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Nausea, pain, fatigue, and multiple symptoms in hospitalized children with cancer.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Miller, E; Jacob, E; Hockenberry, MJ
Published in: Oncology nursing forum
September 2011

To describe the prevalence, frequency, severity, and distress of multiple symptoms in hospitalized children with cancer and to examine the overall symptom scores and global distress in patients reporting nausea, pain, and fatigue.Descriptive design with repeated measures.Inpatient pediatric hematology-oncology unit.39 inpatients (ages 10-17) diagnosed with cancer.Five-day data collection using the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale (MSAS) Pediatric 10-18.Thirty-one symptoms included in the MSAS Pediatric 10-18.The most common symptoms (prevalence greater than 34%) were nausea, fatigue, decreased appetite, pain, and feeling drowsy. Differences in symptom experiences occurred in the presence of nausea, pain, and fatigue compared to days when they were not reported (p < 0.001). Prevalence of pain and fatigue symptoms decreased over the five days (p < 0.05), but not nausea (p > 0.05).Nausea, pain, and fatigue were among the most prevalent symptoms in hospitalized children with cancer; however, the most prevalent symptoms were not always the most severe or distressing. The presence of these symptoms significantly impacted symptom experience, including total burden of symptoms experienced by the child (i.e., global distress).Additional examination of symptom management is needed. Nausea and its related symptoms have received little attention and more effective interventions are warranted. Multidimensional scales and the use of handheld electronic devices to track symptoms may be used to provide a more comprehensive assessment and treatment of symptoms.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Oncology nursing forum

DOI

EISSN

1538-0688

ISSN

0190-535X

Publication Date

September 2011

Volume

38

Issue

5

Start / End Page

E382 / E393

Related Subject Headings

  • Stress, Psychological
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Prevalence
  • Pain
  • Nursing
  • Neoplasms
  • Nausea
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Global Health
 

Citation

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ICMJE
MLA
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Miller, E., Jacob, E., & Hockenberry, M. J. (2011). Nausea, pain, fatigue, and multiple symptoms in hospitalized children with cancer. Oncology Nursing Forum, 38(5), E382–E393. https://doi.org/10.1188/11.onf.e382-e393
Miller, Elizabeth, Eufemia Jacob, and Marilyn J. Hockenberry. “Nausea, pain, fatigue, and multiple symptoms in hospitalized children with cancer.Oncology Nursing Forum 38, no. 5 (September 2011): E382–93. https://doi.org/10.1188/11.onf.e382-e393.
Miller E, Jacob E, Hockenberry MJ. Nausea, pain, fatigue, and multiple symptoms in hospitalized children with cancer. Oncology nursing forum. 2011 Sep;38(5):E382–93.
Miller, Elizabeth, et al. “Nausea, pain, fatigue, and multiple symptoms in hospitalized children with cancer.Oncology Nursing Forum, vol. 38, no. 5, Sept. 2011, pp. E382–93. Epmc, doi:10.1188/11.onf.e382-e393.
Miller E, Jacob E, Hockenberry MJ. Nausea, pain, fatigue, and multiple symptoms in hospitalized children with cancer. Oncology nursing forum. 2011 Sep;38(5):E382–E393.

Published In

Oncology nursing forum

DOI

EISSN

1538-0688

ISSN

0190-535X

Publication Date

September 2011

Volume

38

Issue

5

Start / End Page

E382 / E393

Related Subject Headings

  • Stress, Psychological
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Prevalence
  • Pain
  • Nursing
  • Neoplasms
  • Nausea
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Global Health