Predictors of symptom distress in women with breast cancer during the first chemotherapy cycle.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the extent to which personal characteristics and "person factors" predict symptom distress during the first cycle of chemotherapy.


METHODS
Prospective, longitudinal, correlational.


METHODS
120 women with Stage I and II breast cancer starting their first cycle of chemotherapy were recruited from six diverse oncology settings.


METHODS
Self-report questionnaires were completed prior to the beginning, the nadir, and the end of the first chemotherapy cycles.


METHODS
Personal characteristics, "person factors", and symptom distress.


RESULTS
Optimism and external locus of control predicted low symptom distress levels at the both the nadir and at the end of the first cycle. Fatigue, appearance, and insomnia caused the greatest distress with higher symptom distress scores reported at the nadir with a mean item score of 1.98 on a five-point Likert scale.


CONCLUSIONS
Women who maintained a positive outlook, and trusted their health care providers experienced lower levels of symptom distress. Findings suggest that most women experienced some symptom distress, particularly during the middle of the first cycle of chemotherapy.
Boehmke
Marcia M
MM
University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, USA. boehmke@buffalo.edu
Brown
Jean K
JK
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001828:Body Image; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D016014:Linear Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000209:etiology; D009518:New York; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D035502:Trust
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents