for patients, and the management challenge for palliative care clinicians.