title: Symptom concerns and resource utilization in patients with lung cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Lung cancer remains a major source of death in the United States. With the aging of the population, health policy makers are challenged to develop systems of care for the complex needs of these patients. This study sought to determine quality of life and symptom concerns in lung cancer patients. The study also sought to determine how supportive care resources were being used to address these concerns.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred consecutive patients with newly diagnosed lung cancer presenting over a 12-month period were selected from the tumor registry. Charts were reviewed for demographic data, treatment history, treatment received, number and type of practitioner encounters, readmissions, and complications for a 6-month period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 100 charts retrospectively reviewed, 4 patients had small cell and 96 patients had non-small cell lung cancer. The median age was 67 years. Fifty-three patients were men. The most common symptoms were pain, cough, dyspnea, and fatigue. A total of 114 referrals in 57 patients were made. Nutrition consultation was the most common.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study serves to guide the institution in the development of more effective support services for patients with lung cancer to address quality of life concerns through collaboration between clinicians and researchers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Duke University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Yale D
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Podnos
authors.forename: Tami R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Borneman
authors.forename: Marianna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koczywas
authors.forename: Gwen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Uman
authors.forename: Betty R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Ferrell
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008485:Medical Audit; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014481:United States