title: Symptom occurrence and associated clinical factors in nursing home residents with cancer.
abstract: Little is known about the factors that contribute to symptoms in nursing home residents with cancer. We compared rates of symptoms in residents with (n = 1,022) and without cancer (n = 9,910) and examined physiologic, psychologic and situational factors potentially related to symptoms in residents with cancer. Pain, shortness of breath, vomiting, weight loss, and diarrhea were significantly (p < .05) more prevalent in residents with cancer. Cancer treatments, comorbid illnesses, and situational factors were not consistently correlated with symptoms. Improved symptom control was especially needed for the 30% of residents with cancer who clinically deteriorated within 3 months of admission; physical dependence and deteriorating clinical status were associated with pain, shortness of breath, and weight loss.
authors.affiliation: University of Kansas School of Nursing, Kansas City, KS, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Duncan
authors.forename: Marjorie J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Bott
authors.forename: Sarah A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Byron J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Gajewski
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D017051:Hospice Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007615:Kansas / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000451:nursing*; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010146:Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control; D014839:Vomiting / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control; D015431:Weight Loss