Title

Symptom Self-Management: Strategies Used By Older Adults Receiving Treatment For Cancer

Keywords

Cancer treatment; Older adults; Self-management; Symptoms

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Older adults are at high risk for cancer treatment–related symptoms but often accept them as inevitable. This may have a negative impact on patient outcomes. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to examine symptom self-management strategies used by older adults receiving cancer treatment, determine the effectiveness of these strategies, and examine relationships between symptom self-management and demographic and treatment characteristics. METHODS: 100 adults aged 65 years or older from a community cancer center participated in this descriptive, exploratory study. Demographic, treatment, and self-management data were collected using an investigator-developed tool. Symptom presence was collected using part 1 of the Symptom Representation Questionnaire. FINDINGS: Participants reported an average of 7.15 symptoms and 3.36 self-management strategies used at home. Taste changes were managed most, followed by fatigue and bowel changes. On average, strategies used to manage symptoms were moderately effective.

Publication Date

2-1-2018

Publication Title

Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing

Volume

22

Issue

1

Number of Pages

83-90

Document Type

Article

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.1188/18.CJON.83-90

Socpus ID

85041045372 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/85041045372

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