Symptom clusters in patients with high-grade glioma.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the co-occurring symptoms (depression, fatigue, pain, sleep disturbance, and cognitive impairment), quality of life (QoL), and functional status in patients with high-grade glioma.


METHODS
Correlational, descriptive study of 73 participants with high-grade glioma in the U.S.


METHODS
Nine brief measures were obtained with a mailed survey. Participants were recruited from the online message board of The Healing Exchange BRAIN TRUST, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving quality of life for people with brain tumors.


RESULTS
Two symptom cluster models were examined. Four co-occurring symptoms were significantly correlated with each other and explained 29% of the variance in QoL: depression, fatigue, sleep disturbance, and cognitive impairment. Depression, fatigue, sleep disturbance, cognitive impairment, and pain were significantly correlated with each other and explained 62% of the variance in functional status.


CONCLUSIONS
The interrelationships of the symptoms examined in this study and their relationships with QoL and functional status meet the criteria for defining a symptom cluster. The differences in the models of QoL and functional status indicates that symptom clusters may have unique characteristics in patients with gliomas.
Fox
Sherry W
SW
Cullather Brain Tumor Quality of Life Center, Bon Secours St. Mary's Hospital, 5801 Bremo Road South Medical Office Building, Suite 108, Richmond, VA 23226, USA. foxsherry@aol.com
Lyon
Debra
D
Farace
Elana
E
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000150:complications; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005221:Fatigue / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000150:complications; D005910:Glioma / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010146:Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires